English Translations of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

loved them both

Finished the The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo . I enjoyed it and I am going to read more. I was intrigued how all the threads tied together at the end. I got to know all the policeman. Martin Beck, Kallberg Larsson, Ronn and Molender. How they interact with each other. Their different personality quirks. Also that they solved the crime as a team. Not a one man band.

Helen wrote: "Finished the The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo . I enjoyed it and I am going to read more. I was intrigued how all the threads tied together at the end. I got to kn..."

Bet these are good reading Helen. The TV series is excellent! Enjoy....

I finished Thomas Enger's book Pierced: A Novel and I give it 5 stars, because he kept on going around and around with everybody. Henning Juul proved that Tore Pulli didn't murder Jocke Brolenius.

Just curious....does anyone else have experiences or comments regarding current EDITING of ebooks? I am reading a good writer, respected publisher and an excellent book but there are so many....what we used to call typos! Also strange uses of country switch with those from a country! Surinam for Surinamese! IMO it is down to sloppy editing not even too much reliance on spell check. Several areas in my novel have the a attached to the last word in the sentence, for example! Have no paper copy to check but in general, are others finding this?

I certainly agree with you. I have been noticing this for quite a while. Doesn't matter what genre or where the book was printed. Some of the spelling errors just jump right out at you. Glad someone else noticed.

Mary wrote: "I certainly agree with you. I have been noticing this for quite a while. Doesn't matter what genre or where the book was printed. Some of the spelling errors just jump right out at you. Glad some..."

Thanks Mary!

Just finished David Hewson's book set in Amsterdam, The House of Dolls....gave it 4/5! I really recommend it.
Having really been a big fan of his original series The Killing 1,2&3 and having read this, I am now very curious about his series set in Italy that I read is currently being filmed. Quite a good writer IMO if he can place stories into other countries and cities and do it so efficiently!

Typos... sigh. (Yes, I get annoyed by them too).

I'm trying A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House now. It's not a thriller and it's not Nordic, but a friend of Jim's recommended it because it's about Kentucky and I was in the mood for trying something out of my comfort zones.

But why so many in current publishing? Perplexes and annoys me. Sounds a good read. Enjoy and look fwd to your review.

Still am away from Nordic and back devouring the Bruno series in stunning Perigord by Martin Walker and loving every book!!
Read Ian McEwan, The Children Act and recommend totally. Very good, thought provoking read.

Sharon wrote: "Just finished David Hewson's book set in Amsterdam, The House of Dolls....gave it 4/5! I really recommend it.
Having really been a big fan of his original series The Killing 1,2&3 and having rea..."
David Hewson was at Bloody Scotland a few weeks ago - was in same session as Peter Robinson. Needless to say I came home with The House of Dolls (and another 8 books from the other authors whose sessions I attended). Was interesting to hear how he chose where/what to write after his Italian Series

Jealous....lucky you. Enjoy the reads.

Reading "The Longest Shadow" by Liza Marklund. Loving this book.

I'm currently reading book 6 (The Fifth Woman) in the Kurt Wallander series, have read all of Karin Fossum's Inspector Sejer series, and have 'The Leopard' and 'Phantom' on hold for pick up Saturday at the library (by Jo Nesbo).
My sister turned me on to Hakan Nesser's Inspector Van Veeteren series, and I've read 2 of those; they are VERY good.
And, this isn't Scandinavian, but I've been working my way through Christopher Fowler's Bryant & May series, which are British.
I'm eagerly awaiting the US release of Sandman, by Lars Kepler; that's what got me started on this whole 'Scandinavian jaunt' as my husband calls it!

New to group, but love this genre. Last Rituals - starting books from Iceland. Need a break from Galway and Edinburgh folks! It is such a stark difference in tone and atmosphere when I switch to different countries!

Mary wrote: "I certainly agree with you. I have been noticing this for quite a while. Doesn't matter what genre or where the book was printed. Some of the spelling errors just jump right out at you. Glad some..."

Me, too. Having taught middle and high school, I chalk a lot of this up to autocorrect, as well as a misguided belief that copy editing and proof reading don't matter (I find typos and stupid errors distracting to a point where I lose my ability to suspend disbelief).

Perhaps worse is the trend towards equalizing margins by abandoning any system of word division. Not only distracting, but also--at times--confusing.

Sharon wrote: "Mary wrote: "I certainly agree with you. I have been noticing this for quite a while. Doesn't matter what genre or where the book was printed. Some of the spelling errors just jump right out at y..."

Sharon wrote: "Mary wrote: "I certainly agree with you. I have been noticing this for quite a while. Doesn't matter what genre or where the book was printed. Some of the spelling errors just jump right out at y..."

I just finished House of Dolls myself and agree with your 4/5 star rating. Somehow I think there will be others to follow. Also going to pick up the next two books in The Killing series. Really like his writing style.

