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Hidden in shadows

Secrets, vengeance, and a brutal murder unsettle an idyllic winter paradise in a blood-chilling novel of suspense by the acclaimed author of Hidden in Snow and the Sandhamn Murder series.

In the Swedish ski resort of Åre, crime is rare. Certainly nothing so brutal as the murder of Johan Andersson, a former Olympic skier found bound and beaten to death in the forest. According to his distraught wife, he didn’t have any enemies in the world. To Detective Inspectors Hanna Ahlander and Daniel Lindskog, the crime proves otherwise. But what could have provoked such rage? And in whom?

As Hanna and Daniel search for answers, Rebecka Ekvall, a vulnerable pastor’s wife, is trapped in an abusive marriage. Isolated from her congregation, she’s afraid of her husband and even more fearful for her life. Because Rebecka carries a fateful secret. But she isn’t the only one in Åre with something to hide.

As Hanna and Daniel continue to untangle the dark histories of a growing list of suspects, they realize that Johan’s murder is just the beginning of a disturbing case about survival and revenge―at any cost.
"The author has the ability to create scenes so believable that you can almost touch them. The suspense is vibrating underneath the surface – all the way to the resolution. The dramaturgy captures the readers holding them in a tight grip and the novel is easily read in one go."
BTJ
"It’s thrilling and empathetic."
Norrbottens-kuriren
"Viveca Sten knows the art of constructing a suspense story and she uses the inherent drama of Åre to her advantage, both in terms of nature, weather conditions and the contrast between residents and tourists."
Ölandsbladet