Book Summary and Reviews of The Drowning by Camilla Lackberg

The Drowning by Camilla Lackberg

The Drowning

A Novel

by Camilla Lackberg

  • Critics' Consensus (5):
  • Readers' Rating (1):
  • Published:
  • Sep 2015, 400 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

From worldwide bestseller Camilla Läckberg: a new novel from a reclusive Fjallbacka resident has enraptured the community--but what secrets and tragedies are lurking behind the pages and threatening to come to life?

Christian Thydell's dream has come true. His debut novel, The Mermaid, has been published to rave reviews. So why is he as distant and unhappy as ever?

When crime writer Erica Falck, who helped Christian discover and develop his talents, learns he has been receiving anonymous threats, she investigates not just the messages but also the young author mysterious past. Then, one of Christian's closet friends, Magnus, goes missing.

Erica's husband, Detective Patrik Hedström, has his worst suspicions confirmed as the mind-games aimed at Christian become a disturbing reality. Christian's group of friends--a "gang of four" from childhood--is a tangled web of relationships, love triangles, and family secrets that Erica and Patrick must unravel in order to discover what really happened to Magnus and who is still threatening Christian.

But, with the victims themselves concealing evidence, the investigation is going nowhere. Is their silence driven by fear or guilt? What is the secret they would rather die to protect than live to see revealed?

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"A rich community of characters, dramatic scenes of violence, and a haunting tone. A stunning cliffhanger climax." - Publishers Weekly

"Starred Review. Läckberg's subtle approach and unique talent for portraying realistically complex relationships creates a sorrowful, harrowing psychological thriller with a cliff-hanger conclusion." - Booklist

"Despite the intriguing story line and premise, the excessive details hinder the buildup of page-turning suspense." - Library Journal

"Filled with Hitchcock-ian twists, Läckberg's latest mesmerizes." - Kirkus Reviews

"Another sweeping small-town Nordic thriller. It's a thick novel that should delight Läckberg's fans with a rich cast of characters and a surprise ending." - Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Of the mini-Larssons who have arrived on these shores since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Camilla Läckberg may be the best." - USA TODAY

"There is a good mystery in The Drowning. A fast-moving ending holds a cliffhanger as the last and final gasp. Entertaining." - Suspense Magazine

"Eerie. Läckberg will keep you guessing." - People

This information about The Drowning was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

Camilla Lackberg Author Biography

Camilla Läckberg was born August 30, 1974 in Fjällbacka, Bohuslän. She graduated from the Gothenburg University of Economics, and shortly thereafter moved to Stockholm.

Camilla Läckberg worked as an economist in Stockholm until a course in creative writing triggered a drastic career change. Her novels have all been #1 bestsellers in Sweden, and she is the most profitable native author in Swedish history. She was the #1 bestselling female author in Europe last year and her novels have been sold in thirty-five countries. Her previous novels are The Ice Princess and The Preacher, also available from Pegasus Books. Camilla lives in a suburb of Stockholm with her husband and five children.

Link to Camilla Lackberg's Website

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