BOOKS
King's Gambit
In the heart of Copenhagen, the autumn breeze carried with it the ominous scent of uncertainty as the government is determined to secure victory in the upcoming general election. The "fight against terror" has been positioned as a central theme and the Danish government gets entangled in a web of political turmoil as the nation teetered on the brink of chaos. Islamist terrorists had taken a Danish soldier hostage in a remote, undisclosed location. The politically explosive situation threatens the government's very survival depending on how this delicate predicament is handled.
A relentless media spotlight casts a shadow over every move made by the government as it faces a gut-wrenching dilemma. On one hand, his administration's chances of re-election hung in the balance. On the other, the lives of Danish soldiers, including the hostage, were at stake. Behind closed doors, the Prime Minister embarks on a dangerous double game, knowing that any action could be denied at a moment's notice.
Amidst this political turmoil, an unexpected player enters the scene - Holger Berg, a brilliant and unyielding lawyer with a reputation for seeking justice. Holger had never imagined being thrust into the heart of international intrigue and political spin. Still, with a background as a Special Forces soldier, he is framed as a deniable pawn in a murky plan to rescue the hostage and the puppet masters leave him no choice but to get involved.
Holger Berg is soon ensnared in a nightmare of lies, deception, and denials that reach far beyond the Danish borders. Each step puts his own life, his family's safety, and the very honour that defined him at risk. Holger finds himself in a desperate race against the clock, a corrupt political machine, and ruthless international hostage-takers. The odds were stacked against him, and escape seemed like an elusive dream.
In this high-stakes thriller, where the line between right and wrong is blurred with every passing moment, Holger Berg discovers the true cost of honour and the lengths to which one man would go to save his nation and its soldiers from the jaws of terror. The fate of Denmark is in the balance, and the world watched with bated breath as the deadly game played out.
From the book:
The nausea flash flooded her again. She fought the urge to vomit and strode into the kitchen, forcing two large glasses of cold tap water down. She then dialled a new number. And another. The answer was the same at every turn: all the other team members were home. For a moment, her anxiety got the better of her. I know something isn’t right! The sickness swelled up inside her, and she could hardly breathe. She couldn’t contain it this time as she bolted to the bathroom and dropped onto her knees as it came gushing out of her. She had forgotten how horrible it was to throw up. On her knees as her stomach cramped to expel the last of her stomach acid. It felt like doing sit-ups at the gym, and when the cramps subsided, she had to lean against the cold tiled wall to catch her breath.
Exhausted, she got up and brushed her teeth to eliminate the awful taste in her mouth. The pregnancy test she had bought yesterday lay on the sink next to the toothpaste. That’ll have to be later, she thought with slight irritation as the cold water slowly nudged her thoughts back on track. I’ve got to do something. The police have to know. She rushed to get dressed. The blouse was on inside out. Fuck! She pulled it off hurriedly, turning it back the right way as she grabbed a Diet Coke in the kitchen and donned her windbreaker and sneakers in the corridor. Her body was in gear now, and she quickly tied her laces and left.
Critical acclaim
‘An exciting new action thriller. Readers of Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton will not be disappointed when reading this Danish debutant’ (DBC)
“A gem of a thriller from an author who is clearly at home in the novel’s explosive, international milieu” (Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, former Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs)
“A new Danish thriller talent. Russian Roulette is a good Danish attempt at an international thriller similar to those of Frederick Forsyth. A solid thriller talent with more to offer than most within the bracket.” (Politiken)
"In terms of genre it rouses a nostalgic feeling as there is an unmistakable touch of Ian Fleming in both the momentum and the universe of brands - with a twist towards the high-tech weapon catalogue inspired thrillers by Tom Clancy.” (Jyllands-Posten)
"Captivating thriller of international standard – written by an author who knows his stuff!” (General Kjeld Hillingsø, soldier and author)
"A highly entertaining story about terrorism, the mystery of Russia and a man’s desperate navigation through a maze of intrigues. A talented thriller that bodes well for the genre as it now has a representative who really knows how to go at it with full swing.” (Fyens Stiftstidende)
The Unwilling Pilgrim
Holger Berg thought he had left his days of covert operations and dangerous missions far behind with the memories of his time as a Special Forces soldier buried beneath the facade of a successful lawyer and a respectable life in Copenhagen. But fate had a cruel way of reminding him that sometimes, the past never truly let go.
It was a crisp autumn evening in Copenhagen when the chilling call came in and sent shivers down his spine – the caller was a contact from the intelligence services. The message was cryptic, and Holger's heart sank as he turned on CNN. It was her - the mother of his Louise, the woman he had promised his daughter to protect and taken hostage by FARC terrorists in Colombia, of all places. The very thought of his daughter growing up without her mother was unbearable.
