When the Devil Holds the Candle

A psychological thriller, where the line between victim and killer is fine, and easily crossed.Teenage troublemakers, Zipp and Andreas, unwittingly commit murder when they accidentally kill a baby in the course of a petty crime. Unaware, the pair move onto their next crime. Having followed an elderly lady home, Andreas enters her house armed, as always, with his trusty knife. Zipp waits nervously outside, but his friend never reappears. He will never see him alive again.Fossum toys with the roles of victim and killer and pens the inner monologue of her characters to chilling effect. It is the mental processes behind the sinister act that form the real pieces to this puzzle, and they fall gradually into place as Irma and Andreas converse and reveal more information about themselves. We are forced to question the familiar stereotype that it is always bad people who do bad things.While the reader may be party to the truth of this crime, the police remain flummoxed. There is no reason for Inspector Sejer to see a connection between the infants death and the disappearance of a town troublemaker. With Zipp too frightened to come forward, the police must wait for the evidence to present itself before they can begin to comprehend the unsettling nature of the case on their hands. "Fossum's elucidation of the criminally degenerate mind is first-rate' Mail on SundayHas anyone seen Andreas?'Andreas's disappearance is a mystery to all, including his inseparable friend Zipp. But its not easy for Zipp to come forward with details of the last time he saw his friend - they had been following an old woman, an easy target for some quick cash, and Andreas boldly followed her into her home brandishing his knife, the next moment he was gone. Zipp waited anxiously outside but Andreas failed to reappear.Inspector Sejer and his colleague Skarre are baffled but while the confusion in the outside world continues, a chilling and heart-stopping drama is unfolding inside the old woman's home. In a plot in the tradition of Stephen King, Fossum deploys her trademark skill of looking realistically, terrifyingly, into the minds of criminal and victim. Appearances aren't always to be believed, and people are not always what they seem. When the theft of a purse from a stroller results in an infant's death, two teenagers are in trouble. Unaware of the enormity of their crime, Zipp and Andreas are intent on committing still another. They follow an elderly woman home, and Andreas enters her house with his ever-reliable switchblade. Motionless in the dark, Zipp waits for his friend to come out. Inspector Konrad Sejer and his colleague Jacob Skarre see no connection between the infant's death and the reported disappearance of a local delinquent. While confusion mounts in the world outside, the chilling, heart-stopping truth unfolds inside the old woman's home. Unflappable as ever, Sejer digs below the surface of small-town tranquillity in an effort to understand how and why violence destroys everyday lives.--From publisher description Andreas's Disappearance Is A Mystery To All, Including His Inseparable Friend Zipp. But As Much As The Police Question Him, Its Not Easy For Zipp To Come Forward With Details Of The Last Time He Saw His Friend: Following An Old Woman Into Her Home, Brandishing His Knife. Zipp Waited Anxiously Outside But Andreas Failed To Reappear. Inspector Sejer And His Colleague Skarre Are Baffled But While The Confusion In The Outside World Continues, A Chilling And Heart-stopping Drama Is Unfolding Inside The Old Woman's Home. In A Plot In The Tradition Of Stephen King, Fossum Deploys Her Trademark Skill Of Looking Realistically, Terrifyingly, Into The Minds Of Criminal And Victim. Appearances Aren't Always To Be Believed, And People Are Not Always What They Seem. In the aftermath of a purse-snatching that resulted in the death of an infant, Inspector Konrad Sejer and his colleague, Jacob Skarre, investigate a connection between the case and the disappearance of a local delinquent