The Mannequin Murder

Meet Karsten—a little Holden Caulfield, a little Patrick Bateman—in this delirious, darkly comic stream of consciousness from one of Norway’s great literary talents, thrillingly translated by Kari Dickson.

For your average fourteen-year-old, it would be a normal, middle-class life: father’s a doctor, mother’s an English teacher, a baby sister toddles aimlessly around the house in sagging diapers.

But Karsten is not like other fourteen-year-olds.

He processes every object, every event, in exquisite, reality-bending detail—a breathless, never-ending narration that moves faster than the speed of thought. The intricacies of the optic nerve, the proper gutting of a fish, the queasy consistency of his mother’s burst blackheads, spied upon surreptitiously through a crack in the bathroom door—nothing escapes his field of view.

It doesn’t always make him popular; lately, a gang of neighbourhood boys has been sending him threatening letters signed “The Enemy.” But Karsten has other things on his mind: no sooner did his father give him a video camera than he discovered the bloody corpse of a mannequin in the compost. An investigation had to commence, complete with witness interrogations and a dramatic recreation of the terrible crime itself—with his mother cast in the role of the murder victim.

Suddenly, one morning, Karsten’s father asks him to say goodbye to his childhood home. An overnight bag is packed, and he is told they are leaving for a trip—and everything is set into motion.

Through sheer ecstatic storytelling, Ingvild Schade has created an instantly unforgettable literary character. You’ve never met a mind quite like Karsten’s.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs