Everyone in Denmark knew that Yousef Ahmed, a refugee from Iraq, brutally murdered the right-wing politician Sanne Melgaard. So, when part-time blues musician, frustrated home renovator, and full-time private detective Gabriel Præst agrees to investigate the matter because his ex—the one who got away—asked him to, 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 in Europe during the German occupation of Denmark. Fearing a nationalistic 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.
Release Date: Mar 28, 2023
Series: Gabriel Praest
Book: 1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: William Morrow
Price: $11.99
Gabriel Praest is a Danish private investigator who used to be a cop. His ex-girlfriend, Leila, is a lawyer handling the appeal for Yousef Ahmed, a Muslim refugee accused of murdering a government official. The motive is supposed to be revenge for asylum being denied to his son, who was then killed when he returned to Iraq. Many people are comparing this to the way Denmark refused to let non-Danish Jews stay in the country during World War II, which led to them being sent to German concentration camps, where most were then killed. The case against Yousef seems airtight, but he maintains his innocence, and Leila asks Gabriel to investigate the murder.
The book begins with a heartbreaking story taking place outside Copenhagen in 1943. The importance to the book’s plot becomes more apparent as the story goes on, but it also makes long ago atrocities more real. This book is an interesting combination of murder mystery, politics, and history. I wasn’t familiar with Danish politics either now or in the past, so I learned a lot from the book. I was also entertained since Praest is a character I could root for. The more serious political aspects of the book are balanced with details of Gabriel’s personal life, giving readers a chance to get to know him. I like his sense of humor and his loyalty and protection of those close to him. I didn’t care about all the various designers of his clothes, but it shows how important these things are to the character.
This book has a complex plot and is very intense and sometimes dark. There are people who don’t want Gabriel investigating this murder and the motive, so trying to get justice for Yousef puts him in grave danger. The story is very engaging, and once you start, it’s hard to put down. Things wrap up in some dramatic and unexpected ways, which creates a satisfying ending. I liked getting to know Gabriel, his daughter, and his circle of friends, and I definitely read any subsequent books in the series.
~ Christine
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