It's 1979. Henrik Bertelsen, a baby boomer, is an economist at the Ministry of Labour in Copenhagen. Married to Englishwoman Sammy, they pour their hearts into building a co-housing community in North Zealand while navigating the complex process of adopting a child from Indonesia. Henrik craves a period of undisturbed stability to secure his career as a civil servant.

Unexpectedly, he is asked to renovate and manage hospital kitchens in Saudi Arabia. His inner adventurer awakens, and with a short leave of absence from the ministry, he seizes the opportunity. The project escalates, and suddenly, he is caught in an armed religious uprising in Mecca. Trapped between rebels and police, Henrik is in trouble.

He manages to escape and is whisked out of the country. As he catches his breath, an American computer company offers him a lucrative job, setting his life on an entirely new path.
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★★★★★
"It is an excellent book! I felt thoroughly entertained and sensed Henrik Bertelsen sitting next to me, telling me about his remarkable experiences."
- Rikke Sommer

★★★★★
"Tumult in Mecca” is both funny and exciting. Hard to put down.
- Per Steen Pedersen

★★★★★
"A splendid story about seizing opportunities when they present themselves. Daring to plunge into deep water far from shore and learning to swim. The storytelling jumps in time and provides insight into the main character's sometimes surprising and risky choices."
- Esben Stubager

★★★★★
"Henrik Bertelsen is a child of the '60s who seeks the balance between his ideals and his adventurous spirit. Building co-housing communities and making adoptions are costly, and money must be made. His reflections, quirky analyses, and practical approach to his work at the ministry and the project in the Middle East create a highly entertaining narrative."
- Tine Curtis

The book will be published on 17 September 2024