Review | Quicksand by Malin Persson Giolito

Maja Norberg has spent nine months in jail awaiting trial. She is accused of taking part in a mass shooting at her high school in Stockholm that left her boyfriend and best friend dead. How did a rich, smart, happy student turn into a killer? Or is Maja actually innocent?

You are innocent until the courts have ruled that you are guilty. What kind of weird statement is that? Either you’re innocent all along, or else you did it, right from the start. 

Quicksand is a character study of a teenage girl forced to make hard choices. The book is written solely from Maja’s perspective. I thought her voice comes through clearly, from snarky thoughts about her lawyers to despair about her situation. She’s a pretty, rich, privileged white girl who is not entirely likeable. But there’s more to her than meets the eye. I liked how the book subverts my expectations of her. My feelings for her changes the deeper we get into her past through flashbacks set between the court trial.

This is more than just a story of innocence and guilt but looks at the circumstances that led Maja to where she is. I really liked how the book examines social issues and immigration in Sweden, which feels very timely. It also looks at mental health and volatile teenage relationships. The difference in economic status, popularity status, peer pressure, parental neglect – all of these play a part in the upending of the lives of Maja and her friends. The authority figures in their lives failed them and this book shows how that affects their wellbeing. It’s painful and heartbreaking.

While this is labelled a courtroom thriller, unfortunately I found those scenes lacking suspense. The back and forth conversations between the lawyers and witnesses could be more exciting. I also wish the ending holds a surprise, but this isn’t a typical thriller so there are no twists. Just a full circle. It fits the tone of the book perfectly.

Overall, Quicksand is a unique take on Nordic noir. Recommended if you like dark character-driven dramas.

CW: gun violence, parental abuse, domestic abuse, sexual assault, drug usage, suicide attempt

About the author: Malin Persson Giolito

Photo by Feliphe Schiarolli