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Book Summary and Reviews of The Hidden Child by Camilla Lackberg

The Hidden Child by Camilla Lackberg

The Hidden Child

by Camilla Lackberg

  • Critics' Consensus:
  • Published:
  • May 2014, 400 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

Crime writer Erica Falck is shocked to discover a Nazi medal among her late mother's possessions. Haunted by a childhood of neglect, she resolves to dig deep into her family's past and finally uncover the reasons why. Her enquiries lead her to the home of a retired history teacher. He was among her mother's circle of friends during the Second World War but her questions are met with bizarre and evasive answers. Two days later he meets a violent death.

Detective Patrik Hedström, Erica's husband, is on paternity leave but soon becomes embroiled in the murder investigation. Who would kill so ruthlessly to bury secrets so old? Reluctantly Erica must read her mother's wartime diaries. But within the pages is a painful revelation about Erica's past. Could what little knowledge she has be enough to endanger her husband and newborn baby? The dark past is coming to light, and no one will escape the truth of how they came to be...

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Starred Review. Excellent...Horrific secrets come to light as the author skillfully shows how the past has influenced recent events." - Publishers Weekly

"Once again Läckberg has written an exciting, fast-paced mystery. Though the flashbacks to the 1940s can be distracting, this secondary plot is just as intriguing as the main story line." - Library Journal

"Fans of Nordic noir will appreciate this taut, twisty mystery enriched with historical detail." - Kirkus

This information about The Hidden Child 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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