Mikael Niemi

Una envolvente investigación policial con alma de clásico. Tan emocionante como El nombre de la rosa, tan especial como Sherlock Holmes.Verano de 1852. Durante un paseo por los bosques del norte de Suecia, el pastor Lars Levi Lstadius y el joven Jussi descubren el rastro de una joven desaparecida dias antes. Los malos presagios se cumplen al encontrar poco despues el cuerpo de la chica con indicios de haber sido atacada por un oso. Lstadius, gran aficionado a la botanica y con un ojo muy bien entrenado para los detalles mas pequeños, no ve tan claro que la muerte sea obra de un animal. Cuando una segunda joven sea atacada, en esta ocasion por un desconocido, Lstadius y su joven acompañante emprenderan una atipica investigacion que pondra contra las cuerdas a toda la comunidad.

Popular Music from Vittula tells the fantastical story of a young boys unordinary existence, peopled by a visiting African priest, a witch in the heart of the forest, cousins from Missouri, an old Nazi, a beautiful girl with a black Volvo, silent men and tough women, a champion-bicyclist music teacher with a thumb in the middle of his handand, not least, on a shiny vinyl disk, the Beatles. The story unfolds in sweltering wood saunas, amidst chain thrashings and gang warfare, learning to play the guitar in the garage, over a traditional wedding meal, on the way to China, during drinking competitions, while learning secret languages, playing ice hockey surrounded by snow drifts, outsmarting mice, discovering girls, staging a first rock concert, peeing in the snow, skiing under a sparkling midnight sky. In the manner of David Mitchells Black Swan Green, Mikael Niemi tells a story of a rural Sweden at once foreign and familiar, as a magical childhood slowly fades with the seasons into adult reality.

"So much to relish here . . . the plot is gripping, theres a beautifully handled thread on reading and writing, and the writing is just lovely!" DIANE SETTERFIELD, author of Once Upon A River"The years most memorable narrator . . . An unusual and intriguing crime story" SUNDAY TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEAR"Niemi succeeds in constructing a story that works as a murder mystery and as a compelling study of a dangerously inward-looking community" SUNDAY TIMES"A riveting, psychologically astute mystery . . . It is not to be missed" BOOKLIST"An original and gripping crime story" THE TIMES**NOW SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA INTERNATIONAL DAGGER**It is 1852, and in Swedens far north, deep in the Arctic Circle, charismatic preacher and Revivalist Lars Levi Lstadius impassions a poverty-stricken congregation with visions of salvation. But local leaders have reason to resist a shift to temperance over alcohol.Jussi, the young Sami boy Lstadius has rescued from destitution and abuse, becomes the preachers faithful disciple on long botanical treks to explore the flora and fauna. Lstadius also teaches him to read and write - and to love and fear God. When a milkmaid goes missing deep in the forest, the locals suspect a predatory bear is at large. A second girl is attacked, and the sheriff is quick to offer a reward for the bears capture. Using early forensics and daguerreotype, Lstadius and Jussi find clues that point to a far worse killer on the loose, even as they are unaware of the evil closing in around them. To Cook a Bear explores how communities turn inwards, how superstition can turn to violence, and how the power of language can be transformative in a richly fascinating mystery."Superb suspense . . . Simply a great literary experience!"V.G. (Sweden)"A masterpiece of narrative" La Vanguardia (Spain)"A philosophical novel, a crime novel, a historical novel and a coming-of-age story complement one another"La Stampa (Italy)"One is transported into a strange time and a fascinating world that is both beautiful and brutal"Politiken (Denmark)"Formidable delivery . . . Unlike anything else you have read . . . An incredible novel"AdresseavisenTranslated from the Swedish by Deborah Bragan-Turner

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER | A SUNDAY TIMES UK BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR | SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA CRIME FICTION IN TRANSLATION AWARDSo much to relish here . . . and the writing is just lovely! Diane Setterfield, New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Tale and Once Upon a RiverA fantastic tale set in the far north of Sweden in 1852 following a runaway Sami boy and his mentor, the famous pastor Laestadius, as they investigate a murder in their village along with the mysteries of life.Jussi, a runaway, becomes Laestadiuss faithful son and disciple, and the two set out on botanical treks filled with philosophical discussions where Jussi learns all about plants and nature; and also how to read and write and about spirituality. But their quiet days are interrupted when a maid goes missing in the forest. When she is found dead, the locals suspect a predatory bear is at large. The constable is quick to offer a reward for capturing it, but Laestadius sees other traces that point to a far worse killer on the loose. After another maid is severely injured, Jussi and the pastor work to track down the murderer, unaware of the evil that is closing in on them. For it is revivalist times, and impassioned faith spreads like wildfire among the locals. While Laestadiuss powerful Sunday sermons grant salvation to farmers and workers, they gain him enemies among local rulers, who see profits dwindle as people choose revival over alcohol.A completely absorbing and unforgettable novel, To Cook a Bear both entertains and burrows deep down into the great philosophical questions of life.

Nous sommes en 1852, au cœur des magnifiques paysages du grand nord suédois. Lars Levi Læstadius, botaniste émérite, pasteur haut en couleur du petit village de Kengis et fondateur dun mouvement con

A wonderfully warm tale of weddings, funerals, marathon sauna contests and the incomparable thrill of your first kiss, from the Nick Hornby of the Arctic. Marina Warner, Sunday Times Its the 1960s, and pop records are gradually finding their way into the eager hands of teenagers in the far north of Sweden. Young Matti dreams of being a rock star but in the tiny ice-bound village of Pajala, a boy should really spend his time cultivating more manly pursuits, such as hunting elk, drinking moonshine and fighting on dancefloors Popular Music is one of the freshest, funniest debuts of recent years, and winner of the August prize, Swedens equivalent of the Man Booker. So wrap up warm and join Matti and the unforgettable community of Pajala in a wonderful tale of weddings, funerals and marathon sauna contests, the incomparable thrill of your first kiss and of finally hearing the Beatles.

La acción de la novela se sitúa a comienzos de los años 60, cuando su protagonista y narrador tiene cinco años. Los primeros pasos fuera del refugio familiar, el primer día de escuela, el primer amigo...., coinciden con los primeros pasos hacia el progreso de la primera generacion de adultos suecos relativamente prosperos. Incluso a esa legion fria y de identidad y reconocimiento nacional dudosos, llegan los primeros sintomas de riqueza, las primeras comodidades, las primeras libertades, los años 60.En un tono intimo y discretamente emotivo, el autor ya adulto, recuerda como fueron esos años, una epoca que no puede desligarse del primer amigo, un muchachito timido llamado Nila, hijo de familia numerosa, en un hogar gobernado por un padre alcoholico, fanatico, miembro de una de esas sectas derivadas del protestantismo que considera pecado cualquier minima distraccion del espiritu.En casa de Nila nadie habla, y es ese mutismo, lo que unira a ambos muchachos. A traves de una serie de anecdotas conocemos a la familia, el colegio, el pueblo, las costumbres del protagonista y sus vecinos y vemos como poco a poco el hielo de las tradiciones hasta el momento incontestables se va rompiendo con la llegada de la civilizacion, las carreteras y, el rock and roll.