

The bestselling author of A Man Called Ove turns the heist novel on its head with the charming and witty story of a hilariously bungled robbery and its hapless, hopeless perpetrator.
Longlisted for the CWA Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger 2021
It's New Year's Eve and House Tricks estate agents are hosting an open viewing in an up-market apartment when an incompetent bank robber rushes in and politely takes everyone hostage.
For Ana-Lena and Roger, busy buying-up apartments to fill the hole in their marriage, it's something else to talk about. For Julia and Ro, panicky parents-to-be, it's yet another worry. Lonely bank manager Zara only came here for the view. While 87-year-old grandmother Estelle seems rather pleased by the company...
As the police gather outside, the anxious strangers huddled within try to make the best of a very sticky situation - but could it be that they have a whole lot more in common than meets the eye?
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
ISBN: 9781405930253
Number of pages: 416
Weight: 287 g
Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 25 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'A brilliant and comforting read.' - Matt Haig
'Funny, compassionate and wise... an absolute joy.' - A.J. Pearce, bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird
'I laughed, I sobbed, I recommended it to literally everyone I know.' - Buzzfeed
'Captures the messy essence of being human. It's clever and affecting, as likely to make you laugh out loud as it is to make you cry.' - Washington Post
'I loved this book. Funny, sad, clever, insightful, surprising and hopeful. Brilliant in every way.' - Sarah Morgan, bestselling author of One Summer in Paris
'A satisfying remedy for pandemic anxiety... It's laugh-out-loud funny and will help restore your faith in humanity.' - Independent Daily Edition
'Witty, observant, and unpredictable... darkly humorous.' - Nouse
'19 New Books to Read in September.' - E! Online
'Another smash hit... With Backman's stunning characters combined with a closed-room mystery, this has all of the ingredients for a novel all your friends will be talking about.' - Shane Mullen, Ebene Magazine
'A surprisingly sweet tale. It's the perfect balance of heartwarming and heart-wrenching, and Fredrik Backman [...] has a way of simply yet elegantly describing relationships. We can all be idiots, but we're still all human beings worthy of connection and love.' - National Public Radio Book Concierge
'A master of writing delightful, insightful, soulful, character-driven narratives. He writes so humorously and poignantly about life, marriage, parenthood, love and death.' - USA Today
'A quirky, big-hearted novel. Wry, wise, and often laugh-out-loud funny, it's a wholly original story that delivers pure pleasure.' - People
'An endlessly entertaining mood booster.' - Real Simple
'This book examines how a shared event can change the course of many lives at once. And if you like strongly drawn characters and a mix of humor and heartbreak, this one's for you.' - The Skimm
'A witty, lighthearted romp...Backman charms.' - Publishers Weekly
'A deeply funny and warm examination of how individual experiences can bring a random group of people together. Backman reveals each character's many imperfections with tremendous empathy, reminding us that people are always more than the sum of their flaws.' - BookPage
'A tight-knit, surprise-filled narrative. The brisk, absorbing action prompts meditation on marriage, parenting, responsibility, and global economic pressures. Comedy, drama, mystery, and social study, this novel is undefinable except for the sheer reading pleasure it delivers. Highly recommended.' - Library Journal (starred review)
'Backman's latest novel focuses on how a shared event can change the course of multiple people's lives even in times of deep and ongoing anxiousness. A story with both comedy and heartbreak sure to please Backman fans.' - Kirkus Reviews
'Brilliant, funny, and compassionate... wonderfully charming.' - Purple Revolver
You may also be interested in...
“Unmitigated joy”
Anxious People was a completely joyous read. Fredrik Backman's distinctive, unique writing style is always a pleasure, but this book was even more glorious than usual. It was overflowing with love and good... More
“Another fantastic read from Fredrik Backman...”
Fredrik Backman is one of my all time favourite writers. The way he draws me into a story with an amazing balance of intrigue, emotion and sarcasm just floors me every time. His imagination and wit run wild through... More
“A Brilliant Book”
Fredrik Backman has a gift for writing people. He seems to understand how people think, how they interact with each other, their motivations, their desires, their fears, in a way that no-one else quite manages. His... More
Please sign in to write a review
Sign In / Register
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?