This second book in what is at least for now the Voss trilogy featuring quirky writer and reporter Agnes Tveit, was a more than decent follow-up. I enjoyed it just as much as, if not even more than, the first book. It's a new mystery, but some storylines continue from the previous installment, so this is partly stand-alone, partly serialized, which is a type of hybrid storytelling I can often enjoy.

The pacing and the vibe are very similar to the first book, which gives everything a smooth and consistent feel, an overall sense of continuity; I almost get the sense that Fuglehaug had thought out large parts of this trilogy before the first one was even published, and that she may have already planned out how things will continue and possibly get resolved in the third book. (That remains to be seen; I'm starting on that one next)

I try never to spoil too much in my reviews, but one thing I enjoyed with this story, is the way we are given the chance to fully know the victim. This person dies almost instantly at the beginning, but as this was a person Agnes was writing about, we learn tidbits about the victim along the way through Agnes' various notes and interview recordings. And it's done with a dual purpose; we not only get more familiar with what kind of character the victim really was, but these old recordings are helpful when Agnes is trying to piece together clues and discover the truth about what really happened.

The opening death itself was pretty creative. It presents us with two mysteries simultaneously: who might have committed murder, and how was it accomplished?

Since this entire trilogy takes place in the real Norwegian town called Voss, this second book is just as much of a love letter to the town's culture and community as the first one was. Fuglehaug continues to blend real locations and real events in with the fiction, which surely helps readers from Voss vividly imagine where the story and scenes take place.

Through both books, I've enjoyed the balance between the actual crime/mystery portions. The character development of Agnes and the supporting characters she interacts with regularly, and the two elements are never fully separated. A character development moment can suddenly lead to another clue, and vice versa. This also perpetuates the serialized feel. Also, within this hybrid storytelling, Fuglehaug does a good job of dropping small hints and plot points along the way to build up and stretch out the mystery. Some bits and clues take us in different directions on occasion, but never in a way that makes us feel cheated by misdirection; all the pieces matter, so the question is just how they all fit together.

The dynamic between Agnes and the aforementioned supportive characters is also enjoyable. And the characters that have carried over into this second book never stop serving a purpose for the overall plot. It's convenient that since Agnes is a reporter, one of her childhood friends is a police officer who will, on occasion, slip her some updates on the ongoing investigation. A woman who is also a childhood friend of Agnes functions as both someone she can do a little snooping around with, and as exposition hidden within their gossip-style conversations. But although this plot device can be somewhat obvious at times, it never really feels like forced overexplanation.

Conclusion: Two books down, one to go, and I'm optimistic that the third book will also be quite enjoyable!