The Winners

***The Winners*** (original title in Swedish: ***Vinnarna***) is the third and final book in the *Beartown* trilogy, written by Fredrik Backman. It was published in Sweden on 6 October 2021, available on 27 September 2022 in the United States, and then globally on 4 October 2022. Much of the characters from the previous two books are mentioned, their narratives that intertwine with familiar themes of rivalry, hockey, and a small town with secrets.

## Dedication

*To you who talk too much and sing too loud and cry too often and love something in life more than you should.*

## Official synopsis

* 1st
* 2nd

Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there's something about this place that prevents it. The residents continue to grapple with life's big questions: What is a family? What is a community? And what, if anything, are we willing to sacrifice in order to protect them?

As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past, great change is on the horizon. Someone is coming home after a long time away. Someone will be laid to rest. Someone will fall in love, someone will try to fix their marriage, and someone will do anything to save their children. Someone will submit to hate, someone will fight, and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink.

So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home?

Everything.

The long-awaited conclusion to the beloved New York Times bestselling and "engrossing" (*People*) *Beartown* series—which inspired an HBO series of the same name—follows the small hockey town's residents as they grapple with change, pain, hope, and redemption.

It starts with a storm, a death, and two funerals on the same day.

One person's life is being celebrated by all of Beartown.

One person's life is being forgotten.

Maya Andersson and Benji Ovich, two young people who left in search of a life far from the forest town, come home and joyfully reunite with their closest childhood friends. They can see how much Beartown has changed. There is a sense of optimism and purpose in the town, embodied in the impressive new ice rink that has been built down by the lake.

Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there's something about this place that prevents it. The destruction caused by a ferocious late-summer storm reignites the old rivalry between Beartown and the neighboring town of Hed, a rivalry which has always been fought through their ice hockey teams. Maya's parents, Peter and Kira, are caught up in an investigation of the hockey club's murky finances, and Amat—once the star of the Beartown team—has lost his way after an injury and a failed attempt to get drafted into the NHL. Simmering tensions between the two towns turn into acts of intimidation and then violence. All the while, a fourteen-year-old boy grows increasingly alienated from this hockey-obsessed community and is determined to take revenge on the people he holds responsible for his beloved sister's death. He has a pistol and a plan that will leave Beartown with a loss that is almost more that it can stand.

As it beautifully captures all the complexities of daily life and explores questions of friendship, loyalty, loss, and identity, this emotion-packed novel asks us to reconsider what it means to win, what it means to lose, and what it means to forgive.
## Background

The author announced in February 2020 of his upcoming third book in the series. Initially the title was going to be translated to "Those Who Run Towards Fire", though he decided to change it. He shared in June 2021:

> I've been writing and rewriting this story for a long time, I've put just about all of what I know and how I feel about family and friendship and values and loyalty and sports and love in here, and up until the very day of turning the script in I had experiences in my own life that affected what kind of story it became. I don't think I've ever written anything quite this close to myself. I don't think I've ever been quite as emotional and tired by the end. I've given this my absolute everything. All I had. It's the last pages of a fairytale about a town that started in my head more than six years ago. So I just wanted you to know that it's meant the world to me that you cared. I couldn't answer all the letters, I couldn't go on all the book tours, I couldn't reply to all the messages because I've given every ounce of energy I had to this. I wasn't prepared for how much some of the people in it would mean to a few of you. I didn't always know how to handle the attention. I've had several moments the last couple of months where I was convinced I couldn't finish this at all. That I was just going to disappoint everyone. Maybe I still will, that's the job of a writer to risk, but I feel I can at least put down my pen and turn off the computer now and say: I did my best. I have nothing left. All I had is yours now. I'm gonna walk my dog, I might have a beer, I'll go away and dream it all
>
>

## Plot

In the two years that have passed, Beartown's hockey team is now financially funded better compared to their rivals, Hed. When a violent storm breaks out, including damaging Hed's hockey arena, this causes them to share Beartown's rink. This does not bode well for both sides, their long history of resentment that creates strain and paranoia.

