A smart Scandi thriller

⭑⭑⭑⭑  The Forbidden Place brought something new to the exciting realm of Scandi noir - it gave us an intelligent sense of place through its history and ancient legends. The reader learns quite a lot about Swedish cultural superstitions and beliefs. Nathalie's work as a biologist studying the peat bog delivered even more interesting information about our environment, evolution and wetlands. But, this is not the first time Nathalie has been to Mossmarken. It wasn't solely the peat bog that brought her here. She has a history of her own with this haunted place and hopes to find some answers whilst undergoing her work.

I didn't feel I clicked with Nathalie much. She seemed rather one dimensional but that may have been the intent given the trauma she suffered when young. This story really flows from ancient beliefs and how they mold the people who live in relatively remote locations. I loved the ominous feel of this novel and the tidbits of knowledge scattered throughout. The Forbidden Place seemed more than a thriller and, thankfully, lacked a bloody body count. Instead it gave us thoughtful information, a great education and a juicy mystery needing solving.