Morten Hesseldahl is the author of Below the Ice, which in 2022 was awarded both the Danish Crime Academy’s Harald Mogensen prize for Best Danish Crime Novel as well as Scandinavia’s most prestigious and joint crime award, The Glass Key, for Best Nordic Crime Novel, beating the competition of Åsa Larsson, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and Antti Tuomainen. Previous winners include Henning Mankell, Stieg Larsson and Jussi Adler Olsen.
He has also written a number of comics and novels. Morten was born 1964 in Odense, Denmark, he is educated in graphic technology, economics and philosophy. He also studied management at New York University. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, most recently as Managing Director of Gyldendal Publishing. He held similar positions at both the public broadcaster DR and The Royal Theatre. As a graphic novelist he has written among others a highly praised series about Denmark during the occupation. Today he is best known for his suspense novels, including the critically acclaimed Kites Above Kabul, recipient of the Best Danish Suspense Novel of the Year Award by the Danish Crime Academy.
“This hybrid of Lisbeth Salander, Miss Smilla and Pippi Longstocking goes straight to the finish line”
– Jyllands-Posten newspaper
DANISH-GREENLANDIC PIPALUK feels anxious, and begins to consider something that was previously unthinkable. She begins to consider returning. Back to Greenland. The Greenland that she escaped, barely alive, as a young girl, but which has never let go of her.
SHE HAS SINCE become an elite soldier and has been sent on sharp missions for the Danish army. Now she will need all her skills, and she will draw on the strongest weapon of any soldier: loyalty.
PIPALUK CONFRONTS HER past and encounters a Greenland that is almost unrecognizable. The great powers embrace the military security, and capital interests fight over land below the ice. At the same time, the ice is quickly melting and old secrets are coming to light.