About the Book
Sara Blaedel's runaway #1 Danish bestselling crime novel featuring police investigator Louise Rick, a perfect new entry point to the series that first launched in the US with the bestselling and award-winning novel The Forgotten Girls.
USA TODAY "5 Books Not To Miss" . NY POST "Required Reading"
"Sara Blaedel writes novels as twisty as spirals and electric with intelligence. A HARMLESS LIE is a labyrinth of a mystery, dense and dangerous. Come get lost in it." -A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window
"Riveting...It's tailor-made for Karin Slaughter's readers." -Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)
A woman is haunted by a heartwrenching decision she made as a teenager in this darkly atmospheric, deeply emotional thriller from #1 internationally bestselling global superstar Sara Blaedel.
Detective Louise Rick is on a beach in Thailand when the panicked call from her father comes through. Louise′s beloved brother, Mikkel, has attempted suicide. His wife, Trine, left him days earlier, walking out the door one day with no warning and leaving Mikkel devastated.
Louise rushes home to Osted, the small, insular Danish town where she grew up and where Mikkel still lives. But the more Louise learns about Trine-a devoted wife and the mother of two young children-and her state of mind in the days before she left Mikkel, the more Louise begins to wonder whether Trine really meant to leave him. Or whether something much darker may have taken place.
As the local police begin to suspect that Mikkel may have had a hand in Trine's disappearance, Louise struggles to clear his name but is forced to confront some hard truths- Small towns always hide secrets. The past always comes back to haunt you. And lies are never harmless.
''One of the best I've come across.'' -Michael Connelly
"An intense, atmospheric starting point for those who haven't yet discovered Denmark's favorite cop." -Booklist
About the Author :
Sara Blaedel is the author of the#1 internationally bestselling series featuring Detective Louise Rick. Her books are published in thirty-eight countries. In 2020 Sara was voted Denmark′s most popular novelist for the fifth time. She is also a recipient of the Golden Laurel, Denmark′s most prestigious literary award.
Review :
PRAISE FOR SARA BLAEDEL AND THE LOUISE RICK SERIES
"Sara Blædel is at the top of her game. Louise Rick is a character who will have readers coming back for more." —Camilla Läckberg
''One of the best I've come across.'' —Michael Connelly
"Sara Blaedel is a force to be reckoned with. She's a remarkable crime writer who time and again delivers a solid, engaging storythat any reader in the world can enjoy." —Karin Slaughter
"Louise Rick is my favorite kind of female lead, tough but tender, and Blaedel knows how to keep you turning the pages." —Lisa Unger
"Crime-writer superstar Sara Blaedel's great skill is in weaving a heartbreaking social history into an edge-of-your-chair thriller while at the same time creating a detective who's as emotionally rich and real as a close friend." —Oprah.com
Praise for A HARMLESS LIE
NEW YORK POST "Required Reading"
USA TODAY "5 Books Not To Miss"
"Sara Blaedel writes novels as twisty as spirals and electric with intelligence. Her sophisticated mysteries hum with warmth and life, and double as inquiries into social and justice systems rigged against those who, heartbreakingly, need them most. Her detective, Louise Rick, is one of the most appealing, most layered, and most compelling heroes to stride onto a crime scene in at least fifty years. And in A HARMLESS LIE– an ideal point of entry for new readers – Blaedel has devised a labyrinth of a mystery for her, dense and dangerous. Come get lost in it."—A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window
“Sara Blædel is an undisputed master in creating both suspense and interestingmulti-dimensional characters.” —Max Seek, author of The Witch Hunter
“Five years after her last book in the series, Blaedel returns with a riveting story that combines a journalist’s investigation of a cold case with the police search for a missing woman. It’s tailor-made for Karin Slaughter’s readers.”—Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)
“Blaedel does a good job depicting abnormal psyches and, through harrowing flashbacks, the cliquish cruelty of adolescent girls. Scandinoir fans will be satisfied.”—Publishers Weekly
"Another spellbinding thrill-ride. Full of mystery and intrigue you’re hooked right from the very beginning…” — Red Carpet Crash
“Despite having not read the first 8 volumes of the Detective Louise Rick series by Sara Blaedel, it immediately immersed me in the story of Louise Rick. A Harmless Lie is written with the intention of Blaedel not assuming that everyone has read the entire series. I did not feel I was missing anything, but had the urge to go back and read the first eight books, as this book was that good.”—Mystery & Suspense Magazine
