Undertones (utgåvan 2020)

This book is hard to describe exactly. It reminded me of a mix between the films Zootopia, Hard Core Logo and Pulp Fiction, but it's got its own brand of originality which can't really be placed in one particular category. Undertones is funny, riveting and avant-garde all at the same time, and follows the adventures of Dane, an anteater with a bad habit which is uprooting his whole life. While out with Serena, his lead singer, they come across a pool of blood and an attacked elephant, and he watches Serena get beaten, after which he wakes up in the hospital, only to be informed that Serena isn't there. The police don't believe him, so the only guy on his side is his friend, Gaston.

Dane gets in trouble for the possession of ants, and decides to look for his missing friend on his own, leading him to uncover something much bigger than just what happened during a day gone wrong near the skating rink. Investigating old hangouts and coming across a variety of strange and interesting characters. There's a dark underworld that this recovering addict anteater is about to fall into, and the story goes down a road I wasn't expecting at all.

I really loved Undertones for so many reasons. It has all the makings of a contemporary but timeless classic, a lot of good world-building, well-developed characters and a compelling mystery. Right off the bat, the book establishes the unique traits of each character and this society of multiple animals living together, and they way they are personified and how closely they resemble humans made for quite a fun experience and an uncanny setting. The book has great pacing, and doesn't rush through anything too fast while still managing to pull off many thrilling moments throughout. I especially loved the wit and comedy scattered throughout the story, and the comparison of ants to drugs along with the way this was handled in court. Dane argues that ants aren't even an endangered species, but this book impressively has a society with its own set of laws and values relating to that. It was a lot of fun reading through, and it's full of surprises at every turn.

From my understanding, this book is not yet released, but it's definitely one that readers will want to add to their to-read lists for when it comes out, because it's both unique and exciting, and a book which has something for everyone. I'm not big on animal stories but this is a lot more than just a story about animals. It's one of the most memorable books I've had this year, and I'm glad to have gotten the chance to read it.