Reviews

• “Throughout its history the crime genre has offered up detectives of all kinds […] and it would seem as if there hardly are any positions or roles left available. Yet every once in a while, a crime writer comes along who still manages to bring a renewal to the table […] and that is the case with Heine Bakkeid. /…/ One can hardly imagine a darker acquaintance than [protagonist Thorkild Aske], but he has plenty of gallows humor to make up for it. And Bakkeid sure knows how to deliver a great Icelandic lava field atmosphere.”

• “A thrilling crime novel. /…/ We Shall Not Awaken is both gloomy and melancholic like Iceland’s barren landscape, and I’m crazy about it. /…/ A truly great and exciting crime novel, which is well-suited to readers who likes to speculate and ponder a bit whilst reading.”

• “The book keeps the readers on the edge of their seats throughout. One becomes thoroughly invested in the narrative that unfolds. /…/ We Shall Not Awaken is a book for anyone who enjoys a good crime plot. /…/ Read it, be entertained, and expect to stay awake until you’ve finished it. A truly great crime novel.”

• “Impressive and epic crime fiction. /…/ We Shall Not Awaken constitutes a rarity within Norwegian crime. /…/ An unforgettable and thrilling read, impossible to put down once one has started. I’m simply delighted by Bakkeid’s way of depicting milieus and portraying characters – he infuses the text with life and repeatedly pulls the reader into situations where his vivid narration makes one’s jaw drop. One has to keep pinching oneself to see whether Heine Bakkeid can actually write this well. This is a Norwegian author genius that we should be proud to have representing Norwegian crime fiction. We Shall Not Awaken is high quality crime fiction. /…/ Heine Bakkeid offers humor, excitement, solemnity and drama concurrently. It’s an entertaining read with a completely brilliant crime plot. It both captivates and triggers reflection, something which Heine repeatedly impresses with throughout the book. I lack words to describe how much I love Heine Bakkeid’s crime universe: it is executed with such detail, is so well-written and commendably designed, that it makes shivers run down my spine. Heine Bakkeid is a genius of a rarely seen caliber that I am truly thrilled to read more from in the future.”

• “At its heart lies a great murderer-pursuit story where clues are gradually portioned out and the excitement escalates towards the climax. /…/ The rather intricate narrative avoids the typical crime-clichés in an exemplary way and the characters has a great rawness to them. /…/ Personally I had a guess formed regarding the way the book would be resolved halfway through, but besides minor details I was way off! We Shall Not Awaken is a few evenings’ time well-spent. I recommend it!”