Everything Is Mine

This uneven crime novel from Norwegian author Lillegraven (Sickle) focuses on Clara Lofthus, a civil servant in the Ministry of Justice in Oslo, who is working on a bill to protect children of violently abusive parents, something she knows personally. Her baby brother died at the hands of her cruel stepfather. Clara’s pediatric surgeon husband, Henrik, also sees the need for the bill, and secretly makes a list of the repeat offenders he sees in the emergency room. Before Henrik can decide what to do with his list, one by one those on his list meet violent deaths, and as the common denominator he becomes the prime suspect. The media frenzy surrounding the murders puts Clara in the spotlight, triggering memories of her childhood traumas. Clara begins to unravel emotionally, even as she gets promoted within the ministry. After a slow start, the pace picks up, and readers will race through the pages, only to be caught up short by the abrupt, unsatisfactory conclusion. Hopefully, a sequel will continue Clara’s story. Agent: Rebecca Ritchie, A.M. Heath (U.K.). (Mar.)