What a very sad and thought provoking story. How young lives can be ruined and death is sometimes inevitable mixing or being forced into these types of circles.
This has a very slow progressing style but it tells us from two different familys persepctives and how easily vulnerable children can be trapped in a maze of horror and cant get out.

Many thanks to the Author and Simon and Schuster UK through Netgalley for an ARC.

I'm a big fan of scandi thrillers but this is my 1st time with this kind of book. Its beautifully written and thought provoking. Equally heart wrenching and horrifying, tragic and just so so real! Although I'm from the UK, it's still such a relatable story and does such a good job of showing how 2 carefree, joyful, innocent boys can go in such different directions and the butterfly effect it has on so many other people's lives. I'm not sure I'd class it as a thriller but it's definitely a cleverly written story about the turns that life can take

Deliver Me by Malin Persson Giolito is the story of the friendship of 2 young boys and their ultimate tragedy in Stockholm. Dogge is from the affluent Middle Class suburb of Ronnviken, Billy in the concrete jungle of the high-rise flats in Varinge. The areas are linked by an underpass under a main road but are totally different worlds. With little love in his life Dogge spends much of his time with Billy ,envious of his close family. From a young age the boys are sucked into the life of petty crime that plagues Varinge and begin running errands for a local criminal,using them as they are under the age of criminal responsibility.

This is a bleak and powerful story that will resonate with British readers as well,the breakdown of communities, the hopelessness of decent people living in places authorities have given up on and businesses have abandoned. Youths out of control knowing the law will barely give them a slap on the wrist in the unlikely event they're caught while running riot. Young people only having a sense of belonging by associating with gangs.

This book is very much in the style of some of Dennis Lehane's books, a gritty and realistic look at urban criminality and those sucked into it,mostly losers who feel trapped by circumstances or a lack of choices. When they do make choices they're often very wrong ones . It's a book that will make you think hard about the way things are now,and not just in Sweden.

Two shots are fired in quick succession, then two more as the snow falls on the affluent suburb of Rönnviken,Stockholm. A boy runs out of a playground, crosses a road, entering the pedestrian tunnel leading to the concrete jungle of Väringe. He makes a call, though the emergency dispatcher can barely make out his words but she sends the first responders who find a young male victim dead. This is the heartbreaking story of two boys, Billy Ali and Dogge (Douglas) Arnfeldt from very different backgrounds. Dogge lives in Rönnviken and has led a life of privilege though appearances can be deceptive. Billy comes from a poor, first generation immigrant family living in cramped conditions in Väringe but it’s a home full of love. The boys meet as six year olds in the same playground where tragedy strikes and become firm friends. However, by the time they are twelve they are runners for a gang led by Mehdi Ahmad, ultimately with terrible consequences in more ways than one. The thought provoking and pertinent premise of the novel is who bears the ultimate responsibility when children commit shocking crimes. The story is told from the perspectives of both boys, by juvenile detective investigator Farid, by the mothers and by a store owner Shemal Aydin, known as Weed. This approach gives an excellent overview and a greater understanding of the impact of the boys friendship and the effect of the gang culture world that they enter.

Once you get used to the typically Scandinavian detailed and meandering storytelling what is revealed is very poignant and sad, demonstrating how the ripples spread wide in a situation like this. The characterisation is excellent as you go through the highs and lows of the boys friendship. You see them as young, innocent and joyful boys, then trace how everything goes wrong, you witness their bravado and them acting tough, with harsh reality of gang life and all its fears and subsequent panic. This hits hard and pulls no punches of gang life and control, and nor should it. Are the gangs responsible for what happens? The gang culture element and the responsibility of Mehdi is dealt with extremely well. His character freezes the blood as control and violence are his first response. There are some awful and very scary scenes as you witness the intimidation, threats, and consequences of that. How much is Mehdi personally responsible for what happens?

The mother’s perspectives couldn’t be a greater contrast, and yet both are heartbreaking. Billy‘s mother Leila is full of love and her desperation is so well expressed. Jill, Dogge’s mother, leaves much to be desired, but this allows you to understand Dogge better. Are the mothers responsible for what happens?

Farid, the detective, is an excellent character, and I like him very much as he cares. He has done his best as a juvenile officer, but you see from the perspective of Weed, that is not enough is done. Are the authorities responsible? How does much does racism and prejudice play a role especially in the case of Weed?

Whilst I think this is a very good book which really makes you think, you do sometimes wonder where things are going. This is especially true of Weed’s perspective as it takes a while and a lot of detail to understand and then it does become highly relevant. The same is true of Farid, we don’t need all the detail of his life though I fully accept this is a Scandinavian way!

Overall though, despite the above issues, this novel has me gripped. The age of criminal responsibility and those involved in the lead up to crimes that rock a nation is a difficult one to decide. All I can say is that the story leaves you feeling very sad, I finish it with a heavy heart, and in the case of this fictional tale, it’s up to the reader to decide on the issue of responsibility.

With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.