“[A] superb series launch.”
— Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
For fans of the Netflix series Borgen and WWII history buffs, A Death in Denmark is a page-turning Nordic thriller with a cosmopolitan vibe, introducing Gabriel Præst, an ex-Copenhagen cop (with impeccable fashion sense), Blues musician, and pursuer of truth as he explores Denmark’s Nazi-collaborator past and anti-Muslim present in this intelligent and stimulating murder mystery.
Everyone in Denmark knew that Yousef Ahmed, a Muslim refugee from Iraq, brutally murdered the right-wing politician Sanne Melgaard. So, when part-time Blues musician, frustrated home renovator, and full-time private investigator Gabriel Præst agrees to investigate the matter because his ex—the one who got away—asked him, he knew it was a no-win case.
But as Gabriel starts to ask questions, his face meets with the fists of Russian gangsters, the Danish Prime Minister asks him for a favor, and he starts to realize that something may be rotten in the State of Denmark.
Wondering if Yousef was framed to heighten the local anti-Muslim sentiment, Gabriel follows a trail back in time to World War II when anti-Semitism was raging during the German occupation of Denmark. Fearing such a mindset has resurfaced, Gabriel rolls up the sleeves of his well-cut suit and gets to work. From the cobblestone streets of Copenhagen to the historic strassen of Berlin where the sounds of the steel-toed boots of marching Nazis still linger, Gabriel finds that some very powerful Danes don’t want him digging into the case—as the secrets he unearths could shake the foundations of Danish identity.
PRAISE FOR “a death in denmark”
““A Death in Denmark” is a fascinating political thriller set in present-day Denmark, with interesting historical flashbacks to Nazi crimes during their WWII Europe regime. Fans of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” will love this spy thriller.”
“This superb series launch from Malladi introduces PI Gabriel Præst...[whose] pursuit of the truth takes some unexpected directions on the way to the satisfying conclusion. A killer plot matches an unusual lead sleuth, and secrets from Denmark’s WWII past enhance the story line.”
“This engaging thriller, the first in a series, is narrated with panache by Robert Petkoff, who brings both humor and steely grit to his performance. Listeners will want to get acquainted with this quirky P.I.”
“Præst’s incisive interviewing links current political shifts to Denmark’s complicated past as the Mob’s constant threat drives action; recommended for both gumshoe and political-thriller fans.”
“This is the first novel in this new series, and it’s great. The character of Gabriel Præst is well-written, clever, funny, and smart. I can’t wait to read more novels with him, his supporting cast of characters, and his quest to finish his house.”
“A DEATH IN DENMARK is the best kind of mystery novel: smart, well-researched, and well-written, it weaves an investigation into the past and present led by a truly compelling hero. This is an auspicious start to a new series. I loved it.” ”
“This is not your usual ex-cop turn PI mystery! Malladi captures the Scandinavian sparseness with powerful dialogue and a true sense of place. The reader is gripped from the beginning and lead on a complex journey with provoking questions for all of us: how far have we really come and will we ever get there. An excellent read!”
“An intricate tapestry of a novel that unflinchingly lays bare the human cost of politically cultivated hate. Gabriel Præst had me firmly in his well-tailored pockets from the very first page. A fast-paced, emotionally rich, and whip smart read!”
““Past and present collide in this tense Nordic thriller about a Danish PI investigating the links between a Muslim refugee convicted of murder and a powerful politician with a Nazi-sympathizer past. Filled with vivid imagery and beautiful prose, A DEATH IN DENMARK is part page-turner, part unflinching examination of the racism and nationalism woven through modern Danish society. A compelling and fast-paced read, with an ending that lingers long after the last page.””
“Philip Marlowe meets Nordic Noir in A DEATH IN DENMARK, a jazzy murder mystery that digs up Copenhagen’s past Nazi ties in the inescapable context of the country’s current refugee policies.”
“Part mystery and part international thriller, make A DEATH IN DENMARK a compelling read. Amulya Malladi weaves together World War II and Nazi sympathizers with current European anti-immigrant politics, as well as the Russian Mafia; and introduces Gabriel Præst, a hard boiled private detective with a cosmopolitan flair who readers will want more of.”
“A DEATH IN DENMARK is a thrilling and timely Nordic Noir with themes centered around tolerance, pulling together political secrets of World War II and how we treat immigrants in society today. Gabriel Præst is a strong and interesting protagonist supported by a rich gallery of different personalities. The detailed descriptions of Copenhagen will make you want to go there to follow in Gabriel’s footsteps.”