Book Description

An award-winning Scandinavian novel of one woman’s struggle to pull herself and her daughter from the grasp of a criminal past. “A literary tour de force” (Mystery Scene). A celebrated bestseller in Sweden, and the winner of the prestigious Per Olov Enquist Literary Prize, The White City is an arresting story of betrayal and empowerment as a criminal’s girlfriend is left behind to pick up the pieces of her imploded existence. Karin knew what she was getting herself into when she fell for John, a high-flying wheeler-dealer. But she never imagined things would turn out like this: John is gone and the coke-filled parties, seemingly endless flow of money, and high social status have been replaced by cut telephone lines, cut heat, and cut cash. All that remains of Karin’s former life is the mansion he bought for her—and his daughter, the child Karin once swore she would never bring into their dangerous world. Now she is on her own with baby Dream. As the authorities zero in on organized crime, John’s shady legacy is catching up with her. Over the course of a few days, Karin is forced to take drastic measures to claim what she considers rightfully hers . . . “The ghostly Scandinavian setting and [protagonist] Karin’s closely narrated sense of impending doom . . . make Swedish star Ramqvist’s English-language debut an atmospheric and suspenseful read.” —Booklist