Planterhaug
Planterhaug
When the old drunkard Nilsen dies in the Norwegianized sami village Planterhaug, once known as Láŋtdievvá, no one suspects anything criminal. Yet, the following autumn Inspector Huuva from the Oslo Criminal Police arrives in the village to investigate the death.
Huuva is determined to uncover the truth about the village and find out about his father’s fractured family history. Through his investigation, Huuva discovers that something Evil is haunting in the village, and the case propels him deep into the soul of Planterhaug. But is he truly uncovering new truths, or is he merely treading water in a place where secrets have long been silenced?
Planterhaug is a novel about identity, about what it means to be Sami, and about the search to find home – whatever that may be. It is both a deeply serious and deeply humorous novel about nature, culture and belonging.
The book was simultaneously published in Norwegian and in Torne Sámi, under the title Láŋtdievvá, both written by Skåden himself.
‘Skåden is a poet, it shows. The novel is full of fine, delicate and atmospheric descriptions. […] a creepy, subtle and remarkable novel with many layers and connections, which perhaps only reveal themselves to the reader after the book is closed.’
Stavanger Aftenblad, 5/6 stars
’Blood, betrayal and chess in Sápmi – Planterhaug mixes dark Nordic crime and Sami folklore into a meaty and original story with a lot of mystery and even more guts.
Dagsavisen
‘Twin Peaks, Troms –
Klassekampen
The burlesque and the sorrowful come together into something unlike anything else I’ve read.’