“It’s clear why Sara Blaedel has been named Denmark’s most popular novelist several years running. She’s adept at both constructing a propulsive plot and giving her characters rich and complex inner lives. This might have been my first foray into her books, but it certainly won’t be my last.” —BookReporter
“The characters in this haunting novel have depth, intricate back stories and complicated relationships. The plot engages the reader in trying to decipher clues from the past and the present.... A HARMLESS LIE is an absorbing and worthwhile read." —Reviewing the Evidence
“A fast, compelling book.”—Kirkus
“An intense, atmospheric starting point for those who haven’t yet discovered Denmark’s favorite cop.” —Booklist
Praise for THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS
“Crackling with suspense, atmosphere, and drama, The Forgotten Girls is simply stellar crime fiction.” —Lisa Unger
"For readers who gorge on captivating characters and chilling suspense, The Forgotten Girls is a tantalizing treat. Enjoy yourself, America." —Sandra Brown
"Tautly suspenseful and sociologically fascinating, The Forgotten Girls demonstrates yet again that the finest contemporary suspense fiction emanates from Europe's snowbound North." ―BookPage
"This is a standout book that will only solidify the author's well-respected standing in crime fiction. Blaedel drops clues that will leave readers guessing right up to the reveal. Each new lead opens an array of possibilities, and putting the book down became a feat this reviewer was unable to achieve. Based on the history of treating the disabled, the story is both horrifying and all-to-real. Even the villains have nuanced and sympathetic motives." ―RT Times - Top Pick **Winner of the Reviewer's Choice Award for Contemporary Mystery**
"Gripping."―Washington Post
"The Forgotten Girls is without doubt the best the author has delivered so far...strikingly well done....the chances are good that The Forgotten Girls will become your favorite crime novel for a long time to come."―Børsen (Denmark)
"The Forgotten Girls has it all. At its heart, it is a puzzling, intricate mystery whose solution packs a horrific double-punch...Once you start, you will have no choice but to finish it."―BookReporter
"A sharp protagonist who wrestles with her own failings and fears, in a skillfully told
story that is typically dark in the manner of Nordic crime fiction."―Booklist
"Sara Blaedel's The Forgotten Girls is an emotionally complex police-procedural thriller set in Denmark. With a gripping premise, fast-paced narrative and well-developed characters, The Forgotten Girls is an incredible read."―FreshFiction.com
Praise for THE KILLING FOREST
"Another suspenseful, skillfully wrought entry from Denmark's Queen of Crime."―Booklist
"Will push you to the edge of your seat [then] knock you right off....A smashing success."―BookReporter
"Engrossing...Blaedel nicely balances the twisted relationships of the cult members with the true friendships of Louise, Camilla, and their circle."―Publishers Weekly
"Blaedel delivers another thrilling novel...Twists and turns will have readers on the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens next."―RT Book Reviews
Praise for THE LOST WOMAN
"Blaedel solidifies once more why her novels are as much finely drawn character studies as tightly plotted procedurals, always landing with a punch to the gut and the heart."―Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)
"Sara Blaedel is a literary force of nature....Blaedel strikes a fine and delicate balance between the personal and the professional in THE LOST WOMAN, as she has done with the other books in this wonderful series. ...Those who can't get enough of finely tuned mysteries...will find this book and this author particularly riveting."―BookReporter
"Long-held secrets and surprising connections rock Inspector Louise Rick's world in Blaedel's latest crime thriller. …The limits of loyalty and trust, and the complexities of grief, are central to this taut thriller's resolution. A rich cast of supporting characters balances the bleakness of the crimes." ―RT Book Reviews (4 STARS)
"Leads to...that gray territory where compassion can become a crime and kindness can lead to coldblooded murder."―New York Times Book Review
"Blaedel, Denmark's most popular author, is known for her dark mysteries, and she examines the controversial social issue at the heart of this novel, but ends on a surprisingly light note. Another winner from Blaedel." ―Booklist
"Engrossing." ―Toronto Star
"Deliciously dark...[A] great tale!"―Suspense Magazine
"Worth the wait."―Winnipeg Free Press
