Envy builds its own house. Resentment is what sets it on fire.
Saunafjord, Västerbotten. An old grievance meets a new foundation.
Patrick Silver returns from Zürich with plans to build a summer house on the coast where he grew up. To Torgny Broman—still known by the name earned through an old crime—the project is not a homecoming. It is an invasion. Obstruction becomes sabotage, boundary markers are moved, and a quiet village divides into camps.
At Jackson Steinem & Co., Patrick uncovers evidence that the bank’s dealings with the Margot Group may conceal money laundering. His search brings him into conflict with Torsten Manuel Reiss, whose ambition is matched only by the darkness of his family history. With Saunafjord and Zürich closing in at once, Patrick must decide how much truth his home—and his life—can withstand.
Subject: Silver Property
Finding: Markers displaced
The Homecomer
A methodical, principled Zürich banker in his mid-thirties, returning to the coast where he grew up with plans for a house of his own. Patient with procedure but stubborn once fixated on what is right, he is caught between the home he wants to build and the truth that could destroy his career.
The Arsonist
A stern-faced pillar of Saunafjord who wields encyclopedic scripture like a weapon, seeing himself as the moral guardian of traditions under siege. Hardened by an old conviction and practiced in subtle pressure, he regards Patrick’s new home as an invasion — and resistance as a righteous duty.
The Warning
Once among Saunafjord’s most respected residents, he has been broken by conflicts the community allowed to fester for too long.
The Financier
Tall and broad-shouldered with military precision, the high-ranking banker at Jackson Steinem & Co. turns charm into armor and relationships into tactical advantages. Determined to outrun a dark family history, he keeps the Margot Group’s dealings beyond the reach of scrutiny.
The Accomplice
A former trade attaché who turned diplomatic connections into commodities power, serving as Swedish consul in Geneva while his private interests multiply. Polished and deliberate, he moves money and reputations out of reach as Patrick’s discoveries threaten to bring the bank down.
The Confidante
A serene, warm presence in Saunafjord who has known Patrick since their school days. A journalist with a quiet strength that surfaces when it matters, she is the trusted confidante and mediator the community turns to — and the anchor Patrick needs when both his worlds close in.
The Banker
A charismatic product of the boom years, risen through European private banking on aggressive strategies and well-placed connections. He dominates rooms by presence alone, treats regulations as suggestions, and dismisses criticism with a confidence built on invulnerability.
The Administrator
Meticulously groomed behind rimless glasses, this Manchester-born administrator rose from the company gym to the upper ranks of Swiss banking on discretion and political instinct. He anticipates threats to the institution before they materialize — and neutralizes them just as quietly.
The Zealot
Torgny’s wife stands rigid beside him, hair in a tight bun and conviction without compromise. Raised by a stern preacher in an insular community, she projects moral superiority while regarding every change in Saunafjord as a threat to be condemned.
The Grandfather
Patrick’s grandfather, a contemplative fisherman and wood carver whose mornings belong to the fjord. One of the original owners of the land, he carries Saunafjord’s living memory — and a quiet wisdom that grounds Patrick as heritage and ambition collide.
The Craftsman
Sune’s quiet brother, a patient and meticulous woodworker overshadowed by his sibling’s prominence. Gentle and introspective, he shares the family’s original claim to the land — and sees more in Saunafjord’s silences than most of its louder residents ever have.
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