In the far north of Sweden, a pastor named Laestadius and his protégé, an orphan Sami boy named Jussi, track a vicious predator who has been attacking farm maids. While the assailant is identified as a killer bear by law enforcement, the pastor’s extensive knowledge of botany and superior forensic skills lead him to suspect otherwise. As he and Jussi close in on the suspect, their meddling sends ripples through their community and uncovers deeper issues—class stratification, social corruption, and the fragility of a Christian revivalist movement that is so often at odds with the motives of the town’s most influential people.
While To Cook A Bear may function on some level as a murder mystery, at its core are probing questions about human beings’ ability to rise above carnal behaviors and commit themselves to a higher power. Having been rescued from the side of the road by the pastor as a young child, Jussi demonstrates reading and writing capabilities that place his intellect far above that of the average person from his homeland. Yet his various impulses and flaws, including intense desire for one of the local maids and a paralyzing fear of verbal communication, leave him teetering on the edge of a precipice. He could successfully maintain the productive, industrious side of his personality, dutifully helping the pastor uncover clues regarding the killer’s whereabouts, or he could succumb to the same types of barbarity and sin that ravaged his childhood home and biological family. Jussi isn’t the only one struggling in such a manner—the individuals residing within the town, particularly the hypocritical law enforcement officers, engage freely in liquor consumption and other dubious activities despite showing their faces in church each week.
Rising above the troubled sins of the townspeople is Laestadius, whose revivalist movement has spread like wildfire and enraged those who profit from liquor sales. Not even Laestadius is exempt from flaws and vulnerabilities, however. He “plays God” by doing the detective work that law enforcement officers should be doing to uncover the town’s killer, but readers come to see him as a troubled individual who questions his commitments to his faith and Jussi. Laestadius has incredible political sway as a pastor and a grip on the world’s latest scientific innovations—including fingerprinting and photography—yet he cannot perform the monumental task of purging people of their sins; such “spiritual guidance” can only be performed artificially, in services and ceremonies. Laestadius and Jussi each see the ugliest parts of themselves reflected in the killer they’re after—Jussi sees his lust and envy, while Laestadius sees his pride.
I found this book to be powerful, alarming, and thought-provoking. Niemi’s writing is astounding; his characters can do everything from enacting horrific violence to performing heartwarming acts of kindness. Each character possesses a terrible darkness within them, and the slew of attacks within the town is what draws this darkness out. If you’re looking for a mystery that’s more than a mystery, this literary examination of spirituality, political ties, and social relationships might be for you.
Great review, Caroline! This is definitely going on my list.