Into the Kingdom of God – The Lost Ones II

The second volume in Henriette Rostrup’s critically acclaimed crime trilogy, The Lost, set during the First World War.

Ewald Hansen has been fired from the police and now works as a henchman in Copenhagen’s criminal underworld. He exists only at night and is on the verge of chronic alcoholism. The only thing keeping him going is his relationship with the prostitute Josefine. When he finds her mutilated corpse one evening, he knows that all the evidence will point back at him, because apart from the killer, he was the last person to see her alive.

Completely unexpectedly, he gets help from Inspector Neergaard of the Criminal Police, who promises Ewald a position if he solves the murder and at the same time serves as Neergaard’s spy in the city’s tough criminal milieu. Can Ewald trust Neergaard? Or will he end up being used as a convenient scapegoat?

In his hunt for the murderer, Ewald makes contact with Dr. Juhl and Amalie, whom we know from the first volume of the trilogy. Before long, they are on the trail of a secret society whose influence reaches all the way up to the country’s political elite. The closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes for Ewald and those he loves.

“What a sequel! I’m absolutely crazy about this series. It’s incredibly exciting and the First World War setting is incredibly exciting and authentic. The language is vivid, beautifully detailed, and, not least, true to the period. Once again, it’s incredibly easy to connect with the characters. I adore Ewald and Amalie, two very different personalities who still have so much in common.
Naturally, and it goes without saying, it gets *****/5 stars. ”

Emmas bogreol

*****
“A plot that draws you in as you read. Excellently written, with strong, gutsy women. Top marks from me, ******/6 – get this book for your vacation reading. It’s an absolute must-read. ”

Rikke Smith

******
“I’ve waited and waited, and now the second volume, *Into the kingdom of God*, has finally been published – and I’m still super enthusiastic. The characters, the relationships, the plots, old Copenhagen, the society of that time, and the writing style. I’m buying into all of it. ”

Bøgerne i mit liv

*****
“A raw and brutal tale from Copenhagen in 1915. I could clearly picture Old Copenhagen's streets and alleyways—smell the rot—the physical smells, but certainly also the moral rot among people, both high and low. If you like historical novels, then this book is definitely the book for you.”

bogen på bordet

*****
“It can definitely be risky to have high expectations for a book, but let me say right away that I have in no way been disappointed! Henriette Rostrup once again writes absolutely brilliantly, and the suspense holds up all the way through the book. If you enjoy suspense in a historical setting, combined with a completely successful vivid depiction of the atmosphere and some truly distinctive main characters, you will love this novel too. ”

Litteraturhjørnet

*****
“Once again, Henriette Rostrup has written an exciting crime novel while also being highly informative about Copenhagen in 1915 during the First World War. The book is exceptionally thrilling, ensuring there is never a dull moment. ”

Findals krimiside

****
“Original and interesting crime novel that can be enjoyed by everyone. Well-written historical crime story whose strength lies in its authentic depiction of Copenhagen around 1914–1915. The book has a good flow, is well written, and uses language that feels true to the period. ”

DBC Medier
“The brilliant thing about *Into the kingdom of God* is the staging in a shabby Copenhagen, cowering under inequality and depravity. Ewald is convincingly portrayed as a slightly naive, distrustful, and disillusioned on the bottom rung of society, and he’s placed in a unlikely pairing with the quick-witted, independent Amalie, who has just gained the chance to exercise her right to vote. You can almost see a noir film playing out before your mind’s eye.”

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