Nikolaj Frobenius - Selected Title Author
In ‘Exctinction’ Nikolaj Frobenius tells the story of Jonathan, who is paralyzed with sorrow after his son died in an arson attack. – The novel raises questions about whether violence is sometimes the only – and just – solution, he says.
Swan Song (2021) and Exctinction (2023) are two of NORLA’s Selected Titles for autumn 2023. Here, author Nikolaj Frobenius speaks about Exctinction, who it is written for, what inspired him to write it and where and when he works best.
What is your book about?
The book is about Jonathan, who is paralyzed with grief after his son dies in an arson attack. The perpetrators have vanished without a trace and Jonathan is at a total loss. He works as a journalist and is sent to Marbella on assignment to write about the mysterious disappearance of an investor. In the seedy part of Costa del Sol, he more or less coincidentally comes across the man who killed his son – and this sets his mental gears turning. The idea of getting the perfect revenge takes hold, and Jonathan soon feels that it would be impossible not to act.
The novel raises questions about whether violence is sometimes the only – and just – solution.
What inspired you to write this book?
The novel is a continuation of my 2021 book Swan Song, a psychological thriller about wealth, jealousy, and paranoia. When I finished writing that book, I wanted to write a novel about the consequences of the trauma Jonathan has experienced – and with that, Extinction became a novel about grief. And revenge. And violence. And the question of whether there’s such a thing as a justified murder.
Who is this book for?
Extinction is a novel that will be rewarding for all curious readers. It’s a “page-turner” that’s psychologically intriguing and depicts an environment that exists just beneath the appealing and exclusive “sunny side” of life.
Where and/or when do you work best?
I wake up early and work best from 6 AM to noon in my home office in Fagerborg in Oslo.
See full presentation of the book here
See all NORLA’s Selected Titles for autumn 2023 here
