Dead Joker
A Hanne Wilhelmsen Novel

From Anne Holt, the internationally bestselling author of 1222, comes the next installment in her Edgar Awardnominated mystery series. Chief Public Prosecutor Sigurd Halvorsruds wife is found dead in front of the fireplace in the family living room. The cause of death: decapitation. Her husband, who witnessed the grisly murder and is himself covered in blood, immediately falls under suspicion, though he claims his wifes killer was Stle Salvesen, a man hed prosecuted years before. Detective Inspector Hanne Wilhelmsen is called in to lead the investigation with her old colleague, Billy T. Despite the circumstantial evidence, Hanne is unconvinced of Sigurd Halvorsruds guiltthat is, until a witness says he saw Stle Salvesen commit suicide by jumping off a bridge days before the murder took place. Then a journalist at one of Oslos largest newspapers is found beheaded. What links these two horrifically violent crimes? The demanding investigation soon clashes with a terrible crisis in Hannes personal life. Cecilie, the woman she has lived with for almost twenty years, has fallen seriously ill and doesnt have much time to live. With a savage killer on the loose, Hanne must ask herself: Is the truth worth chasing at all costs?