Title: Scars of Silence

Author: Johana Gustawsson

Translator: David Warriner

Genre: Thriller/Crime

Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication Date: 20th November 2025

Rating: 5/5

Cover:

Summary:

Twenty-three years ago, a young woman was murdered on the Swedish island of Lidingö. 
The island has kept its silence. 

Until now…

As autumn deepens into darkness in Lidingö, on the Stockholm archipelago, the island is plunged into chaos: in the space of a week, two teenaged boys are murdered. Their bodies are left deep in the forest, dressed in white tunics with crowns of candles on their heads, like offerings to Saint Lucia.

Maïa Rehn has fled Paris for Lidingö after a family tragedy. But when the murders shake the island community, the former police commissioner is drawn into the heart of the investigation, joining Commissioner Aleksander Storm to unravel a mystery as chilling as the Nordic winter.

As they dig deeper, it becomes clear that a wind of vengeance is blowing through the archipelago, unearthing secrets that are as scandalous as they are inhuman.

But what if the victims weren’t who they seemed? What if those long silenced have finally found a way to strike back?

How far would they go to make their tormentors pay?

And you – how far would you go?

Review:

Yule Island was one of favourite books of 2023 so I was absolutely delighted to get my hands on Scars of Silence, book two in the Lidingö Mysteries series, connected by the close location, but also totally readable as a standalone (although if you haven’t read Yule Island, then I highly recommend it because it is  fantastic). Happily, I can confirm that Scars of Silence is just as exceptionally brilliant as its predecessor. It is a phenomenal bit of noir crime fiction which is chock full of atmosphere, mystery, and beautifully haunting writing. No one does quiet and elegantly chilling mystery better than Johana Gustawsson and of course credit is also due to David Warriner’s seamless translation. Whilst there is a definite constant undercurrent of gothic tension, there is also a very real emotional heart to Scars of Silence, which is both timely and incredibly heart wrenching. 

There is also such a strong connection to folklore, history and symbolism which I absolutely adored and which makes Scars of Silence all the more haunting and visceral a read. The characters are utterly compelling without exception and I would love to read more books involving Commissioner Aleksander Storm and Maïa Rehn, both of whom are incredibly easy to root for and thoroughly engaging. I really can’t recommend this gripping thriller highly enough and it will absolutely be one of my top reads of the year. Scars of Silence is dark, emotional, elegant, intelligent and absolutely not to be missed. 

★★★★★

Thank you so much to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising it. I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

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