A Death in Denmark by Amulya Malladi
Meet Gabriel Præst, an ex-Copenhagen cop (who dresses with panache), jazz aficionado, and relentless pursuer of truth as he explores Denmark’s Nazi-collaborator past and anti-Muslim present in a page-turning Nordic murder mystery with a cosmopolitan vibe
Everyone in Denmark knew that Yousef Ahmed, a refugee from Iraq, brutally murdered the right-wing politician Sanne Melgaard. So, when part-time blues musician, frustrated home renovator, and full- time private detective Gabriel Præst agrees to investigate the matter because his ex—the one who got away—asked him to, he knew it was a no-win case.
But as Gabriel starts to ask questions, his face meets with the fists of Russian gangsters; the Danish prime minister asks him for a favor; and he starts to realize that something may be rotten in the state of Denmark.
Wondering if Yousef was framed to heighten the local anti-Muslim sentiment, Gabriel follows a trail back in time to World War II when anti-Semitism was raging in Europe during the German occupation of Denmark. Fearing a nationalistic mindset has resurfaced, Gabriel rolls up the sleeves of his well-cut suit and gets to work. From the cobblestone streets of Copenhagen to the historic Strassen of Berlin where the sounds of the steel-toed boots of marching Nazis still linger, Gabriel finds that some very powerful Danes don’t want him digging into the case—as the secrets he unearths could shake the foundations of Danish identity.
About the author
Amulya Malladi is the bestselling author of eight novels, including The Copenhagen Affair, A House for Happy Mothers, and The Mango Season. Her books have been translated into several languages, including Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Danish, Romanian, Serbian, and Tamil. She won a screenwriting award for her work on Ø (Island), a Danish series that aired on Amazon Prime Global and Studio Canal+. Currently living in California, she is a Danish citizen who was born and raised in India.
Review
‘A Death in Denmark’ is an atmospheric piece of Nordic Noir in which past and present clash, with a complex and engaging narrative. This is the start of a brand-new series and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book as I really enjoyed reading this one!
Introducing Gabriel Praest, ex-Copenhagen cop, Blues musician and snappy dresser! Everyone in Copenhagen knows that Yousef Ahmed, a Muslim refugee from Iraq has killed the right-wing politician Sanne Melgaard. But when Gabriel’s ex asks him to look into the death he feels as if he has no choice but to do so. When he starts to ask questions he finds a side of Denmark which he doesn't like and one that can be linked back to World War II and the rise of anti-Semitism. He fears that history is repeating itself and he is compelled to act.
I thoroughly enjoy books that bring important topics into the open and explore the basis of them and how they relate to history. The author here as certainly done that as it looks into the parallels between the anti-Semitism during the war and the rise of anti-Muslim feelings in the present. It was an empathetic look that balances the need to entertain with education. I also really liked the main guy, Gabriel as he just goes with his gut and good heart. I can't wait to see what he gets up to next!
Let me know if you pick this one up.
