Very "Norwegian"

This book is the second in a series and may be better if you read the preceding one. It stands alone quite well, but can be confusing. I say it's "Norwegian" based on the rather bleak stereotype that nation has earned. It was well-written, but I found it a little slow in places. Nevertheless, it delivered a fascinating insight into rural life in a challenging environment during a time of global change. Richard's thorough review explains the plot and its setting nicely, so there's no real need to say more.