Author:Erik Axl Sund,Neil Smith
The international thriller sensation
It starts with just one body – the hands bound, the skin covered in marks.
Detective Superintendent Jeanette Kihlberg is determined to find out who is responsible, despite opposition from her superiors. When two more bodies are discovered, it becomes clear that she is hunting a serial killer.
With her career on the line, Kihlberg turns to psychotherapist Sofia Zetterlund. Together, they expose a chain of shocking events that began decades ago – but will it lead them to the murderer before someone else dies?
'A compulsive page-turner'
Sunday Express
'Compelling... we are left gasping for breath'
Daily Mail
'There's a fantastic twist... the pace of its revelations is relentless'
Observer
Compelling... we are left gasping for breath
—— Daily MailA compulsive page-turner... ridiculously entertaining
—— Sunday ExpressThere's a fantastic twist... the pace of its revelations [is] relentless
—— Observer, Thriller of the MonthDark, powerful, disturbing
—— The TimesThe best crime novel of the year so far
—— MetroA breakneck journey through a plot of labyrinthine complexity... Sund boldly places dissociative identity disorder…at the heart of this extremely disturbing novel.
—— Joan Smith , Sunday TimesA dark and brutal read that addresses violence perpetuated by women. Snappy writing makes this a page-turning thriller
—— ShortListCreepy is elevated to an art form in this tale of dysfunctional characters, peppered with paedophilia, guilt, pain, powerlessness, denial and betrayal... The subject matter makes for harrowing reading at times, but skilfully escalating suspense keeps you hooked all the way
—— Irish NewsA pulse-pounding thriller that manages to linger on character depth and puts an emphasis on supporting characters that are usually given short shrift. With its heady mix of graphic violence, noirish thrills and social commentary, the book is a must-read for Scandinavian crime fiction enthusiasts….a huge book and a landmark achievement
—— CrimeFictionLoverTipped to make a killing
—— GuardianExerts an inexorable grip
—— Barry Forshaw , Financial TimesThis is addictive, intelligent entertainment of the highest order... It is an astonishingly stringent, well executed and actually almost without exception breathlessly suspenseful psychological thriller bar none
—— Kristianstadsbladet, SwedenImpressive and terrifying
—— Crimezone, NetherlandsInsanely creepy psycho-thriller that places the thin veneer of normality under the microscope.
—— Elle, DenmarkThe Crow Girl is a psychological thriller that will take you to the darkest corners of human insanity
—— Paperblog.com, ItalyFirst-class thriller for readers with nerves of steel
—— Flesh Gwiazdy & Styl, PolandWhat an outstanding debut… A must-read for any fan of Scandinavian crime fiction.
—— Crime Fiction Lover, Book of the YearThe Thirst begins with the brutal killer sinking rusty metal teeth into a victim's neck, and with that gruesome murder, you'll want to sink your teeth into The Thirst and not let go
—— MailNesbo does Nordic Noir like no one else and this is crime fiction at its finest… It’s gory, gritty and compulsive reading, with a truly take-your-breath away ending
—— Nesbo , ChoiceWhy do Scottish writers dominate British crime fiction? With Denise Mina at least, the answer is pure class
—— Daily TelegraphRemarkable… It often seems as if Mina has freed herself from most of the strictures of the thriller format in order to explore altogether more literary territory. It is a pleasure to accompany her. The writing is frequently arresting
—— James O'Brien , Times Literary SupplementCharismatic, grimy masterpiece
—— Jake Kerridge , Daily TelegraphBleak and atmospheric
—— Harriet Lane , ObserverA suspenseful journey into the past with the notorious 1950s serial killer Peter Manuel, it’s a brilliant, unsettling read
—— Siobhan Synnot , Daily MailThe book left me with vivid images of the deprived city at that time, as well as the villains, thugs, police and normal people with opposing religious views. There is a real undercurrent of evil throughout the book from start to finish. It is a fascinating way to tell a horrific tale and although uncomfortable and tragic for all the families’ loss, it shows the monster for what he is
—— Mark Abrahamson , NudgeThis unsettling, uncomfortable and compulsively readable take on justice and retribution is the real deal
—— Stuart EversIf, while wishing, Ian Brady or Charles Manson a sincere good riddance, you found yourself wondering what it would be like to experience their sulphurous charisma in person, Mina’s version of Manuel is probably the closest you can get. When I finished it I wanted simultaneously to burn it and to buy copies for everybody I know
—— Jake Kerridge , Daily TelegraphThe ever-reliable Mina deserves all the awards she has already won for this, her latest novel…. Absorbing and filled with insights, this is a bravura performance, a true original
—— Ian Rankin , GuardianA superb recreation of a Glasgow serial murder trial (and risk of miscarriage of justice) in 1958.
—— Mark Lawson , GuardianWhen I finished it I simultaneously wanted to burn it and to buy copies for everyone I know.
—— Jake Kerridge , TelegraphThe Long Drop neither excuses the ghastly Manuel nor does it soft-soap the police and their ulterior motives, it does not sanctify the victims nor does it shy away from its own gruesome fascination with gruesome fascination.
—— Stuart Kelly , The ScotsmanThis is an absolutely compelling read.
—— Simon J. James , Times Higher EducationStaggering in scope and execution.
—— Jon Coates , Daily ExpressMina's insight into the wellsprings of violence is terrifyingly acute and her eye for period detail is unsurpassed. A bravura reimagining of 1950s Glasgow
—— Liam Mcllvanney , Big IssueMina’s recent novel The Long Drop…is her most interesting work
—— Neil Mackay , HeraldAn atmospheric recreation of a vanished Glasgow…and a compelling exploration of the warped criminal mind. A Mina masterpiece
—— The Times, *Top Ten Crime Novels of the Decade*One of the most exciting writers to have emerged in Britain for years.
—— Ian RankinOne of the most fiercely intelligent of crime writers
—— Daily Telegraph