The book
“Murder out of season” is the first mystery of Arwin J. Seamanpseudonym of one famous Italian writer, whose identity has not yet been revealed. The story takes place on the small island of Liten, between Denmark and Sweden, a place that only comes alive in summer, when tourism takes it by storm.
However, in winter, when the murder occurs which begins the story, all the shops are closed, the climate is unforgiving and most residents have to take the ferry in the morning and return in the evening if they want to go to school or work.
Living in an isolated and rather small place can create strong bonds of belonging between the inhabitantswho all know each other, but also and precisely for this reason envy, jealousy and strong distrust towards foreigners, when they perhaps expect to move and build new bonds within the small community.
This also happens when he arrives on the island to follow the investigation Henning Olsson, well-known inspector of Malmö. He is treated with extreme coldness and immediately perceives little cooperation among the residents, who suffer terribly from the death of a young girl known to everyone in Liten, who was found murdered in a lake.
It’s Olsson, great forensic expertthe protagonist of the story, but it is also true that this role is continually played with the island of Liten, which in some ways becomes his antagonist, as if it opposed his presence and hindered the investigation in every way, but even his love life, since he is in love with Anneliea young agent who left him to move, without giving explanations, to that inhospitable place.
“Murder out of season” is a An engaging and at times disturbing Nordic thrillerin which the pieces of the mystery to be solved slowly fit together, keeping the reader enveloped in the dark atmosphere of the island until the end.
A curiosity: this is it the first in a series of detective stories set in Liten. The second novel was in fact released a year after the first, precisely a month ago, and is titled “A day of apparent calm”.
“Resentment is a comfortable bed, which you don’t have to share with anyone.”
The board
“Murder out of season” by Arwin J.Seiman, 2023, Piemme, pp.384.
Tags: book Murder Season Seaman investigation Liten Island
