An unbearably tense novel of revenge, murder, bereavement and the destructive force of passion. First published in Norwegian in 1979, it was described by the critic Nils Nordberg as 'one of the finest, most serious, most ambitious books in post-war Norwegian crime writing'. The single-mother families of the isolated community under the shadow of the Pyderhorn, Bergen's greatest mountain, are being terrorised by a teenage gang. But teenage violence is nothing compared to what awaits detective Varg Veum when he gets to know the blue-eyed Wenche Andersen.

‘One of the finest, most serious, most ambitious books in post-war Norwegian crime writing' Nils Nordberg

'Staalesen is another fine representative of Scandinavian crime fiction' Independent

'Yours Until Death is an unbearably tense novel of revenge, murder, marriage, child-hood, and the destructive force of passion' DuFour Editions

'Staalesen provides a thick vein of melancholy running behind the dark humour, along with a very strong sense of place. This is a book to read with the lights on. What makes it so menacing is the everyday feel to it, and the ordinariness of the people Varg encounters' Crime Review

‘Staalsen's mastery of pacing enables him to develop his characters in a leisurely way without sacrificing tension and suspense.’ Publishers Weekly

'Veum is a divorced loner with a penchant for drinking aquavit and a reputation for always solving the crime, no matter the personal cost. . . . A nice change of pace for Swedish crime readers.' Booklist Online

'I like Veum...out of his mouth comes some wonderful philosophy and observations about modern relationships, childhood, bereavement, and the destructive force of passion. He treats young Roar with compassion and respect. He also provides some comic relief from the tense novel. I recommend this book.' Barbara Oliver, I Love a Mystery