Quicksand

By: Malin Persson Giolito

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

Named an NPR "BEST BOOKS OF 2017"

Named the Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year by the Swedish Crime Writers Academy

An incisive courtroom thriller and a drama that raises questions about the nature of love, the disastrous side effects of guilt, and the function of justice

A mass shooting has taken place at a prep school in Stockholm’s wealthiest suburb. Eighteen-year-old Maja Norberg is charged for her involvement in the massacre that left her boyfriend and her best friend dead. She has spent nine months in jail awaiting trial. Now the time has come for her to enter the courtroom. How did Maja—popular, privileged, and a top student—become a cold-blooded killer in the eyes of the public? What did Maja do? Or is it what she failed to do that brought her here?

Malin Persson Giolito has written a perceptive portrayal of a teenage girl and a blistering indictment of a society that is coming apart. A work of great literary sensibility, Quicksand touches on wealth, class, immigration, and the games children play among themselves when parents are no longer attuned to their struggles.

A little slow but worth it

I enjoyed this book. Although it isn't a super suspenseful thriller it's still a very interesting listen. If you don't fall in love with the story at the beginning then you probably won't like the book. It also is probably best suited for a younger audience.

School Shooting Swedish Style

Did you ever wonder what it was like inside the mind of an alleged school shooter? One of those kids caught up in a teenage drama with killer overtonesis the heroin in this novel.

Starts off really intriguing

Then it lost me somewhere in the middle. I managed to finish it, but I never got exited again. It is interesting to be inside the head of someone who is on charge for a serious crime though.

Engaging at every turn

It’s amazing that a novel that is at least 50% courtroom arguments is so interesting and intriguing and emotional. This book has you caring for everyone involved. Every character is flawed and yet inspires empathy even when they are they have done terrible things. So, so good.

Long

Can't believe I stuck with this whole story. It was not particularly exciting but it was well narrated and that's probably what kept my attention. No huge surprises so be prepared to coast along till the end.