Netflix’s The Åre Murders delivers a gripping crime drama rooted in the book series by Swedish author Viveca Sten. The show follows Hanna Ahlander, a Stockholm police officer who, after being suspended and dumped by her boyfriend on the same day, retreats to her sister’s vacation home in Åre. But what was meant to be an escape soon turns into a high-stakes investigation when a local woman, Amanda, goes missing.
Unable to resist her detective instincts, Hanna teams up with lead investigator Daniel Lindskog, and what seems like a routine murder case quickly spirals into something far more sinister. The show weaves a dark and suspenseful narrative, peeling back layers of deception and hidden motives.
The first three episodes focus on Amanda’s disappearance and murder, which is eventually linked to Bosse Risberg, the CEO of a Missing Persons NGO. Amanda had confronted him about human trafficking and forced labor, prompting him to kill her in a panic.
But the plot thickens. The final two episodes shift attention to the murder of former skier Johan Andersson. His dismembered body is found on train tracks, and in a shocking twist, his stepson Leo is revealed as the killer. Fueled by rage after learning that Andersson planned to leave his mother for another woman, Leo strikes him in the head with a shovel, leading to his gruesome demise.
While justice is ultimately served, the personal lives of the protagonists remain in turmoil. The show builds significant tension between Hanna and Daniel, but in the end, Daniel chooses to stay with his wife and newborn, leaving Hanna as isolated as she was at the start. This cyclical loneliness underscores the show’s themes of emotional detachment and moral ambiguity.
With its atmospheric setting, slow-burning tension, and intricate character dynamics, The Åre Murders cements itself as a standout Nordic noir thriller, keeping audiences hooked till the very last scene.