Only One Life (Louise Rick 3)

Author/Guide: Sara Blaedel

Why a Booktrail?

2000s: Navigating the complex web of family and community ties in Copenhagen’s tightly knit ethnic communities..

ISBN: 978-0751551204
Translator: Erik J Macki and Tara F Chace
Genre: Crime, Police Procedural, Translated Fictioin

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What you need to know before your trail

It was clearly no ordinary drowning. Inspector Louise Rick is immediately called out to Holbaek Fjord when a young immigrant girl is found in the watery depths.Her name was Samra, and Louise soon learns that her short life was a sad story. Her father had already been charged once with assaulting her and her mother, Sada, who makes it clear that her husband would indeed be capable of killing Samra if she brought dishonor to the family. But she maintains that Samra hadn’t done anything dishonorable. Then why was she supposed to be sent back to Jordan? Samra’s best friend Dicte thinks it was an honor killing. A few days later Dicte is discovered, bludgeoned to death, and Samra’s younger sister has gone missing.

Locations

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Denmark - Copenhagen
G: Copenhagen - Police HQ

Travel Guide

Travel to Holbæk, Denmark BookTrail style

Holbæk is located on the banks of Holbæk Fjord, an inlet of the larger Isefjord.

The city has an active commercial seaport that serves as the harbor for the ferry to Orø (island). Near the harbor there is a large marina this is where one of the characters lives in the book.

There is a very interesting sight in Holbæk – Musikhus Elværket – a converted power station which is now a music venue.

The issues in the book could happen in any city – one where a family find it hard to accept that their children are Westernised and may dress or act differently to their culture. There are many ‘reasons’ why someone could bring shame on their family and this is a very emotive subject. The most famous case in Denmark was the death of a 19 year old girl called Ghazala Khan who was killed at a train station in the city in 2005. Seven family members were arrested for her murder. Two family friends were also arrested.