A Nearly Normal Family

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual assault.

Adam Sandell is waiting outside Courtroom 2 in the district courthouse of Lund. A homicide trial is in progress, with his wife inside the courtroom and their daughter as the defendant. As the father of the defendant and a respected professional, Adam prepares to give testimony that he knows will be influential. Yet as he is about to speak, he is still uncertain about what to say.

This chapter jumps back in time to the week prior to Stella Sandell’s arrest. The Sandells, consisting of Adam, his wife (Ulrika), and their daughter (Stella), lead ordinary lives filled with work, hobbies, and small pleasures like dining out and weekend excursions. However, there are underlying tensions, particularly regarding the relationship between Adam and Stella. The family celebrates Stella’s 18th birthday at Adam’s favorite Italian restaurant. His gift of a Vespa Piaggio to Stella seems to exacerbate the gap between his expectations and Stella’s desires.

Adam, a pastor with the Church of Sweden, reflects on his life, faith, and the complexities of understanding the world. The week following Stella’s birthday is seemingly ordinary. However, there’s a sense of underlying tension, particularly around Stella’s increasing independence and Adam’s difficulty understanding her.