Samuel Bjørk

“A tense and smartly constructed narrative. […] instantly endearing.”
– Wall Street Journal (US)

“Harrowing and enthralling action sequences…”
– Publishers Weekly (US)

“Bjørk constructs a plot like a jigsaw puzzle with many pieces, and somehow it all works.”
– Kirkus Reviews (US)

“A breath of fresh air in the crowded Scandinavian crime genre, this suspenseful novel will hook readers early and keep them on the edge of their seat until the final pages. Fans of Jo Nesbø are sure to enjoy the flawed yet likable characters.”
– Library Journal (US)

“For those who admire Scandinavian suspense novels (a group of aficionados growing in leaps and bounds), here’s one well worth your consideration: Samuel Bjørk’s riveting American debut, I’m Traveling Alone. […] The book begs for a sequel.”
– Bookpage (US)

“Tense, thrilling and genuinely scary.”
– Heat Magazine, 5 Stars (UK)

“Terrific. […] Intelligent and gripping. […] May well propel [Bjørk] to deserved international fame.”
– The Times (UK)

“If you’re one of the millions who have developed an appetite for Scandinavian crime thrillers, then get ready to sink your teeth into this particularly juicy example. […] This is simply a terrific debut. The characters are completely believable, the plot is scalpel sharp and, as the hunt escalates, it will frighten the wits out of you in an utterly brilliant way.”
– The Sunday Mirror (UK)

“Two very appealing leading characters in the form of police officer Holger Munch […] and brilliant but disturbed profiler Mia Krüger. […] A compelling novel, with plenty of intrigue and some splendid action sequences.”
– The Guardian (UK)

“This high-octane, super-tense account of a race against time to nail a psychotic serial killer was written in Norwegian and something of the cool Nordic atmosphere rises off the pages like a frozen mist. […] [Samuel Bjørk] writes with a crisp, swinging rhythm that not only translates well but has its own distinctive tone, especially in the dialogue between characters – short, snappy sentences; pithy exchanges. Delightfully easy yet stimulating to read. I loved it.”
– Richard Madeley, The Richard & Judy Book Club (UK)

“I couldn’t stop turning the pages of this cold gallop of a story and I loved the working relationship between the two police protagonists. The conclusion does not disappoint and I can’t wait to read Bjork’s next novel – just as long as it’s about Mia and Holger. It’s a double act with a big future.”
– Judy Finnigan, The Richard & Judy Book Club (UK)

“Very enjoyable and will keep the reader hooked to the end.”
– The Irish News (UK)

“The odd pair [Mia Krüger and Holger Munch] are memorable cops sometimes reminiscent of the duo in The Bridge in their interactions and respective personalities are as gripping as the complex, splendidly engineered plot which will keep you up all night until its multiple strands are cleverly pulled together. Bleak and hypnotic, so much more than your average Scandi crime book.”
– Love Reading (UK)

“Samuel Bjørk’s formidable I’m Traveling Alone is despatched with real élan. […] Mia’s confrontation with both her own demons and a very human one is mesmerising fare.”
– The Independent (UK)

“This is a book for Scandinavian noir devotees, who are legion. The Nordic novels that reach me are nearly always written with skill and empathy, feature sympathetic police detectives of both sexes and describes horrific crimes with almost dispassionate exactitude. This one, the first of a planned series, is from Norway. […] The story is exciting, the setting cleverly evoked, the translation excellent and, despite the appalling nature of the crimes, there is very little explicit. Welcome to a new voice and variations on an old theme.”
– Literary Review (UK)

“Bjørk can make virtually any character or scenario believable, and has an evident fascination with the psychology of humans and how they react to trauma. It will be a pleasure to see how this manifests in his future work, and meanwhile, I’m Travelling Alone constitutes not only a superb debut but one of the most diverting and satisfying crime novels of 2015.”
– Coast (NZ)

“It is seldom that I am genuinely frightened while reading books. The first time was with [Johan] Theorin’s Night Blizzard, and the most recent was with I’m Traveling Alone. The reader is pulled into the story in a very particular way and the experience of suspense is forceful and physical. With few words, Bjørk succeeds in creating a relationship between the reader and the characters. […] Bjørk plays a high stakes game by centering a story around the murder of children. It is like balancing on a knife’s edge, but Bjørk never slips and falls.”
– Moss Avis, 6 Stars (NO)

“I’m Traveling Alone is one of the best crime novels I’ve read this year. The characters are so real that it is almost as though they are sitting in my own living room. The plot is easy to follow and intelligently constructed. What’s more, there is something about the combination of children’s vulnerability and cold-blooded murder that makes this book impossible to put down. The story stays with you. For a long time.”
– Brabok, 6 Stars (NO)

