Dark Pines

Will Dean Point Blank, 336pp, £12.99

Originally from the East Midlands, Will Dean now lives in Sweden and his debut novel is set in the backwoods of his adopted homeland. The book is a murder mystery and its protagonist is a compelling one. Journalist Tuva Moodyson has reluctantly given up on city living to be closer to her ailing mother, and she is also trying to cover a string of mysterious murders which have shattered the peace of the seemingly safe little town, not least because all the victims have had their eyes cut out in a manner reminiscent of another killing spree in the Nineties. Dean writes evocatively of the Swedish landscape, making it sound dark and dangerous, and Tuva’s deafness is dealt with sensitively, making her a more intriguing and complex character.

Dark Pines isn’t the most groundbreaking of thrillers and it follows a fairly standard formula, but it’s still a gripping read that will have you guessing to the end.