Copenhagen author Hannah is the darling of the literary community and her novels have achieved massive critical acclaim. But nobody actually reads them, and frustrated by writer’s block, Hannah has the feeling that she’s doing something wrong.
When she expresses her contempt for genre fiction, Hannah is publicly challenged to write a crime novel in thirty days. Scared that she will lose face, she accepts, and her editor sends her to Húsafjöður – a quiet, tight-knit village in Iceland, filled with colourful local characters – for inspiration.
But two days after her arrival, the body of a fisherman’s young son is pulled from the water … and what begins as a search for plot material quickly turns into a messy and dangerous investigation that threatens to uncover secrets that put everything at risk … including Hannah…
Atmospheric, dramatic and full of nerve-jangling twists and turns, Thirty Days of Darkness is a darkly funny, unsettling debut Nordic Noir thriller that marks the start of a breath-taking new series.
I'm delighted to be hosting the blog tour for Thirty Days of Darkness today. Many thanks to Jenny Lund Madsen, Orenda Books and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me and for my advance copy of the novel.
First things first; Hannah Krause-Bendix is not an easy character to like. She's spiky, judgemental and a literary snob who is particularly dismissive of crime fiction. Full plaudits then to Jenny Lund Madsen who not only kept me fully immersed in Hannah's increasingly traumatic trip to Iceland, she also eventually had me rooting for her. To create a protagonist who is frequently rude and awkward and yet still somebody I became invested in takes both courage and skill – I'm excited to note that this accomplished debut is just the start of a new series.
When Hannah lashes out at popular crime author Jørn Jensen at a book fair, she sets in motion a series of events which eventually results in her, if not completely changing who she is, at least making some discoveries about what it is she needs in her life. Having made the bold claim that anybody can write a crime novel, she is given little choice but to accept the challenge to do exactly that. Her friend and editor sends her to a small village in Iceland, hoping that the peace and the long, dark days will provide the perfect inspiration for a book which will reignite a career filled with plaudits and awards but few sales.
The murder of a young man who lives in Húsafjöður might be shocking but it's also quite opportune for Hannah who realises that she really does have the inspiration for her plot. Although there is something distasteful about using a recent tragedy in such a blatant manner – she barely even changes the names of her characters – as the novel progresses, Hannah's interest in the case becomes less self-serving. While she never fully confronts her issues, especially her alcoholism, the thawing of her protective shell is rather heartwarming,
Her blunt manner and often reckless determination to uncover the truth means she frequently infuriates the residents of Húsafjöður but somehow her inept sleuthing methods seem to pay off and she gradually begins to develop a list of potential suspects. As she digs into the town's secrets, she becomes a target herself and although Thirty Days of Darkness is often humorous, it's also undeniably nerve-wracking. Hannah is in real danger here and shocking revelations mean she never truly knows who she can trust.
Such a strong lead character needs a memorable cast to interact with and Húsafjöður is packed with beautifully drawn characters. I grew fond of three in particular; long-suffering police officer, Viktor, who up until this point has worked alone but now has to deal with a complex, dangerous case and an interfering Danish woman; his wife, Margrét, whose actions surprised me on more than one occasion; and Hannah's landlady, Ella who can only converse with her through notes written in a confusing mixture of broken English and Scandinavian. Hannah proves herself to be an appalling houseguest at times and Ella is for the most part, remarkably sanguine about her behaviour – which makes it even more intriguing when she does react...
Thirty Days of Darkness has all the atmospheric chills I've come to expect from the best of Nordic Noir but it made me laugh out loud several times too. The humour mostly comes from Hannah's misfortunes and they are a delightful combination of the physical – the less said about a rapidly terminated breakfast the better – and the verbal, as she tries and fails to control herself, especially when interacting with her hated rival. It is also a surprisingly poignant novel and the more we learn about Hannah, the easier it becomes to understand why she is like this and to admire her bravery, both in terms of the murder case and her personal life. Megan Turney's translation ensures this compulsive, irreverent thriller loses none of its drama, warmth or humour.
Thirty Days of Darkness began as a book which fascinated and irritated me in almost equal measure, thanks to its singular protagonist, and which I finished loving her for all her foibles and desperate for more. Superbly plotted throughout, this fresh, compelling debut is an absolute treat; I highly recommend it.
Thirty Days of Darkness is published by Orenda Books, it can be purchased directly from the publisher or find more links to buy here.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
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About the Author
Jenny Lund Madsen is one of Denmark’s most acclaimed scriptwriters (including the international hits Rita and Follow the Money) and is known as an advocate for better representation for sexual and ethnic minorities in Danish TV and film. She recently made her debut as a playwright with the critically acclaimed Audition (Aarhus Teater) and her debut literary thriller, Thirty Days of Darkness, first in an addictive new series, won the Harald Mogensen Prize for Best Danish Crime Novel of the year and was shortlisted for the coveted Glass Key Award. She lives in Denmark with her young family.
About the Translator
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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