As a rule, I’m not fond of the serial-killer-with-mommy-issues-preying-on-young-women trope but this thriller breaks the mold. The book is so cleverly plotted that you don’t recognize the trope until the very end bursts like a dam, leaving you torn between gasping in shock and saluting in admiration at the writer’s outstanding grasp of the craft.
The first thing I loved about INTO THIN AIR, first in the new Arctic Mysteries series (hopefully many more to come!) is that the lead character is introduced during a time of transition in his life. Jacob Weber’s wife has passed away and he’s slowly getting used to life on his own. Luckily, he has an empathetic dog that comes into the office with him.
Jacob is head of a tiny team of police detectives in Bodø, Norway, above the Arctic Circle. When a young woman who has applied to the police academy goes missing during a run through a popular wooded trail, the prime suspect is her on-again, off-again boyfriend from a wealthy family.
Seen through Jacob’s eyes as well as those of a female cop who has something to prove, the investigation into the runner’s disappearance unfolds at the same time as seemingly unrelated events. On the nearby island of Røst, a disabled young man is locked in a feud with a violent and erratic neighbor. A popular Scandinavian wellness influencer visits the area to introduce her millions of followers to the healthy northern lifestyle. The unnamed killer drives around in a specially outfitted van, stalking unwary female travelers at highway rest stops.
Jacob’s investigation jumps into high gear when he connects two previous murders to the runner’s disappearance and is able to pinpoint the time and place when the app she was using to time her runs stopped working.
The pacing is sensational, with the various points of view swapping places at crucial high-tension moments. Short chapters, a drumbeat of suspense, and strong characters you want to root for made it a fast and compelling read. Not to mention the setting, which makes the most of Bodø’s remote location and sparse population.
Norway is one of my favorite places, which is why I read Jo Nesbo’s BLOOD TIES and INTO THIN AIR is quick succession. Both are wonderfully atmospheric books, but to be honest, INTO THIN AIR had me flipping pages faster. I can’t wait for the second book in the series!
Highly recommended.
