Red Wolf: A Novel (Annika Bengtzon Series, The) - Softcover

A journalist is murdered in the frozen white landscape of a northern Swedish town. Annika Bengtzon, a reporter at a Stockholm-based tabloid, was planning to interview him about a long-ago attack against an isolated air base nearby, and now she suspects that his death is linked to that attack.

Against the explicit orders of her boss, she begins to investigate the event, which is soon followed by a series of shocking murders. Annika knows the murders are connected. At the same time, she begins to suspect that her husband is hiding something, and nothing can counteract the loneliness that has crept into her life.

Behind everything lurks the figure of the Red Wolf, a cold-blooded killer with the soul of a lover. In the end, she must discover the truth not only about the murders but also about the lies that are destroying her own family.

Karin Slaughter is the author of Broken, Undone and Blindsighted.

I’ve been a fan of Liza Marklund for a while, so it’s a true pleasure to help introduce her to an American audience now that her series is going to be available here. It’s obvious why Liza's work has inspired such a loyal international fan base. Her voice is crisp and clean and she has a knack for building intricate and suspenseful plots. Her storytelling keeps readers guessing right to the end with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the last page.

One of Marklund’s greatest achievements is the subtle strength of her heroine, Annika Bengtzon, an incredibly passionate and believable character. Like many women, Annika struggles to keep her career and family in balance. Though sometimes one suffers for the other, her love of both, and the sacrifices she makes, paint the portrait of a modern woman's complicated and credible life. Annika is not just there to make wry comments and complain about the injustices in the world. She is there to do something about it. With each new story, Marklund reveals deeper layers of Annika’s character. She has carved herself a place in the exclusive collection of strong modern heroines.

In Red Wolf, Annika defies her boss to investigate the hit-and-run death of a journalist in a northern Swedish town. It turns out to be only the first of a series of truly shocking murders and with each brutal death, Annika feels more and more desperate to find the truth. She begins to suspect that the man behind the slayings is on a mission from his terrorist past. To make the case even more untenable, it looks as if some very important people are protecting him. As the violence escalates, Annika must also contend with her deteriorating home front situation. She realizes that her quest to solve one mystery has made her ignore another one--her husband is hiding something from her.

It is clear that Liza brings her own background as a journalist to her work. She isn't just there to tell a story, but to focus on the craft of storytelling. The insider's look at the development of a news story and the progress of an investigation is dead-on. They give Liza's work a vivid intensity that makes the reader feel as if they are looking over Annika's shoulder. As a crime author who has spent much time exploring the world of law and order, I am always impressed with Marklund’s handling of the storied life of a female journalist.

Liza Marklund’s writing has developed quite a cult following over the years and I am but one member of the international groundswell. I can’t wait for American readers to catch the wave!