Book Review - Femicide by Pascal Engman: Translated from Råttkungen by Michael Gallagher

 

 

The online underworld of the ‘incel’ movement is so far removed from mainstream society that most of us will never see, let alone comprehend, its workings. Femicide, a novel by Pascal Engman, offers a window into this hidden world, revealing the rage and violence that lingers just beneath the surface.

 

From the outset, I must admit that Femicide is neither a light-hearted nor an uplifting read, but still, I couldn’t put my copy down, and I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience. As a lifelong lover of crime fiction (my Mum would put on Agatha Christie audio cassettes for me when I couldn’t sleep as a child) and someone with a keen interest in criminology, this book provided me with a fascinating and evidently well-researched insight into the darker side of human nature.

 

Swedish-Chilean author Pascal Engman began his career as a journalist before moving over into the world of crime fiction. Since the publication of his first book, The Patriots, in 2017, Engman has achieved enormous literary success, with Femicide winning the 2023 Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. When researching for this article, I was surprised to learn that Femicide was not a standalone novel, but the second in a series centering on Detective Vanessa Frank. Unfortunately, Femicide’s predecessor, Eldslandet, has not been picked up for an English translation, but one can hope that Femicide’s success may encourage publishers to reconsider this decision. Despite this, Femicide has been written in such a way as to ensure that the reader does not feel lost or left behind without the prior context.

 

 

Set in Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, Femicide revolves around the lives of several main characters, building the narrative through their intertwined life stories. The story begins with Detective Vanessa Frank of the National Homicide Unit as she leads the investigation into the brutal murder of Emelie Rydén, found dead in her apartment in the same week that her ex-boyfriend was released from prison. What first appears to be a cut-and-dry case unravels when Jasmina Kovac, a young journalist and survivor of sexual violence, comes forward with an alibi for the key murder suspect. 

 

Leading on from this revelation, Detective Frank uncovers the case’s links to the extremist, misogynist subculture known as the ‘incel’ (involuntary celibate) community - a network of typically heterosexual men typified by their perceived inability to form sexual or romantic relationships, notoriety for their intense hatred of women, belief that they have been actively excluded from society, and tendency towards violent misogynistic fantasy. This subculture is personified through Tom Lindbeck’s character, allowing Engman to show the reader inside the dark mind of one who is deeply immersed in this community, leaving them feeling shaken and deeply unsettled. As the story builds towards its climax, the reader finds that the scope of the ‘incel’ community is not limited exclusively to internet imaginings but may have catastrophic real-world consequences. 

 

This book has stuck with me in the days and weeks following my reading. In a world where women’s safety and bodily autonomy are increasingly threatened, this story explores the lives of those on both sides of the picture, holding a mirror up to the darker aspects of society that are often overlooked. Engman’s work expands upon the remit of the typical crime novel to explore a range of current social issues. It may be regarded as an exposé piece, refusing to shy away from the overlooked harsh realities of life experienced by some living in Sweden, a nation often glorified for its high quality of life.

 

 

Having read little in the way of “Scandi Noir” fiction besides this, I don’t have much to compare with within this specific subset of the crime genre; however, Femicide’s style and the atmosphere created were reminiscent of many “Tartan Noir” or Scottish crime fiction novels I have enjoyed. Something about books of this style gives me the distinct feeling that their events have taken place in the depths of winter, although with preparations for an outdoor music festival in Femicide’s narrative, I know this cannot be the case here. Perhaps this “wintery” feel speaks more of the darkness and desolation that often underlie tales of this type.

 

 

With 1 in 4 women in England and Wales expected to experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and significant levels of intimate partner violence against women in Sweden, Engman has turned a spotlight onto a highly pressing social issue. 

