The Secret of Snow
'Extraordinary' Fredrik Backman
Published on 5. February 2026
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-1-3987-1777-0 (ISBN)
Description
'This is a story about culture and identity and about fighting to keep your memories while being robbed of your history, but it's written with a warmth and humor that never leaves the reader alone on the journey' Fredrik Backman, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
'A must-read. Balancing humour and darkness with remarkable grace, this story and its characters found their way into my heart' Lisa Ridzen, bestselling author of When the Cranes Fly South
Mariddja is eighty-five years old and more than a little eccentric. When she finds out she has cancer, her first thought isn't for herself. It's for her beloved husband. Without children or grandchildren, Mariddja and Biera have only ever had each other. She's determined to keep her diagnosis a secret from Biera, and to find the one person who might take care of him when she's gone.
Kaj is new to the village, recently engaged to the love of his life, and mourning the death of his mother. One day, he finds a box of Sami handicrafts that once belonged to his mother, the carefully wrapped objects placed together like a crisp new set of jigsaw pieces. If he can solve the puzzle, it will unlock a secret he could have never imagined.
Tender, heart-wrenching and often laugh-out-loud funny, The Secret of Snow is the heartwarming international bestseller and Swedish Book of the Year debut about family, loneliness and community. Perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and Lisa Ridzen's When the Cranes Fly South.
'A must-read. Balancing humour and darkness with remarkable grace, this story and its characters found their way into my heart' Lisa Ridzen, bestselling author of When the Cranes Fly South
Mariddja is eighty-five years old and more than a little eccentric. When she finds out she has cancer, her first thought isn't for herself. It's for her beloved husband. Without children or grandchildren, Mariddja and Biera have only ever had each other. She's determined to keep her diagnosis a secret from Biera, and to find the one person who might take care of him when she's gone.
Kaj is new to the village, recently engaged to the love of his life, and mourning the death of his mother. One day, he finds a box of Sami handicrafts that once belonged to his mother, the carefully wrapped objects placed together like a crisp new set of jigsaw pieces. If he can solve the puzzle, it will unlock a secret he could have never imagined.
Tender, heart-wrenching and often laugh-out-loud funny, The Secret of Snow is the heartwarming international bestseller and Swedish Book of the Year debut about family, loneliness and community. Perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and Lisa Ridzen's When the Cranes Fly South.
Reviews / Votes
'An extraordinary story'-Fredrik Backman, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove
'I have been reading, laughing, and crying. This is a debut novel, but that word almost sounds cliche. The author is part of the story, the dialect, and the Sami memories. . . I am so glad that this story has been written.'
-Dast Magazine
'Tina Harnesk plays with language and lets the details speak. . . Instantly charming, melancholic, and poetic. . . bringing forth images of life rooted in the Sami spiritual nature. It is often wild and hilarious. . . but the absurd is interlaced with realistic portrayals of defiant bodies, minds, and hearts. A brilliant debut.'
-Aftonbladet Soendag
'How is it possible that this is a debut novel? The book is believable and intricate with a rather large and colourful cast of characters. . . An earnest, unique, warm, and personal story that captivates, enthralls, and leaves a deep impression.'
-P4 Vaesternorrland
'Tina Harnesk makes her debut with a multifaceted novel from northern Sweden, with distinct roots in oral storytelling. . . She sprinkles her text with comedic similes and effective punchlines, but underneath the burlesque surface lies a throbbing pain. The Secret of Snow is a beautiful novel about two generations who are steeped in the northern Sami experience.'
-Vi Laeser
'Tina Harnesk lives on a mountain outside of Arvidsjaur and has joined the authors who are writing about Sami life and culture. And how she does it! Her novel is burlesque and daring, populated by colorful, unforgettable characters. But underneath the cheerful exterior rests a grief over the traditional reindeer herding life that was lost.'
-Ingalill Mosander, Aftonbladet
'This is a magnificent story and reading experience. Told with love and a language so vividly beautiful it almost makes the eyes of an old journalist and editor tear up. The phrasing is elegant and accurate, the language so colorful that you - even without any Sami connection - are unfazed by the Sami words and expressions and can truly see these people and places in your mind's eye while reading.'
-Norrbottens-Kuriren
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 163 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
536 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3987-1777-0 (9781398717770)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2026
Orion
€10.99
Available for download
Person
Tina Harnesk is a writer of Sami descent born in northern Sweden. She works as a library assistant and lives on a mountain outside Arvidsjaur, Sweden, with her husband and children. The Secret of Snow is her debut novel.
Alice Menzies holds an MA in translation theory and practice from University College London, specializing in the Scandinavian languages. She has translated, among other works, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman. She lives in London.
Alice Menzies holds an MA in translation theory and practice from University College London, specializing in the Scandinavian languages. She has translated, among other works, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman. She lives in London.