Jacob Juul is back, and went straight onto the national best seller list!
The parsonage is buzzing with anticipation as the village’s new pastor, Maria, prepares to marry Gjertrud. But as the wedding day approaches, chaos threatens to unravel the festivities. A naked, oil-slicked corpse appears mysteriously on the second floor, while ruthless bandits wreak havoc in the neighborhood. As if that weren’t enough, Gjertrud is pregnant, and this summer is the hottest in living memory.
Amidst all this turmoil, the aging pastor Jacob Juul struggles with declining health as he hosts the wedding celebration at the parsonage. He’s helped by his determined granddaughter, Isabella Donnatina, who’s set to be a bridesmaid, though Maria’s demanding mother only adds to the complications. And looming over it all is the critical task of convincing child services that the parsonage is the right home for young Isabella.
Anders Totland’s second book in the quirky, humorous, and slightly absurd crime series about the priest, moonshiner, and beekeeper Jakob Juul gives us more of what we fell in love with last time. This is hysterical madness between two covers.
Krimlitteratur
As in Jacob Juul’s first novel, the style is quick and effective, the plot is action-driven and the dialogue is full of wit and humor, such as when the undertaker recommends a closed coffin after a violent death: “Some deaths it’s best to keep a lid on”. Totland’s characters have a fairly pragmatic approach to most things and don’t break down over a few corpses here and there. So you just have to take this for what it is: well-written, Tarantino- and Fargo-related happy violence, light-footed and noncommittal fun."
Stavanger Aftenblad
Refractory novel about a retired priest who becomes a murderer on page one. If you’ve seen the Cohen brothers’ movie “Fargo,” you might have an idea of the solution to the priest’s problems. Recommended.
NRK, About A prayer for Jacob Juul
This is a humorous novel with clever dialogue, observations, and use of metaphors. It gives me associations to Arto Paasilinna’s books, where hysterical and funny situations arise.
Bokbloggeren
As soon as I started reading, I was captivated by the pace, characters, humor, and universe in general. “Now, here’s a movie, I thought, and I want to make it.”
Producer Finn Gjerdrum, Paradox, who will be making the film about Jacob Juul
I’ve never read such an absurd Christmas story – and never been so thoroughly entertained.
Per Straarup, owner and publisher, Straarup & Co, on A Prayer for Jacob Juul
Through this glorious chaos of literally bloody seriousness, the important things in life still emerge (….) about values and what one spends time on.
Bømlonytt, on A Prayer for Jacob Juul
