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htliang
Nov 30, 2016htliang rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Hauntingly written novel set in the northern Swedish area of Lapland in the winter of 1717. A young family, hoping for a better life, move from Finland to their uncle's remote homestead at the base of a dark mountain. The young daughters come upon a badly mutilated body while herding their goats. Others in the outlying community want to dismiss the death as a wolf attack, but the mother (Maija) believes the death was murder and she is compelled to search for the killer. Very atmospheric and descriptive of how a harsh winter affected peasants at that time. Also a lesson on how punitive religion and superstition can instill fear and destroy people.