Silenced by Kristina Ohlsson

A few months after Stockholm’s Criminal Investigation Division solved the case that exposed some pretty raw emotions, the group is in a lull. Not much is being asked of them. A couple cops are dispatched to an apartment after long time friends arriving for dinner find more than what was expected. Jakob Ahlbin, a local vicar and his wife are found in their bedroom, apparent victims of a murder-suicide. Jakob has a history of depression and seemed despondent and learning that one of his daughters has died of a drug overdose. Shortly afterwards, a middle eastern immigrant with no identification and no reports of being missing, is found dead from a hit and run.

            Friends say no way Jakob could’ve done this, but others aren’t so sure. No one has a clue about the John Doe. And the other Anlbin daughter is missing, sort of marooned in Thailand with no clothes, no hotel, no money, no passport, and unable to get a ticket home. The local cops think she’s involved with drug running and the Swedish Consulate is no help.

So much for boredom. Division leader Alex Recht, his partner Pedr Rydh, and civilian researcher Fredrika Bergman all think this shouldn’t be much. A murder-suicide and a hit-and-run. Check the reports, visit the scenes, study the photos, write the report.

The main question, as always, is the why. Yes, Jakob was depressed, but he was also involved with helping and harboring illegals in Sweden. And there’s still no identification of the Joe Doe. The unit learns of a 2^nd home owned by the Ahlbin’s. Their search shows that one daughter stops appearing in any family photos. Like she split and never returned.

And if work hadn’t become a bit of a circus, each member of the unit has, to put it bluntly, issues. Alex and his wife have grown increasingly distant with each other. Pedr Rydh has separated from his wife and IAD is on his case about some pretty crude comments directed at a hot newbie on the force. Fredrika is pregnant by her lover of nearly 10yrs and 20yrs her senior. Each has to try and keep their personal lives from interfering with the investigations.

Ohlsson weaves the continuing development of the backstories of the unit with the current investigations. What starts out as a murder-suicide turns sideways into an immigration question that is further complicated by whatever it was that happened 15 years ago at the Ahlbin’s vacation home. Multiple stories that shouldn’t intersect may just well tear the unit apart that, in the wink of an eye, becomes all the more twisted at a soul bearing confrontation. 

This makes it 3 for 3 for me by Ohlsson. All three have been intricately designed and expertly presented - everything that the lover of mysteries desires. Something about those Scandinavian mystery writers has struck a cord with the American audience. They have the gift. 

Three down, one to go.

ECD