Ramona's death causes Maya Andersson and Benjamin Ovich to return back home. They reunited with old friends and new, including Ana, Bobo, and Amat. Bobo is the coach assistant of the A-team, who is romantically interested in Tess, a girl from Hed. While this causes disapproval from her parents, Johnny and Hannah, he eventually wins them over. On the other hand, Amat was heading to play pro, though got involved with Lev, a crooked man who pulls strings to send him through the hockey league. Amat fails to secure a spot, ignoring Peter's help, and stays at home with his mother, Fatima, too depressed to play hockey. Elizabeth Zackell remains as a coach and enlists Aleksandr to join the hockey team, and one to challenge Amat. Lev also shows interest in taking over Ramona's pub, claiming she owes him.

Meanwhile, Tails, the owner of Beartown's the grocery store, originally suggests for the two hockey teams to merge. However, he runs into trouble with a journalist that threatens to expose the hockey club's money laundering and illegal activities. Additionally, Peter Andersson unknowingly signs a contract under his advisement that puts Peter as the scapegoat. Tails tries to find a way to cover up the embezzlement by enlisting the help of Peter's wife, Kira Andersson, a lawyer well versed in legal jargon. He also contacts Teemu Rinnius, leader of the Pack, and politician Richard Theo, both dangerous men who have connections. In exchange, Teemu does not want Lev to gain control of the Bearskin pub, and Richard asks to be part of the future of Beartown's new building. With this, the journalist becomes suspicious of people following her, and is confronted by Richard in several times that stir uncertainty. Eventually, the journalist agrees to bury the story of the fraud in trade of a bigger story of corrupt politicians.

Building up to the championship games, the thirteen-year olds play first, where The Pack attend due to the raised tensions. When Hed begins to mock Beartown for the death of their mascot, Sune's dog who died from rat poison, this leads to a fight breaking out. During this all, a young boy named Matteo holds a grudge against hockey players. His older sister Ruth was raped and blackmailed by Rodri, and unlike Maya, never got any justice. She died from drug overdose and was buried where only a few people would remember her. Mumble, the goalie who switched to Beartown's hockey team, was a witness of the first rape but did not say anything. Matteo gets hold of a pistol and shoots Rodri, before targeting Mumble. At the game between Beartown and Hed, he sneaks in through the backdoor that's accidentally left open. Benji happens to intervene, being shot twice in the heart. Matteo is killed from a distance by Ana's father, who first witnessed Matteo enter the building with a gun, shooting Matteo in the head. Lev quickly takes Ana and her father to their home, producing an alibi that they were drinking, and helps bury the rifle underneath the town's frozen lake.

In the end, Benji's death is mourned by the entire town, and the Ovich sisters are the new owners of the Bearskin pub, which is called Benji's as time goes on. Tails decides to take the blame for the illegal building of the new business, saying that he forged Peter's signature, and does his time in prison. Maya becomes a globally known singer who has a bass player, one of Benji's former lovers, who performs alongside; Mumble will commit suicide out of guilt; Ana will pursue midwifery; Bobo marries and has a family with Tess; Elizabeth Zackell becomes one of the world's best coaches; Amat plays in the NHL; and Alicia becomes a star hockey player.

## Critical reception

The book was generally well-received. Mark Rotella of *The New York Times* wrote, "Backman also illuminates the intertwining lives of a dozen townspeople with great care ... emotionally wrought, bighearted". *Publishers Weekly* was more critical, feeling that the duration of some chapters did not add to the plot, and added, "Backman's narration often feels heavy-handed, and his aphorisms alternate from opaque to obvious..." They contended, "The tension, however, remains palpable after a former hockey player returns to Beartown and everyone assumes he's out to settle a score, and a series of threats escalate into explosive violence and a painful resolution. This will do the trick for insatiable Beartown fans, though others can take a pass".

