Why a Booktrail?
2000s: What would you do to get your daughter back?
The Heart Keeper
What you need to know before your trail
It’s been three months since Alison Miller-Juul’s world fell apart when her six-year-old daughter, Amalie, died in an accident. Three months of sympathy cards, grief counselling and gritting her teeth, but it’s still only the vodka and pills that seem to help.
Across town, Iselin Berg’s life is finally looking up. Her seven-year-old daughter, Kaia, has survived a life-changing operation. After years of doctors, medication and hope, they can now start thinking about the future.
When Alison uncovers a dangerous secret, she is left in turmoil. She can now see a way to heal her broken heart, but will she risk everything to do so?
Travel Guide
The Heart Keeper set in Oslo, Norway
Given the nature of the story, about a grieving mother and a child whose organs are donated to others, this is not really a booktrail kind of book. Having said that, there’s lots of scope for seeing how the hospital system and the transplantation system works in Norway and how a mother’s grief is handled and explored.
The city is only really a backdrop but we return once again to the sparse landscape and the harsh reality of life when snow and cold weather are evident. The lake, the water, the simple life in a small town, suburb of Oslo all mix to powerful effect.
The phenomenon of cellular memory is a major feature of the novel –can a transplant patient take on the personality of the donor. And if so, what kind and what does that mean?
Booktrailer Review
Alex Dahl is an author I enjoy for creepy compelling reads. Ones that make you think about how you would act in a certain situation. Feel fear on behalf on her characters is another good ingredient in her books. This one will get you thinking, your mind whirring and your heart beating for more reasons than one.
This story was also disturbing. Compelling about why organ donors should remain anonymous too! When a woman loses her daughter, her grief is raw. Boy did this part of the novel really tug and wring out the heart strings! Two stories come into play from two mothers whose emotions are red raw and so so powerful. The donor’s mother however starts to become very creepy and unsettling. It got very intense at this point as the mother then starts to effectively stalk the child who received the heart from her daughter.
This is not your Nordic thriller but a very intense look into motherhood and loss, grief and emotional turmoil. It does bring up some very uncomfortable and though-provoking questions though!
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The Heart Keeper
Destination : Oslo Author/Guide: Alex Dahl Departure Time: 2000s
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