Review of SCARS OF SILENCE by Johana Gustawsson (New Release)

 4 Stars

I loved Yule Island, the first book in the Lidingö series, so was anxious to read this second one. It did not disappoint.

At the end of 2023, two teenaged boys are murdered on the island of Lidingö in the Stockholm archipelago. They are dressed in white tunics and wear crowns of candles like St. Lucia. Maïa Rehn has fled Paris after a family tragedy. Though on leave from her job with the French police, she is drawn into the investigation, joining Commissioner Aleksander Storm. One of the things they must consider is whether these murders are connected to a similar case 24 years earlier when a 16-year-old girl was killed and her body left in a similar manner. Besides dealing with the murders, both Maïa and Aleks have issues in their personal lives, the emotional impact of which they must keep from affecting their professional lives.

The novel is a compelling read from beginning to end. It opens with a truly shocking chapter which certainly captures the reader’s attention. Then there are questions for which the reader wants answers: How are the victims connected? Why are they dressed as St. Lucia? Are the current deaths connected to the one in 1999? Chapters alternate between Maïa and Aleks, but there are also some italicized interludes: who is the narrator of these? And the setting – the cold and dark of a Swedish winter – adds to the foreboding atmosphere.

Characterization is strong. Both protagonists are developed as complex individuals. Maïa, for instance, is intelligent and determined. Her outstanding trait is her ability is illicit information; Aleks says, “’You have a way of putting people at ease, or rather, you hold space for them to share their story. Not to give a witness statement, but to tell you what really happened. . . . It’s something that comes from within you. Like an aura. Most people listen to answer. You listen to hear.’” During the investigation, she remains completely professional, though she is grieving a great personal loss.

What I appreciate is the writer playing fair with the reader: she provides clues throughout. There are revelations which some readers may find surprising, but I did not because I’ve learned that this writer must be read carefully and thoughtfully. Her word choice is significant. Even though I guessed beforehand some of the twists, that did not lessen my enjoyment. I wanted to know if my suspicions would be confirmed.

This is not just a simple whodunit. It examines loss and grief and generational trauma, how individuals and families are shaped by traumatic events even long afterwards. The book also comments on the treatment of women by society and the justice system. Survivors of sexual assault, for instance, are often silent during attacks and the guilt of that reaction silences them afterwards. And in this regard, the title is perfect because it works on many levels.

I highly recommend this book. Its fluid writing style, its complex characterization, its thematic depth, and the tension maintained throughout ensure a great reading experience.