In The Prophet and the Idiot, Swedish author Jonas Jonasson (Sweet Sweet Revenge Ltd) applies his singular humor and empathy to a cast of misfits. Amateur astrophysicist Petra has worked out that the world is coming to an end in September 2011, but no one heeds her warnings--until she encounters Johan, a culinary savant who is "slow of thought" and has recently been manipulated out of a fortune by his brother, Fredrik. Petra has been ill-treated, too, and together she and Johan set out to use their final days on Earth to redress old grievances and seize missed opportunities before it's too late.
Their efforts quickly go awry, and soon they're fleeing Sweden with the assistance of a violet-haired septuagenarian named Agnes, whose lucrative online travel influencer persona is about blow up in her face. A rollicking world tour takes the trio to Germany, Italy, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and the United States.
Along the way, they encounter U.S. President Barack Obama, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations, corrupt Russian officials on the run from the mafia, and the rulers of a remote (and fictional) island nation. They dabble in international diplomacy, banking fraud, Ponzi schemes, and election tampering--all mostly in the interest of the public good.
The novel is enhanced by elaborate descriptions of the delicious menus and wine pairings Johan creates as he travels from country to country, educating chefs and proselytizing the virtues of the delectable Swedish Västerbotten cheese. The Prophet and the Idiot will be enjoyed by readers of light, warmhearted, humorous fiction. --Elizabeth DeNoma, executive editor, DeNoma Literary Services, Seattle, Wash.