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The Long Water

Gripping literary mystery set in a remote Norwegian community

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The Long Water

By: Stef Penney
Narrated by: Sofia Engstrand
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Author of the Costa-prizewinning, world-wide bestseller The Tenderness of Wolves, Stef Penney, returns to her snow-covered heartland in this tense mystery set in a small Scandinavian town.

Nordland. A region in the Norwegian Arctic; a remote valley that stretches from the sea up to the mountains and glaciers.

It is May in what was once a prosperous mining community. The snows are nearly gone and it's a time of spring and school-leavers' celebrations - until Daniel, a popular teenage boy, goes missing. Conflicting stories circulate among his friends, of parties and wild behaviour.

As the search for Daniel widens, the police open a disused mine in the mountains. They find human remains, but this body has been there for decades, its identity a mystery.

Everyone in this tight knit, isolated community is touched by these events: misanthropic Svea, whose long life in the area stretches back to the heyday of the mines, and beyond. She has cut all ties with her family, except for her granddaughter, Elin, an outsider like her grandmother. Elin and her friend Benny, both impacted by Daniel while he was alive, become entangled in the hunt for answers, while Svea has deep, dark secrets of her own.©2024 Stef Penney Crime Thrillers International Mystery & Crime Mystery Thriller & Suspense Wolf
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Critic reviews

With The Long Water, Stef Penney takes crime writing to another level. Gripping and emotionally intelligent, this is a novel for our times
Tensions rise and secrets are unearthed but there's also humour to be found
An atmospheric tale . . . great characters and elegant prose
Stef Penney's latest novel takes a multitude of twists and turns, written with a touch of humour that will leave you chuckling
A gripping tale of community and secrets
A highly engaging and accomplished novel, a fine piece of craftsmanship . . . this is a book you will surely return to for a second reading
Nordic noir fans will enjoy this fascinating thriller . . . A perfect book-club read to spark lively discussion
Takes a multitude of twists and turns ... with brilliant pace, fantastic depth and an ending that will leave you wanting more
This is a highly engaging and accomplished novel, a fine piece of craftsmanship... This is a book you will surely return to for a second reading
All stars
Most relevant
I have read all of Stef Penney’s books and loved them all. Her female characters are always interesting and capable of independent thought, surprisingly rare in most fiction, and this one did not disappoint. I must admit I was expecting more of her snowy landscape/survival/ quest genre, but I was happy enough to experience this, more sedate and quiet, reflective work. I was reminded of her earlier book about a private detective investigating a disappearance in the traveller community in the 1980,s, also brilliant and fascinating.
I quickly adapted to this book and enjoyed it very much. The narrator was careful and expert. Highly recommended.

One of her murder mysteries.

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A beautiful world created with empathy, colour and insight. The resolution (in both senses) was excellent. High-quality narration as well.

A wonderful and hopeful story

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Svea’s world and story is absorbing and intriguing. I loved her voice and felt immersed in her world. Like Tenderness of Wolves the story unravels slowly and the lead character feels real and complete. Loved it

Intriguing

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