A warm welcome to Staalesen's new crime novel in the UK
Gunnar Staalesen's fourth crime novel has recently been published in the UK, and British critics and readers like what they find in The Consorts of Death.
"Often compared to Raymond Chandler, Staalesen has been credited with introducing social realism into crime fiction through his critical commentary on our times.
With his novels translated into 15 languages, Staalesen is another fine representative of Scandinavian crime fiction, a genre widely appreciated in Europe."
The Independent
“Popular Norwegian series featuring private eye Varg Veum, an upmarket Scandinavian Philip Marlowe”
Maxim Jakubowski, The Bookseller
"It was no accident that Staalesen chose social work as the key background for his Chandleresque private eye, for the theme of the damaged lives resulting from family breakdown has occurred regularly in his fiction ever since. Indeed, co-incidentally perhaps, of the four Veum novels published in the UK since At Night All Wolves are Grey (Quartet 1986), two others - Yours Until Death (Constable 1993) and The Writing on the Wall (Arcadia 2004) - have both featured such themes. But here the writer delivers, ably assisted by translator Don Bartlett, probably his best treatment of the theme, certainly as available in English, and a considerable crime novel to boot."
Tangled Web
"I can't recommend this book too highly. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it (..)
In my opinion, this series stands alongside Connelly, Crais, Temple, Camilleri and others, who are among the very best modern exponents of the poetic yet tough detective story with strong, classic plots; a social conscience; and perfect pitch in terms of a sense of place."
Maxine Clarke, a UK blogger