Reviews

• “Engman is known for his raw, realistic thrillers. Cocaine is perhaps the most exemplary of this. It is one of the most intense Scandis in the [Vanessa Frank] series. /…/ Engman highlights the problems in Swedish society and positions them in a thrilling story in the grandest way. Ultimately Cocaine is a raw, flashy thriller in which Engman once again proves himself to be an author to be reckoned with. He writes simply, quickly draws the reader into the story, and only lets go after the final page. /…/ Putting Cocaine down is not an option: the book will and must be finished. With Cocaine, Engman shows that he belongs at the top of the Scandi genre. The novel is thrilling, compelling, raw, and realistic.”

• “Engman writes with a well-heeled and pleasing prose, which goes hand in hand with the harsh reality that is depicted. It creates a never faltering level of suspense. In addition, [Engman] seems to have great knowledge of the environments he depicts and the languages used in the surroundings. It amplifies the realism that makes up one of the more prominent qualities of the novel. A page-turner that leaves the reader with a lingering concern over the state of society.”

• “There is no way the reader will put this story down. You just can’t, that’s how good this writer is.”

• “Pascal Engman’s intense way of telling the story makes it difficult to stop reading, despite the sad connection to reality. /…/ Engman is becoming more and more adept at building tension and tempo. /…/ It’s like reading Swedish daily news in fiction form: here is exactly what is being discussed the most in the media right now. But Pascal Engman tells us about individuals with whom it is impossible not to become involved. /…/ Engman portrays many of those involved with understanding, but he manages not to romanticize the criminal world.”

• “Pascal Engman has done it again. Created a nerve-wracking suspense novel.”

• “A fundamentally exciting, well-composed and well-told story.”

• “In the steady stream of crime novels being pumped out to the Norwegian population, [Cocaine] is a novel that stands out from the crowd, one that has something to say.”

• “[Engman] takes the leap from good to really great.”

• “This is literature which easily engages. /…/ With a smash within Nordic crime literature this is, [Cocaine] is a crime novel so close to reality that you will pale from reading it and will easily be blown away when it comes to the hair-raising suspense. This is quality down to the smallest detail.”

• “This is Netflix, only in real life. /…/ [Cocaine is] terrifying and believable about gang crime and drug smuggling. /…/ Engman writes with great drive and engagement and manages to create a believable image of the criminal youths. There are nuances, there are both good and evil criminals, just like there are good and evil politicians.”