It took me a little while to get into this book as I found the father a difficult character to take to. However his perspective gave a good introduction to the family and how far you would go as parents to protect that unit. Once I had moved on to the daughter’s and mother ‘s perspectives I raced through it. I did not expect the ending - had not foreseen it. The pace built well and I came away feeling satisfied with how the story had come together.

Would you really compromise yourself so far to save your family? I am not sure but certainly hope to never be in that position.

A courtroom drama that draws you into the story page by page. Told from three points of view it describes just how far parents will go to protect their child. Believable characters although I did not totally agree with the mother's arguments.

I've read a lot of fantastic books recently through NetGalley but this is a standout of the year for me. I was consumed with this story and think it is probably my favourite book of the year so far.

The different POVs really allowed me to understand each person's perspectives and motives. I was hooked for every twist and turn.

I cannot wait to read more books by this author and I will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen to me.

I really enjoyed this book. Written from three different perspectives from the same family, Dad a Pastor, Mother a Lawyer and their teenage daughter who clearly has a mind of her own who was charged with the murder of a wealthy businessman with a questionable background. I was very much taken in by the unfolding story. it was hard to put down at times. It certainly made me wonder how far I would go to save my family. Thought provoking and very well written.

Wow, what an amazing read! I just couldn't put it down as soon as I got to Stella's point of view.

I loved how it was split into Adam the pastor's view, Stella's and finally her Mothers. A great story that had me gripped from start to finish.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A totally intriguing story about a family and all allegation which results in a daughter accused of murder. Twists and turns and I was totally gripped, it got better as it went on!

Bloody loved this book - couldn't put it down. I loved the way it was told from multiple POV and I loved how the characters slowly revealed their flaws. The setting was great and the contrast between the seeming perfection of their lives and the dark underbelly and secrets.

A great holiday read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC

This was an excellent book which I highly recommend any thriller-lover picks up.
It was split into three parts and with each part came a completely different voice, a completely different view on what was going on and a completely different theory from me. Every character was so individual and distinguishable from one another and I definitely felt that added to the book because the event was so family-central that the way Edvardssen wrote the people needed to have them be separate from one another in their outlook and knowledge of both the legal system and the crime itself and it was executed perfectly in this book.
I could never have guessed what happens in this book. I switched back and forth between theories over and over but I could never have anticipated the true depth of this story.
I really liked the inclusion of a little bit of court-procedural, almost exclusively in Ulrika's perspective, again, for the sake of that individuality. Looking at the story from different angles it was almost as though it were a completely different story which I really enjoyed.
There is not much more I can say about this book for risk of spoilers, but if you like a hard-hitting, poignant thriller, packed with twists and turns then this is the book for you.
Because of the content I would recommend this to maturer audiences; this is definitely a rawer story that is not for the faint of heart, but if you feel you can handle it urge you to read it. You will not regret it.

Addictive legal thriller and family drama with compelling twists.


How far would you go to protect your family’s reputation?
How far would you go to protect your family?
How well do you truly know your children?

These are all questions addressed by this compelling, addictive legal thriller that also manages to examine family drama and dynamics at the same time. As I have a particular interest in familial relationships, this aspect really appealed to me.

Adam Sandell is a pastor in a small town in Sweden who lives with his wife, Ulrika, a driven, ambitious attorney and their 17-year-old daughter, Stella. When Stella is remanded for the murder of an older businessman, the picture-perfect family starts to unravel at the seams.

The narrative is shared by all three of the Sandells and crosses periods, though the events remain chronological. It is difficult to discern whose account of the games is most reliable, but what was interesting and unexpected was how my attitude and feelings towards each character changed as the book progressed. By the end, the moral compass was swinging wildly as I viewed Adam's beliefs and actions as self-righteous, invasive and unhinged; Ulrika as an absent, emotionally distant mother and Stella as an indulged child who refused to take responsibility for anything.

There are lots of thought-provoking plot twists that one can come to expect from a book in this genre, but they are not merely there for the sake of providing psychological thrills for the reader and provide depth and substance to the story.

The unveiling of the “whodunnit” part, while interesting and equally riveting, is almost overshadowed by the engrossing journey of getting to know the characters, their back stories and how they think, feel and relate to each other.

While this is not my genre of choice, it is a truly multifaceted reading experience and is highly recommended, which speaks volumes about the quality of the writing and translation.

Desiree-Anne Martin


Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

This is a really good gripping read. The characters and the story seemed real. This is a really good page turner that held my attention right up to the end.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

It's a pretty accomplished thriller, with complicated characters and dynamics. The twists and turns actually fooled me several times, bravo for that!

Overall, this reminds me a lot of the TV show Broadchurch, the vibes mostly. But the actual plot resembles the US version of that show, Gracepoint. I'm not saying there are plot points identical to those shows, just the intricate setup. I loved both shows, so that's a great thing.

Back to the book itself. I read the English translation, and it was done quite well. I could see the translator put in a lot of effort. There were only a handful of phrases that showed signs of translation. Other that that, it reads like an original work.

Apart from the suspense in the story, the examination of family dynamics plays a big role in the book as well. It evokes questions about parenting, about belief, and about the justice system. Those subjects all demand more discussion in both the society and families. I was glad to see them incorporated into a highly readable novel.

