Inborn – a novel set in Norway by Thomas Enger

Submitted: 23rd March 2019

Now that the crime festival in Norway has just taken place, you might be feeling bereft at the thought. On The BookTrail today is a book set in Norway and written by the rather wonderful Thomas Enger.

Inborn – a novel set in Norway by Thomas Enger

BookTrail Travel to the locations in Inborn

#Bookreview

Susan: @thebooktrailer

This is a unique read from Thomas Enger based on his YA book Killerinstinkt. Maybe it should be called Reborn as that’s what it is. A YA book rewritten for an adult audience. When I heard this, I wondered whether it would work and if it anyone else had written a book this way. Answer to the first worry – yes it does. Answer to the second – not sure but they probably should after reading this

There’s a nice little author note which explains why and how the author reworked it and what the challenges were. Very interesting to read!

Back to the story and the book however…..

This is a story about a murder trial – a teenager is on trial for the murder of two of his classmates. The story is then told in nice short chapters and captivating sections of then and now. The ‘then’takes us back to the events leading up to the murder and the ‘now’ is set in a courtroom as the trial takes place. It’s such an interesting set up and one which totally fascinated and held my attention throughout. The courtroom scenes are gripping as you’re never really sure just who is on trial and what is going on…

The murder in the school sends shockwaves throughout the close-knit village. The close sense of community in this small place adds to the problems of the case – people are quick to act and quick to assume. There’s a nod or three to social media and the real meaning of a web which holds everyone and everything in its grip.

The two timelines move and merge until they catch you as a spider in a very intricate web. To create this from a YA beginning is quite something. The trial in the courtroom is suitably claustrophobic and real. Now I have never been in a courtroom or sat through a trial, but this seemed very authentic and raw.

Enger is a master at what he does. This for me takes him up a notch on the author brilliance scale.

The setting here is fictional but all the more enticing because of it. It’s a small Norwegian village filled with darkness and a whole bunch of secrets.

There’s dark clouds and a distinct chill in the air and that’s not just because of where it is set. The snow, remoteness, sombre mood and sense of dread and foreboding are nicely done and omnipresent.

Enger entices the reader at every step.