The Hermit

A car is found crashed on a beach in the Canary Island resort of Fuerteventura. In the trunk is a cardboard box containing the body of a small boy – no one knows his name, and there is no trace of a driver. The last thing Fuerteventura needs is a murder. The island’s already got half-empty bars and windswept beaches, and the local police are under pressure to cut the investigation short. But long-time islander Erhard, who sees more than most people, won’t let the investigation drop - and he has nothing to lose. He has severed ties with his wife and child in Denmark, and has cut himself off from the modern world. The question is: can an old man who knows nothing about mobile phones, the internet or social media possibly solve a murder in the modern world, especially one that stretches far beyond the sandy beaches of Fuerteventura?

About the Author :
Thomas Rydahl has translated Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink and Outliers into Danish. The Hermit is his first novel. He lives in Fredensborg, Denmark. K.E. Semmel is a writer and translator who has received numerous grants from the Danish Arts Foundation for his work. A 2016 NEA Literary Translation Fellow, he lives in Milwaukee, USA.

Review :
‘A humane and appealing protagonist and plenty of local colour make this an engrossing and enjoyable read.’ ‘A delightfully innovative whodunnit…dark good humour, imagination and originality.’ ‘A dark and complex tale of murder.’  ‘Original and compelling.’ ‘Stunningly conceived and expertly executed.’ ‘Poetic...and bold.’ ‘One of the most distinctive detectives you will meet this year… nothing less than excellent.’ ‘A hard-boiled and heart-breaking thriller [with] the year’s most surprising detective…Riveting.’ ‘Completely unique and incredibly ambitious.’   ‘Wow! It will knock you off your feet.’ ‘Innovative…impossible to put down.’ ‘Unique…Is [Rydahl] the new star of Danish crime?’ ‘Adds something new to the Nordic noir palette…compelling.’   ‘A wonderful crime novel, full of charm.’ ‘Reminiscent of the classic crime novels of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, The Hermit offers readers a gripping story filled with quirky characters and a complex plot. But the book isn’t just a pulp fiction murder mystery; it’s a tale of loneliness and the essential need for human connection.’ ‘Remarkable...a flawless, immaculate piece of work.’