The Consorts of Death

It is September 1995, and Veum is in his office when a telephone conversation takes him back twenty-five years, to a case he was involved in while working as a child protection officer, during the summer of 1970. A small boy was separated from his mother under tragic circumstances. But that had not been the end of it. In 1974 the same boy had surfaced in connection with a sudden death in his new home. And then again ten years later, in connection with yet another case: a dramatic double-murder in Sunnfjord. The small boy is now an adult, and on the run in Oslo, determined to take revenge on those responsible for destroying his life, among them the former child protection officer, now detective Veum.

Foreign sales:
China, Shanghai Translation Publishing House
Denmark, Vindrose
France, Éditions Gaïa
Italy, Iperborea
Poland, slowo / obraz terytoria
Romania, Pandora Publishing
Russia, Inostranka Publishers
Spain, Alba
UK, Arcadia
The Netherlands, Uitgeverij Marmer

Praise:
"a very topical offering ... Staalesen is another fine representative of Scandinavian crime fiction"
Independent, UK

"THE CONSORTS OF DEATH is a perfect introduction to Varg Veum ... Norwegian society and scenery are described with laconic beauty and meaning, an atmospheric background for the events of the story ...  I can't recommend this book too highly. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it ... this series stands alongside Connelly, Crais, Temple, Camilleri and others, who are among the very best modern exponents of the poetic yet tough detective story with strong, classic plots; a social conscience; and perfect pitch in terms of a sense of place."
Euro crime

****** (5/6 stars)
"an incredibly well-composed story"
VG

****** (5/6 stars)
"a crime novel which leaves an impression on the reader. Staalesen confirms his position as our own king of crime."
Bergensavisen

"Another triumph for the crimewriter who rarely disappoints"
Aftenposten

"a first-rate crime novel which has both a suspenseful plot and a powerful social commitment"
Dagbladet

"Staalesen at his best, most suspenseful and most humorous"
Dagsavisen