Rites of Spring: Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month

The first thrilling standalone crime novel from the international number one bestseller and Sweden s answer to Val McDermid, Anders de la Motte. Enthralling ...De la Motte juxtaposes the horrors of war with age-old superstitions to superb effect.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2021
Publisher: Zaffre

The captivating standalone crime novel from the international number one bestseller and Sweden's answer to Val McDermid, Anders de la Motte, takes readers on a thrilling journey into the depths of darkness.

Enthralling and atmospheric, de la Motte juxtaposes the horrors of war with age-old superstitions to superb effect. Joan Smith, Sunday Times, praised the novel for its "beautiful countryside, endless forests, coastal walks, dark days, and even darker nights." However, beneath the beauty lies a dark heart that is about to be uncovered.

Set in the picturesque Skåne region of Southern Sweden in 1986, the novel begins with the ritualistic murder of a sixteen-year-old girl in the woods beside a castle. Her stepbrother is convicted of the terrible deed, and shortly after, the entire family vanishes without a trace.

Fast forward to 2019, and Dr. Thea Lind moves into the castle. After making a strange discovery in an ancient oak tree on the grounds, her fascination with the old tragedy deepens. As she uncovers more and more similarities between her own troubled past and the murdered girl, she begins to believe that the real truth of the killing was never uncovered.

What if the spring of 1986 claimed more than one victim? A mesmerizing amalgam of creepy folklore, festering secrets, dark truths, and a damp and mouldering Scandinavian landscape rendered so dark and brooding that it becomes a principal player in this slow-burn, addictive tale.

Lancashire Evening Post praised the novel for its "mesmerizing amalgam of creepy folklore, festering secrets, dark truths, and a damp and mouldering Scandinavian landscape rendered so dark and brooding that it becomes a principal player in this slow-burn, addictive tale."

So, if you're looking for a thrilling crime novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further than "The Murder of the Castle." It's a must-read for fans of Val McDermid and Anders de la Motte, and it will leave you pondering the dark secrets of the past and the chilling possibilities of the future.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 44 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781785769481