Lead Review (plus Gunnar Staalesen talks to us about BERGEN)

• Book: Wolves in the Dark (Varg Veum)
• Location: Bergen
• Author: Gunnar Staalesen

Review Author: tripfiction

Imagine being woken at 7.00am by police ringing your doorbell loudly. Imagine them confiscating your computer containing unimaginable images of child pornography – with you actually participating in some of the scenes. Imagine believing you are 100% innocent, but not knowing how to start to defend yourself against such accusations. And, of course, the lingering fear that 100% might in fact be only 99% – you have an alcohol problem and have no memory of several nights in the recent past… what might have happened during one of those drinking sessions? Self doubt kicks in.

This is what happens to private detective, Varg Veum, in the opening chapter of Wolves in the Dark. And this is where his nightmare begins…He is arrested and taken to the local Bergen police station for questioning. He manages (a little easily it must be said…) to escape during a bathroom break. With only his girlfriend, Sølvi, to aid him he goes into hiding. And begins to try and work out what is happening. Someone must be out to get him… but who exactly and why? He goes back in his mind over recent cases. Who has he offended so much that such vengeance could be deemed appropriate, and who has the technological expertise needed to infiltrate his computer and place the material on it? Veum’s investigations lead him into the underbelly of life in Bergen – vice traffickers, computer hackers, and the plain old fashioned criminal fraternity. It is fast paced and exciting story that moves to a thrilling – and unexpected – conclusion.

This is an excellent book for TripFiction’s armchair or actual travellers. A map of Bergen precedes the first chapter and it is easy to follow the plot around the city. Staalesen is a native of Bergen, and his intimate knowledge shows. You can almost feel you are there…

Wolves in the Dark is the sixteenth book in the Varg Veum series, going back over 40 years! It is very well translated by Don Bartlett. The subject matter is distasteful, and it is quite a brave man who would choose to write in such areas. Staalesen does, though, pull it off. Wolves in the Dark is an exciting and well constructed thriller, covering pretty dark subject matter. A great addition to the world of Scandi Noir.

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