"Peter Brolin is sitting by himself in Nyléns café. Heavily in debt, unable to improve his situation and waiting for another fit of angst. Suddenly the door opens and a woman unknown to him walks up to his table. Obviously she mistakes him for someone else, and Peter is, due to his present state of periodical panic attack unable to protest. She disappears and leaves a parcel behind – for 1000 Swedish kronor, he is to deliver it to her husband. The parcel and the frightening content drags Peter into a nightmare, in search for this insane, obsessed woman – a pursuit in which he is eventually forced to confront the shadows of his own past."

The idea for Skuld I never got. It became clear while being written. My main character suffers from severe panic attacks, as I did myself during writing. I was chronically terrified during this period, and looking back I realize I was processing my own fear. I could, on my own create evilness, and then control it in any way I wanted. But the book is also about the meeting between two men, their growing friendship and unexpected need for each other.

Reviews

"An exceptionally scary and gripping thriller"
Veckorevyn

"A thrilling debut"
Vi

"A gripping thriller that leaves you yearning for more"
GT

"A frighteningly good debut"
HB

"Already in her first novel, Karin Alvtegen has managed to create an atmosphere that gives the reader that true feeling of awkwardness wanted from a good thriller"
Smålands Folkblad

"Karin Alvtegen manages a difficult balancing act when guiding me as a reader, hinting but not revealing, taking the next step in the right direction and then shortly afterwards pulling away the ground where my foot was to land"
Norrbottens-Kuriren

"An estimable debut"
Folkbladet Norrkàping

"It is a rare experience to witness such a thorough literary debut as that of Karin Alvtegen presenting the well-written crime novel Debt"
Tranås Tidning

"With a uniquely refined feel for the thrilling effect, the story progresses towards its climax. Sensation after sensation pop up as if taken from Chinese boxes with fresh surprises until the startling end. I think we can have high expectations on Karin Alvtegen in the future. After all, she is already a shooting-star from our Swedish skies"
Jönköpings-Posten

"Karin Alvtegen's first novel is a gripping and unusual psychological thriller with surprising turns. She has the skill of finishing a chapter in a way that makes it impossible to stop reading"
ICA-Kuriren

"A very well-written and thrilling story"
Göteborgsposten

"What a fantastic debut! Her thriller debut lives up to high expectations for suspense, speed and astounding surprises. This story about an ordinary man's confrontation with evil and guilt is brilliant"
Månadens Bok

"The nightmare is of such dimensions that every thriller-lover feels at home"
Bokia-Magasin

"A gripping and thrilling story about friendship and deceit. The end is surprising and intelligent"
Värmlands Tidning

"A debut that won't give you peace of mind. Severed body-parts, ravenous revenge and surprising incidents one after the other. Individuals with false identities"
Metro

"Lovely! Debt has most of what one may wish for - an unpredictable intrigue, incessant new turns, as well as a hero with a broken-down spiritual life, a failed career and nothing to lose. It is wellwritten and entices you to use the line: - I'm just going to read for a few more minutes"
Amelia

"...a book you will want to read without stopping"
Hufvudstadsbladet

"...an excellent, high speed, hair-raising plot with plenty of surprises"
VN

"It is highly recommended as a seriously good crime novel to read without stopping"
Östgöta-Correspondenten

"It is an upbeat, entertaining story with vivid effects"
Västgöta-Bladet