the_exception_jungersen
2008 Longlist

The Exception

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ABOUT
THE BOOK

Four women work at the Danish Centre for Genocide Studies. When two of them start receiving death threats, they suspect they are being stalked by Mirko Zigic, a Bosnian torturer and war criminal. But perhaps he is not the person behind the threats – it could be someone in their very midst. Much of the drama created revolves not only around the scary sense of a killer prowling in the shadows but also around the manipulative games being played between the women in the office as they come under pressure and turn on each other. The irony is that these betrayals and persecutions are taking place amongst professionals who daily analyse cases of appalling cruelty. Now and again, the narrative is broken with extracts from ‘articles’ dealing with crimes against humanity and the psychology of evil. Whilst the women apply this to their work with genocide (and the killer), there are parallels to their own behaviour.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Christian
Jungersen

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Anna
Paterson

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Jungersen’s novel combines the plot and suspense of a thriller with psychological realism, dealing with the moral and ethical problems of evil.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
Denmark
Original Language
Danish
Publisher
Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Translator
Anna Paterson

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