Karin Fossum

The Whisperer

Hviskeren

Ragna Riegel works at Europris and lives alone in her childhood home. Her parents have died and her only son has moved to Berlin, and they have no contact other than occasional Christmas and birthday cards.
Ragna lives within close confines. She likes her job because it is full of routine, she likes to sit on the same seat in the bus every day and she likes to buy the same things at the local shop each day. She must have order in her life. And she does, until one day she finds a letter in her mailbox with her name on the envelope and a clear threat written in block capitals on the sheet inside. The letter reinforces a nightmare where Ragna Riegel’s life is threatened by an unknown enemy and she realises that she must use all means possible to defend herself.
The novel takes the form of Konrad Sejer’s interrogation of Ragna Riegel after the worst has happened; after it is too late.

’(…) she exercises a psychological sensitivity for and empathy with her characters, which breaks the boundaries of traditional crime writing and makes this an example of superior fiction… With the intense build-up of suspense and a completely astounding and unexpected final crescendo, The Whisperer, for me, is a masterpiece.’

Tønsbergs Blad

‘(…) the reader is left speechless at the author’s insight and understanding, as well as the way in which she conveys these.’

Fædrelandsvennen
Photo: Arild Sønstrød

Karin Fossum (b. 1954) made her literary début in 1974 with the poetry collection Kanskje i morgen, for which she won the Vesaas First Writer’s Award. She has
published books in several genres, but is perhaps best known for her crime fiction about Konrad Sejer. Several of her books have been filmed. She has received a
number of prestigious awards, including an LA Times Book Award for her novel Elskede Poona.
Karin Fossum’s books are translated into 34 languages.