Gunnar Staalesen – Fallen Angels

‘Fallen Angels’ by Gunnar Staalesen and published by Orenda Books is described as a ‘vintage, classic Nordic noir’. It is the eighth book in the Varg Veum series and the one that has made him one of the fathers of nordic noir. The translator of this book Don Bartlett has also translated other Varg Veum books in the series as well as having worked with plenty of other Norwegian and Danish authors like Jo Nesbo.

Varg is attending the funeral of a childhood friend and he meets another old friend while there. It ends up as a reunion between the two men. Jakob Aasen married Rebecca, Varg’s first love but it becomes apparent she has gone and left Jakob. A band member of The Harpers, a band that was rather successful in the 1960s has been found stabbed outside a club. Jakob was also a member of the band back then until his career came to an abrupt end. Varg is now contemplating what could have possibly happened back then. On top of this Jakob has requested Varg to attempt to find Rebecca. This brings a flood of memories and feelings back for Varg as she was a massive part of his teenage years and he has never been able to let her fully go. The more Varg digs up he senses that Jakob is not being fully truthful and something does not sit right for him.

The tension in the story is an underlying feeling that just simmers but doesn’t bubble over, the type of tension that gives you a knot in your stomach that you can’t quite put your finger on. As Varg’s investigation progresses he discovers how twisted their friendships were and the jealousies that played out between the members. This alone makes Varg feel his feelings about the deaths that occurred may be vindicated.

We are led to some dark places in this investigation, along with Varg, off course. The issues raised are even still topical for us today as they were in the 1980s when this book is set. The idea that if a woman is promiscuous just by being louder than another woman or in any way sexy. The point of view that this is an invitation for any man to do as they please with her, I know in some ways this is still prevalent in society today.

This is a book that is very much a story of youth and the past with Varg reminiscing with his trips down memory lane. Like I say there is a dark brooding storyline that is accentuated by a fair few characters that aren’t exactly on the nice side either. I thought the descriptions of Bergen and the surrounding areas brought the place to life for me in this dark, brooding story of murder and memories.

This was a brilliant introduction for me into the world of Varg Veum. I now need to begin at Book one and work my way through the seven books previous to this!

Many thanks to Orenda Books and Anne Cater for my copy of Fallen Angels to write my thoughts today for the blog tour.