GRIM

A young man struggles with his demons against the backdrop of the Scandinavian death metal scene in this novel translated from Swedish.

Nineteen-year-old Kasper is the son of a legendary bassist whose first band, Dark Cruelty, achieved notoriety in the 1980s due to both its promise and the untimely and mysterious death of its charismatic lead singer, Grim. A short introduction from the point of view of Kasper’s loyal friend Iris, who is trans, sets the stage for this eerie, poignant, and winding story, as she struggles during the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown to find the words to begin writing. A sprawling, multiformat narrative follows, including third-person chapters from Kasper’s point of view, historical flashbacks, transcripts of band interviews, internet forum chats, and further brief interludes from Iris, whom Kasper meets while working at a theme park haunted house. The intricately described world of this very specific music scene will thrill fans and those with a penchant for exploring subcultures. Richly imagined characters populate this niche setting, and the novel’s deft lacing of unsettling paranormal flourishes drawing on myth and magic with accurate and heart-rending depictions of the experiences Kasper has with anxiety and depression provide balance. Ethnic diversity in some background characters reflects modern Sweden’s immigration history.

An atmospheric, heady, ambiguous mystery.