The Butterfly House

By: Katrine Engberg

Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm

In this chilling Nordic noir thriller set in Copenhagen, detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner investigate a series of brutal murders tied to a hospital, blending psychological suspense, police procedural, and dark social commentary in this sequel to the #1 international bestseller The Tenant that is “brimming with personality, eccentric characters, and plenty of mystery and intrigue” (Crime by the Book).

Hospitals are places of care—or so it seems. In the coronary unit of a leading Copenhagen hospital, a nurse quietly administers a fatal overdose to an elderly patient.

Days earlier, a paperboy makes a gruesome discovery in the heart of the city: the nude body of a young woman in a fountain, her arms marked by precise incisions, her body completely drained of blood.

Detective Jeppe Kørner, navigating the aftermath of divorce and a fragile new relationship, takes the lead. His partner, Anette Werner—on maternity leave but unwilling to stay sidelined—begins her own unofficial investigation. But working outside the system draws her into increasingly dangerous territory.

As the case unfolds, Jeppe and Anette uncover a horrifying pattern of exploitation and control lurking within caregiving institutions. What they find is as unsettling as it is deadly—and far closer than they ever imagined.

A “thrillingly nerve-racking” (Shelf Awareness) Scandinavian crime novel, this gripping installment delivers a dark, atmospheric mystery exploring power, vulnerability, and the chilling consequences of misplaced trust.

Critic reviews

"Graeme Malcolm brings an English accent and a fine performance to this Danish mystery. People are dying, drained of their blood through tiny cuts. The victims' other commonality is Butterfly House, a facility for teens with mental health issues. Detective Jeppe Kørner is assigned to the case; his partner, Anette Werner, is at home with a new baby and is thoroughly bored. Slowly, she begins to inject herself into the proceedings. Malcolm's voice is naturally deep and rather smooth. His narrative tone often differs from his dialogue delivery. The former is more relaxed and rhythmic, which is especially appropriate when Engberg focuses on the domestic lives of her two protagonists and the backgrounds of the other characters in this compelling audiobook."

Intriguing plot

Enjoyed listening to this book very much. I enjoyed her other book, The Tenant, too.

Lovely true crime thriller

Moves quite quickly, the narrator navigates the danish sensibilities deftly and the story featured a slew of likable characters

Love Katrine Engberg!

So good! Graeme Malcolm is perfect. I am going to go re- listen to The Tennant now.

Good story, terrible narrator

The reading of this novel was awful. The narrator was monotone, offered no transition from one chapter to the next and made it very difficult to follow the story. The story itself was pretty good which is the only reason why I endured the narration.

Great Pace from Start to Finish!

Great story and the pace was perfect as events unfolded. The twists are there but not so sharp that the reader rolls eyes when revealed. And the narrator does a fantastic job!