'A master of suspense' – Sunday Times

When Inspector Gunnar Barbarotti returns to work after a personal tragedy, his boss hands him a cold case to ease him back in. But the case doesn't stay cold for long . . . The Axe Woman is the fifth Inspector Barbarotti novel from bestselling author Håkan Nesser.

Five years previously, Arnold Morinder simply vanished. His partner claimed he had travelled abroad, never to return. But Arnold’s partner was Ellen Bjarnebo: one of Sweden’s most notorious killers, having served over ten years in prison for killing her first husband and dismembering his body with an axe. And when Barbarotti seeks to re-interview Ellen, she is nowhere to be found . . .

With neither a body nor a prime suspect, Barbarotti must use all the ingenuity at his disposal. And as the cold case begins to thaw and he finally begins to make progress, he realizes that nothing about Ellen Bjarnebo can be taken for granted . . .

One of the best Nordic Noir writers * The Guardian *
One of Sweden's best crime writers * The Mail on Sunday *
A master of suspense * The Sunday Times *
The godfather of Swedish crime * Metro *
Some aficionados would argue that the Swede Hakan Nesser is the most accomplished writer in the [Nordic noir] field today, and The Axe Woman is choice fare -- Barry Forshaw * Financial Times *

Håkan Nesser is one of Sweden’s most popular crime writers, receiving numerous awards for his novels featuring Inspector Van Veeteren, including the European Crime Fiction Star Award (Ripper Award), three Swedish Crime Writers’ Academy Prizes and Scandinavia’s Glass Key Award. His Van Veeteren series is published in over twenty-five countries and has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. In addition to the popular Van Veeteren series, his other books include the psychological thriller The Living and the Dead in Winsford and The Inspector Barbarotti series. Håkan Nesser lives in Gotland with his wife, and visits the UK regularly.