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‘A glorious debut’ – SUNDAY EXPRESS
‘An affectionate homage to classic murder mysteries’ – DAILY MAIL
‘Recommended reading for a long winter night’ – GUARDIAN

A snowstorm. A country house. Old friends reunited.
It’s going to be murder…

Torben Helle – art historian, Danish expat and owner of several excellent Scandinavian jumpers – has been dragged to a remote Northumbrian mansion for a ten-year reunion with old university friends. But when some shocking revelations from their host, a reclusive and irritating tech entrepreneur, are followed by an apparent suicide, the group faces a test of their wits… and their trust.

Surrounded by enigmatic housekeepers and off-duty police inspectors, suspicion and sarcasm quickly turn to panic. Only by drawing upon all the tricks of Golden Age detectives past will Torben be able to solve the mystery: how much money would it take to turn one of his old friends into a murderer? But he’d better be quick, or someone else might end up dead…

This witty murder mystery puts a modern spin on the classic country house whodunnit. A must-read for fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman and Janice Hallett.

‘A witty repurposing of the Golden Age country house’ – FINANCIAL TIMES
‘An entertaining whodunnit in the classic Christie style’ – MAIL ON SUNDAY
‘A glorious feat that intrigues, surprises and delights’ – JANICE HALLETT
‘A love letter to the classic country house murder mystery’ – J.M. HALL

Publisher Review

An ingenious plot, witty asides and lively characterisations… If Carlsberg did whodunnits they would probably be something like this * Saga * A witty repurposing of the Golden Age country house whodunnit for the modern age * Financial Times * Nicely done, with some entertaining asides about the nature of detective fiction: recommended reading for a long winter night * Guardian * Combines classic country house murder mystery with an ensemble comedy caper in a glorious debut * Sunday Express * An entertaining whodunnit in the classic Christie style * Mail on Sunday * Jensen has taken themes from dozens of golden age novels and made something new – and funny – out of them… Self-conscious in the best way, with an array of literary references, this is an excellent cosy crime novel * Literary Review * A spine-chilling, Agatha Christie-esque whodunnit * iPaper * A locked-room mystery that gleefully winks to its form… Full of sharp turns, the plot is equally engaging, reminiscent of the Knives Out films, and drawing from the many mysteries it name-checks. This craftily entertaining novel’s surprising conclusion fits comfortably in that lineage * Irish Times * A heart-warming blend of a classic whodunnit with a modern spin * Belfast Telegraph * A glorious feat that intrigues, surprises and delights from page one. This gem is a solid-gold revival of the golden age whodunnit, with a delicious Danish twist — Janice Hallett, author of THE APPEAL A love letter to the classic Country House murder mystery… if Agatha Christie had written The Big Chill it would have been very much like this — J.M. Hall, author of A SPOONFUL OF MURDER A brilliant update on the traditional country house murder. Oskar Jensen has a wonderfully descriptive style, pin-point accurate and loaded with atmosphere. If this is the start of Scandi-Cosy, I’m all for it — Ian Moore, author of DEATH AND CROISSANTS Oskar Jensen is a sparkling new voice in crime fiction. Loved it — S.J. Bennett, author of THE WINDSOR KNOT A wonderful mix of golden age tributes, scandi not-so-noir, puzzling mystery, and a study of the sort of friendships that linger across the years, often against the odds… A belter of a book, and I’m already anxiously awaiting the sequel — Katy Watson, author of THE THREE DAHLIAS A glittering jewel in the crown of modern country house mysteries. We must have more of Torben Helle! Truly excellent — Marion Todd, author of OLD BONES LIE A clever, elegant mystery in the Golden Age tradition, though it’s set in the present day. Nods to my favourite fictional sleuth of the era made it even more special — Leonora Nattrass, author of BLUE WATER A highbrow cosy that takes a playful approach to the tropes and fetishes of the genre while effortlessly twisting the reader in circles. A hugely accomplished fiction debut — Eva Dolan, author of LONG WAY HOME A brilliantly clever murder mystery with an alluring cast and fiendish puzzle at its heart. Perfect for fans of the country house whodunnit looking for a contemporary take on a classic tale — Philippa East, author of LITTLE WHITE LIES Beautifully written and teeming with intrigue… Had me hooked from the first page and guessing until the last — Joanna Wallace, author of YOU’D LOOK BETTER AS A GHOST Cunningly clever. I defy you to guess whodunnit. Golden age mystery — Tina Baker, author of CALL ME MUMMY As cunning as Christie, as elegant as Sayers, with a dash of Donna Tartt thrown in for good measure. Helle & Death is not only a fiendishly clever mystery on par with the best the Golden Age has to offer, but a deft character study in the complex entanglements of old friendships. Witty, erudite, funny, and wonderfully well-written, I am in awe of what Oskar Jensen has achieved with this book — William Hussey, author of KILLING JERICHO A clever, funny, sparklingly fresh twist on classic country house murder — Kate Griffin, author of FYNESHADE A clever and funny country house murder… brilliant — J.B. Mylet, author of THE HOMES Super tight plotting with a great cast of characters and wonderful Sorkin-esque dialogue. Huge recommendation for fans of Agatha Christie and Rian Johnson — Tariq Ashkanani, author of WELCOME TO COOPER A charmingly quirky protagonist, a bleakly vivid setting, and a cleverly plotted country house murder make for a brilliant read! Helle and Death is a beautifully written tribute to the golden age classics — Guy Morpuss, author of FIVE MINDS Full of skulduggery and humour and with a denouement that will take you by surprise… a refreshingly modern take on the classic country house murder mystery and will no doubt provide a fresh fix for lovers of golden age crime — Anita Frank, author of THE LOST ONES Agatha Christie meets Friends Reunited… Witty and pithy, this murder mystery has all the classic elements of a country house caper. A lot of fun! — Jo Furniss, author of DEAD MILE Fiendishly clever! An absolute masterclass in Golden Age detective fiction, laced with wit and ingeniously plotted. Utterly magnificent — Victoria Dowd, author of THE SUPPER CLUB MURDERS The setting is so vivid, and the perfect take on an updated Golden Age country house murder mystery. The characters are well crafted and the pace is cracking — Chris McDonald, author of A WASH OF BLACK Intriguing and intricately plotted… A compelling and engaging mystery with a truly disorientating denouement * Crime Fiction Lover * A smart, humane, post-modern mystery that skewers the tropes of the genre and crafts an engaging mystery… Jensen clearly has a talent * Set the Tape * Atmospheric * Crime Monthly * A Danish slant on the Golden Age… This is no simple whodunnit * Shots *