The Paper Dolls

The Paper Dolls

Eva Fretheim

Original title: Papirdukkene
Publisher: Tiden, 2025
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Pages: 378 pages

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Alva Olsen moved back to her hometown only a few years ago. Now, she’s been found brutally murdered in the small studio she rented in a barn for next to nothing.

Her death breathes new life into the past—a half-forgotten adolescence in the 1980s. And it turns out to be a past that left deep marks on several of the village’s residents.

When police investigator Vigdis Malmstrøm is assigned to the case, she’s met with more questions than answers. But one question stands out: Who is the girl in the painting Alva was working on right up until her death—the one whose face has been almost completely smudged out? And what is she hiding?

We all have a story that played a vital part in shaping who we become. The Paper Dolls is a gripping novel about such a story. It’s also a razor-sharp psychological exploration of shame, regret, and revenge—and of a betrayal so devastating it’s impossible to live with.

The new Norwegian queen of crime fiction! In an age when readers are often shamed for their choice of genre, it’s a joy to pick up a crime novel that’s not only gripping but also holds up as quality fiction.

Dagbladet, 6/6 stars

The book is quiet and lyrical, with masterful language and a creeping sense of unease. A Scandinavian psychological thriller of the highest order. In my opinion, with this book, Eva Fretheim has firmly established herself as one of Norway’s truly significant crime writers.

NRK, 6/6 stars

Genuine suspense, real people, and an authentic atmosphere. … Eva Fretheim is quite simply a brilliant writer and a major talent in the world of crime fiction.

VG, 5/6 stars

Eva Fretheim just keeps getting better. She writes with a momentum and intensity that set her apart from most of her Norwegian peers. … The story is intricate and gripping throughout, with a plot resolution that is both surprising and logical.

Adresseavisen, 5/6 stars

A compelling and entertaining novel, skillfully paced with well-maintained tension. She also demonstrates sharp psychological insight and a keen sense for capturing the atmosphere of different eras, delivering a novel that checks all the boxes of a classic thriller.

Dagsavisen

Eva Fretheim

Eva Fretheim (b. 1967) lives in Moss and works as a journalist. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and previously published the novel Pink Cotton Candy. In 2022, she made her crime fiction debut with Queenland, for which she received the Maurits Hansen Award – New Blood. In the winter of 2024, the critically acclaimed sequel The Bird King was released, and The Paper Dolls, the third crime novel featuring police investigator Vigdis Malmstrøm in the lead role, came out in early 2025 to rave reviews.

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Other titles by Eva Fretheim

The Bird King

Eva Fretheim

The Bird King
2024
Queenland

Eva Fretheim

Queenland
2022