Valkyrie

Fortiden er aldrig død. Den venter på at blive udløst.Under et nybyggeri flænger en gravko et gammelt kloakrør – og blotlægger et makabert fund: Et lig fra 80’erne, omhyggeligt rullet ind i et afghansk tæppe. Tydeligvis et mord nogen har gjort alt for at skjule. Sektion 7 kastes ind i efterforskningen. Men før Janus, Cecilia og Mads når at afdække sandheden, eksploderer nutiden: Et brutalt røveri rammer en guldsmed, og to unge betjente står ansigt til ansigt med gerningsmænd, der ikke har noget at tabe. Samtidig kæmper Harun for at slippe ud af den kriminelle underverden. Han skal bare lige lave den sidste sorte million – så er han ude. Tror han. For i skyggerne opererer en radikaliseret og iskold aktør, der trækker i trådene bag sin maske og en forvrænget stemme. En person, der er villig til at ofre alt. Da sporene begynder at krydse hinanden, bliver sagen pludselig personlig. På vores efterforskningshold tvinges Cecilia til at konfrontere en fortid, hun helst ville glemme. Janus flygter ind i arbejdet, mens hans kone ligger i koma. Og Mads kæmper for at beskytte sin datter og finde ud af, hvad der foregår i sin ekskones familieliv. I Valkyrie strammes nettet ubønhørligt. Spørgsmålet er ikke bare, hvem der står bag – men hvem der slipper levende fra det. Nis Jakob viser endnu engang, at han er en sand mester til at skrive karakter- og actionbåret spænding, når han forvandler Københavns gader til en kampplads.

En tidlig morgen på Amager er en larmende gravko i gang med at gøre en byggegrund klar til et nyt fundament. Med den store skovl graver føreren en gammel kloakbrønd ud. Han vil knuse et af rørene, for bedre at kunne flytte stykkerne væk. Da røret endelig knækker, stirrer et brunligt kranium pludselig tilbage på ham – inde i røret halvt ligger, halvt sidder, et skelet. Lænet mod betonbrøndens inderside. Sort af ælde. Vores tre hovedpersoner, Cecilia, Mads og Janus fra Sektion 7, får sagen, men de når knap at begyndearbejdet, før København bliver rystet af et brutalt kup mod en smykke- og urforretning. En ung kvindelig betjent bliver skudt. Sporene peger i flere retninger. Er det bander eller islamistiske netværk, der står bag eller er det noget endnu mere komplekst? Sideløbende ligger Janus’ kones fortsat i koma og han kæmper med sine voksende følelser for Cecilia, mens Mads’ privatliv falder fra hinanden. Personlige konflikter væves ind i jagten på sandheden, der afslører en chokerende linje mellem fortidens politiske idealisme og nutidens dødelige fanatisme. Dette er andet bind i den nye Sektion 7 serie, hvor vi følger efterforskerne, Cecilia, Janus og Mads professionelt og privat.

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE Valkyries: the female supernatural beings that choose who dies and who lives on the battlefield. They protect some, but guide spears, arrows and sword blades into the bodies of others. Viking myths about valkyries attempt to elevate the banality of war – to make the pain and suffering, the lost limbs and deformities, the piles of lifeless bodies of young men, glorious and worthwhile. Rather than their death being futile, it is their destiny and good fortune, determined by divine beings. The women in these stories take full part in the power struggles and upheavals in their communities, for better or worse. Drawing on the latest historical and archaeological evidence, Valkyrie introduces readers to the dramatic and fascinating texts recorded in medieval Iceland, a culture able to imagine women in all kinds of roles carrying power, not just in this world, but pulling the strings in the other-world, too. In the process, this fascinating book uncovers the reality behind the myths and legends to reveal the dynamic, diverse lives of Viking women.

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE Valkyries: the female supernatural beings that choose who dies and who lives on the battlefield. They protect some, but guide spears, arrows and sword blades into the bodies of others. Viking myths about valkyries attempt to elevate the banality of war – to make the pain and suffering, the lost limbs and deformities, the piles of lifeless bodies of young men, glorious and worthwhile. Rather than their death being futile, it is their destiny and good fortune, determined by divine beings. The women in these stories take full part in the power struggles and upheavals in their communities, for better or worse. Drawing on the latest historical and archaeological evidence, Valkyrie introduces readers to the dramatic and fascinating texts recorded in medieval Iceland, a culture able to imagine women in all kinds of roles carrying power, not just in this world, but pulling the strings in the other-world, too. In the process, this fascinating book uncovers the reality behind the myths and legends to reveal the dynamic, diverse lives of Viking women.

When the Second World War broke out, Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager, then 25-years-old, fought enthusiastically for Germany as a cavalry officer. But after discovering Nazi crimes, von Boeselager's patriotism quickly turned to disgust, and he joined a group of conspirators who plotted to kill Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler. In this elegant but unflinching memoir, von Boeselager gives voice to the spirit of the small but determined band of men who took a stand against the Third Reich in what culminating in the failed "Valkyrie" plot--one of the most fascinating near misses of twentieth-century history.

When the Second World War broke out, Philipp Freiherr von Boeselager, then 25-years-old, fought enthusiastically for Germany as a cavalry officer. But after discovering Nazi crimes, von Boeselager's patriotism quickly turned to disgust, and he joined a group of conspirators who plotted to kill Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler. In this elegant but unflinching memoir, von Boeselager gives voice to the spirit of the small but determined band of men who took a stand against the Third Reich in what culminating in the failed "Valkyrie" plot--one of the most fascinating near misses of twentieth-century history.