This is the second book in the Österlen Murders series by Anders de la Motte and Måns Nilsson, which I picked up at the airport this summer.
Peter Vinston is a high-ranking detective in Stockholm's police force, but is spending the summer in the rural area of Österlen while on sick leave. His time off was interrupted with the discovery of a dead estate agent in a controversial house which she was selling, and he and the local police detective, Tove Esping, were thrown together to solve this case in book 1 of the series.
Peter is meticulous in his approach to life - he hates messs, untidiness, and dirt, whereas Tove is more... relaxed... in her outlook. His car and clothing are pristine; hers are messy and functional. Through the first case they worked on together, they learned to recognise some of one another's strengths, and the way they complemented each other, but it was far from plain sailing.
Book 2 (A Find to Die For) is set in the world of Antiques: the Antiques Roadshow is coming to the castle where Peter's ex-wife lives with her second husband, but a few weeks before the filming is due to take place, a local dealer is found dead at the big annual antique market. Peter is on the spot when the man is discovered, so can't help but be drawn into the investigation - again frustrating Tove and her wish to take the lead.
In the course of their investigations, the pair uncover shady deals and hidden pasts. There are enjoyable plot twists aplenty, and although I had a number of suspects on my list, I didn't anticipate the reveal. I wasn't too keen on the public denouement, as that felt very artificial, but greatly enjoyed the book as a whole, and will definitely buy book 3 if it's ever written!
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