Who is Gabriel Præst?

For fans of the Netflix series Borgen and WWII history buffs, A Death in Denmark is a page-turning Nordic thriller with a cosmopolitan vibe, introducing Gabriel Præst, an ex-Copenhagen cop (with impeccable fashion sense), Blues musician, and pursuer of truth as he explores Denmark’s Nazi-collaborator past and anti-Muslim present in this intelligent and stimulating murder mystery.

The cool stuff about A DEATH IN DENMARK

BASED ON HISTORICAL FACTS: A Death in Denmark, although a fictional story, does explore Denmark’s past involvement in World War II and its present cultural climate. This international mystery, much like its protagonist, doesn’t hide away from revealing secrets, and readers will be intrigued to learn more about the country’s dark past.

UNEXPLORED HISTORY: While WWII novels are vastly popular, readers are always trying to find new angles and untold stories. In A Death in Denmark, readers will get just that. Like many other countries, Denmark prosecuted Nazi collaborators after World War II. However, Malladi sheds light on several large contemporary companies that benefitted from collaborating with the Germans during the war as well as significant business figures, and members of the royal family, who may be compromised in government-secured archives.

A WELCOME NEW PROTAGONIST AND ATMOSPHERIC SETTING: A Death in Denmark is at once an exploration of Danish culture in the past and the present, a study of Scandinavian manners and mores, and an intimate walk through the streets of Copenhagen and Berlin, steeped in the sights, sounds and tastes. Gabriel Præst is an elegant new entry in the private investigator genre—a father, friend, and lover who knows who he is and what matters to him—and, at his core, is a dedicated pursuer of the truth.  

A NOVEL FOR OUR TIME: Alongside the WWII plotline, A Death in Denmark also skillfully touches upon hot-button issues such as the hidden truths about racism and the sociopolitical climate in Europe.