When he woke the next day, it was a completely different mum who ran her hand through his hair, over and over again. It was a mum who had lost her voice, and with eyes that resembled Grandma’s. And in those eyes, in the pale-blue gaze that Vetle would never forget, there was something that even then caused his life to collapse in ruins, but that he only learned to put into words many years later.

Reproach.

It was the day before New Year’s Eve and the beginning of a new and dreadful time.

About the Author

ANNE HOLT is Norway’s bestselling female crime writer. She spent two years working for the Oslo Police Department before founding her own law firm and serving as Norway’s Minister for Justice between 1996 and 1997. She is published in 30 languages with over 7 million copies of her books sold.