Danish Detective Louise Rick has just become head of a travel unit called Police District 13, or P13 for short. Its mission is to help the country’s 12 police districts solve violent crimes. Louise had assumed that she would be able to take her own team with her when assigned to a case in another jurisdiction. Instead she’s told she must work with the local officers wherever she lands.
Her first case involves the murder of Dorthe Hyllested, a 38 year-old innkeeper from Tasinge who was found bleeding on the floor of the inn’s restaurant. Initial reports say she died from a violent blow to the head caused by a sharp object. No witnesses have come forward so Louise is starting from scratch.
Arriving at the police station in Odense, Louise meets Hans Mules Gade, the deputy chief superintendent, who makes it clear he neither needs nor appreciates her help. For her part, Louise isn’t impressed with the officers assigned to her team, including Lisa Linden, a young Swedish woman, and Lange, a more experienced officer coming down from Hjorring. Over time, Louise will come to value the skills of both officers.
Dorthe’s husband, Nils, died three years ago and she continued to run the inn with the help of a small staff. Initial reports find that both Dorthe and Nils were well liked by the locals, many of whom describe the couple as helpful and loving. That upbeat profile will be turned upside down once Louise begins to dig into their backgrounds.
Louise’s personal life is as complicated as her professional one. A “dream trip” she had taken with her boyfriend, Eik, and her foster son, Jonas, had turned into a nightmare. Even though Eik had proposed to Louise, on their vacation he confessed he wasn’t ready to get married. Their breakup hit Louise hard and when a missing person becomes part of her new case, she has to work with her former fiancé who is an officer in the Missing Persons Department. Adding to her anguish, Grete, her downstairs neighbor is very ill, and Jonas, who regards the elderly woman and her partner, Mitlon, as pseudo grandparents, is devastated.
Louise’s good friend, Camilla Lind, is having problems of her own. She’s taken a break from her job as a reporter for the Morgenavisen, one of the local newspapers, and is upset that her partner, Frederik, who comes from a wealthy family, is putting an expensive panic room in their house. To take a break from the relationship, she’s been staying with her father. Camilla is also annoyed with her adult son who seems to tear through relationships without any regard for the women he leaves behind.
Louise and Camilla often share information when they are both investigating a crime, although Louise is often restricted with what she can tell her friend. This time around, she needs help and asks Camilla if she knows anything about Dorthe’s murder. Camilla, who would normally jump to investigate, is instead annoyed with her friend. Later, however, Camilla’s instincts as a reporter kick in and she becomes involved in Louise’s case. Camilla focuses on Eva, who worked at the inn and whose gay son, Aske, died after he had several encounters with someone involved with Louise’s investigation.
There’s a reason that Sara Blaedel is a bestselling mystery author. Her novels often feel like being caught in a maze with so many possible twists and turns. A Mother’s Love is an outstanding example of her talents. Just when the outcome seems clear, a dustup creates confusion and an eagerness to keep turning the pages. There’s also a common theme running through this novel – the love a mother has for a child and how far she will go to protect that child, even commit an unspeakable crime.
A Mother’s Love
Sara Blaedel
Top photo: Bigstock
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