“A breathtaking and very compelling crime novel. We are completely engrossed from the first page and are happy to be guided through the story’s twists and turns in the company of Holger Munch’s genial investigators. I’m Traveling Alone offers several hours of first-class escapism – and we look forward to hearing more from Samuel Bjørk!”
– Bokkilden (NO)

“If this is a debut novel, it is something of a literary sensation. Even writers with long experience are rarely able to compose their plots with such elegance and in a language so completely free of clichés as Bjørk does. […] With his first book about investigators Mia Krüger and Holger Munch, Bjørk has already qualified himself into the mystery writers’ elite division. Watch out, Jo Nesbø!”
– Bergens Tidene (NO)

“One is tempted to call it a textbook on the modern crime novel. This is how it should be done. […] All the ingredients are there and they are combined by a steady hand.”
– Folkebladet (DK)

“An incredibly suspenseful crime novel that captures you from the start.”
– Plusbog (DK)

“Suspenseful and he certainly knows how to write.”
– Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“Nail-biting suspense. […] This is both a crime novel and a thriller that begins calmly and ends with an explosive denouement.  […] A mature crime debut.”
– Dast Magazine (SE)

“An absolutely brilliant Norwegian crime novel that has everything you want in a good story. Believable and interesting characters. A truly thrilling mystery and plot. And unexpectedly lovely descriptions of place that create a welcome contrast between scenes that take place in urban environments vs. the countryside.”
– Aftonbladet (SE)

“Bjørk makes his debut in the genre, but obviously masters the craft at least as well as most of his more famous colleagues. […] (Both Bjørk and Modiano) depict the realities of life for abandoned children and teenagers. Honorable!”
– Norran (SE)

“Samuel Bjørk has given life to a plot that keeps the readers breathless to the very end.”
– La Republica (IT)

“A very sophisticated and terrifying thriller, which keeps the reader guessing and gasping to the very last page. The story is powerful, the style is fluent, and the cast of characters is simply irresistible.”
– Thriller Magazine (IT)

“I’m Traveling Alone is a spectacular novel, never a dull moment and impossible to put down. […] The plot is very thrilling, well-constructed and elegant. The variety of the characters and the events is perfectly built by Samuel Bjørk, who leaves nothing to chance. Not even a smudge, no imperfections: in short, an excellent novel.”
– Paperblog (IT)

“Once you’ve read the first pages of I’m Traveling Alone you know you’re holding something special in your hands. […] An admirable debut.”
– Vrij Nederland’s Thriller Guide (NL)

“A scary police thriller that shocks the readers, keeping them in suspense until the very last page. The plot moves effortlessly between multiple threads, the writing flows and the characters are compelling and unforgettable.”
– Hmerisia (GR)

“A breathtaking thriller from Norway.”
–Eleftheros Typos (GR)

“Expertly paced and thoughtfully plotted, The Owl Always Hunts at Night will leave you shaken to your core.”
– Bustle (US)

“The best part of this book really is the relationship between Mia and Munch. I absolutely love the repartee these two have—I would read any book featuring them. […] It was truly fantastic to be back in Mia and Munch’s world—and this book ended on a cliffhanger that has me absolutely dying to read the next series installment.”
– Crime By The Book (US)

“There’s something about Scandi-crime fiction that sets it apart form the norm and the second novel in Norwegian author Samuel Bjork’s Munch and Kruger series exemplifies everything that is great about the genre. […] Told in short, compelling chapters that alternate between several perspectives, Bjork creates a unique, twisting, unsettling thriller that really epitomises the phrase ‘page-turner’. And at the heart of it are two police officers whose own emotional battles are as enticing as the crime they are investigating. Read as a standalone novel or as part of the series, the book works equally well. In fact, there is very little to fault in this Nordic crime thriller par excellence.”
– The Irish News (UK)

“Norway’s most famous artwork is Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’ and Norwegian author Samuel Bjørk gives Jo Nesbø a run for his money in conveying the pain and rage beneath the country’s placid surface. This sequel to I’m Travelling Alone sees the return of the brilliant but damaged investigator Mia Krüger and her appropriately named boss, Munch. The plot is competently handled but the brilliantly drawn angsty sleuths kept me hooked.”
– The Daily Express (UK)

“A chilling, stimulating, intensely dark tale set in Norway. […] Samuel Bjork creates a jagged zig-zagging edge of understanding, there isn’t a convenient jigsaw shaped hole waiting for your thoughts. The Owl Always Hunts at Night is a cunning, dramatically sinister tale, it looks as though this is a series with staying power.”
– Love Reading (UK)

“Powerful and thought-provoking. […] this one has mesmerized me to the point that I was unable to stop reading, even when the pages were hard to swallow because of the strong content. This is the strength of Samuel Bjørk: his books do not give you a way out.”
– Libretto Reviews (AUS)

