A Higher Purpose
"A wonderful book, the best that I have read in several years!" Maj Sjöwall
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“Cleverly constructed thriller that is exciting throughout the whole book, but which also tells a lot about different countries' ways of dealing with terrorism.” Lotta Olsson, Dagens Nyheter
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​"The author is a debutant, but that is not noticeable. Her writer costume seems to be tailored and the book is so obvious and seemingly routinely written. ... The novel is a proof that you do not need a lot of violence to write an exciting book. I read manically until the end. One of the absolute best debutants of the year, maybe even the best.” Nisse Scherman, Thoughts from a collector's brain (book blog) Rating: 5 of 5
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​​“Exciting and credible debut in an international setting about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A seemingly innocent stag night on the French Riviera turns into a tragedy and later into a fight for legal security and even survival. Malin Thunberg Schunke impresses with her unpleasantly realistic story in "A Higher Purpose" and has created an extraordinary duo in the prosecutor Esther Edh and her Italian boss Fabia Moretti.” Maria Näslund, Hallands Nyheter
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​“A Higher Purpose is a highly topical thriller that puts some of the greatest dilemmas of our time in focus.” The book blog Johanna's Deckarhörna
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“The best crime debut of the year 2019, according to both the Swedish Crime Academy and the undersigned. More of a legal drama than a regular detective story, but more exciting than most others released in the genre this year.” Johan Zillén, Bokboxen
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​“A Higher Purpose is suggestive, thoughtful and actually resembles a modern, international Sjöwall & Wahlöö.” Kerstin Särneö, M-magazine
​“This summer's most gripping criminal novel deals with themes such as ethics, beliefs and prejudices, but above all it is a real thriller where the suspense lasts until the last page." Johanna Wistedt, Amelia
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“I am so impressed by the ending of Malin Thunberg Schunke's A Higher Purpose, which is so ice cold realistic that it remains long after reading, like a shard in the eye.” Lotta Olsson, Dagens Nyheter
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​“A thought-provoking crime novel about prejudice and where the fight against crime is set against a person's legal security. Debut author Malin Thunberg Schunke, herself an associate professor of criminal law, writes credibly.” Aftonbladet Söndag
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​“It is a very current and interesting prelude to a protracted legal drama … A Higher Purpose is a straightforward crime novel about something that could happen, and something that has already happened ... an engaging and thought-provoking drama with several layers. And in fact, in the midst of seriousness there are funny sometimes almost cartoonish characters and a lot of humour.” Rebecka Åhlund, Borås Tidning
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“Debutant who sticks in the thriller knife where it hurts the reader the most... For the one that likes entertainment with substance.” Kerstin Särneö, Tara
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​“An ambitious debut that without trembling goes straight into one of the most burning issues of our time: what happens to the legal security as soon as something only smells like terrorism. The scenario is breathtakingly exciting … the degree of urgency is high. It gets extremely exciting when the case gets to a group of law-abiding lawyers at EU level.” Malin Krutmeijer, Aftonbladet
“An exciting thriller that moves across Europe.” Nina van den Brink, Focus
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​”Cleverly constructed and highly thought-provoking, a very well-written story.” Björn G Stenberg, Uppsala Nya Tidning
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​“The start of the plot immediately arouses interest… a very readable novel. Also, highly relevant in the troubled times we live in.” Stefan Holmberg, Norran
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​“An ice cold and credible thriller. Malin Thunberg Schunke makes a nail-biting thriller of an unpleasantly credible story, about a society where the fear of Muslim terrorists is sometimes bigger than the demands for sufficient evidence and legal security. She herself is an associate professor of criminal law, but knowledge is not enough: you have to be able to write and create. And Malin Thunberg Schunke can do that, so that the differences between several countries’ legal systems become interesting on an individual level.” Lotta Olsson, Dagens Nyheter
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​“Malin Thunberg Schunke’s debut feels credible… The best thing about the book is the characters. Prosecutor Esther Edh and her boss Fabia Moretti have clear and exciting features, but at the same time it feels like something is lurking beneath the surface. I'm curious to get to know them better.” Jennie Hilli Sjöqvist, Mariestads-Tidningen
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​“Extremely exciting, that’s Malin Thunberg Schunke's debut A Higher Purpose. Feels good to know that there is already a promise that there will be more.” Annelie Henrysson, Blekinge Läns Tidning