Strange Bird

Synopsis

'The ending of this suspenseful blend of scientific thriller and whodunit packs a real wallop.' - Publishers Weekly The panic is real. The cure is a lie. Gotland is known for its picturesque ruins and summer sun, but a shadow has fallen over the island. In this gripping seventh installment of the Maria Wern series, a deadly strain of bird flu turns a children's soccer camp into a high-stakes quarantine zone. As the gates to the mainland slam shut, the inhabitants are trapped in a pressure cooker of primitive fear. The authorities claim they have the situation under control, but nurse Sandra Hägg knows the truth. While working at an exclusive private clinic, she uncovers a gruesome secret - a discovery that suggests the pandemic isn't the only thing killing people. When Sandra is found dead, her quest for the truth silenced, Detective Inspector Maria Wern is handpicked to navigate a landscape of escalating chaos. As desperate parents turn to the dark web for elusive medicine and extremist groups hunt for scapegoats among the vulnerable, Maria must track down a mysterious internet predator selling false hope to the dying. But this isn't just a professional assignment. With her own loved ones falling ill and the island's social fabric tearing apart, Maria faces an impossible dilemma: In the race to save the majority, who is being sacrificed in the shadows? Nominated for the Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year, 'Strange Bird' is a high-octane procedural that explores how thin the line is between civilization and survival. Adapted into a major television event on Sweden's TV4, Anna Jansson's masterpiece uses chillingly accurate expert knowledge to deliver a 'what-if' scenario that hits terrifyingly close to home. 'Jansson is a welcome addition to the Swedish mystery writers now available in English. The author's knowledge of the medical field is evident in her detailed, fast-paced plot and the moral and ethical decisions facing the characters. Recommended for readers of Scandinavian mysteries.' - Library Journal