I guess it's a bit odd in some ways to write a review in English for a book that's written in Norwegian and currently doesn't appear to have an English translation. But Norwegian books have gotten English editions in the past, so in case any of my English-speaking friends get the chance to read this story in the future, they are welcome to say whether or not they agree with my thoughts.

Personally, I really enjoyed this! While Fuglehaug has written books before, this is her debut in the adult crime genre, yet I'd say it's very well written and is a genuine, authentic murder mystery as if crime has always been her main genre.

Coming from a small town environment myself, the setting for this story felt very familiar, very Norwegian. It all takes place in a real Norwegian town, called Voss, even though the characters themselves are fictional. The writer's attention to detail when placing the scenario in a real-life environment makes gives the story a very authentic feel. The narration has a consistent, smooth flow, with descriptions that truly make things vividly come to life in one's mind.

The pacing is very nicely done as well; we are first presented with a unique death, and things just start building and branching out from there, until there are several plausible explanations for what really happened, and you are genuinely left unsure which is the real one. I won't reveal too much since this is a murder mystery, but I like that Fuglehaug didn't make things too obvious along the way, thus the reveal at the end was a genuine surprise. The fact that it takes place in a typical Norwegian town, the kind of town that is usually very folksy and wholesome, makes all the nasty secrets, the behind-the-scenes drama, and the intrigues that end up leading up to a murder all the more entertaining to piece together.

One thing that makes the main character, Agnes, stand out is that she's not a detective with vast experience in solving crimes. She's a reporter in a local newspaper, and it's pretty much her relentless curiosity and ability to snoop around that causes her to involve herself more and more in the investigation, sometimes in ways that annoy people around her and get her in trouble.

As a character in and of herself, I like that Agnes is made to be extremely human; clumsy, moody, socially awkward at times, often hungry, impulsive, and not always entirely sure what she wants in her life, but it's all presented in a way that makes her feel real, and gives her a certain charm. She's not meant to be a brilliant investigator who heroically reveals the killer with little effort; she stumbles her way through clues and rumors and misdirection until she finds snippets of truth along the way against all odds.

I read another crime novel earlier this year, and in my review, I pointed out that the author had focused too much on the main character's personal life and not enough on the actual murder mystery. I feel that Fuglehaug did a much better job of maintaining a balance in this story. We become quite acquainted with Agnes and some of her closest friends and family (and "enemies"), but the investigation is often woven into everything and is never forgotten. It helps you genuinely care about Agnes, and root for her to get to the bottom of the mystery.

It was fun to follow her journey through this story, and as Fuglehaug has written two follow-up novels, I'm already looking forward to reading what Agnes gets herself into next time!