THE MUSE (MUSAN)

Mats Strandberg returns with a gothic stand-alone in his unmistakable blend of horror and razor-sharp contemporary insights, a bestselling book that has captivated readers of Blood Cruise, The Conference and The Home, and critics have called it Strandberg’s best novel to date.

Divorced crime writer Hedda Strömberg is out of money, out of confidence, and out of inspiration. When her successful colleague David Ridings invites her to stay at his family’s grand summer estate, Villa Thamyris, it feels like a lifeline.

The mansion was once a hub for Sweden’s cultural elite, built by a legendary painter obsessed with the ancient myth of the Muses. Hedda is both seduced and unsettled by the family’s wealth, talent, and effortless artistic authority. At Villa Thamyris, writing becomes intoxicating again, and words flow as if from an external force. Hedda begins to wonder whether creativity is not a gift, but something summoned.

As Midsummer’s Eve approaches and her young son Hugo joins her at the estate, Hedda uncovers the family’s darkest secret: their artistic genius is sustained by a mysterious pact, and creativity demands sacrifice. And now, both Hedda and Hugo are in mortal danger.

Blending psychological suspense, literary horror, and razor-sharp social commentary, THE MUSE explores artistic obsession, envy, class privilege, and the terrifying question of where inspiration truly comes from, and what we are willing to sacrifice for it.

Strandberg’s horror novels have been widely praised by critics and readers alike. All of his books have been or are being adapted for film and television. His adult titles have sold over 270 000 copies in Sweden.

376 pages

Rights Sold

Sweden: Norstedts
Finland: Like
Germany: S Fischer / Tor
US & Canada: Macmillan US / St Martins Press
UK & Com: Pan Macmillan UK / TOR Nightfire

REVIEWS

Best of Crime pick of 2025 by renowned critic Lotta Olsson

A top ten title on the Svenska Dagbladet Best Books list for June 2025.

“With a deft hand, Mats Strandberg portrays Villa Thamyris and the Svantesson family… [The author] plays with gothic themes, and substantiates that which traditional works in the genre often locks away in the basement or in the attic… Strandberg’s gothic standing is undisputed.”
Jonas Thente, Dagens Nyheter / SWE

“A dark, literary triumph that is genuinely hard to put down!”
Göteborgsposten / SWE

“Mats Strandberg, just like the horror master King, excels at writing characters. [They] take shape before me as I read; their faces, voices and characteristics. And even though the horror aspect is present throughout the story, it’s the characters that stay with me after finishing. Strandberg’s best novel so far.”
Jönköpingsposten  / SWE

“…the book [switches] into full horror mode and all the pop culture seeds begin to bloom. The reader feels at home. It’s Ari Aster’s ‘Midsommar’ and Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Parasite’, mixed with Stephen King, Charlie Brooker and, not least, Neil Gaiman, who not only resembles David Ridings with his 80s-style pastiches of ancient myths, but is also a writer who has demonstrated a frightening dual nature.”
Malin Nauwerck, Aftonbladet / SWE

“Mats Strandberg offers enchanting Midsummer horror… it has a lot in common with Donna Tartt’s cult classic The Secret History… Alongside well-captured horror, there’s also a deep love for the genre, for reading, and for the creative process.”
Gunilla Wedding, Skånska Dagbladet / SWE

“Mats Strandberg has written several excellent horror novels, like Blood Cruise, The Home and The Conference. But THE MUSE, is something different, and better: an intense depiction of the creative process, class aspects and relationships. … this is so well-crafted that the reader forgets both time and place: a genuine page-turner.”
Vi Läser / SWE

“Mats Strandberg knows his craft and his genre… THE MUSE is full of allusions and references to classical literature and modern horror… A Swedish Stephen King.”
Bella Stenberg, Borås Tidning / SWE

“Awe inspiring Greek muses, horrible secrets in the manor house cellar, a clever spin on creativity — Strandberg delivers a horror novel that has everything and more.”
Femina, five-star review / SWE

“…an irresistible mix of the horror film ‘Midsommar’, Donna Tartt and any example of the plentiful cantankerous op-eds on ‘the cultural elite’, which is even further elevated by [Johan] Ehn’s dazzling and pitch-perfect, even masterful, narration.”
Jenny Lindh, Dagens Nyheter / SWE

“The narrative is dense and evocative, and the ending is an intense and terrifying descent into madness that barely lets the reader catch their breath. Strandberg mixes drama and horror in a highly commendable way, which brings to mind Dean Koontz. [The book] is well-written, exhilarating, and scary.”
BTJ / SWE

“Stylish splatter”
M-Magasin / SWE

“[An] excellent novel… The Muse draws the reader in. The story moves forward smoothly, the content is engaging, and the characters are memorable. The novel’s themes are also fascinating, and its details are loaded with meaning. … When they finally unravel and horror truly enters the story, the result is chilling suspense and mind-blowing madness.”
Helsingin Sanomat, FIN

“…the chain of events only explodes in the reader’s face in the final quarter. And then things really take off! The story is horrifying, yes, but also a strangely captivating tribute to creativity, with or without a muse.”
Anna, FIN