The 7 Deadly Sins: Stine Bolther on Danish Crime

"De 7 dødssynder" ("The 7 Deadly Sins") is a true crime book from 2023 by Stine Bolther, an experienced Danish true crime author, who structures a series of criminal cases from Denmark around the classical deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth.

The seven sins serve as Bolther's analytical framework for understanding the deeper human motives behind serious crime. Every case is examined with an eye to the sinful impulse that lay beneath the act — from jealousy-driven killings rooted in envy to financial crimes carried by greed.

The book combines thorough research with psychological insight, offering readers a nuanced picture of how seemingly ordinary people can cross the line into criminality. Bolther's argument is that most crimes are, at bottom, about basic human emotions and needs that have gone off the rails.

Through detailed accounts of the cases and how they unfolded, "De 7 dødssynder" provides both a look at specific Danish criminal cases and a broader understanding of what drives people to commit crimes. It is aimed at readers who want more than sensational detail — those who want to understand the human element behind the crime.