Liv has a lot of secrets. Late one night, in the aftermath of a party in the apartment she shares with two friends in Ålesund, she sees a python on a TV nature show and becomes obsessed with the idea of buying a snake as a pet. Soon Nero, a baby Burmese python, becomes the apartment’s fourth roommate. As Liv bonds with Nero, she is struck by a desire that surprises her with its intensity. Finally she is safe.

Thirteen years later, in the nearby town of Kristiansund, Mariam Lind goes on a shopping trip with her eleven-year-old daughter, Iben. Following an argument Mariam storms off, expecting her young daughter to make her own way home . . . but she never does. Detective Roe Olsvik, new to the Kristiansund police department, is assigned to the case of Iben’s disappearance. As he interrogates Mariam, he instantly suspects her – but there is much more to this case and these characters than their outer appearances would suggest.

My Thoughts:

This book gave me the heebie Jeebies, I could not read it at bedtime as I am not a fan of snakes but thought they would not feature too heavily in the story. It is a different and unusual kind of read that I am still unsure whether I liked it or not. Even how the author has described the snakes, makes me feel on edge, but I liked how the story flowed and it was easy to pick up and put down. It was creepy and un nerving too. I may have to revisit this book at another time to see if I feel any differently about it. But I am not a big fan of snakes so maybe that has put me off.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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