Reviews

• “Lina Bengtsdotter varies her theme extremely skillfully and adds another piece of the puzzle to the big picture about acknowledging what one has tried to suppress from one’s youth. /…/ As usual, it is Lina Bengtsdotter’s way of generating a charged atmosphere that becomes the defining factor. To travel to Silverbro with Vega is to end up in another world, uncannily similar to the real one but with more dangerous creatures. And it is not only the others who are dangerous, you can also catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and get a shock.”

• “In the midst of all the misery, there is a love for the small town, a community where you stick together despite all the trouble. /…/ The plot grows bit by bit and after just a few chapters it’s a page-turner.”

• “Lina Bengtsdotter has constructed a thrilling story with guilt, shame and jealousy as salient ingredients. In short, it’s a page-turner that you will have a hard time putting down.”

• “Bengtsdotter’s strength lies in the portrayal of the poor working-class society where alcohol and drugs flow, violence is ever present, and everyone is broken in their own way. Where the possibilities for the youth are few and dreams die even before they have time to get off the ground. [Bengtsdotter] is talented at creating ambience and the harsh reality for the teenagers here most certainly feels convincing. Play With Fire is one of the best Swedish psychological thrillers this year so far.”

• “Lina Bengtsdotter skilfully constructs an intriguing plot that leads to an ending with many unexpected twists and secrets unveiled. It deals a lot with guilt and jealousy, as well as with creating relationships and emotional bonds between the characters. The characters are depicted very vividly, as are the milieus. /…/ A truly well-written novel that is hard to put down.”

• “Bengtsdotter enjoys placing the events of her novels in small towns and writes skillfully about their hidden secrets and shame, about people’s lifelong grievances and losses. /…/ Play with Fire envelopes the reader in a poignantly melancholic atmosphere.”

• “A genius set-up where present time is interchanged with the past and where the events that happened back then are retold like a novel in within the novel. A suspense novel I wish I’d been able to write myself.”

• “Yet again [Bengtsdotter] displays her excellent ability to portray more or less damaged teenagers. /…/ It’s a rather complex intrigue, and just like in [Bengtsdotter’s] trilogy she possesses a great talent for juggling all the storylines and guiding us readers along the narrative’s meandering paths. Well-written and thrilling.”

• “At first glance it appears to be a classic crime novel, but there’s so much more to it. Here are reflections on friendships, aspirations and life choices, in a language elevated from the classic suspense novel. /…/ Read it and enjoy the ride!”

• “Many thrillers use parallel stories and flashbacks. Few do it as well as Lina Bengtsdotter. Sober and gripping.”