OLYCKSFÅGELN – THE STRANGER

By Camilla Läckberg

A local woman is killed in a tragic car crash. It’s a strange accident – the victim’s blood contains high alcohol levels, but she rarely drank a drop. The case marks the end of a quiet winter for Detective Patrik Hedström.

Meanwhile, a reality TV show begins shooting in the town, and as cameras shadow the stars’ every move, tempers start to flare. When a drunken party ends with an unpopular contestant’s murder, all eyes turn to the cast and crew – could there be a murderer among them?

The ratings spike as the country tunes in to a real life murder mystery. Under the unforgiving media spotlight, Patrik tackles his toughest investigation yet…

First published by Forum, Sweden, 2006.
321 pages.

Sweden, Forum
Sweden, Månpocket (paperback)
Sweden, Bonnier Audio (audio book)
Sweden, E-lib (e-book)
Sweden/The Netherlands, Grote Letter (Swedish large print)
Albania, Botimet Dudaj
Brazil, Planeta
Bulgaria, Colibri
Bulgaria, Storytel
Canada, HarperCollins Canada
Catalonia, ARA Llibres
China, Storytel
Croatia,V.B.Z.
Czech Republic, Motto
Denmark, People’s Press
Estonia, Pegasus
Finland, Schildts,/Gummerus
France, Actes Sud
Germany, Ullstein
Greece, Metaixmio
Hungary, Animus Kiado
Iceland, Sogur
Israel, Modan
Italy, Marsilio Editori
Japan, Shuei Sha
The Netherlands, House of Books
Norway, Gyldendal
Lativa, Jumava
Poland, Czarna
Portugal, Asa Leya
Romania, Editura Trei
Russia, Eksmo
Slovakia, Slovart
Slovenia, UCILA International
Spain, Maeva
Turkey, Dogan Egmont
UK, HarperCollins
US, Pegasus

Sweden, SVT (TV rights)

We said it before – Camilla Läckberg is No 1 among the Swedish female crime mystery writers.
Eskilstuna-Kuriren

The Stranger has got it all, there are not superlatives enough to describe it
Smålänningen

The Stranger is in short, top class for those who like murder and everyday drama. With sorrow and happiness mixed in a fascinating way in the final chapters. One gets moved by many books but here one is shaken
Vestmanlands läns tidning

WithThe Stranger Camilla proves with energy that her earlier successes were no three lucky shots
Esklistuna-Kuriren

As with earlier books, there is an adroit manipulation of elements: the unpredictable plotting, the striking evocation of life in this idyllic (but flawed) community and – perhaps most satisfying – the intriguing interaction between Patrick and Erica, both loving and fractious. Its Läckberg’s particular skill to have created two of the most fully rounded characters in contemporary crime fiction, with a warmth that cuts through the Nordic chill.
Barry Forshaw, The Independent

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