The Darkest Room: A Novel

Since I discovered Karin Fossum's "The Indian Bride" last year, I've been hooked on the mysteries/thrillers by Scandinavian authors. My favorites are Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, Steig Larssen, Mari Jungstedt, Arnaldur Indridasson, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, and now, Johan Theorin. I picked "The Darkest Room" as a Kindle title, and did not expect to be so completely drawn...more

Since I discovered Karin Fossum's "The Indian Bride" last year, I've been hooked on the mysteries/thrillers by Scandinavian authors. My favorites are Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, Steig Larssen, Mari Jungstedt, Arnaldur Indridasson, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, and now, Johan Theorin. I picked "The Darkest Room" as a Kindle title, and did not expect to be so completely drawn in by the haunting mystery and the rich atmosphere surrounding the island of Oland, off the Swedish coast. The main setting is Eel Point, which is made up of an imposing and historic manor house, itself built using timber from a shipwreck and thus associated with supersitions by the locals who think it cursed. This is not helped by the dark reputation it has acquired over the decades after several deaths there. The author credibly uses the flashback technique to show us the numerous tragedies that have befallen the inhabitants of Eel Point over the years since the 1800s. In the contemporary setting, the reader is introduced to Joakim and Katrine Westin, a young couple who have recently moved from Stockholm to Oland, having bought the manor house at Eel Point. Together with their two young children, Livia and Gabriel, the family is in the process of settling into their new home when tragedy strikes. Tilda Davidsson is the novice cop who assumes responsibility on the island and finds her hands full dealing with suspicious break-ins throughout the island, a complicated love affair, and also a great-uncle who is recounting old family stories to her. The different story arcs are well-explored and credibly told, with a cast of interesting characters that are also explored at length, especially the main characters, i.e. Joakim and Tilda. These are complex characters that draw readers into their confused and complicated worlds, and elicit one's empathy. There is a great sense of atmosphere throughout this novel, especially of the harsh winter climate, as portrayed through the unforgiving blizzard 3/4 into the novel. Elements of the supernatural are also explored, but without an element of the fantastic, instead it is seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story so as to render it altogether credible. The descriptions of the manor house, the two lighthouses, and the rest of Oland enhance the atmosphere in the novel. "The Darkest Room" will appeal to fans of atmospheric mysteries, and has all the elements essential to good storytelling - a compelling and unpredictable plot, interesting multifaceted characters as well as high atmosphere and vivid descriptions. Highly recommended!   hide