STENHUGGAREN – THE STONE CUTTER

By Camilla Läckberg

The remote resort of Fjällbacka has seen its share of tragedy, though perhaps none worse than that of the little girl found in a fisherman’s net. But this was no accidental drowning …

Local detective Patrik Hedström has just become a father. It is his grim task to discover who could be behind the murder of a child both he and his partner Erica knew well.

What he does not know is how the case will reach into the dark heart of Fjällbacka and tear aside its idyllic façade, perhaps forever. 

First published by Forum, Sweden, 2005.
404 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
Arabic, Storytel
Brazil, Planeta
Bulgaria, Colibri
Bulgaria, Storytel
Canada, HarperCollins Canada
Catalonia, Ara Llibres
China, Storytel
Croatia, V.B.Z.
Czech Republic, Motto/Albatros
Denmark, People’s Press
Estonia, Fookus Meedia
Finland, Schildts/Gummures
France, Actes Sud
Germany, G. Kiepenheuer/Ullstein
Greece, Metaixmio
Hungary, Animus
Iceland, Sogur
Israel, Modan
Italy, Marsilio Editori
Japan, Shuei Sha
Latvia, Jumava
The Netherlands, House of Books
Norway, Gyldendal
Poland, J Santorski/Czarna Owca
Portugal, Asa Leya
Romania, Editura Trei
Russia, Eksmo
Serbia, Nordiq
Slovakia, Slovart
Slovenia, Ucila International
Spain, Maeva
Turkey, Dogan Egmont
UK, HarperCollins
US, Pegasus

Nominated for the Best Swedish Crime Novel Award by the Swedish Crime Academy in 2005

Sweden, SVT (TV rights)

France, Casterman

Three novels – three successes. First came The Ice Princess, then The Preacher and most recently The Stonecutter. Three crime novels – three huge successes. Camilla Läckberg has taken her place among the Swedish crime writing elite, and she’s here to stay. Considering her relatively young age, Camilla Läckberg is an enormously compelling writer. You would think that she’s done nothing but write crime novels her entire life. A Camilla Läckberg book is guaranteed to be exciting.
Eskilstuna-Kuriren

The Stonecutter is suggestive and relentless and just plain super exciting.
Arbetarbladet

Läckberg’s first two books, The Ice Princess and The Preacher, were exciting and well-written. But I would have to say that with The Stonecutter she has grown more polished and has established a powerful identity as an author. She is making ever-swifter progress through rough territory and very soon can be included among the group considered to be Sweden’s top crime authors.
Örnsköldsviks Allehanda

And this is really good. Sharp, exciting and well on a par with other authors in the genre. I can’t wait for book number four about Hedström and his friends on the west coast. Superb, Läckberg!
Värnamo Nyheter

The story, which finally catches up the murder investigation and thus the present day, is very skilfully told and the approach works well. Overall, to me this is Läckberg’s best book.
Bohuslänningen

Läckberg’s job is to make the reader pleasurably uncomfortable – one of her ironclad skills. This latest novel (translated by Steven T Murray) adds another level cannily designed to unsettle us: a measured examination of the elements of determinism in human nature, and the readiness to cut loose moral restraint when passionately held desires are frustrated. There is also a lacerating picture of an unrestrained female psyche, both attractive and monstrous. Läckberg may be of little interest to the more salacious British tabloids, but she should be firmly in the consciousness of the readers of this newspaper.
Barry Forshaw, The Independent

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