“In The Owl Always Hunts at Night, Samuel Bjørk demonstrates that he has become a skillful international suspense writer. [He] has written a thrilling and entertaining crime novel with many rich elements. […] Even though it’s a thick book, there are many delicate details to delight in. […] The story may stay within a few miles of the Oslo area, but rises up to an international level.”
– Adresseavisen (NO)

“Samuel Bjørk proves to be an interesting suspense writer with great energy. […] Thrilling, great dialogue, and many characters that each have the potential to inspire new stories from Samuel Bjørk in the future.”
– Oppland Arbeiderblad (NO)

“Thanks to the author’s ease of hand, we’re hooked. With descriptive milieus, a rich cast of characters, and effortless dialogue the book has terrific flow. […] I like both the investigators Holger Munch and Mia Krüger and I will gladly follow them further on new crime adventures.”
– Trønder-Avisa (NO)

“With fluid language, clever twists and suspense, the reader is kept on their toes the entire way to the finish…”
– Moss Avis (NO)

“A great combination of an interesting investigation and highly dramatic suspense at the end. […] I’m hoping for a third book in the series soon!”
– Bokreisen, 5/6 stars (NO)

“Samuel Bjørk delivers knowledge of human nature on an intense level, while at the same time a gruesome and inhuman tale unfolds. The author has incredibly good grip of both his characters and his plot, and another captivating thing about the book is how new characters are introduced time and time again. […] This book is damnably perfect, the suspense constantly increases, and the wonder of the reader follows. But it’s how the author embraces his characters, their range of feelings, the dread of the victims, and the intense and at times hopeless work of the investigation team that splendidly carries the novel, from the first to the last page. A real ace of a crime novel full of suspense, horror, loss, deprivation and eternal love. Each and every page is worth reading.”
– Mitt Fyn, 5/5 stars (DK)

“Bjørk can still write, The Owl Always Hunts at Night is undeniably tighter than I’m Traveling Alone, and the ending is so thrilling that you want to read it in one sitting.”
– De Volkskrant (NL)

“There are more twists and turns than a serpentine in this gripping thriller, and red herrings galore. […] The Owl Always Hunts at Night is a page-turner and will keep you guessing until the climax when the shocking truth comes out.”
– The Gremlin (ZA)

“Raw, psychological, disturbing. The Owl Always Hunts at Night, the new thriller by Samuel Bjork, is one of those reads you just can’t stop thinking about […] a great thriller, a novel that leaves you with a sense of confusion and anxiety, a discomfort because of what humanity is capable of.”
– Il Gallista (IT)

“A masterclass in crime fiction. Superb.”
– The Sun (UK)

“The new novel is as clever and twisty as his hugely successful debut I’m Travelling Alone.”
– The Sunday Times (UK)

“Fans of Scandi-Noir will adore this ice-cool chiller featuring detectives Holger Much and the brilliant but troubled Mia Kruger. […] Brilliant suspense to the very end.”
– Best Magazine (UK)

“The Boy in the Headlights is the best book in the series so far. Here, Bjørk proves he’s in shape and that he’s being playful. The plot is thrilling and well constructed, with many surprising twists. The ending is both frightening and cold as ice. […] Bjork has an original voice. His style is at times rhythmic and musical, and sometimes he offers constructions we usually find in poetry.”
– Verdens Gang (NO)

“Bjørk proves to be a storyteller that builds and constructs his tales in clever and ingenious ways […] When you think you’re close to figuring everything out, Bjørk gives the story a new turn and the tension holds to the very last page. That’s the way it should be in the great crime novels, and that’s how it is here. […] Bjork writes exceptionally well – there’s a propulsion to both his style and plot that makes it impossible to put down the book before your eyes give up.”
– Nettavisen, 5/6 stars (NO)

“An exuberant and dark fantasy. […] There’s an uneasy atmosphere permeating this story urging the reader from page to page in want of a solution. Bjørk’s writing is captivating, and Holger and Mia have established themselves as a couple you like and recognize.”
– Trønder-Avisa, 5/6 stars (NO)

“What distinguishes Bjørk from most of his colleages in the thriller genre is his literary talent. His imagery and metaphors are more original, and he’s better at creating associations than most. He creates subsidiary characters we care about, and lets them sail their own sea in favor of the main plot, as we keep being curious about them. This creates a singular energi which separates Bjørk from the many thrillers that are more adapted for the market. […] Claustrophobic suspense to the very end.”
– Adresseavisen (NO)

