Reviews

• “Sparklingly written about a difficult dilemma. /…/ The Traitor is a renewal of the former policeman’s authorship, and the novel transcends the usual crime genre without compromising the suspense. With this novel, Jørn Lier Horst steers Norwegian crime fiction in a new direction, and succeeds in doing so. /…/ Jørn Lier Horst masterfully builds the suspense into a nerve-racking conclusion, where the reader is held captive not knowing till the last minute whether Wisting will make it as a respected and serious detective, or if he will be made into a scapegoat at great personal cost.”

• “The Traitor is one of the very best novels that [Lier Horst] has ever written. /…/ Jørn Lier Horst is a very skilled writer – his pen always makes the text accessible, but never unsubstantial. This means that the 69 chapters and roughly 350 pages fly by – it is very difficult, even close to impossible, to put this story away. /…/ Ethics and loyalty become central elements along the way and bestow this thrilling crime novel with an added dimension. Does Wisting cross the finish line in the end? I guess he always does, but this time around he is faced with worse obstacles than usual and in this way Jørn Lier Horst elevates his and Wisting’s universe to a whole other level.”

• “Jørn Lier Horst writes sympathetic crime fiction for all. /…/ It’s an interesting query into treachery versus loyalty that Horst delineates.”

• “The series about policeman William Wisting in Larsvik continues, and it’s not difficult to understand why; the Norwegian policeman is a sympathetic man that is easy to like. /…/ Horst puts together an exciting story. ”

• “It’s an unusual crime title because it’s so authentic. (…) Those of you who haven’t read this series have a lot to look forward to. He [William Wisting] is a fun acquaintance, and he is believable as a character. (…) There is a lot of headwork and clever solutions. ”

• “Every time I finish even one-quarter of another crime novel by Jørn Lier Horst, I wants to shout that this is probably the best crime writer there is, and his best work to date. This time, the author finds an opportunity to place the main character of his novels, probably one of the most human and big-hearted police inspectors, William Wisting, in a situation where he has to abandon all his beliefs and turn his back on both himself and the whole system that he’s a part of and has shaped his soul and life. To save his loved ones, he must swim against the current, all the while doubting what he’s doing and fearing failure.”

• “Jørn Lier Horst knows the art of writing suspenseful crime stories.”

• “It’s an art form, writing objective realism without it becoming monotonous, and Jørn Lier Horst has fully mastered it.”

• “This is, like Horst’s previous novels, a lucid, well-written crime story with clear-cut characters and a milieus that feel alive. The plot is thrilling, and comes to a dramatic close.”