The Defector

The Defector is a firsthand memoir from a world few outsiders ever see. More than a story about crime, it is a deeply human story about choice, courage, and reclaiming one’s life even when it seems predetermined.

Viktor Grewe grew up on the outskirts of Stockholm, drawn into gangs by anger, social pressure, and the need to belong. Violence became his only “high,” and life felt like a constant struggle for survival. When he is finally arrested, the world goes silent. For the first time, Viktor faces himself and asks: Is this the beginning of the rest of my life?

The memoir offers a rare glimpse into gang life, revealing its unspoken rules, shifting loyalties, constant fear, and the challenges of leaving it behind. Yet it is also a story of hope, showing how transformation becomes possible through support, resilience, and new communities.

Viktor now works with the Swedish organization KRIS – Criminals’ Return in Society. The Defector is his first book.

Co-written with journalist Fredrik Thorén.