“Ingenious. Humorous. Wonderful.”—Lee Child A gripping and timely novel that follows Sigrid—the dry-witted detective from Derek B. Miller’s best-selling debut Norwegian by Night—from Oslo to the United States on a quest to find her missing brother She knew it was a weird place. She’d heard the stories, seen the movies, read the books. But now police Chief Inspector Sigrid Ødegård has to leave … Chief Inspector Sigrid Ødegård has to leave her native Norway and actually go there; to that land across the Atlantic where her missing brother is implicated in the mysterious death of a prominent African American academic—America.
Sigrid is plunged into a United States where race and identity, politics and promise, reverberate in every aspect of daily life. Working with—or, if necessary, against—the police, she must negotiate the local political minefields and navigate the backwoods of the Adirondacks to uncover the truth before events escalate further.
Refreshingly funny, slyly perceptive, American by Day is “a superb novel on all levels” (Times, UK).
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I loved this book! I haven’t laughed out loud so often since reading Kate Atkinson’s “Case Histories.” The interplay between an Oslo police department section chief who is a high-functioning autistic policewoman and an upstate New York County Sheriff, a man of wisdom and kindness, is irresistible. But at its core, this book is a prescient, perceptive portrait of the gulf separating the values of the United States and those of Norway.
An excellent read – thought-provoking & insightful.
I loved the writing and the characters, which were wonderfully original. I also love that at the core, this story is about family, and the lengths we go to help the ones we love.
The only thing I didn’t love was the thread of romance at the end. The book would have been perfect if that had been left open.
This book slid out of my bookcase, a gift by a friend that had initially escaped my notice. There’s a small town cadence of speech I can hear as I read the book, sometimes out loud to myself. A mystery of sorts, but more than that, it’s a fascinating look at race in America by an outsider from Norway come to find her missing brother and unravel the mystery of a tragic death. You won’t be disappointed.
Witty, intelligent, and well-written, I loved this book.
Part mystery, part social commentary. Well plotted, well written and FUNNY.
This was a great sequel to the author’s “Norwegian By Night.” I loved the character of the American sheriff!
A new author for me and a great find.
If you want a deep dive into the world of a black family who has suffered two tragic losses, this story will take you there. The narrative expanded my understanding of what it is to live in a world where you are the other. Beautifully told, and by a Swedish author! The sheriff in the upstate New York town is a wonderfully original character; his interactions with the Swedish protagonist who comes to the U.S. to find her brother feels authentic.
Liked the author’s previous novel (Norwegian by Night) but could not finish this one.
Lyrical writing style. Interesting story. Made me think about America from an outsider’s perspective.
I almost let the smarmy dialog slide, but when the preachy narrative kicked in, I bowed out.
I have a liking for Norwegian crime fiction and happy to find another author I am adding to my list. Great character development and descriptive narratives. Well written with a good plot. Eager for more!
This book combines the chill of the Nordic noir with the muscular energy of the American procedural. Characters are appealing and written well – the curmudgeonly American detective and the Norwegian cop have great chemistry. Its a terrific set up for wry often humorous cultural observations. A fabulous read for those who enjoy Nordic noir and American detective stories will find an interesting, fun read with this book.
Excellent heroine caring for her brother..father..interesting study of motivation.
Excellent read. Great characters and pace. Interesting insights into American culture from the standpoint of a Nordic police officer
Intelligently written. Interesting philosophical discussion. Not too obvious, which was refreshing.
What a wonderful writer! I love the way he weaves humor and pathos into his book. I’m reading Norwegian by Night now. That’s his first book and it’s also startlingly good!
Loved Norwegian by Night and this was equally wonderful! Would read again and have recommended to many friends!
Really liked this book. A different sort of mystery that gets one thinking.