The First Reindeer
Swedish Lapland. Ravens and wolves. Reindeer and dreams.
During the summer solstice, in the middle of marking season, when reindeer herders mark their calves by cutting a unique pattern into their ears, a herd of reindeer is killed by an explosion on the iron ore transportation railway. Nina Nansen and Klemet Nango from Patrol P9 of the Reindeer Police are sent to investigate and find themselves at the heart of a conflict that is tearing a clan of Sámi herders apart.
Anja is a young Sámi woman confined to the margins of the clan. A skilled hunter, she is regularly called upon to hunt the predators who threaten the clan's herds - an illegal act. Despite being entrusted to kill, Anja has never achieved a status within the clan like her brother. And when tragedy strikes, she decides that she will no longer be silenced, will no longer bend or conform. She is determined to craft her own narrative, her own great story. In the face of modern colonization, Anja becomes a resistor, employing her own unique methods on the edge of the law. And in this struggle, her demons will intertwine with Klemet's.
The stakes have never been higher for these unique Arctic territories and the populations who live from the land. As oil and gas mining companies slowly invade the tundra, the question becomes whether the world's energy needs will ultimately dominate the need to protect the Sámi people, culture and heritage.
Request more informationOriginal Language
FRENCH | Editions Métailié
Translation Rights
ITALIAN | Marsilio
Reviews
"The First Reindeer is a true thriller, a wonderful way to discover the region's reality and a gallery of strong, tough characters, constantly on the verge of explosion. All during a summer solstice when nighttime no longer exists and the wolves are not always who one thinks…" Jean-Marie Wynants, Le Soir
"Olivier Truc immerses us in a fascinating study of a complex territory fighting for its survival. ... His characters convey strong emotions, and certain scenes, like the marking of fawns during the summer solstice, are as moving as they are precise. This First Reindeer is an important milestone in his fictional work and in our pleasure as readers." Christine Ferniot, Libération
"This substantial, well-executed crime novel has the merit of familiarizing us with crucial issues, even though they are absent from international headlines." Isabelle Lesniak, Les Echos
"Olivier Truc's latest thriller skillfully portrays a people fighting for their survival. 5/5." Anne Lessard, Le Télégramme
"Olivier Truc tells the struggles of the Sámi people with irresistible talent." Stéphanie Eschenlohr, Ici Paris
"Complex and fascinating." Olivier Van Vaerenbergh, Focus Vif
"Olivier Truc invites readers to get to know the last indigenous people of Europe." Bruno Ménétrier, Benzine Mag
"With Olivier Truc, we witness a colonization that does not say its name, we witness the pillaging of wealth of a minority for the benefit of a voracious majority. ... With characters that are always so endearing, others newer and more disturbing, Olivier Truc leaves a white and red trace that is increasingly fierce and romantic beyond the polar circle. Grandiose." Blog La Vie en noir
