Brilliant academic and government consultant Hans Rekke and his unofficial work partner Detective Micaela Vargas are the latest duo following the well-established ‘method’ of the famous Sherlock and Watson partnership. However, they did not make a conscious decision to embark together on the crime-fighting journey. Beginnings of their cooperation are in Crime Review – Dark Music (2022), first novel of the new gripping series by David Lagercrantz, which is absolutely worth reading. Translation of both by Ian Giles is superb: flowing and engaging capturing the attention. I would expect that collaboration between Lagercrantz and Giles will continue as the complex threads of Fatal Gambit invite further investigations.   

As the modern take on Sherlock-Watson theme continues, it is not difficult to realise who is who here, and how that uneasy working relationship slowly embraces friendship and deeper understanding of personal motives. At times it is such a slow painful process that not only the readers might find it frustrating – the main characters as well, especially Vargas (but devil’s in the details). She had to move into Rekke’s vast apartment as a lodger because of her own private situation. Living with the professor who is both disillusioned and disgraced, and surviving on the diet of various pills and self-loathing, creates many practical and emotional challenges. Contrast between wealth and social standing, mostly going years back (to be precise) of Rekke versus down-to-earth attitude and immigrant background of Vargas amplify the difficulties within the Swedish society, too.

Main story strands focus on a missing woman Claire Lidman who was confirmed as dead in a fire fourteen years ago. Yet she suddenly appears in the background of a recent holiday photo taken in Venice. Her still-hopeful husband Samuel Lidman brings this anomaly to the pair. Scepticism seems to be the only reasonable response as the earlier investigation into Claire’s death showed no doubt. Rekke cannot deal with this cold case: he is very concerned that his daughter Julia has a secret new boyfriend and there are nuanced signs of dangerous darkness. At the same time he becomes aware of hearing a name from his past, a memory of a genius rival, a mastermind of words, deeds and manipulation. Enter Gabor Morovia, lapsed mathematician and evil player of chess and women. As a villain he is definitely outstanding, as a link in the chain holding lives of Rekke and others which will become obvious as the plot intensifies. This villainous creation takes me back to the latest book in the Millenium series: The Girl in The Eagle’s Talons where Karin Smirnoff pulled all the stops, just like Lagercrantz in his contribution to the Stig Larsson’s legacy. But back to Fatal Gambit.

Vargas tries to balance her life in the realm divided by the law-abiding profession she has chosen and the reality of criminal underworld. Her gangster brother threatens to silence her if she doesn’t get off his back, and he absolutely means that. Caught in the web of real and perceived violence, lack of support and understanding, and confusing emotions towards Rekke, she struggles with convincing others of making the right steps. When she finds out identity of Julia’s mysterious boyfriend, her fragile world collapses. However, this is not the time to stop and hide.

Perilous mystery opens avenues that nobody anticipated. Symbolic chess game is already on and Hans Rekke and Micaela Vargas are caught in the bigger game of the post iron-curtain connections, political machinations, big money and fear. Conclusion of the Claire case and exploration of various small elements in this picture affected them in deeply personal ways, and a as result brought their professional lives closer. And I loved the tension, drama and moral questions along the way.

Fatal Gambit by David Lagercrantz is out now, published by MacLehose Press.