The Devil's Birthday - Max Mauser

The Devil’s Birthday is a forgotten masterpiece of Norwegian crime fiction. Set on the Bjørneby manor, the story unfolds in an atmosphere thick with mystery, dread, and looming catastrophe. According to an ancient legend, a curse hangs over the estate: three dark omens will appear at seven-night intervals, and three nights later the master of the manor must die.

Major Winterfeldt, the ruthless owner of Bjørneby, rules his household with cruelty and fear. Then, one night, the first omen appears: a severed horse’s head, mounted on a stake and grinning towards the manor’s windows…