The Black Path / Asa Larsson 384 p.

Apart from Henning Mankell, this author (not to be confused with Stieg) stands out for me as the most intriguing of the Nordic Noir-ers. Her stories are set in and around Kiruna, in the north of Sweden, and this title dealt, in part, with a community of Sami (ethnic Laplanders). Her two main characters, prosecutor Rebecka Martinsson and Detective Anna-Maria Mella, are a study in contrasts. Rebecka seems to be quasi-suicidal most of the time, while Anna-Maria is a sunny mother of 4 who's also pretty skilled with firearms. She doesn't get much sleep because her small children kick her in the face throughout the night and her husband farts in his sleep. Why do I identify with this? I will say no more...