Another one started and finished over the weekend (you have to love Festivals where finding a seat in the sun, out of the wind and reading is an experience to be shared with total strangers), The Water's Edge is the latest Karin Fossum book featuring Inspector Sejer (who is probably as close to a current day Martin Beck as you're ever going to find).
From the Blurb:
Walking through the woods one warm September day, Reinhardt and Kristine Ris pass a man who is in a state of agitation. Unusually in a small town, he does not return Kristine's smile and drives off in a hurry. As the couple continue on their walk they make a terrible discover: lying in a cluster of trees is the lifeless body of a young boy.
Opening Lines:
No one saw hiim walk through the woods; no one saw what he was carrying. A modest burden for a grown man, yet it caused him difficulty, his steps were faltering and he stumbled. From time to time he would stop, gasp for air and make noises which sounded like whimpering. Then he would stagger on as quickly as he could. He walked underneath the trees like an old man, weighed down by it all, weighed down by the horror and tears.
Walking through the woods one warm September day, Reinhardt and Kristine Ris pass a man who is in a state of agitation. Unusually in a small town, he does not return Kristine's smile and drives off in a hurry. As the couple continue on their walk they make a terrible discovery: lying in a cluster of trees is the lifeless body of a young boy. It is a moment that will change their lives forever.