Those who challenge the gods always lose.

Divorced crime writer Hedda Strömberg can no longer write. Financial ruin is closing in on her and her eight-year-old son Hugo. She must find inspiration again. Now. It feels like a lifeline when her successful colleague, David Ridings, invites her to his family’s summer house. Far from the routines of daily life, perhaps her imagination can finally flow freely again.

The “summer house” turns out to be the grand Villa Thamyris, a sprawling mansion that, in the late 19th century, served as an important hub for the cultural elite of its time. During her stay, Hedda struggles against the paralyzing envy that David Ridings always stirs in her. The magnificent house and its inhabitants remind her of everything she lacks. The family possesses both wealth and cultural capital, rooted in generations of privilege.

At Villa Thamyris, Hedda finds her inspiration. Writing feels magical again. But she also discovers that the imposing brick walls hide dark secrets. Creativity has a steep price, and everything comes to a head when Hedda’s son arrives just in time for the Midsummer celebration.

In his new novel The Muse, Mats Strandberg returns with the unmistakable blend of horror and razor-sharp contemporary insights that has already captivated readers of Blood Cruise, The Home, and The Conference.

“The story is intense and unsettling, and the ending turns into a nerve-racking, breathless ride into madness. Strandberg skillfully blends drama and horror in a way that evokes Dean Koontz. It’s well-written, thrilling, and chilling.” – BTJ

“A dark literary triumph.” — GP

“Everything you could wish for: cliques, writer’s block, and dark secrets.” — SvD

“An irresistible mix.” — DN

“Smart and entertaining.” — Borås Tidning

“An intense portrayal of creative anguish, class divides, and relationships. This is real horror—the psychological kind that crawls under the reader’s skin.” — Vi läser

“Alongside well-captured horror, there’s also a deep love for the genre, for reading, and for creating.”— Skånska Dagbladet

“Strandberg delivers a horror novel with all the extras!” — Femina

“I shiver and delight… relentlessly entertaining.” — Jönköpingsposten