*Kirkus Reviews* remarked, " Backman writes with wit and sincerity and is a talented web-spinner, but with a tale this long, the lack of nuance becomes grating. There's also a brief "not all men" message that, given the toxic nature of the narrative, is hard to ignore. A moralistic noir masquerading as a heart-warmer". Booklist's David Pitt praised, "This is a dramatic and highly satisfying novel, building on themes introduced in the first two books and brilliantly drawing the reader deeply into the story. The translation by Neil Smith (who has also translated novels by Lars Kepler and Liza Marklund) is nimble and idiomatic, perfectly conveying Backman's love of language and his wonderful sense of humor. If this really is the last Beartown novel, it's a hell of a conclusion to an outstanding".

## Chapter list

Chapter 1: Stories
Chapter 2: Storms
Chapter 3: Firemen
Chapter 4: Savages
Chapter 5: Midwives
Chapter 6: Superheroes
Chapter 7: Children
Chapter 8: Hunters
Chapter 9: Mothers
Chapter 10: Migrating Birds
Chapter 11: Flagpoles
Chapter 12: Roofs
Chapter 13: Kings
Chapter 14: Chocolate Balls
Chapter 15: Weapons
Chapter 16: Violence
Chapter 17: Dead
Chapter 18: Darkness
Chapter 19: Screams
Chapter 20: Cats
Chapter 21: Names
Chapter 22: Losses
Chapter 23: Sisters
Chapter 24: Dreams
Chapter 25: Cliches
Chapter 26: Rumors
Chapter 27: Dads
Chapter 28: Men of God
Chapter 29: Hockey Guys
Chapter 30: Butterflies
Chapter 31: Dishwashers
Chapter 32: Hatred
Chapter 33: Returning Home
Chapter 34: Competitive People
Chapter 35: Hiding Places
Chapter 36: Muscles
Chapter 37: Mules
Chapter 38: Radicalizations
Chapter 39: Shot Holes
Chapter 40: Threats
Chapter 41: Trouble
Chapter 42: Goalkeepers
Chapter 43: Brothers
Chapter 44: Wolves
Chapter 45: Hornets' Nests
Chapter 46: Servants
Chapter 47: Warriors
Chapter 48: Thieves
Chapter 49: Secret Smokers
Chapter 50: Families
Chapter 51: Truths
Chapter 52: Moments
Chapter 53: Pictures
Chapter 54: Lies
Chapter 55: Howls
Chapter 56: Teammates
Chapter 57: Different Hells
Chapter 58: Shots
Chapter 59: Youth
Chapter 60: Talent
Chapter 61: Smoke
Chapter 62: Idiots
Chapter 63: Abattoirs
Chapter 64: Knocks
Chapter 65: Big City Types
Chapter 66: Disappointments
Chapter 67: Love Stories
Chapter 68: Enemies
Chapter 69: Leaders
Chapter 70: Players
Chapter 71: Murderers
Chapter 72: Campers
Chapter 73: Scratches
Chapter 74: Chances
Chapter 75: Jam Sandwiches
Chapter 76: Detours
Chapter 77: Backs
Chapter 78: Team dogs
Chapter 79: Tears
Chapter 80: Banging
Chapter 81: Warnings
Chapter 82: Skates
Chapter 83: Provocations
Chapter 84: Lawyers
Chapter 85: Hearts
Chapter 86: Blood
Chapter 87: Profits
Chapter 88: Hooligans
Chapter 89: Turths
Chapter 90: Inheritance
Chapter 91: Traces
Chapter 92: Islands
Chapter 93: Scapegoats
Chapter 94: Women
Chapter 95: Songs
Chapter 96: Torches
Chapter 97: Perpetrators
Chapter 98: Stones
Chapter 99: Victims
Chapter 100: Juice Glasses
Chapter 101: Graves
Chapter 102: Best Friends
Chapter 103: Questions
Chapter 104: Regrets
Chapter 105: Trees
## Characters

