Black Seconds, by Karin Fossum
By Peter on Dec 12, 2007 in Crime Books, Karin Fossum, Norwegian Writer
(Norwegian title: Svarte sekunder.)
In 2002 Karin Fossum published her sixth Sejer novel in Norwegian. This book, Black Seconds, is now released in English. So far Karin Fossum’s books have been extremely well received. And with Black Seconds, which is among her best books - well written, highly exciting, and with all the depth one expects from Fossum – there is every reason to believe that the interest in her books will increase. (For book reviews of all her books, see Leserglede’s Fossum-page!)
The plot in Black Seconds revolves around a child, Ida Joner, that disappears. She rides out on her yellow bike to buy some sweets. When she fails to return 35 minutes after she should have, her mother Helga starts to worry. She starts 
The next day a local search is organized, but without result. Ida Joner and her yellow bicycle seem to have vanished into thin air. As the relatives reach breaking point and the media frenzy begins, Inspector Sejer is calm and reassuring. But he finds the case puzzling. Usually missing children are found within forty-eight hours. Ida Joner seems to have vanished without a trace. In the end, all he has to go on in solving this case, is a comment he feels may be significant. This is the most traditional police procedural Fossum has produced so far.
Black Seconds by Karin Fossum deals with a crime that could happen anywhere. Karin Fossum tells a story of unfortunate confluences of events, accidental occurrences, and opportunities. The path is rich with scenes, characters, and explorations of how people think, and why they make the choices they do. Even so, nothing is certain, the characters are as large as life, and the scenarios so believable. Black Seconds is a powerful, impressive, probing and intriguing novel, almost as good as Calling Out For You, a real page turner. Black Seconds is a new “must read” from Karin Fossum!
– Peter
Bestill Svarte Sekunderfra Bokkilden!
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