The Nightmare

Lars Keplar's latest thriller starts with a young couple at sea running for their lives.  They have been having sex on a remote island.  When they return to their boat they find the woman's sister dead on board.  They flee to another island and the boat drifts free.

Detective Joona Linna has been called to what appears to be a murder by hanging, but his knowledge and experience in the National Criminal Investigation Department tells him it is actually a suicide. 

While discussing the suicide's autopsy, Linna is shown the remains of the young woman.  She has drowned, but her clothes were dry.  Linna has another mystery on his hands.  The pathologist agrees with Linna that it is mysterious death.  During his examination of the boat Linna's attention is continually drawn to a bucket of sea water swinging each time the boat moves.  He realises that she was drowned in it and that is why her clothes are dry.  Linna also fears for the life of the murdered woman's sister.

When Linna goes to the sister's apartment he is attacked and barely manages to escape with his life.  Linna realises that this was a hit, well planned and organised, but why?

Further investigation of an Internet cafe computer ties the boyfriend to the suicide.  As the investigation progresses, Saga Bauer, team leader of an anti-terrorism agency helps Linna.  Evidence points to gun running.

The young woman, whose sister was murdered, and her lover are on the run from someone, but they don't know who.  Will they be able to survive in the wild on their own, or be able to get to safety before they are caught and killed too?  As the story progresses, author Lars Keplar lets the reader in on more of the background to the deaths, filling in details bit by bit.

Keplar keeps the reader guessing and tense as this thriller take you to its gripping conclusion.  An excellent read, hard to put down.