After the Monsoon: An Ernst Grip Novel

by Robert Karjel

Overview

From the author of the international bestseller The Swede comes an electrifying thriller set in the terrorist- and pirate-infested world of the Horn of Africa—where the sea caresses the desert, alliances shift like sand, and a Swedish detective can count on nothing but his own shrewdness to survive.

A Swedish army lieutenant drops dead on a shooting range in the desert. Was it an unfortunate accident—or something more nefarious? Ernst Grip, an agent of the Swedish security police, is sent to the Horn of Africa to find out. Once he’s on the ground, however, he quickly discovers he’s on his own. No one wants him snooping around—especially not the U.S. Embassy’s CIA station. Which is no surprise, given that military transport planes are leaving from the base carrying untraceable pallets loaded with cash.

What’s more, Grip’s investigation is complicated by another dangerous situation. Somali pirates have kidnapped a wealthy Swedish family during the adventure of a lifetime: a sailing trip from Sweden to the Great Barrier Reef. Why, Grip wonders, is no one back home willing to pay the ransom in order to save these innocent lives?

Solving the mystery of the soldier’s death isn’t the end of Grip’s involvement—it’s a tipping point that leads him deep into a web of intrigue, greed, and dark dealings ensnaring both allies and enemies . . . and a world where no one can be trusted.

After the Monsoon explores the tough compromises made every day in pursuit of the greater good. How do you know which is the lesser of two evils? And what is the cost of betraying one interest to save another? In this provocative, pulse-pounding, and sophisticated thriller, Robert Karjel vividly creates a world in which the stains of innocent blood cannot be cleansed, and the sins of good men forced to make impossible choices cannot be washed away.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062339706
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/03/2018
Series:	Ernst Grip Series , #2
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Robert Karjel was a lieutenant colonel in the Swedish Air Force for 25 years. His job as a helicopter pilot took him all over the world, from peace-keeping missions in Afghanistan to pirate-hunting in Somalia, and he is the only Swedish pilot who has trained with the U.S. Marine Corps and flown its attack helicopters. He is the author of The Swede, his first novel to be published in English, and one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in Sweden. He lives with his family outside of Stockholm.

Editorial Reviews

Karjel has a gift for the telling detail that reveals a broader story…Every corner of this rich, rewarding novel features one or another subversion of stereotypes—the Somali-Ukrainian lounge pianist who's a superb spy, the bookish tween girl who's braver than her alpha-male father—chief among which is that the main character is gay…All this confounding of expectations is admirable, but that doesn't necessarily equal enjoyable; in some authors' hands, subversion can be buffoonery, and admirable can be didactic and tedious. Karjel's characters, however, are nuanced, their relationships complex and the background texture evocative; his subversions are of a delicious flavor.

The New York Times Book Review - Chris Pavone

★ 05/14/2018
Karjel’s excellent sequel to 2015’s The Swede finds Ernst Grip, a member of Sweden’s security police, attached to a raid on a suspected Somali terrorist cell in an immigrant Stockholm neighborhood. Normally an agent on the bodyguard detachment, the unenthusiastic Grip and a gung ho SWAT team break into an apartment, where they apprehend three men. The only piece of intel they glean happens later, under interrogation: a cryptic reference that one of the three makes to a terrorist known only as Yuhuudi (the Jew). Meanwhile, an army lieutenant with Swedish forces in Djibouti is shot dead at a shooting range, and Grip is dispatched to the Horn of Africa to investigate. His mission there is complicated by the kidnapping of a Swedish family from their sailboat by Somali pirates. Grip faces a host of dangers large and small before arriving at the morally complex solution to the lieutenant’s killing. No surprise, Yuhuudi turns out to have a role in Grip’s adventures. With its realistic characters, sophisticated plotting, and assured prose, this entry puts Karjel at the top of the thriller pack. Agent: Markus Hoffmann, Regal Literary. (July)

Publishers Weekly

Robert Karjel’s After the Monsoon is both Nordic noir and international thriller. The compelling characters and the suspense he creates kept me hooked until the very last page!” — David Lagercrantz, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl in the Spider’s Web

“Karjel’s second novel to be translated into English is a solid, dependable work that makes us believe in its characters and situations; the author brings firsthand knowledge to his unusual story of Swedes in Africa.” — Kirkus Reviews

“With its realistic characters, sophisticated plotting, and assured prose, this entry puts Karjel at the top of the thriller pack.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

From the Publisher

Karjel’s second novel to be translated into English is a solid, dependable work that makes us believe in its characters and situations; the author brings firsthand knowledge to his unusual story of Swedes in Africa.

Stephanie Garber

Robert Karjel’s After the Monsoon is both Nordic noir and international thriller. The compelling characters and the suspense he creates kept me hooked until the very last page!

David Lagercrantz

2018-04-16
After a Swedish army lieutenant is shot dead on a shooting range in Djibouti, security agent Ernst Grip is sent to the African nation to investigate what some fear was an act of terrorism.Grip, who works mainly as a bodyguard, isn't a standard choice for the job. But he quickly establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with after determining that the shooting was not a terrorist act and that the Djiboutian being held by local authorities for the killing was not responsible for it. When a Swedish officer advises Grip to "Let it go," that only motivates the security agent more, leading him into a thicket of secrets, lies, and international conflict. And if that weren't enough, a wealthy Swedish couple and their two children are being held by pirates who commandeered their sailboat as it sailed past the Horn of Africa, heading to the Great Barrier Reef. The pirates' businesslike leader, Darwiish, has demanded $10 million in ransom. Karjel (The Swede, 2015), a former member of the Swedish Air Force who trained with the U.S. Marines, has a muscular prose style layered with sensitivity: Grip is mourning the death in New York of his longtime male partner from AIDS. The book never attains the Robert Stone-like moral complexity it aims for. But Karjel skillfully handles the twin narratives, which at first run parallel and then circle each other, and maintains a quiet intensity throughout.Karjel's second novel to be translated into English is a solid, dependable work that makes us believe in its characters and situations; the author brings firsthand knowledge to his unusual story of Swedes in Africa.

Kirkus Reviews

Twin mysteries take Swedish security officer Ernst Grip to the Horn of Africa in a dazzling thriller. David Colacci narrates Grip's journey to Djibouti to investigate the accidental death of a Swedish army lieutenant. On unfamiliar ground with little support, Grip becomes swept up in the abduction of a wealthy Swedish family. Colacci's quiet intensity complements this slow-burning thriller to great effect. Various accents are subtle and give the characters effective nuances. However, sections that involve detailed transcripts are jarring despite Colacci's strong character differentiation. The plot invites some incredulity, but the increasing intensity of the narration helps to offset it. Ernst Grip's adventure spans blazing deserts and harsh seas. It’s a tale filled with incredible characters and shocking moral quandaries. J.M.M. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2018 - AudioFile

Twin mysteries take Swedish security officer Ernst Grip to the Horn of Africa in a dazzling thriller. David Colacci narrates Grip's journey to Djibouti to investigate the accidental death of a Swedish army lieutenant. On unfamiliar ground with little support, Grip becomes swept up in the abduction of a wealthy Swedish family. Colacci's quiet intensity complements this slow-burning thriller to great effect. Various accents are subtle and give the characters effective nuances. However, sections that involve detailed transcripts are jarring despite Colacci's strong character differentiation. The plot invites some incredulity, but the increasing intensity of the narration helps to offset it. Ernst Grip's adventure spans blazing deserts and harsh seas. It’s a tale filled with incredible characters and shocking moral quandaries. J.M.M. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2018 - AudioFile