New Swedish Books, Spring 2018 1
New Swedish Books 12 The Murderer’s Mother Two yo
ung men are in prison for having killed other young men. In the waiting room of the young offenders’ institute their mothers Henrietta and Grace meet, and unexpectedly strong emotions are triggered. What happens when two women choose their love for one another over their love for their sons? Ida Linde’s writing is an expanding universe inhabited by machine girls, murderous couples, space-travelling sisters and competitive equestrianistas. Her unpredictable stories allow the characters to move on complex paths that bring them closer together, then further from one another. The language moves from lyrical prose to prosaic lyric poetry. But a thematic constant remains for the reader to navigate by in The Murderer’s Mother: ”Even if love won’t save us, love is the only thing we have.“ Ida Linde (b. 1980) The Murderer’s Mother Publisher Norstedts www.norstedts.se Rights Norstedts linda.altrovberg@norstedts.se Selected Works Maskinflickans testamente poems 2006 En kärleksförklaring novel 2011 Norrut åker man för att dö novel 2014 Literary Prizes Aftonbladets litteraturpris 2014 Norrlands litteraturpris 2015 Photo: Sara Mac Key