I'm pretty sure this is going to be big in the US and maybe other countries, too. The last time I read a book that raised so many important questions, it was Big Little Lies. I would like to see this do as well as BLL.

the start was slow but it was good! A bit long for my liking (I really prefer thrillers that doesn't cut beyond 300 pages and I think this one is way longer?) but after 40% of the book it really becomes an undroppable read. I would recommend fans of domestic thrillers. Well written and engaging read.

Interesting and enjoyable - this is not my normal style of boo thoroughly enjoyed it.
The characters were very lifelike and it was very believable. I did not want to put this down.

Whilst, not something I would usually read, I was gripped throughout and will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author in the future

A compelling and riveting read; a thinking thriller and a philosophical investigation into the dynamics of a family. This novel pretty much has it all and I loved it.

The story centres on the Sandell family: Adam, a pastor; his wife, Ulrika who is a lawyer and their eighteen year old daughter Stella. Stella has been charged with the murder of Chris, a thirty-two year old man she met when out partying with her best friend Amina. The narrative is divided into three sections, the first is told by Adam as he tries to find evidence that Stella is innocent, in the second we hear Stella’s voice and finally that of Ulrika. The central question the novel poses is how far would you go to protect your family? What vows or promises would you be prepared to break? Would you break the law?

Stella is a complicated character with a problematic past and a challenging relationship with her parents. She is fiercely intelligent, opinionated and full of caustic observations. The one constant in her life is her unbreakable friendship with Amina, who is, pretty much, her opposite. Adam is an overprotective father and Ulrika a distant mother. They all have their secrets which are teased out as the novel progresses and they are all lying about something. If you like the concept of the unreliable narrator, you will love this book. It is a thought provoking, multi-layered familial drama which poses some serious ethical questions. The characterisation is excellent and the tension builds nicely as the characters and the reader judge between truths and lies. The scenes in the courtroom were particularly absorbing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Stella has always been different. Her whole family even think so. Throughout her whole life they’ve expected trouble from her, so trouble was what they were going to get.

A week after her eighteenth birthday, her word crumbles around her. Christopher Olsen is dead.

At first, I felt the first 1/3 was a little slow paced. But now I realise that it was all important, every part of this book is significant and you must pay attention. The story is told from three perspectives: Adam Sandwell, his daughter Stella and his wife Ulrika. Edvardsson’s writing strips all three of them bare. We come to understand every guilt and shame each of them holds deep down inside.

Adam is a pastor, and now he must push aside everything he believes in to save his family. But can he do it? My sympathy for Adam fluctuated as I read on, he was clearly a father struggling to cling to his ideals about family life. But some of his choices... I feel I’ve learned from his mistakes.

Ulrika is a criminal defence lawyer, and she helps bring the story to its close. As a mother, she’s always felt like a failure. And so she dove deeper into her work to give herself some sort of validation. Now she has the chance to make up for the neglect of her family her choices cost her.

Stella. I love Stella. Possibly one of my all time favourite characters. Charged for murder, she lets us into her life and all the dark secrets of her past. I relate to her on so many different levels, and through most of her story I wanted to reach in and squeeze her and simultaneously burst into tears. She’s an incredibly insightful 18 year old girl.
What did Stella do? What happened with her and Chris Olsen? Will she be convicted of murder?

This one really lives up to its ‘thriller’ name. Intensely suspenseful and deeply powerful. I personally really enjoyed its choppy style, kept me turning the pages & wanting more! Deserves a huge 5 stars!

This novel is written from 3 different perspectives first the dad, then the mum and finally the accused the daughter
Imagine you are a perfect family well then this book is not for you!
This is about a normal family mum is a lawyer, dad is a pastor and the daughter is a rebel basically getting in trouble for smoking weed and other stupid things but then she turns 18 and goes off the rails and then her parents get a call to say their daughter has been detained by the police charged with murder.
Dad goes to pieces mum takes control and the daughter, Stella sits in a small room,a cell and tries to figure out how she ended up in this mess
The twists and turns are brilliant this book takes you right to the last page to find out the truth I can guarantee it won't be what you expect.

Compelling, disturbing and multi faceted! I was completely hooked from the very first sentence, and was pulled into the family dynamincs of whether she did or didnt 'do it'

Adam & Ulrika have had a wonderful summer, their daughter Stella is 18, and seems to have calmed down albeit being naturally high spirited, and their relationship with her, and each other is the best it’s ever been. Then they find out that Stella has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Moving through the parents and Stella’s points of view, we learn more about their family history and try to piece together the truth of whether Stella is guilty as charged, and whether there is anything her parents won’t do to free her.

I was kept intrigued and enjoyed #ANearlyNormalFamily thanks to #NetGalley for my free advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is a really good read. A nearly normal family where the drama unfolds following the murder of a man and told from the perspective of each of the three family members; Father, Mother and daughter and tells of the complexity of family life in an engaging, thoughtful way. I particularly enjoyed the moral challenge of the father, who is a pastor and the questions reflected from each character’s story, “what would you do?”

This Scandinavian novel is told mainly from within the court and is a competent legal thriller that slowly builds to the final, unexpected climax.

I enjoyed it. A solid 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for my honest review.