The Water's Edge

"An intelligent thriller . . . [a] slim-but-dense marvel of a mystery" from the award-winning author of The Murder of Harriet Krohn (The Washington Post Book World).

Reinhardt and Kristine Ris, a married couple, are out for a Sunday walk when they discover the body of a boy and see the figure of a man limping away. They alert the police, but not before Reinhardt, to Kristine's horror, kneels down and takes photographs of the dead child with his cell phone. Inspectors Konrad Sejer and Jakob Skarre begin to make inquiries in the little town of Huseby. But then another boy disappears, and an explanation seems more remote than ever. Meanwhile, the Rises' marriage unravels as Reinhardt becomes obsessed with the tragic events and his own part in them.

The Water's Edge is a riveting portrayal of a community in turmoil from Karin Fossum, Norway's "Queen of Crime." 


This ebook includes a sample chapter of The Murder of Harriet Krohn.

"While this happens to be an exceptionally fine story, Fossum's real narrative appeal, readily apparent in Charlotte Barslund's translation, rests on her ability to see the humanity in even the most wretched soul." —The New York Times
"Fossum's concise, elegant writing perfectly captures the panic of a small town gripped by a heinous crime." —Entertainment Weekly
"Splitting the narrative among the police investigation, the Rises' crumbling marriage and the nameless killer, Fossum sets in motion an inevitable collision that's as unsettling as it is unexpected." —Publishers Weekly
"You've read this story dozens of times, but Fossum introduces you to characters you've never met before." —Kirkus Reviews