Book Review | In The Month of the Midnight Sun by Cecilia Ekbäck

Sweden 1856. Three men are murdered at Blackåsen Mountain, and suspicion falls on the Sámi tribe. For Ester, to help the settlers means betraying her people. For Marcus, the mystery is only one of many reasons he’s there. And for Lovisa, her banishment means this might be the only place left for her.

I look up at the ashen mountain. I don’t like it. But my limbs refuse to move. This is where grief will come and find me. Here. Perhaps it is appropriate. 

In The Month of the Midnight Sun is a beautifully rendered historical fiction set in the stunning Swedish Lapland. Told in three POVs, each character stands out in their own way. I loved Ester, she’s a fascinating character who learns that everything is not as it seems. Marcus is like a romance hero, with a scarred face, cold demeanor, and complicated history. Lovisa is the wild card, whose difficult behaviour masks her loneliness. Their interactions are entertaining and provide much-needed humour in this bleak setting. But underneath, each is dealing with their own grief and loss, and the build-up led to an incredible emotional payoff.

The story is a slowburn because it takes the time to set the scene. There’s a lot of information about mineralogy! While this might feel superfluous, I thought it adds dimension to the characters’ relationship with nature. The description of the endless sun in the summer, the grittiness of their journey, and the questionable supporting characters all combined to illuminate the story. The mystery of the three dead men has several red herrings and I couldn’t guess where the story would go! While the rushed ending could have used a breather, I thought the resolution is satisfying but bittersweet.

I really liked how the book highlights the history and conflict at the time, particularly between religious settlers and the Sámi people. It shows the terrible treatment towards Indigenous people and how their old beliefs are forcibly wiped to make way for a new religion. It shows how colonisers would take advantage of Indigenous customs only when it benefits them. This is a murder mystery but it’s also a rumination on colonisation, identity, and secrets. And it still feels relevant today.

In the Month of the Midnight Sun is a commendable historical fiction and a great addition to the Nordic noir genre.

CW: rape, physical assault

About the author: Cecilia Ekbäck

Photo by Vincent Guth