This summer, the Alumni Network Book Club is reading Synnerliga skäl, the latest novel by Monica Nebelius Lüning (in Swedish). Monica is a Lund University alumna (LL.M., 1992) with many years of experience in the judicial system – a background that clearly informs her writing. Her novels are known for their authenticity and sharp insight into the law, often revealing how individual cases can reflect deeper structural issues in society. In Synnerliga skäl, she draws on this experience to craft a story that feels both immediate and unsettlingly real.
About the author
Monica Nebelius Lüning grew up in Varberg and is now based in Lund. Since the mid-1990s, she has held several roles within the justice system, including judge and legal director at the Swedish Police Authority. She currently works as a legal adviser at a government agency, alongside writing both legal non-fiction and crime fiction.
Her debut novel, Förtjänst och skicklighet (2024), was nominated for the CrimeTime Award for Best Debut, followed by Allmänfarlig ödeläggelse (2025). Together with Synnerliga skäl, these books form the Varbergsfallen series – standalone legal thrillers connected through recurring characters.
For more information, please visit the Swedish Book Club page.
Discover Alumni Voices – In English
Not quite mastered Swedish yet but still looking for something to read this summer? Explore a selection of books by Lund University alumni available in English – and discover stories that span continents, disciplines and perspectives.
Here is a selection of favourites recommended by the book club over the years – perhaps a title you’ve been meaning to read but haven’t yet:
Joakim Zander – An Honest Life
Amanda Svensson – A System So Magnificent It Is Blinding
Helena Thorfinn – Before the river takes us
Patrik Svensson – The Gospel of Eels