A dark noir thriller set on the STOCKHOLM archipelago

15th December 2025

Scars of Silence by Johana Gustawsson, a dark noir thriller set on the Stockholm archipelago.

Translated by David Warriner.

Scars of Silence is another great noir thriller from Johana Gustawsson. It is largely set on Lidingö, a small island in the archipelago close to Stockholm. It concerns four murders, one in 1999 and three is 2023. In the first a girl, Jenny, dressed in a Saint Lucia costume was brutally killed and her body was left in the woods close to her school. She had been taking part in the December 13th pageant to celebrate the saint. Her boyfriend, Gustav, was arrested and tried for her murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to 24 years in prison. His mother killed herself shortly afterwards.

Fast forward to 2023. Gustav kills himself just before he is released back into the community. One boy, and then another, are murdered on the island. The crimes appear to be copycat killings of Jenny’s murder all those years ago. Almost forgotten feelings are rekindled, the island is in a state of trauma. Both boys’ bodies are dressed in Saint Lucia costumes. But what could the connection be with original murder? Aleks, a senior local police officer, and Maïa, a French detective on sabbatical in Sweden, investigate. Maïa is ‘summoned’ to meet with Sophia, a very successful Stockholm publisher and grandmother of Gustav, who, of course, was sentenced for Jenny’s killing. She wants Maïa to re-examine the case.

Aleks and Maïa develop a theory, interview the parents of the two killed boys, and believe they are making progress. Then their theory is shattered, a fourth murder is committed in Stockholm itself. A middle aged cardiac surgeon is found dead, killed in exactly the same way as the boys – and also dressed in a Saint Lucia costume. Back to square one. What is the connection between events of 1999 and those of the present day? Who is hiding what?

The plot takes some extraordinary turns as it develops. The events of the present day begin to make sense in the light of events of the past. Someone is looking for vengeance.

Scars of Silence is very well constructed and worked through book. It has the trademark signatures of noir and, in particular, Johana’s interpretation of the genre.

Highly recommended.

Tony for the TripFiction team

Join team TripFiction on Social Media:

Twitter (@TripFiction), Facebook (@TripFiction.Literarywanderlust), YouTube (TripFiction #Literarywanderlust), Instagram (@TripFiction) and Pinterest (@TripFiction) and BlueSky(tripfiction.bsky.social) and Threads (@tripfiction)

Subscribe to future blog posts