Roslund & Hellström

Box 21

Release date: May 25, 2005 / Original title: Box 21

Box 21

When a severely wounded woman is brought to a hospital in Stockholm, doctors are horrified to learn that her injuries are the result of a brutal whipping. She is Lydia, a victim of people-trafficking, a young girl from Lithuania sold by her boyfriend and now trapped in a Stockholm brothel, forced to repay her ‘debt’.

In the same hospital, police officer Sven Sundkvist and senior officer Ewert Grens are chasing a lead that may just expose a notorious mafia boss, a dangerous man Grens hates with a vengeance.

Two stories of passionate reprisal twist together, ending in a dramatic climax: two bullet-riddled bodies and a room full of hostages in the hospital’s basement. But in the cold light of day, will Sven protect the senior officer he so admires, even from his own corruption?

“The best crime novel of the year./—/Unbearably suspensful.”

Vestmanlands Läns Tidning (Sweden)

“This is one of the most terrifying and haunting novels in crime literature that I’ve ever read – which also makes it one of the best.”

Borås Tidning (Sweden)

“The best crime novel of the year. /…/ No wonder Maj Sjöwall praises them. Roslund & Hellström have the potential to become the Sjöwall & Wahlöö of our time.”

Stockholms City (Sweden)

"An outstanding Swedish thriller.”

Femina (Denmark)

“A breathtaking and explosive story … a truly captivating crime novel.”

Hamburger AbenDblatt (Germany)

” Box 21 by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström is the most suspensful crime novel I’ve read in many years.”

Sveriges Radio (Sweden)

“An extremely good novel. Believe me: This is so good. If it doesn’t become a bestseller this summer, I don’t know what will.”

Gefle Dagblad (Sweden)

“If you are going to read only one Swedish crime novel this year, it has to be this one.”

Helsingborgs Dagblad (Sweden)

“This is, quite simply, an excellent crime novel.”

Information (Denmark)

“The Vault belongs to the very best in the Scandinavian social crime genre.”

Helsingin Sanomat (Finland)

“The Vault is composed of several stories about tragic destinies that are intertwined in a brilliant way. The account is so suspenseful, gripping and intelligently written that it is almost impossible to put it down.”

Solo 5/5 (Sweden)

“Ruthless, highly explosive and immensely topical. /…/ An ambitious thriller that creeps in under your skin.”

Münchner Merkur (Germany)

“The most important crime novel from this decade.”

Värnamo Nyheter (Sweden)

"The Vault is something of the most extraordinary that has been published within the genre in recent years.”

Hudiksvall Tidning (Sweden)

”Box 21 is up there with the best international stars in the genre.”

Dagens Industri (Sweden)

“Roslund & Hellström have done it again:?they’ve written their way into the very elite of Scandinavian crime writing.”

Berlingske Tidende (Denmark) 6/6

“Everything is right about this book: the plot, the language, the various storylines, the description of the characters. In short: read this book!”

Vrij Nederland (Netherlands)

“In addition to Roslund & Hellström’s punchy style, the plot is nail-bitingly scary in all its bleakness. The Vault is definitely one of those books that you should read right down to the last page, to the last sentence.”

Salon seudun sanomat (Finland)

“A first-rate thriller. /…/ Most people have probably already picked up on the fact that The Vault is likely to be the sharpest Swedish thriller of the year. /…/ Swedish thrillers often meet a high international standard, although it is quite unusual that they maintain the same intensity throughout 400 pages, and still have energy left for a final twist. It is the intensity and the powerful nature of the story that makes The Vault one of the singular best Swedish crime novels since the days of Sjöwall & Wahlöö.”

Café 5/5 (Sweden)

“I happily admit that The Vault is the best crime novel I’ve read in a very long time. Perhaps, it is the best one since Henning Mankell’s Sidetracked precisely ten years ago. /…/ I would be surprised if the Swedish Academy of Crime Writers hasn’t already found the crime novel of the year, because I certainly have!”

Ystads Allehanda (Sweden

The Vault is an extremely good novel! Forget crime literature; this is, simply put, great literature!/…/ This is an incredibly well told story, shocking and upsetting. /…/ It is so skilfully told, and with such intensity:?the research must have been meticulous.”/…/ Sjöwall & Wahlöö are Roslund & Hellström’s spiritual mom and dad.”

SVT 5/5 (Sweden)

“Box 21 – the book that shocked Europe – it seemed like my kind of book, and guess what – I was right/…/ The book’s style reminded me of José Saramago, the way how dialogues and flashbacks were described in a very smooth way. And although it is a relatively long history, going all the things in clear order and each chapter feels just as important.”

Horrorshow (Brazil)