After the Monsoon: An Ernst Grip Novel

From the author of the international bestseller The Swede comes an electrifying thriller set in the terrorist- and pirate-infested world of the Horn of Africa—where the sea caresses the desert, alliances shift like sand, and a Swedish detective can count on nothing but his own shrewdness to survive.

A Swedish army lieutenant drops dead on a shooting range in the desert. Was it an unfortunate accident—or something more nefarious? Ernst Grip, an agent of the Swedish security police, is sent to the Horn of Africa to find out. Once he’s on the ground, however, he quickly discovers he’s on his own. No one wants him snooping around—especially not the U.S. Embassy’s CIA station. Which is no surprise, given that military transport planes are leaving from the base carrying untraceable pallets loaded with cash.

What’s more, Grip’s investigation is complicated by another dangerous situation. Somali pirates have kidnapped a wealthy Swedish family during the adventure of a lifetime: a sailing trip from Sweden to the Great Barrier Reef. Why, Grip wonders, is no one back home willing to pay the ransom in order to save these innocent lives?

Solving the mystery of the soldier’s death isn’t the end of Grip’s involvement—it’s a tipping point that leads him deep into a web of intrigue, greed, and dark dealings ensnaring both allies and enemies . . . and a world where no one can be trusted.

After the Monsoon explores the tough compromises made every day in pursuit of the greater good. How do you know which is the lesser of two evils? And what is the cost of betraying one interest to save another? In this provocative, pulse-pounding, and sophisticated thriller, Robert Karjel vividly creates a world in which the stains of innocent blood cannot be cleansed, and the sins of good men forced to make impossible choices cannot be washed away.

From former Swedish Air Force lieutenant colonel and author of the critically acclaimed The Swede comes the second novel in the Ernst Grip series, set in the notoriously treacherous region known as the Horn of Africa.

A Swedish army lieutenant drops dead on a shooting range in the desert. Was it an unfortunate accident—or something more nefarious? Swedish security officer Ernst Grip is sent to the Horn of Africa to find out. Once he’s on the ground, however, he soon discovers that no one wants him snooping around—especially not the US embassy’s CIA station. Which is no surprise, considering that he’s also just discovered several military transport aircraft carrying untraceable pallets loaded with cash.

Meanwhile, Somali pirates have kidnapped a wealthy Swedish family on an adventure of a lifetime—sailing from Sweden to the Great Barrier Reef. Why, Grip wonders, is no one willing to pay the ransom to save their lives?

Solving the mystery of the soldier’s death is a tipping point that leads Grip deep into a web of intrigue, greed, and dark dealings ensnaring both allies and enemies—a world where no one can be trusted. Amid the Gulf of Aden’s terrorist- and pirate-infested waters—where the sea caresses the desert and alliances shift like sand—Grip must determine which is the lesser of two evils. And what is the cost of betraying one interest to save another?

“Robert Karjel’s After the Monsoon is both Nordic noir and international thriller. The compelling characters and the suspense he creates kept me hooked until the very last page!” - David Lagercrantz, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl in the Spider’s Web

“Karjel’s second novel to be translated into English is a solid, dependable work that makes us believe in its characters and situations; the author brings firsthand knowledge to his unusual story of Swedes in Africa.” - Kirkus Reviews

“With its realistic characters, sophisticated plotting, and assured prose, this entry puts Karjel at the top of the thriller pack.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A superior thriller…. Filled with rich characterization and unforeseeable twists and revelations, this mesmerizing first in a planned series will leave readers gasping for breath.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for The Swede: “With this smart, compelling English-language debut, Karjel deserves a place in the rankings of notable Nordic crime writers.” - Booklist (starred review)

“Think le Carré meets Homeland.” - Entertainment Weekly