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Table of Contents
About The Book
International bestselling thriller writer Anders de la Motte returns with the third installment of The Leo Asker Series following wayward and overachieving detective Leonore Asker.
In the heart of the Rust Forest, where ancient whispers and forgotten secrets lie buried, Leo Asker faces her most daunting challenge yet.
On the brink of a well-deserved promotion, Asker’s ambitions are threatened by Jonas Hellman, a figure driven by vengeance. Hellman presents entices her with a cold case that seems designed to shatter her resolve—a murder from a decade ago in an abandoned barn, eerily mirroring a two-thousand-year-old burial in the same forest. A case that recently took a shocking turn when a disoriented young woman, clutching the severed finger of the murder victim, stumbled upon two urban explorers at the crime scene.
Determined to unravel the mystery, Asker enlists the help of her old friend, Martin Hill. Together, they plunge into the Rust Forest’s dark past. As Asker and Hill navigate the forest’s secrets, they confront not only the enigma of the murders but also the personal vendettas that threaten to unravel their investigation.
In the heart of the Rust Forest, where ancient whispers and forgotten secrets lie buried, Leo Asker faces her most daunting challenge yet.
On the brink of a well-deserved promotion, Asker’s ambitions are threatened by Jonas Hellman, a figure driven by vengeance. Hellman presents entices her with a cold case that seems designed to shatter her resolve—a murder from a decade ago in an abandoned barn, eerily mirroring a two-thousand-year-old burial in the same forest. A case that recently took a shocking turn when a disoriented young woman, clutching the severed finger of the murder victim, stumbled upon two urban explorers at the crime scene.
Determined to unravel the mystery, Asker enlists the help of her old friend, Martin Hill. Together, they plunge into the Rust Forest’s dark past. As Asker and Hill navigate the forest’s secrets, they confront not only the enigma of the murders but also the personal vendettas that threaten to unravel their investigation.
About The Author
Photograph by Jeff Richt
Anders de la Motte, a former police officer, made his debut in 2010 with the award-winning thriller Game and has since then been one of Sweden’s most beloved and popular crime writers. He is the author of several acclaimed and bestselling crime fiction series, among them the suspenseful Skåne Quartet. The Rust Forest is the third installment in his bestselling Leo Asker series.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (December 1, 2026)
- Length: 432 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668030899
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Raves and Reviews
*Praise for THE GLASS MAN by Anders de la Motte*
"[A] tightly plotted narrative that blurs the line between the rational and the uncanny. The novel excels at atmosphere — underground labs, crumbling observatories, secretive families — and at exploring the emotional wreckage Leo carries from childhood. Tense, strange and elegantly eerie, THE GLASS MAN leaves readers questioning what lies just outside the reach of understanding."
– Seattle Times
“This follow-up’s nuanced, unflinching character development, transporting sense of place, and riveting suspense make this series a must-read for fans of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Alphabet series.”
– Booklist
*Praise for THE MOUNTAIN KING by Anders de la Motte*
“Superb…De la Motte nimbly juggles a substantial cast as his plot grows increasingly intricate, ratcheting suspense to near-unbearable heights. This crackerjack page-turner will keep readers up late."
– Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Unsettling. De la Motte had me hooked from the very first page.”
– Kyle Mills, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Code Red
“A masterful thriller that succeeds on all levels: absorbing, deftly-plotted, bone-chilling. Leonore Asker takes her place at the front of the line of Swedish crime solvers: awkward, headstrong, unstoppable. I honestly read the last 100 pages with the hair on my arms standing on edge.”
– Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of The Fifth Column
“THE MOUNTAIN KING is Nordic crime fiction at its best : addictive, eerie and hauntingly atmospheric (fans of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will devour it). Leonore Asker, and the wonderfully named ‘Department of Lost Souls’, are fascinating and unpredictable. This is the new series you need in your life. EXCEPTIONAL.”
– Will Dean, bestselling author of The Last to Burn
"The twisty, spine-tingling mystery that unfolds is creepy and sinister, laced with a touch of dark Scandinavian folklore."
– Willy Williams, firstCLUE
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
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Book Cover Image (jpg): The Rust Forest
Hardcover 9781668030899
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Author Photo (jpg): Anders de la Motte Photograph by Jeff Richt(0.1 MB)
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