Carlsson, C: Blaze Me a Sun

The first great crime novel of 2023 is Blaze Me a Sun by the decorated Swedish crime writer Chrisoffer Carlsson, who twines together national and personal trauma to devastating effect... What I most loved is how Carlsson plumbs what can and cannot be known about human lives and criminal investigations . . . how familial love can blind people to difficult truths, and how 'closure' often never happens. New York Times Book Review (Editors Choice)

While this riveting work shares many aspects of the traditional police procedural, it also overflows genre boundaries to present the effects of fatal violence on the minds and lives of various characters across several generations...a gripping psychological study of the perils of forcing facts into preconceived patterns, and a reminder of how devastating learning the truth can be. Wall Street Journal

Blaze Me a Sun cements Christoffer Carlsson as one of Sweden s new crime fiction stars [and] is further proof that he is a worthy heir to titans such as Henning Mankell, Stieg Larsson and Håkan Nesser. Bookpage

A brainy page-turner from a rising star in Scandinavian crime fiction. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

[An] audacious mix of procedural and psychological thriller. Booklist

Carlsson is to the police procedural what Cormac McCarthy is to the Western If you read crime fiction, you ll find yourself gripped by the ingenious plotting If you read literary fiction, you ll find yourself moved by the gorgeous writing Blaze Me a Sun is the perfect novel. Anthony Marra

Blaze Me a Sun thrums with a relentless tension that culminates in one of the most satisfying and devastating endings I ve read in a long time. Angie Kim

A Russian doll of a mystery you think you know where this book is going. You don t. Carlsson s American debut is a wonder. Joseph Finder

Blaze Me a Sun is at once a crime novel and a gripping study in how we struggle to understand our own lives. Flynn Berry

A gripping, powerful story about an obsessive quest for truth. Chris Pavone

Carlsson is the finest crime writer we have in Sweden. His writing is a perfect combination of crystal clear prose and exact knowledge. David Lagercrantz

A sinister joyride. Adam White

The most gripping novel I've read this year. Grant Ginder

That rare crime novel that had me turning the pages in suspense, while also nearly moving me to tears. Christopher Bollen