The Living and the Dead by Christoffer Carlsson opens with the shocking murder of an eighteen-year-old boy that shatters the peace of a small rural community. What follows is a gripping story that pits neighbor against neighbor and keeps readers guessing until the very end, even decades later.

Set in the town of Stavböke in 1999, the story begins as Siri Bengtsson joins the local police force. Almost immediately, she’s thrown into a harrowing case: the body of a teenager, Mikael, has been found stuffed in the trunk of a car abandoned by the roadside. The night before, Mikael had attended a house party, which was the last time anyone saw him alive. As Siri and her team question partygoers and townspeople, secrets and suspicions begin to unravel.

Carlsson tells the story through multiple perspectives, from Siri, to local teens Killian and Sander, and other villagers, giving the narrative depth and emotional weight. His vivid descriptions of the cold, wintry landscape and the tense relationships within the community create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and unsettling.

What makes this novel stand out is that it’s not just a crime thriller. It’s also a haunting exploration of how tragedy ripples through a community. How guilt, grief, and silence can shape people’s lives long after the crime itself.

I really enjoyed the slow, deliberate unfolding of the story. Carlsson allows readers to sit with the characters, to feel their doubts and memories surface over time. The Living and the Dead is both beautifully written and quietly devastating,  a crime story with a heart and a haunting sense of place.

In the end, Carlsson delivers a story that lingers long after the final page. It’s a reminder that even when the truth comes to light, the past never fully disappears; it lives on in the people and places that have been forever changed by it. For readers who appreciate crime fiction with emotional depth and literary elegance, The Living and the Dead is a novel well worth reading.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Christoffer Carlsson, Random House Publishing Group, and Hogarth for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.