Published by Sphere July 2007: ISBN 978-0-7515-3714-7
This is a really disturbing book from a new Scandinavian writer. A serial killer kidnapping and murdering children, leaves them with notes saying “You got what you deserved”. No one knows how they die and what the connection between them is. One child, Emilie, remains missing. One thing that Superintendent Adam Stubo knows -he is the unfortunate official who has to solve the crimes and find Emilie before she reappears dead or more die.
Adam tries to consult Johanne Vik, a profiler who previously worked alongside the FBI, who is reluctant to get involved with the case, not least because it feels too close to home. She is also following up a disturbing case of her own - an old murder where the killer was inexplicably let go before he had served his “life” sentence. For a dying woman, convinced of his innocence Johanne is drawn into the old files and is intrigued by what they say, or even don’t say.
The two cases have many parallels which are cleverly woven together in the text, as are the two main characters. Adam and Johanne appear to be drawn together by more than the cases themselves and the link disturbs them both. Whilst the narrative is complex, jumping between both the two present cases and between the two main characters, it is tightly written and well translated. Adam and Johanne have personalities outside the plotline, which makes the reader engage with them. In fact, there is a question mark left by the book on how the relationship could develop which may lead to future possibilities in future novels.
Punishment is a hard read because of the subject matter touching on child killing and abuse, but compelling and thought provoking. As the first in a new series it offers readers a change in the police procedural – looking from a Norweigan perspective – and new protagonists. Definitely a recommended read.
-----
Amanda Brown