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1940s, 2000s: History can repeat itself or can bring with it new horrors
Block 46
What you need to know before your trail
A young jewellery designer is found murdered in Falkenberg harbour. At the same time, a young boy’s body is discovered with similar wounds in London and the police in both countries are worried that a serial killer is on the loose and the fact that he seems to be targeting Sweden and London might hold the key to his identity. More worryingly, there is also evidence that the MO could be linked to the 1940s Buchenwald Concentration Camp in Germany.
Emily Roy, a profiler on loan to Scotland Yard from the Canadian Royal Mounted Police, joins up with Linnea’s friend, French true crime writer Alexis Castells, to investigate the puzzling case. They travel between Sweden and London, and then deep into the past, as a startling and terrifying connection comes to light.
Travel Guide
Falkenberg
The main setting of the story and the subsequent investigation – the lovely Skrea beach is where Karl Svensson lives and the harbour is where the body is found. The Torsviks småbåtsham (harbour for small boats) is normally a stunning and serene place but now horror and murder have come to town.
The town is normally a lovely place to eat and this is highlighted in many scenes in the novel – Alexis has good taste and is found eating at the Ritz Patisserie and Gustaf Bratt’s restaurant.
Of course, this being a crime drama, the local police station is at the centre of this map!
Gothenburg
A short jaunt to the second capital of Sweden – Emily stays in the Upper H Hotel whilst investigating one of the suspects. There is time for a little mention of local sights however as the Gothia Towers, Mässans gata are spotted as she heads to one of the nightclubs downtown to investigate something dark…
Buchenwald
Be aware – the scenes here of the Concentration camps and what they do to the poor victims there is horrific. No holds barred. So violent you might find it hard to believe that this actually happened but it did and is taken from the author’s careful research and personal checking.
London
As well as Falkenberg, this is the second crime scene and Hampstead Heath the area where bodies are found. The Scotland Yard HQ is the focus of the investigations here and this soon becomes a cross border investigation. This city is where Linnea worked as well as in Sweden and it’s at a very swanky event is where it’s discovered she is missing
Booktrailer Review
Susan: @thebooktrailer
It’s a clever one –
A young jewellery designer is found murdered in Falkenberg harbour. At the same time, a young boy’s body is discovered with similar wounds in London and the police in both countries are worried that a serial killer is on the loose and the fact that he seems to be targeting Sweden and London might hold the key to his identity. More worryingly, there is also evidence that the MO could be linked to the 1940s Buchenwald Concentration Camp in Germany.
Emily Roy, and Alexis Castells are just two of the most fascinating women in crime fiction I’ve come across in a long while. Emily is from the Canadian Mounted police and is a profiler whilst Alexis is a French true crime writer and is somewhat more social and humourous than her colleague. But their partnership throughout is what really made the novel for me – their way of working together and getting the answers they needed – a unique dynamic indeed
The novel’s flashbacks into the horrors of the Buchenwald camp were graphic and raw – what power from these words and from what was said as well as what wasn’t. I have to praise Johanna for writing with such force and raw energy, it couldn’t have been easy and whilst difficult to read in parts, it brings the true horror of that time to the front of your conscience.
Block 46 is something unique and special. With a writer who has carved out her own place in the Noir genre – with a mix of French and Swedish , German and her own personal history woven into the mix. Block 46 is a raw, emotional and memorable read. Set in Falkenberg, London and Germany, it’s a tale of how history can make its mark, how the ripples of one event can filter through and affect humanity for years, how we brave the world around us but sometimes it’s what we hide inside that harms us. Breathtakingly honest and true. Johanna is an author whose personal mix of the Noir genre has got my attention!
Booktrail Boarding Pass: Block 46
Author/Guide: Johana Gustawsson Destination: Falkenberg, Gothenburg, London, Buchenwald Departure Time: 1940s, 2000s
Twitter : @JoGustawsson Facebook: /johana.gustawsson/ Web: Johanagustawsson.com/en
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