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Original poster

Please tell me about Scandinavian crime writers

8 replies

tobee · 08/06/2017 14:43

I've never seen any Scando crime dramas Shock. But fancied reading some. Where should I start? Who's good? What are the styles of the different writers? I keep coming back to Jo Nesbo but I might be completely wrong there. I know there's Camilla Lackberg. Any good? I've read Stig Larson Millennium which I like some parts of but but felt it became repetitive.

OP posts:
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MugwumpSupreme · 12/06/2017 15:03

Jussi Adler Olsen. Recent adaptation of some of his on BBC4. The first one of his still haunts me years later.

Original poster
tobee · 12/06/2017 15:02

Thanks!

Lots of book investigating for me to do. I'm already rubbing my hands in anticipation.

OP posts:
tormentil · 11/06/2017 10:29

I like Henning Mankell - Wallander series. I've almost finished reading the series in order. Reading them from the beginning is a way to watch the development of both Wallander and his close colleagues. Mankell is an intelligent observer of Swedish politics and also the politics of African aid - these views are interjected throughout the series and some of the books have some African action. The books aren't political per se, but there is an undercurrent. I like that the stories work at two levels. The writing is best described as dry and laconic, with a lot of attention given to the most mundane details. This can make for a very slow and plodding read, which isn't for everyone. However, these are my absolute favourites of the Scandi reads.

Another favourite is Karin Fossum - similarly dry and understated, but her books are shorter. I'm up to the third in the series I think and will pick up again once I've finished Wallander. She favours psychology over body count.

Hakan Nesser - again understated, dry and laconic. More psychology than body count.

Johan Theorin - Oland Quartet - the backdrop is a Swedish island. Higher in the body count stakes. I like the island/small community backdrop.

Mari Jungstedt - another island based series.

Kistin Ekman - Blackwater - this was one of the first that I read. I can remember loving it. And, of course, there is Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow. The start of it all.

yikesanotherbooboo · 09/06/2017 18:31

Watch out for typos/ autocorrects ...
I had a scandi phase :
Henning Mankell
Hakan Nesser
Jo Nesbo
Per Wahloo and Maj Sjowell
Arnaldur Indridason
Yrsa Sigurdottir

Original poster
tobee · 09/06/2017 17:32

Thank you for your comments. I'm trying to steer away from crime books which seem to rely on a gratuitous body count of young women killed in sexual ways, if that makes any difference. I know there's a lot of violence against women in rl but sometimes I feel it's stuck in to sell books(?)

OP posts:
oobidobidooooo · 09/06/2017 15:27

I'm travelling alone is a recent one? Thomas Bjorn or something like that!

Deathraystare · 09/06/2017 09:30

They all seem to be good and of course the Wallander books (is it Henning Markell, the author? Forgotten!). I love Nesbo as well and enjoyed one of Lackberg (The ice child I think).

tripfiction · 08/06/2017 19:59

One of the best to my mind is Ragnar Jonasson. Try this link for the books www.tripfiction.com/find-a-book/?location=Siglufjörður&reset=1

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