 

Choosing to specifically examine violence against women from the angle of the ‘incel’ subculture offers readers a unique perspective, certainly within the realms of crime fiction and, by opening each of Femicide’s eight parts with genuine quotes taken from real ‘incel’ forums, Engman ensures that one cannot escape the terrifying reality that inspired this piece of fiction. The detailed depictions of extreme misogyny throughout this book left me feeling deeply sad and hopeless because these attitudes are real, and their profound impact is felt across the global population. 

 

The term ‘incel’, meaning “involuntary celibate”, only came into use after 1997, when a Canadian woman called “Alana” founded an online community for those who felt a little behind in the world of romance to support each other as they navigated the world of dating and relationships. This community was inclusive, open to all ages, genders, and sexual orientations: it was nothing like the ‘incel’ movement of today. Alana and most of the world didn’t learn what ‘incel’ had come to mean until 2014, when Californian resident Elliot Rodger carried out the Isla Vista terror attack, killing six people and injuring fourteen others, before taking his own life. Rodger had been deeply immersed in ‘incel’ forums hosted on sites such as Reddit and 4chan, working on writing an online manifesto to plan and explain the motivations behind the attack he would go on to commit. This manifesto provided significant details of Rodger’s abject hatred of women and the evil acts he wanted to commit against them. After his death, Elliot Rodger became lauded within the ‘incel’ community and was named as the inspiration for further attacks, including the murder of 10 people in Toronto committed by Alek Minassian.

 

‘Incels’ had little to no coverage in fiction before Femicide, likely because their phenomenon is so new, and inaccessible to the masses due to its existence within niche internet forums that communicate using an in-group slang. Engman’s previous career as a journalist shines through in Femicide. Whilst fiction writing allows the author free rein to let their creativity run wild, the aspects of this novel that are based upon truth are clearly well researched. 

 

In an interview with Karin Salvalaggio, Engman explains how he first accessed incel forums following the 2018 Toronto terror attack, and describes how shocked and saddened he was by the hate and misogyny he found. Having briefly accessed an incel forum while writing this article, the content found there was painful to read; it scared me, I won’t lie. To spend months reading posts and comments, as Engman did, demonstrates this author’s resilience and commitment to journalistic integrity even when writing within the world of fiction. Tom Lindbeck’s character’s thoughts and actions may be works of fiction, but they are entirely based upon the thoughts and actions of real people.

 

 

I’d hate to leave you with the impression that this book is 399 pages of the worst of humanity, because that simply wouldn’t be true. Despite the darkness of the subject matter, Engman effectively depicts the human experience; even when things seem very dark indeed, there will always be some light to be found. The deep love between the character Börje and his partner Eva, the unlikely friendship between Nicholas and his young neighbour Celine, and Jasmina’s courage are just some of the storylines in this novel that give the reader hope, providing vital balance, and a reminder that there is always a lot of good to be found in the world, too.

 

Although Femicide is a book that I rate very highly, I would like to reiterate to readers that they should approach this book with caution. Please take the time to review the content warnings above before deciding to read this book. The story contains graphic depictions of violence, which may be upsetting, especially for those coming from a place with similar personal experience.

 

Should readers be interested in learning more about extreme misogyny, I would highly recommend the non-fiction book “Men Who Hate Women” by Laura Bates. This book offers further insight into the ‘incel’ subculture, but also looks at other extreme misogynist groups from the so-called “manosphere”, such as the “Pick-Up Artists” or the “Men Going Their Own Way”. Bates also goes on to look at the real-world problems caused by misogynist attitudes, including the male perpetration of domestic violence against women, and the exploitation of vulnerable males by prominent “manosphere” figureheads.

 

Should you, or a person you know, have been affected by gender-based or domestic violence, the following links should signpost you to services that can offer support.

In an emergency, please contact your local emergency services.

 

    o Violence Against Women Helplines List:

       https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/find-help/

    o National Hotlines List:

       https://www.hud.gov/vawa#helpforsurvivors

    o Helpline for Women Who Are Victims of Violence: 116 016

 

    o https://www.endvawnow.org/en/need-help