The Hermit
(Paperback)
Publishing Details
The Hermit
By (Author) Thomas Rydahl
Translated by K.E. Semmel
Oneworld Publications
Point Blank
1st August 2017
4th May 2017
United Kingdom
Classifications
General
Fiction
Thriller / suspense fiction
839.8138
Winner of Danish Debutants Award 2014
Physical Properties
Paperback
480
Width 129mm, Height 198mm, Spine 34mm
Description
A car is found crashed on a beach in the Canary Island resort of Fuerteventura. In the trunk is a cardboard box containing the body of a small boy no one knows his name, and there is no trace of a driver. The last thing Fuerteventura needs is a murder. The islands already got half-empty bars and windswept beaches, and the local police are under pressure to cut the investigation short. But long-time islander Erhard, who sees more than most people, wont let the investigation drop - and he has nothing to lose. He has severed ties with his wife and child in Denmark, and has cut himself off from the modern world. The question is: can an old man who knows nothing about mobile phones, the internet or social media possibly solve a murder in the modern world, especially one that stretches far beyond the sandy beaches of Fuerteventura
Reviews
A humane and appealing protagonist and plenty of local colour make this an engrossing and enjoyable read.
* Guardian *A delightfully innovative whodunnitdark good humour, imagination and originality.
* The Times *A dark and complex tale of murder.
* Independent *Original and compelling.
* Sunday Times *Stunningly conceived and expertly executed.
* Publishers Weekly *Poetic...and bold.
* Times Literary Supplement *One of the most distinctive detectives you will meet this year nothing less than excellent.
* Politiken *A hard-boiled and heart-breaking thriller [with] the years most surprising detectiveRiveting.
* Solkysten *Completely unique and incredibly ambitious.
* Jyllands-Posten *Wow! It will knock you off your feet.
* Gomorgen Danmark *Innovativeimpossible to put down.
* Bibliotek.dk *UniqueIs [Rydahl] the new star of Danish crime
* Frk. Bogorm *Adds something new to the Nordic noir palettecompelling.
* Reviewing the Evidence *A wonderful crime novel, full of charm.
* Vildmedkrimi.dk *Reminiscent of the classic crime novels of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler,The Hermitoffers readers a gripping story filled with quirky characters and a complex plot. But the book isnt just a pulp fiction murder mystery; its a tale of loneliness and the essential need for human connection.
* Democrat & Chronicle *Remarkable...a flawless, immaculate piece of work.
* Weekendavisen *Author Bio
Thomas Rydahl has translated Malcolm Gladwells Blink and Outliers into Danish. The Hermit is his first novel. He lives in Fredensborg, Denmark. K.E. Semmel is a writer and translator who has received numerous grants from the Danish Arts Foundation for his work. A 2016 NEA Literary Translation Fellow, he lives in Milwaukee, USA.
