The Believer

Three people struggle to find their place in the world in this page-turner from Zander (The Swimmer). Yasmine Ajam and her younger brother, Fadi, grew up in the economically depressed Stockholm suburb of Bergort. Yasmine manages to escape her dismal existence by relocating to New York City, but Fadi is left behind and eventually becomes radicalized by a group of jihadists who prey on his hopelessness. Klara Walldéen, a functioning alcoholic, works for a human rights institute in London researching the effects of privatizing police forces. But when she travels to Stockholm in preparation for an important E.U. conference, she becomes entangled in a deadly grand-scale conspiracy. Though some of the plot twists strain credibility, this thriller’s real power is in the poignant portrayal of Bergort and its residents. Impressively complex characters and stark atmospherics make this a thematically profound read. [em]Agents: Astri von Arbin Ahlander and Christine Edhäll, Ahlander Agency (Sweden). (Jan.) [/em]