Giveaway Time! A copy of "I'm Traveling Alone"

SAMUEL BJØRK is the pen name of Norwegian novelist, playwright and singer/songwriter Frode Sander Øien. Øien wrote his first stageplay at the age of twenty-one and then went on to write two highly acclaimed literary novels, Pepsi Love (2001) and Speed for Breakfast (2009). The self-taught artist has also released six albums, written five plays, showed contemporary art pieces in various galleries and translated Shakespeare. His debut crime novel, I'm Traveling Alone (Det Henger En Engel Alene I Skogen) hit #1 on German newspaper Der Spiegel's bestseller list and was nominated for the Norwegian Booksellers’ Award, prompting some to compare him to the likes of both Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbø. It's the first installment in the Mia and Munch Series.

When a six-year-old girl is found in the countryside, hanging lifeless from a tree and dressed in strange doll’s clothes with a sign around her neck saying "I’m traveling alone," a special homicide unit re-opens with veteran police investigator Holger Munch at the helm. Holger’s first step is to persuade the brilliant but suicidal investigator Mia Kruger, who has been living on an isolated island and overcome by memories of her past, to assist. When Mia views a photograph of the crime scene and spots the number "1" carved into the dead girl’s fingernail, she knows this is only the beginning. Could this killer have something to do with a missing child, abducted six years ago and never found, or with the reclusive religious community hidden in the nearby woods?  Mia returns to duty to track down a revenge-driven and ruthlessly intelligent killer, but when Munch’s own six-year-old granddaughter goes missing, Mia realizes that the killer’s sinister game is personal.

Kirkus Reviews noted that "Bjørk has constructed a labyrinthine plot with plenty of red herrings and rabbit holes, but even with a cast of many, he manages to do justice to the story," and Library Journal gave the title a starred review, adding “A breath of fresh air in the crowded Scandinavian crime genre, this suspenseful novel…will hook readers early and keep them on the edge of their seat until the final pages. Fans of Jo Nesbø are sure to enjoy the flawed yet likable characters.”

Now for the giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a print copy of the book, courtesy of the publisher (U.S. addresses this time). To enter, simply follow this link, and login with your email address. FYI, you'll be prompted to enter your email address a second time, so be sure and don't miss this step. But hurry - the contest ends March 13.