Book reviews: A trio of Nordic Noir to chill the warmest hearts!

Nordic Crime has long held our attention as a hive of authentic, compelling stories from Iceland to Norway and from Sweden to Denmark. I've chosen a trio to recommend  to you.  The first a compelling domestic crime from Karin Fossum, the second a brooding Icelandic police procedural from Arnaldur Indridason and the third a shocking Swedish story based on real life by Anton Svensson.

The Drowned Boy by Karin Fossum is the 11th Chief Inspector Seger book.  When Carmen Zita's Downs Syndrome child is found drowned in a pond near his home Seger instinctively feels the mother is lying, however with no evidence to support his suspicions  and with yet more tragedy befalling the young mother Seger resigns himself to the fact that little Tommy's death will go unpunished.  Fossum, has a way of creating characters that really speak to the reader and Carmen Zita is one such character.  Fossum effortlessly portrays this young mother on the one hand as a chilling selfish creature and on the other as a young immature child. A convincing study of maternal disaffection with great characterisation.  Fossum's expert exploration of the character's psychology makes this an intense and emotional read.  thoroughly enjoyable!
Available on Amazon HB £15.65, PB £12.08, Kindle £8.54
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Drowned-Boy-Inspector-Sejer-11/dp/1846558549/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434624609&sr=8-1&keywords=the+drowned+boy

Oblivion by Arnuldar Inrdasson

This is a prequel to Indridason's previous Erlandur Sveinsson books and conjures up the cold Icelandic climate right from the start.  A battered body is discovered in a thermal spa outside Reykjavik and the man has links to the US naval base whose oppressive presence is resented and Erlandur becomes obsessed by the disappearance 25 years ago of a young girl who also had links to the naval base.  An interesting foray into Icelandic politics, human nature and of course a must for fans of the older Erlandur Sveinsson.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oblivion-Reykjavik-Murder-Mysteries-11-ebook/dp/B00QDGVGJE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438854749&sr=1-1&keywords=oblivion+arnaldur+indridason

The Father: Made in Sweden Part 1 by Anton Svensson

this book is inspred by a true story about three of Sweden's most notorious criminals and is told form the point of view of the fourth brother.  The Father: Made in Sweden Part 1 is a poignant portrayal of domestic abuse by a father against his son's and the long lasting ramifications for the brothers and his continued hold over them as they progress through a life of crime, dysfunctional and desperate.  It invites debate about the whole Nature V Nurture theories and is both moving and chilling as well as being completely compelling from the overwhelming spectre of the father to the desperate lives of the brothers set on an inevitable downward spiral. Definitely recommended!
Available on Amazon kindle for £7.49 and HB £13.48
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Made-Sweden-Part/dp/075155782X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438855316&sr=1-1- for thefkmr0&keywords=made+in+sweden%3A+the+sins+of+the+father