The Tenant - by Katrine Engberg

About the Book

"When a young woman is discovered brutally murdered in her own apartment, with an intricate pattern of lines carved into her face, Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner are assigned to the case. In short order, they establish a link between the victim, Julie Stender, and her landlady, Esther de Laurenti, who's a bit too fond of drink and the host of raucous dinner parties with her artist friends. Esther also turns out to be a budding novelist - and when Julie turns up as a murder victim in the still-unfinished mystery she's writing, the link between fiction and real life grows both more urgent and more dangerous. But Esther's role in this twisted scenario is not quite as clear as it first seems. Is she the culprit - or just another victim, trapped in a twisted game of vengeance? Anette and Jeppe must dig more deeply into the two women's pasts to discover the identity of the brutal puppet-master pulling the strings."--Publisher description.

Book Synopsis

Selected as a Most Anticipated title by People, Parade, Bustle, CrimeReads, She Reads, and more!

An electrifying work of literary suspense from internationally bestselling author Katrine Engberg, The Tenant--heralded as a "stunning debut" by #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs--follows two Copenhagen police detectives struggling to solve a shocking murder and stop a killer hell-bent on revenge.

When a young woman is discovered brutally murdered in her own apartment with an intricate pattern of lines carved into her face, Copenhagen police detectives Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner are assigned to the case. In short order, they establish a link between the victim, Julie Stender, and her landlady, Esther de Laurenti, who's a bit too fond of drink and the host of raucous dinner parties with her artist friends. Esther also turns out to be a budding novelist--and when Julie turns up as a murder victim in the still-unfinished mystery she's writing, the link between fiction and real life grows both more urgent and more dangerous.

But Esther's role in this twisted scenario is not quite as clear as it first seems. Is she the culprit or just another victim, trapped in a twisted game of vengeance? Anette and Jeppe must dig more deeply into the two women's pasts to discover the identity of the brutal puppet-master pulling the strings.

Evocative and original, The Tenant promises "dark family secrets--and a smorgasbord of surprises" (People).

Review Quotes

"[A] gripping addition to the Scandinavian crime fiction pantheon."-- "OprahMag.com"

"Engberg's debut features dark family secrets--and a smorgasbord of surprises."-- "People"

"Engberg's fast-paced narrative is bolstered by an interesting and quirky cast as well as an intriguing setting . . . a lot of fun."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Engberg's plotting is dexterous, and her character-centered storytelling aligns nicely with her unhurried descriptions of Copenhagen . . . The Tenant is yet another feather in the plumed cap of Scandinavian noir."-- "Shelf Awareness"

"Everyone has secrets, and some secrets are lies. Engberg's debut novel, a sleeper hit in her native Denmark, is sure to attract comparisons to other Scandinavian thrillers... layered, character-driven suspense from authors including Erin Kelly and Ruth Ware may prove to be more apt read-alike suggestions."-- "Booklist"

"Fast-moving . . . Engberg's sparkling cast and palpable evocation of a society U.S. readers will find similar yet foreign keep the pages turning pleasurably."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"It's hard to believe this is her [Engberg's] first book, so assured is the writing. Her characters are fully realized...[and] the story is as complex as the characters. Originally published in Denmark in 2016, The Tenant is Engberg's first book to be translated into English, but it's unlikely to be the last."-- "Air Mail"

"The careful plotting ensures that the mystery unfolds deliberately, with surprises constantly woven into the narrative . . . Engberg's English language debut promises a gritty, unflinching procedural series, and will leave readers craving the translation of Kørner and Werner's next adventure." -- "BookPage"

"Winter wouldn't be complete without a great Nordic Noir novel, and that's exactly what Katrine Engberg's The Tenant is."-- "Bustle"

"A stunning debut. Katrine Engberg's unforgettable characters and brilliant plot twists will captivate readers of suspense fiction."

--Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"What a fantastic debut! I love the characters, the sparkling prose, and the depiction of Copenhagen. Katrine Engberg is an absolute star!"--Camilla Läckberg, #1 internationally bestselling author