Phantom, by Jo Nesbø (Knopf; $25.95)

I am perplexed by the explosive popularity of Scandinavian murder mysteries. Don’t get me wrong: they are, for the most part, good reads. But my question is more along the lines of “Why Scandinavia?”  Why not Eastern Europe? South America?  Obviously, it’s not a language issue, since publishers of books from those countries could pay to have books translated to English or other languages just as they must for their Swedish and Norwegian authors. And I recognize, of course, that many countries are currently struggling with life and death issues that make writing mysteries frivolous and irrelevant. Trust me: I’m not superficial enough to be questioning why there aren’t mysteries coming out of, say, Somalia or Haiti.  But I am curious as we don’t see mysteries about the Mexican drug trade, corrupt Russian oligarchs, Eastern European spies, or similar topics written by authors in those countries.

In the mystery world, Norway boasts two superstars: Karin Fossum and Jo Nesbø. Phantom, Nesbø’s latest Harry Hole mystery, shows just why he makes the list. Hole, the Oslo police officer last seen in The Leopard, thought he’d never come back to Oslo from Hong Kong. But that plan changed in an instant when Oleg, the 19-year-old son of Harry’s former lover, was arrested for the murder of Gusto Hanssen. Harry had helped to raise Oleg and, although he’s lost touch with the boy, knows without a doubt that he was not capable of murder. The police aren’t inclined to investigate what they believe is the open-and-shut case of one drug dealer killing another.

As Harry retraces Oleg’s steps, he learns of the terrible toll that a new drug, called “violin,” has taken on the seedy side of Oslo. Once they try it, users will stop at nothing to get more. Adding to Harry’s anguish over Oleg’s arrest is the older man’s guilt at having deserted Oleg and his mother.

Phantom is a multi-layered, well-plotted mystery filled with compelling characters and a setting bleak from both weather and hopelessness.

Mad River, by John Sandford (Putnam; $27.95)

The calls to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension came in fast and furiously. Agnes O’Leary—shot dead during a robbery. Emmet Williams, gunned down as he got in his car. An older couple, the Welshes, shot to death in the kitchen of their home. Murders never happen in Shinder, located in remote western Minnesota, so odds were, the four were somehow connected. Lucas Davenport, head of BCA, directed investigator Virgil Flowers to get himself to Shinder and figure out what was going on.

Jimmy Sharp, Tom McCall, and Becky Welsh had themselves a goal: steal the diamonds that former Shinder High School homecoming court member Marsha O’Leary wore to her 35^th high school reunion. Becky saw the bling when she served Mrs. O’Leary some sheet cake. Becky, the “hottest girl to ever come from Shinder,” only wanted the stones; she and Tom were horrified when Jimmy pulled his gun and capped Marsha’s adult daughter, Agnes. When their getaway car wouldn’t start, they also shot Emmett Williams and stole his car. After that, it was easy: they went around town killing anyone they pleased: those they thought might have money, their parents—really, anyone, for any excuse.

Virgil Flowers works with the locals to try to get to the bottom of the Charles Starkweather/Caril Ann Fugate-esque crime spree. Each new victim made a bizarre sort of sense, but the initial shooting of Agnes O’Leary didn’t fit the pattern. Virgil focuses on that killing as a way of understanding the rest, while the sociopathic trio evades the cops and the bodies keep stacking up. The addition of a cop to the list puts the spree in a whole new category. It’s all Virgil can do to try to take the killers alive before the locals eliminate any chance of him learning what set them off in the first place.

John Sandford’s Virgil Flowers mysteries are just as good as his Lucas Davenport series always was. His books are immensely readable and they never disappoint. This one is terrific.

The Hiding Place, by David Bell (NAL;$15.00)

The murder was the biggest thing to ever happen in sleepy little Dove Point, Ohio. Little Justin Manning disappeared while his 7-year-old sister, Janet, was supposed to be watching him in the local park. When his body was discovered in a shallow grave, the police charged Dante Rodgers with his murder, based to a large extent on the information that Janet and her playmate, Michael Bower, provided about what they had seen on that fateful day.

Now, the 25^th anniversary of Justin’s death is looming, and a local reporter is onto the story. Too many questions remain about the killing.  The reporter speculates that Dante Rodgers, who has always maintained his innocence, was charged and convicted primarily because he was black. Janet’s father remains withdrawn and angry, and is incapable of maintaining a normal relationship with Janet or her 15-year-old daughter, Ashleigh. Even Michael Bower, who has returned to Dove Point, wants to know what Janet really saw that day in the park. But she can no longer distinguish between what she remembers and what she heard from others.  

When a man shows up at the Mannings’ house claiming to have knowledge about what actually happened to Justin, Janet hopes that he can help answer the remaining questions.  The truth, when it is finally revealed, is more horrific than she ever could have imagined.

David Bell’s The Hiding Place was disappointing. I figured the mystery out early on, by recognizing clues that Bell made far too obvious. I kept waiting for a twist or two to justify the too-early reveal, but none came. So the ending, instead of producing the desired, “Holy cow!” of a reaction, instead made me resent having taken the time to read past the point where all had already been made clear.