English

”Deceit” is a novel about a divided Sweden during World War II. In the early years of the war different sides of the country had very different agendas. Forces within the military and the establishment wanted a German victory. But he vast majority of the population was probably hoping for the Allies to win.

But Stockholm became a playground for spies and intelligence agencies from all sides – The neutral country, surrounded by occupied neighbours, was an excellent base for various operations and information exchanges.

In the midst of this is Charlie Westerholm, a young Uppsala student with radical sympathies, newly recruited to Sweden’s new intelligence agency, ”the Bureau”. But who should he really keep his eyes on – German diplomats? Jewish refugees? Communist saboteurs? Or the emerging Norwegian resistance?

He soon understand that he can trust no one. Not even himself. Even trying to be true to what you stand for can end in betrayal.

Any facts he uncovers seem to find its way into the hands of German spies. Somewhere close to him there is a leak. People disappear, they drown or are delivered into the hands of the German forces. And it is only Charlie who seems to notice.

”Deceit” is fiction – but the story is based on documentary events in Sweden during the Second World War. The German spy deep in the Swedish bureaucracy was for real. So were his victims.

Much of what is portrayed is based om real events – from the grounding of German bombers to exploding trains and naval battles in the Gothenburg archipelago, something that few swedes remember today.

What was the real cost for keeping  Sweden out of the war?

”And that’s my problem, he thought: If I do not do my job properly I betray my country. If I am doing my job, people die. Those who do the right thing dies. I kill them.”

”Deceit” is Ola Larsmos ninth novel and is being published by Albert Bonnier, Stockholm. Foreign rights: Nordin Agency.