Holger Berg, forced to trust no one but his own moral compass, teams up with a former UK Special Forces Sergent Major as he delves deeper into the heart of darkness; arriving in Colombia, Holger navigates the dangerous labyrinth of violence, drugs, and hidden agendas. FARC was a formidable enemy; they weren't the only ones with a stake in this deadly game. Old Nazis, hidden alliances, and a web of deception stretched far beyond Colombia's jungles, and the Danish government is of no help, their priorities lying far from the life of a single hostage. The Prime Minister's agenda was filled with political double-dealings and international intrigues, leaving little room for the rescue of his former wife. Failure is not an option, as he has promised his daughter that he will stop at nothing to bring back her mother.
In the heart-pounding thriller that unfolded, Holger Berg's past collided with the present, and the line between right and wrong blurred in the shadows of political intrigue. As the climate conference in Copenhagen loomed, the fate of one woman and the future of a nation hung in the balance. This is Holger Berg's most dangerous mission yet.
From the book:
Everything was dark save for a thin shard of light that forced itself into the vast room at the far end, enough for him to see the dust dancing and sense the contours around him. There were boxes everywhere, some stacked on top of each other, others lodged side by side. The room had a filthy and sour smell. Cautiously he raised his head and was instantly overwhelmed by a nauseating headache that seemed to envelope the entirety of his head. His hair was stiff from dried blood. Slowly, he pushed himself into a seated position; every little movement sparked a cascade of pain, and it took several deep breaths for him to sit up straight against the cold wall. He had no idea how long he had been sitting with his head resting on his chest but in his new upright position his headache became more bearable. He closed his eyes again. A series of rapid images played out in his mind: as a young boy sitting on the family sofa holding slides up to the light; his family home and the face of Susanne; exchanges of gunfire; the fall from the ladder; and the sickening force of the rifle butt as it hit him in the forehead. Now fully engaged with his surroundings, he remembered the bullet wound in his right thigh and wanted to rub it but could not: he had only just realised his hands were tied behind his back.
The Devil Repents Not
In the shadows of international intrigue and political turmoil, the stage is set for a gripping Holger Berg thriller: The bustling streets of Copenhagen, usually tranquil, are anything but as the news of the foiled Iranian assassination plot breaks. Danish intelligence agencies are on high alert as diplomatic relations with Iran hit rock bottom. The world watches as a delicate dance between nations begins. Holger Berg, a lawyer with a hidden past as a Special Forces soldier, is drawn back into the world of danger and espionage when a Danish-Iranian citizen is killed in Tehran. His daughter's passion for injustice towards women in Iran fuels his determination to uncover the truth. With diplomatic cover, he embarks on a treacherous journey to Iran.
Holger Berg's every move is monitored by the watchful eyes of the Iranian security services. As he digs deeper into the murder, he stumbles upon secrets that powerful forces are willing to kill to protect. With no one to trust, he's forced to go on the run, a lone wolf in a city teeming with danger. In Denmark, high-ranking officials use the crisis to further their agendas. The Iranian situation has become a political minefield where the truth is a dangerous commodity. Everyone has a stake in keeping Holger Berg from leaving Iran alive. Holger's only ally in this deadly game is a former British Special Forces Sergeant Major; together, they navigate the treacherous waters of Iranian politics, corrupt officials, and a world of espionage.
With the Iranian nuclear program as a looming backdrop, Holger and his unlikely ally devise a daring plan to escape the clutches of the pursuers. It's a gamble where the odds are stacked against them, but they have no other choice if Holger is to survive. As the tension escalates, a final confrontation unfolds in the Middle East. Holger Berg and his ally face off against ruthless Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps operatives and ISIS sympathisers, all while the fate of international diplomacy hangs in the balance.
From the book:
Holger tried to sit up, but pain jolted through his body, and he imminently rolled up into the fetal position again as his mind tried to soothe the pain from the bare-knuckle beatings and vile kicking. He tried to get his breathing under control, but the hot, stale air in the small cell was stifling, and pain shot through him again as he moved. Images of the brutal beatings with knotted ropes and rubber hoses cartwheeled across his inner eye as last night’s abuse swamped his thoughts. It probably got too physical for them as well, thought Holger and tried to force a smile, but his swollen lips would have none of it. The last twenty-four hours had been a hailstorm of random abuse, and Holger’s only hope for a respite was that it could only be a matter of time before someone higher up in Tehran learned of his arrest and would request him transferred. Not that he would be treated with kid gloves there, but it would at least give a hiatus from the relentless savagery, and Holger knew that from his Conduct after Capture training back in the day that time was paramount. Whatever information they thought he possessed would be obsolete over time, and by every hour, the likelihood of the embassy starting looking for him would increase exponentially. His mind again let the destructive thoughts get the upper hand and told him that the embassy had been useless concerning Farah Hedayati’s murder, so why would they be any better now? As fear kicked in, the questions carted aimlessly around in his head, and his heart sank; he finally accepted that there was no one to rely on but himself. Cautiously, he mustered all his strength to counter the agony that cut through him and pushed himself up to sit with his back against the cold concrete wall. Trying to be optimistic was brutal as anguish constantly derailed his mind, and every breath forced an unwelcomed panting that only sent torment rippling through his tortured frame.