Supper Sleuths


Scandinavian Mysteries:
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden

One reason for the sudden prominence of Scandinavian crime on U.S. shelves is the region’s newly found diversity since the break down of the Soviet Union and the resulting culture clash in a once very insular society. Henning Mankell’s Faceless Killers appeared in the U.S. in 1997, introducing readers to struggling police inspector Kurt Wallander who is so unlike the American hard-boiled hero and just as compelling. Mankell began the influx of Scandinavian authors who write about post-iron curtain crime and the new opportunities for corruption that occurs with the opening of borders. (Ott, Bill. "A Hard-Boilied Gazetteer to Scandinavia," Booklist, May 1, 2007, p.8-11).


Thank you, once again, to Beebe Reference Librarian Beth Radcliffe for her thorough research on this list.

This list is by author, series character, title, date of publication, and country. Whenever possible, if a series, the titles are in order of publication date. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and please let us know if you feel that a title should be here. Please read one or more titles, and come prepared to discuss your impressions of them with the group.

AUTHOR CHARACTER TITLE COUNTRY
Arnaldur Indridason Erlendur Sweinnson Jar City (2005)
Silence of the Grave (2006)
Voices (2007)
Draining Lake (2007)
Not in NOBLE/Out of Print
Iceland
Desmond Bagley Alan Stewart Running Blind (1993) Iceland
James Benn Bill Boyle Billy Boyle (2006) Norway
K.O.Dahl Frolick&Gunnarstranda The Fourth Man (2008) Norway
Ake Edwardson Erik Winter Sun and Shadow (2005)
Never End (2006)
Frozen Tracks (2005)
Sweden
Kerstin Ekman Anna Raft
Constable Thorsson
Blackwater (1996)
Under the Snow (1996)
Sweden
Kjell Ericksson Ann Lindell Princess of Burundi (2005)
Cruel Stars of the Night (2007)
Sweden
Karin Fossum Inspector Sejer Don't Look Back (2002)
He Who Fears the Wolf (2003)
When the Devil Holds the Candle (2004)
Indian Bride (2005)
Black Seconds Due in July 2008
Norway
Alan Gordon Fools'Guild Antic Disposition (2004) Denmark
Nicola Griffith Aud Torvingen Blue Place (1998) Norway
Peter Hoeg Smilla's Sense of Snow (1993)
Quiet Girl (2007)
Denmark
Anne Holt Johanne Vik
& Adam Stubo
What is Mine (2006)
What Never Happens (2008)
Norway
Matti Joensuu Det.Sgt.Timor Harjunpaa Stone Murders (1996)
Priest of Evil (2007) NOT in NOBLE
Finland
Mari Jungstedt Anders Knutas Unseen (2006)
Unspoken (2007)
Sweden
Eric Koch Icon in Love (1998) Sweden
Michael Larsen Uncertainty (1996) Denmark
Asa Larsson Rebecka Martinsson Sunstorm (2006)
Blood Split (2007)
Sweden
Henning Mankell Kurt Wallander Faceless Killers (1991)
Dogs of Riga (1992)
White Lioness (1993)
Sidetracked (1995)
Fifth Woman (1996)
One Step Behind (1997)
Firewalled (1998)
Man Who Smiled (2005)
Sweden
Linda Wallander Before the Frost (2004) Sweden
Liza Marklund Annika Bengtzon Paradise (2000)
Not in NOBLE
Bomber (2001)
Prime Time (2002)
Not in NOBLE
Studio Sex (2002)
Red Wolf (2003)
Not in NOBLE
Sweden
Edward Marston Nicholas Bracewell Princess of Denmark; bk.16 (2006) Denmark
Jo Nesbo Redbreast (2007) Norway
Hakan Nesser Chief Insp. Van Veeteren Borkmann's Point (2006)
Return (2007)
Sweden
Tiina Nunnally Magrit Andersson Runemaker (1996)
Fate of Ravens (1998)
Denmark
Katherine Hall Page Faith Fairchild Body in the Fjord (1998) Norway
Elizabeth Peters Copenhagen Connection (1982) Denmark
Pernille Rygg Ig Heitmann Butterfly Effect (1998)
Not in NOBLE/Out of Print
Golden Section (2003)
Not in NOBLE/Out of Print
Norway
Yrsa Sigurdardottir Last Rituals (2007) Iceland
Maj Sjowall
& Per Wahloo
Martin Beck Roseanna (1965)
Man Who Went Up in Smoke (1966)
Man On the Balcony (1967)
Laughing Policeman (1968)
Fire Engine that Disappeared (1969)
Murder at the Savoy (1970)
Abominable Man (1971)
Locked Room (1972)
Cop Killer (1974)
Terrorists (1975)
Sweden
Helene Tursten Det. Insp. Huss Detective Inspector Huss (2003)
Torso (2006)
Glass Devil (2007)
Sweden
Jan Costin Wagner Det. Insp. Kimmo Ice Moon (2007) Finland


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