Writing about serial killers in Sweden is a challenge--the country really doesn't have a serial killer problem. So Arne Dahl does the next best thing in Bad Blood, the second book of his Intercrime Trilogy--he imports a killer from the United States. "This is a seriously damaged person of the sort that the American system seems to produce on an assembly line," Detective Superintendent Jan-Olov Hultin informs the members of the Special Unit for Violent Crimes of an International Nature, "and that they would have been welcome to refrain from exporting. But now he's here."
When the killer unleashes his fury on three Swedish victims, Hultin and the rest of the A-Unit lock and load for the ultimate manhunt. At every turn, they face new challenges that intensify the stakes and obscure the goals. Sweden may never be the same again.
The middle book of a trilogy can often deter new readers, but Dahl has done an exceptional job of writing Bad Blood to stand independent of its predecessor. Dahl's special police unit is a diverse group of law enforcement agents whose chemistry creates dark humor amid the intense themes. The self-contained plot brims with deception, twists and suspense. Nothing is what it seems.
Recognition should also be given to Rachel Willson-Broyles's exemplary translation. The beauty of Dahl's language juxtaposed with the heinous subject matter is preserved in her English version, allowing readers to appreciate Dahl's skill with dialogue and imagery.
There may be plenty of bad blood in this thriller, but it makes for great reading. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts