The Father

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What to expect

How does a child become a criminal? How does a father lose a son?

An epic crime novel with the excitement of Jo Nesbo's Headhunters and the depth of We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Father is inspired by the extraordinary true story of three brothers who held Sweden to ransom, committing ten audacious bank robberies over just two years.

None had committed a crime before. All were under 22 years old. All of them would be changed forever.

In this intoxicating, heartbreaking thriller, the fourth brother, who was not involved in the real robberies, tells of three boys who grew from innocent children to become public enemy number one - and of the man who made them that way.

Critics Review

A powerful real-life story

Guardian

The emotional centre of the story is truly compelling . . . the sweep and scope are epic

Herald

Unique and stunning. One of the most powerful novels you’ll read this year

Stephen Booth

Superior. . . builds to a breathless climax

Sun

A deep, clean cut into the body of fathers, sons, loyalty and family

Sainsburys Magazine

Will delight fans of Nordic Noir

Crime Fiction Lover

Mind boggling and captivating

The Crime Warp

An incredible story

Crime Time

Incredibly efficient and easy to read . . . gripping and thrilling

Helsingborgs Dagblad, Sweden

An unbelievably exciting and authentic story. . . One of the year’s best crime stories

Östran, Sweden

An insider story that beats any action film

Aftonbladet, Sweden

A remarkable blend of fact and fiction

Skånska Dagbladet, Sweden

Many of the scenes stick with you

Expressen, Sweden

A powerful and riveting reading experience

Deckarbloggen, Sweden

One of the summer’s best thrillers

Café, Sweden

The action in The Father is captivating. It holds us in suspense from the first page to the last

LitteraturMagazinet, Sweden

I have a soft spot not only for suspense novels, but also for coming-of-age stories; here, I get both!

Bokbabbel, Sweden

The craftsmanship in this novel is first-class. It is both exciting and dramatic in an almost cinematic way

Gefle Dagblad, Sweden

It is hard to put The Father down for more than the briefest moment. It is an empathetic story that vividly portrays perpetrators, victims and police

Upsala Nya Tidning, Sweden

It is captivating to read about the inner workings of a gang of robbers

Borås Tidning, Sweden

A very clever suspense novel, a classic story of crime and punishment that is simultaneously a gripping family drama with a genuinely painful element

BTJ, Sweden

The Father is more than a traditional suspense novel. It is also a story of exclusion, a fractured family, an unfamiliar Sweden and a kind of honour culture. This is why it is so totally relevant to us

Mariestads-Tidningen, Sweden

The Father isn’t just exciting-it also gives a sincere picture of a home that is a far cry from that of your average Joe

Ölandsbladet, Sweden

A thrilling novel that becomes something much more than a book you can’t put down

Tara, Sweden

A flawlessly constructed thriller

Femina, Sweden

The Father is thoroughly exciting from the first line to the last. Seductively well-written

Kristianstadsbladet, Sweden

A gripping coming-of-age story, flush with exciting scenes and the psychological battle between father and son

Falu-Kuriren, Sweden

The Father is a novel where we know already from the beginning how it will all end, but the way there is worth our while

Aftonbladet, Sweden

A book that seems infallible: bring on the cartloads of stars, the stellar reviews and the millions of readers

de Volkskrant, Netherlands

The Father is a book that will elicit a lot of response, a must-read for every crime lover. Actually, a must for anyone who likes to read

Hebban, The Netherlands

An incredible crime novel

Brabants Dagblad, Netherlands

The meticulous preparation and execution of the robberies are depicted stunningly

NRC Handelsblad, Netherlands

It is amazing how much tension the authors create while merely describing the preparations for the robberies. Even more exciting are the robberies themselves

VN Thriller & Detective Guide, Netherlands

Never before have I read a book that so successfully explains how people can end up as criminals

Het Nieuwsblad, Netherlands

The Father provides an intriguing insight in the criminal life

De Telegraaf, Netherlands

The Father is a technically wonderful novel crafted with breathtaking cleverness

Corriere della Sera, Italy

Totally crazy, totally reckless and totally brilliant: a well-researched fictional reality of a book … the best crime thriller of the year so far

Nordjyske Stiftstidende, Denmark

The structure is strictly cinematic: well-formed scenes with sharp dialogue and seamless progress, making reading a pleasure. Once you’ve started reading, it’s hard to put the book down

Politiken, Denmark

It’s extremely well written, thrilling, gripping, gruesome, cheerful, anguished, heartwarming, and ice cold – spectacular in all ways. The Father is a world-class piece of fiction

Fredericia Dagblad, Denmark

Richard Coyle’s unhurried Nordic-tinged narration is punctuated by moments of sudden violence. Very enjoyable.

South China Morning Post

[An] action-packed page turner – not for the faint of heart

Elle, Germany

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