* Maya Andersson - The daughter of Kira and Peter who becomes a global singer.
* Benjamin Ovich - Former ice hockey player.
* Ana - Best friend of Maya.
* Peter Andersson - Former general manager of the Beartown Ice Hockey team.
* Kira Andersson - Lawyer; the mother of Maya and Leo.
* Leo Andersson - Younger brother of Maya.
* Amat - Hockey player on the A-team who eventually goes on to play pro.
* Ramona - Longtime owner of the Bearskin pub who dies.
* Tails - Owner of Beartown's grocery store who attempts to cover up the illegal practices of the hockey club's finances.
* Teemu Rinnius - Leader of The Pack, a group known for violence.
* Vidar Rinnius (mentioned) - The younger brother of Teemu who died.
* Richard Theo - A politician who looks out for his own best interests.
* Lev - A shady man who works in a grey area. He has nieces but lives alone.
* Bengt -
* Sune - An old man who had a pet dog he thought of naming "Bang". He would take care of Alicia.
* Alicia - A young girl who will go on to be a star hockey player.
* Adri Ovich - Older sister of Benji who runs the dog kennels and eventually own the Bearskin pub.
* Katia Ovich - Older sister of Benji. Will own the pub with her sisters.
* Gaby Ovich - Older sister of Benji with two children. Will own the pub with her sisters.
* Bobo - A hockey coach with a big heart. Falls in love with Tess.
* Hannah - A midwife who is impressed with Ana, who helps deliver a child through the storm.
* Johnny - A firefighter who tries to be the hero.
* Tess - The daughter of Hannah and Johnny, who falls in love with Bobo.
* Tobias - The son of Hannah and Johnny; 15-years-old.
* Ted - The son of Hannah and Johnny; 13-years-old.
* Ture - The son of Hannah and Johnny; 7-years-old.
* Matteo - Raised in a devout Christian household, holds resentment for hockey players and seeks revenge on those who hurt his older sister.
* Ruth - The older sister of Matteo who was raped by Rodri. She leaves town though dies from drug overdose. Her death is not remembered by the town; only to her family and Mumble.
* Elizabeth Zackell - A successful hockey coach who can seem emotionless.
* Aleksandr - A newly recruited hockey player who is unpredictable on the ice.
* Rodri - A misogynistic, violent young male who rapes Ruth.
* Mumble - A talented goalie who feels guilt over doing nothing to help Ruth. Former friend of Rodri.
* Kevin Erdahl - The former hockey player that rapes Maya and moves away.

## *The Winners* Book Tour

A tour was held from 27 September 2022 to 6 October 2022 around North America, comprising of nine dates.

## Trivia

* In the U.S. edition of the book, Elizabeth Zackell is spelled as "Elisabeth" compared to *Us Against You* with a 'z'. Additionally, it sticks to the consistency of 'Alan Ovich' being spelt as 'Alain' while in the first book, *Beartown*, it was spelt as 'Alan'.

## References

1. ↑ "Bestselling Swedish writer Fredrik Backman on the personal story behind his hit novels". *CBC*. 30 September 2022.
2. ↑ "Fredrik Backman (@Backmanland)". *Facebook*. 16 December 2021.
3. ↑ "Fredrik Backman (@Backmanland)". *Facebook*. 23 February 2020.
4. ↑ "Fredrik Backman (@Backmanland)". *Facebook*. 17 June 2021.
5. ↑ Rotella, Marck (October 4, 2022). "With His New Novel, Fredrik Backman Pulls Off a Hat Trick". *The New York Times*.
6. ↑ *The Winners*. *Publishers Weekly*.
7. ↑ "Fredrik Backman: *The Winners*. *Kirkus*.
8. ↑ Pitt, David (1 September 2022). "*The Winners* by Fredrik Backman". *Booklist*.
9. ↑ "Atria Books (@AtriaBooks)". *Twitter*. 27 September 2022.