1222: A Hanna Wilhelmsen Novel

Retired police detective Hanne Wilhelmsen makes her U.S. debut in Holt’s intriguing reimagining of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, the eighth in a series that started with The Blind Goddess. On her way by train to Bergen from Oslo, Hanne survives a derailment during a blizzard and ends up with the rest of the passengers at the Finse 1222, an immense lodge nearby. With nearly 200 people snowed in, keeping the peace is imperative, so when the body of a popular priest is found, all eyes turn to Hanne, who let it slip that she used to be with the police. Less than thrilled to be interacting with anyone, let alone investigating a murder, Hanne suggests keeping the body on ice (literally) until rescuers arrive. Unfortunately, more bodies start appearing, and it gets harder to keep the guests from panicking. The plot lags in places, but the prickly Hanne is worth getting to know. (Dec.)