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In this “bone-chillingly cool crime debut” (Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train), a young biologist studying the remote Swedish wetlands stumbles upon a body — and finds that if the marsh’s secrets can’t stay buried, neither can hers . . .

In the remote Swedish wetlands lies Mossmarken: the village on the edge of the mire where, once upon a time, people came to leave offerings to the gods.

Biologist Nathalie came in order to study the peat bogs. But she has a secret: Mossmarken was once her home, a place where terrible things happened. She has returned at last, determined to confront her childhood trauma and find out the truth.

Soon after her arrival, she finds an unconscious man out on the marsh, his pockets filled with gold — just like the ancient human sacrifices. A grave is dug in the mire, which vanishes a day after. And as the police investigate, the bodies start to surface . . .

Is the mire calling out for sacrifices, as the superstitious locals claim? Or is it an all-too-human evil?

Richly atmospheric and haunting to the last page, Susanne Jansson’s stunning debut is a gripping tale of the power of nature to shape our reality, the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the world, and the terrible consequences they may have. This international sensation will captivate fans of the celebrated suspense fiction of Jane Harper or Tana French.

In the North Swedish wetlands lies Mossmarken: the village on the edge of the mire where, once upon a time, people came to leave offerings to the gods.

Biologist Nathalie has come to the village to study the peat bogs, but she has a secret: Mossmarken was once her home. She has finally returned, determined to confront her childhood trauma and uncover the truth behind the terrible things that happened.

Soon after her arrival, Nathalie finds an unconscious man out on the marsh, his pockets filled with gold – just like the ancient human sacrifices. A grave is dug in the mire, which vanishes a day after. And as the police investigate, the bodies begin to surface . . .

Is the mire calling out for sacrifices, as the superstitious locals claim? Or is it an all-too-human evil?

An international sensation, The Forbidden Place is a gripping tale of the power of nature in shaping our reality; the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the world and the lasting consequences they may have.

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"A bone-chillingly cool crime debut."
Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train
"The atmosphere is what makes me fall, head over heels: a lonely woman who rents out her city apartment and heads out into the wilderness. [...] Susanne Jansson skillfully builds mounting uncertainty. Is there something supernatural out there, in the mire? Or is there a person using the superstition for their own purposes? Does Nathalie have more reasons for coming to the marsh than she lets on? [...] The Forbidden Place is one of the best and most complete debut novels I've ever read."
Dagens Nyheter
"The Forbidden Place by Susanne Jansson has captivated and fascinated me. I have devoured this debut novel packed with psychological suspense and forces of nature in one sitting. [...] The milieu that Susanne Jansson portrays is astounding and the language with which she does so couldn't be more beautiful. [...] Simply magnificent!"
SR 3 Saarlandwelle
"The best book out there right now. [...] Debut writer Susanne Jansson is an easter gift to all nature-loving suspense fans. [...] What is buried in the peat bog does not decompose. It does not come to rest. But how do you satisfy the hunger of the dead? We wonder, feverishly turning the pages, and along the way we become experts in wetlands. And when The Forbidden Place has dug deep enough through the mysteries, we finally get our answers."
M Magasin
"THE FORBIDDEN PLACE is a slow-boiling novel that combines elements of classic and modern mysteries with discussions of such disparate topics as quantum physics anomalies, ancient mysticism, legends and religion...Jansson (skillfully translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles) has given us a first work that sits solidly in the mystery genre but blurs the lines around its edges...thought-provoking."
Book Reporter
"This debut hits on some of the same themes of nature, legend, and isolated village creepiness as Paula Hawkins' Into the Water."
Booklist
"Can a suspense novel about a misty bog be thrilling? Hardly, you might think. But then you'd be wrong. Because with her debut novel Susanne Jansson writes herself into the tradition of distinguished Swedish crime writers, who we hope to hear more from."
Nordjyske Stiftstidene
"The Forbidden Place navigates both the horror and suspense genres...All in all this is a well-written and refreshing debut."
Skanska Dagbladet
"The mysterious and mighty natural world plays a big part in Susanne Jansson's debut suspense novel. [...] The book's strength is the suggestive atmosphere and the depictions of the forces of nature."
Göteborgs-posten
"Susanne Jansson's debut novel is thrilling, at times both creepy and frightening. [...] This book had shivers sent down my spine."
Nya Wermlands Tidning
"A novel that bids for more. [...] an enchanting tale of mires, legends, present, and past. [...] Susanne Jansson succeeds astoundingly well in her debut. Her portrayals of the inhabitants of this backwater are warm and vivid. The milieu is the most important component when a marsh is at the center. The author writes it so that you can feel the damp air vibrating."
Dast Magazine
"Jansson paints an atmospheric and mysterious portrait of the marsh with the help of mist, light, and old legends. It becomes a place where life and death collide, a sort of anteroom to the realm of the dead. [...] Since The Forbidden Place is one of the absolute best suspense debuts this year, I'll gladly return to the enthralling milieus of Dalsland and to the joie-vivant Maya and her way of seeing things through images again."
Crimegarden
"The Forbidden Place is Susanne Jansson's debut novel and she offers a well-balanced combination of horror, suspense, folklore, and biology. [...] Susanne Jansson skillfully incorporates this into her story to create a suggestive and cringing atmosphere. [...] The Forbidden Place is a very interesting and distinctive suspense debut, and it leaves you begging for more."
Johannes Deckarhorna
"A very well-written book with a thrilling plot. It's a great book for anyone looking for a crime novel to fall in love with."
Lieliska Lasamviela
"A very interesting read! The characters and their different lives and fates were captivating. The resolution was unexpected and steeped in mystery."
Dom Graudi
"An ominous read with a creepy ambiance."
Prima Mag

On Sale: Sep 4, 2018
Publisher: Hachette Audio
ISBN-13: 9781538713013

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Susanne Jansson

About the Author

Susanne Jansson was born in 1972 in Åmål, Sweden. She later moved to Gothenburg to work in advertising and then to New York to study photography. After returning to Sweden, she spent her professional life combining her work as a photographer with being a freelance journalist focusing on reportage and profile stories in areas such as culture, film, music and literature. Her debut novel The Forbidden Place was published in 2017 by Grand Central and in twenty-four territories. Winter Water is her second novel.

Susanne Jansson passed away in the summer of 2019 after a courageous fight with cancer.

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Susanne Jansson

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