To Cook a Bear

Title: To Cook a Bear
Author: Mikael Niemi
H: 1707412
ISBN: 9780143133902
Publisher: Penguin Books
Published: 2021
Binding: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 432
Section: Fiction | Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
Condition Note: Clean, unmarked copy with some edge wear. Good binding. Dust jacket included if issued with one. We ship in recyclable American-made mailers. 100% money-back guarantee on all orders.
Publisher Description: AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A SUNDAY TIMES UK BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA CRIME FICTION IN TRANSLATION AWARD

"So much to relish here . . . and the writing is just lovely!"
--Diane Setterfield, New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Tale and Once Upon a River

A fantastic tale set in the far north of Sweden in 1852 following a runaway Sami boy and his mentor, the famous pastor Laestadius, as they investigate a murder in their village along with the mysteries of life.

Jussi, a runaway, becomes Laestadius's faithful son and disciple, and the two set out on botanical treks filled with philosophical discussions where Jussi learns all about plants and nature; and also how to read and write and about spirituality. But their quiet days are interrupted when a maid goes missing in the forest. When she is found dead, the locals suspect a predatory bear is at large. The constable is quick to offer a reward for capturing it, but Laestadius sees other traces that point to a far worse killer on the loose.

After another maid is severely injured, Jussi and the pastor work to track down the murderer, unaware of the evil that is closing in on them. For it is revivalist times, and impassioned faith spreads like wildfire among the locals. While Laestadius's powerful Sunday sermons grant salvation to farmers and workers, they gain him enemies among local rulers, who see profits dwindle as people choose revival over alcohol.

A completely absorbing and unforgettable novel, To Cook a Bear both entertains and burrows deep down into the great philosophical questions of life.