THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS

By Sara Blædel

In a forest in Denmark, a ranger discovers the fresh corpse of an unidentified woman. A large scar on one side of her face should make the identification easy, but nobody has reported her missing. After four days, Louise Rick—the new commander of the Missing Persons Department—is still without answers. But when she releases a photo to the media, an older woman phones to say that she recognizes the woman as Lisemette, a child she once cared for in the state mental institution many years ago. Lisemette, like the other children in the institution, was abandoned by her family and branded a “forgotten girl.” But Louise soon discovers something more disturbing: Lisemette had a twin, and both girls were issued death certificates over 30 years ago. As the investigation brings Louise closer to her childhood home, she uncovers more crimes that were committed—and hidden—in the forest, and finds a terrible link to her own past that has been carefully concealed.

First published by People’s Press in 2011

Brazil, Record
Croatia, Znanje
Czech Republic, Prah
Denmark, People’s Press
Finland, Karisto
France, City Editions
Germany, Piper
Greece, Klidarithmos
Iceland, Bjartur
Italy, Fazi
Japan, Kadokawa
Korea, Plaza Books
The Netherlands, The House of Books
Norway, Bonnier Forlag
Portugal, 20/20 Editora
Russia, Eksmo
Serbia, Laguna
Spain, Jentas
Sweden, Norstedts
Turkey, Penguen Kitap
US, Grand Central Publishing

Tautly suspenseful and sociologically fascinating, The Forgotten Girls demonstrates yet again that the finest contemporary suspense fiction emanates from Europe’s snowbound North.
BookPage

For readers who gorge on captivating characters and chilling suspense, The Forgotten Girls is a tantalizing treat. Enjoy yourself, America.
Sandra Brown

Sara Blædel is a force to be reckoned with. Everyone keeps talking about the ‘trend’ in crime writers—Scandinavian, German, Russian. Blædel is no trend. She’s a remarkable crime writer who time and again delivers a solid, engaging story that any reader in the world can enjoy.
Karin Slaughter

One of the best I’ve come across.
Michael Connelly

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