Fredrik Backman’s Anxious People is both the funniest and the most profound detective story I’ve ever read. Its seriousness doesn’t lie in solving the mystery of finding the robber. Even the identity of the robber becomes secondary because what truly matters in this book is the exploration of human relationships, the hidden complexities, and the traumas we all carry. As I was going through this Anxious People summary, I realized that this story serves as a powerful reminder that none of us is alone in our struggles.
Anxious People Summary
It was the day before New Year’s Eve when a desperate bank robber failed at robbing a cashless bank. He pointed his pistol at the bank clerk and asked for 6,500 kronor. The robber needed the money to cover the rent for the home shared with two daughters. When he was reminded that the plan of robbing a cashless bank was not thought through, he felt foolish, apologized, and left the bank.
The bank robber ran out into the street, and a police officer happened to be walking past. The police started chasing the robber, who ran into a building and rushed through the first available open door. Only then did the bank robber notice that the hall was full of shoes and that the apartment was full of people with no shoes on. Those people who were visiting the house for an apartment viewing automatically became the robber’s hostages.
A few minutes later, the street in front of the building was crawling with journalists and cameras, and after them, the police arrived.
Spoilers Ahead!
If you wanted to know what the book was about before deciding to read it, this is the place where you can stop reading and head to the bookstore. If the intent was to know the whole story, then keep reading.
These unsuspecting visitors—now hostages—were thrown together in an unexpected way, adding layers to this story.
While all these people were in the apartment, we get to know them better and dive into their life stories. They share their worries and concerns with each other, hear the story of the robber, and decide to help him. If you want to know the story of each character, once you finish reading this Anxious People summary, go here.
By that point, the hostages had already been released and taken to the police station. The robber had disappeared, and no one had a clue where he could be.
Jim (the old policeman), Jack’s father who had brought pizza to the hostages, also pitied the robber and realized it was all a misunderstanding. Jim suggested hiding the robber in a neighbor’s apartment, the key to which Estelle, one of the hostages, had.
It turned out that the apartment they were viewing belonged to Estelle, who had a platonic relationship with her neighbor. After the neighbor passed away, the apartment was left empty, but not before he had given Estelle a copy of the key. Once the police released all the hostages, Estelle sheltered the robber and her two daughters in her own apartment and even gave her money to rent a room for herself in that very same apartment where this story unfolded.
Who is the bank robber in Anxious People?
In the book, we don’t get to know her real name, but we know that the robber was a she, not a he. She was a mom who fell on hard times and needed money to pay for the new apartment, where she would live with her two daughters. In the 2021 Netflix film adaptation, the robber is named Liv Holmberg.
What is Anxious People about?
It’s a detective story that reveals the inner world of the hostages, their fears, and insecurities. Anxious People is about understanding that everyone has their own battles and that through empathy, kindness, and connection, we can help each other overcome the overwhelming challenges of life.
Where can I read Anxious People by Fredrik Backman?
Here is a link to the PDF of the book. Click here and enjoy reading.
My personal review of the book
I rate Fredrik Backman’s Anxious People a perfect 10 out of 10 for its exceptional blend of humor, depth, and humanity. This book is more than just a story; it’s an exploration of the complexities of life, human relationships, and the universal struggles we all face.
Content Warning
Suicide, mental illness, human relationships, infidelity, divorce.
Who I recommend this book to
Literally to everyone! I really think there is something for everyone to learn in Backman’s books, and I can’t recommend this one enough.