“Samuel Bjørk has been one of my favourite Norwegian crime writers ever since his debut in 2013 with I’m Traveling Alone. With The Wolf, he won’t make anyone disappointed, as the first installment of a new series this seems as promising as the series he started in 2013 and finished in 2018 with The Boy in the Headlights. Bjørk once again delivers tight, dense, and thrilling suspense in a fashion mastered by few Norwegian writers. Over nearly 500 pages he shakes the readers to the core and makes them feel as if they’re on a roller coaster. The Wolf is a magnificent crime novel, and one of those rare all-consuming reads. […] In The Wolf, Bjørk offers an ice-cold atmosphere which keeps his readers on edge until the very last page. I am in awe of his storytelling, and I take my hat off. I am already excited for the next book in the series. May it come swiftly.”
– Randaberg 24, 5/6 stars (NO)

“Short, precise depictions which makes the novel incredibly propulsive. […] A fantastic starting point for a crime movie or series.”
– Trønder-Avisa, 5/6 stars (NO)

“The Wolf is entertaining and thrilling from beginning to end.”
– Telegraaf (NL)

“Samuel Bjørk’s new thriller is incredibly intriguing.”
– Trouw (NL)

“[The Wolf] keeps the reader on the edge of their seat with tension. A must-read for lovers of Scandi crime.”
– NDB (NL)

“The Wolf is a successful prequel that fits seamlessly into the Munch & Krüger series, and in which Bjørk offers the readers an interesting insight into the background of his protagonists. Once again, Bjørk has produced a thrilling page-turner that the reader will remember for a long time. First rate Scandi crime!”
– ThrillZone (NL)

“This prequel is the perfect introduction to readers who have not yet discovered Samuel Bjørk. All the ingredients that make his books addictive are there: fascinating characters, a good story, and social conscience.”
– Gva (NL)

“Chilling and blood-curdling.”
– NCRV Gids (NL)

“There are som books that are more than just suspense novels. […] The special thing about the investigators is that they are so committed and take so much responsibility for the victims. It’s rare to see an investigator being sorrowful, feeling bad for them. […] There is a personal commitment that is special.”
– Go’ Kväll (SE)

“[Samuel Bjørk] is a new acquaintance for me, despite his previous books about investigators Mia Krüger and Holger Munch. There’s much to suggest that I have missed out on something good. Dead Island is exactly that: well worth reading. Because Samuel Bjørk has mastered the important things, such as credible characters. And that doesn’t just go for the two main investigators. […] Bjørk also makes the beautiful island of Hitra, in almost too-much summer heat, shine to the reader. […] It’s been quite a while since I last read a Norwegian police procedural with such interest and joy.”
– NRK (NO)

“Wonderful that Samuel Bjørk a.k.a Frode Sander Øien at last uses the Trønder milieus in his crime universe. […] Dead Island is painted with a broad brush, worthy of someone who writes great, international crime novels. And here we have a rich cast of characters. […] We want more Dead Island!”
– Adresseavisen, 5/6 stars (NO)

“After his crime debut with I’m Traveling Alone, Samuel Bjørk has definitely found his style. […] It’s like coming home to something well-known, elegant, and authentic. […] There’s never a doubt of where you are in the story. When the language is dialogue driven, seasoned with just the right details to make the characters come alive, Dead Island is a crime novel after my own heart. Samuel Bjørk propels the reader forward, with a pulse and an understanding for the fact that time is of the essence. […] Five hundred pages, and still you want more. That must be the recipe for a crackingly excellent crime novel. Take up residence in your writing hut on Hitra, Frode Sander Øien! I am ready for more pages about Mia and Holger.”
– Trønder-Avisa, 5/6 stars (NO)

“Bjørk succeeds to suspensefully build a story whose roots stretches both backwards in time – a little boy who disappeared three years ago never to be found – and events that happen after Krüger, who for private reasons has moved to Hitra, starts taking a closer look at the unsolved mystery. […] Samuel Bjørk’s writing is excellent and in the short, 92 chapters he constantly adds new elements that keep the reader guessing just when you think you have the solution or when a suspect is just around the corner. […] Nothing is clear before the very last page of this thrilling story that flies by at record speed. Samuel Bjørk simply delivers on the same high level as before.”
– Nettavisen, 5/6 stars (NO)

“Initially, the plan was for Bjørk to only write three books about this golden duo. […] Fortunately, the Norwegian author has not said goodbye to his beloved investigator. Mia’s return even provides new clues for the next book. We look forward to it.”
– Telegraaf, 5 stars (NL)

“Bjørk is a master at building psychological suspense that creeps under your skin. He knows exactly how to find the right tone to keep it interesting and suspenseful to ensure you remain curious and want to read on. He has a smooth and refined writing style, which gives you the impression that you are experiencing everything yourself. But then that ending… Utterly surprising. I’m constantly being misled! I like that, crime novels that can surprise you in the very last chapters. Mia’s return is a great one. A really good, thrilling story with intriguing characters and an ending that will leave you stunned. I want more of Mia and Holger!”
– Thrillers & More, 5/5 stars (NL)