Read Season of the Witch by Árni Þórarinsson and was really surprised by his humor and realistic life styles that people are in now. I gave it 5 stars because it made me want to be there. So I had to go to the map and see for myself what each town looked like. I would recommend this book to everybody.

Fiona wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Just finished David Hewson's book set in Amsterdam, The House of Dolls....gave it 4/5! I really recommend it.
Having really been a big fan of his original series The Killing 1,2&3..."
I am reading "House of Dolls" at the present. A long time to settle in. Lots of dialogue. Great descriptions of poppy fields, barges, roads, old buildings and weed. However, I am enjoying it. No sterotyped characters.

Mary wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Mary wrote: "I certainly agree with you. I have been noticing this for quite a while. Doesn't matter what genre or where the book was printed. Some of the spelling errors just jump..."

Makes me very curious to read his series set in Italy or wait and see the filmed version he refers to.......
The House of Dolls was a good read but it was also a typical British version of Amsterdam and the lifestyle he imagines exists. Locals live quite differently than tourists or guest workers! I was impressed with his cute rather strange descriptions and character given to the female character. The book was a British view which we get to hear constantly in the media but to give credit he did research a lot of other aspects effectively. What poppy fields???? We grow tulips here ;-)

Sharon wrote: "Mary wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Mary wrote: "I certainly agree with you. I have been noticing this for quite a while. Doesn't matter what genre or where the book was printed. Some of the spelling err..."
You are quite right. Poppies Tulips. Here in Australia they are not common. I suppose I am giving this book the benefit of the doubt. . There are parts I enjoyed. There is a joyousness about the book. There is humour. Unlike some of the Nordic books. I am glad that chief villian is a female. Australia is a relatively new country, no old buildings or barges. And as for dope cafes. Well. We are a conservative country. Above all else the main character rides a rusty old bike and is kind to his dog.

I just finished The Disappeared by Kristina Ohlsson. Each one in her series keeps getting better! She's right up there as a favorite with Camilla Lackberg now.

Kelly wrote: "I just finished The Disappeared by Kristina Ohlsson. Each one in her series keeps getting better! She's right up there as a favorite with Camilla Lackberg now."

Thanks. Reading this reminded me to download this book and Silenced. Also a standalone of hers 2014 called Hostage. Left the teen mystery The Glass Children. Sure look forward to more from her so thanks for reminding me. ;-)

I just finished The Farm by Tom Rob Smith. An unusual plot, mystery/thriller that takes place in Sweden and London. Both places I have visited and loved. This is a slow and steady paced psychological thriller that kept me guessing.

Lori wrote: "I just finished The Farm by Tom Rob Smith. An unusual plot, mystery/thriller that takes place in Sweden and London. Both places I have visited and loved. This is a slow and steady paced psycholo..."

Read it too. Quite different from the trilogy he wrote earlier but I too enjoyed the different format. Nice to draw from his own life and build upon it. Did you read Leo's story starting with Child 44?

Bobbi wrote: "Just finished Henning Mankell's novella An Event in Autumn. A nice quick read and a short visit with Wallendur. I sure am going to miss that man!"

Me too. I am not a sentimental person, but had hoped for a better ending for Wallander. Hope Mankell is going to be alright. Wonder who is going to take over from Wallander?

Mitchell wrote: "Sharon, the compiler and author of that introduction is John-Henri Holmberg. Or click on my photo to go to my page and see the book as "currently reading".

When I went to look up some of the auth..."

I always wonder who makes these decisions on translations. There are some excellent scandinavian authors like the duo Voossen and Danielsson, who are translated into German (ok one of the authors is half-German) and some only into English? Would have thought Scandinavian fiction is now big enought to translate them all into the major languages! I've put both Kristina Ohlssson and The Farm on my list (read most other Tom Rob Smith and got a bit bored with the previous formula, but if this is differnet, I'll give it a go).

Gisela wrote: "Bobbi wrote: "Just finished Henning Mankell's novella An Event in Autumn. A nice quick read and a short visit with Wallendur. I sure am going to miss that man!"

Me too. I am not a sentimental pers..."

I personally liked how Mankell tidied up the series and all were ready for it to end. I appreciate that he took a truly real situation and gave it to someone we all love, just like real life! Read this when it first came out and have seen the last series on tv and DVD and really think it was expertly dealt with. Wonderful character and I miss him as he was pretty constant book or tv last twenty years and like many of Mankell's other writing. Hope he manages to write more and beat this awful cancer.....

Gisela wrote: "Mitchell wrote: "Sharon, the compiler and author of that introduction is John-Henri Holmberg. Or click on my photo to go to my page and see the book as "currently reading".

When I went to look up..."

Be prepared as The Farm starts quite slow and cozy....takes awhile to develop but develop it does! I personally learnt a great deal from the trilogy from WWII through to Afghanistan and really appreciated the development of the times I have lived through shown through the life of Leo and his colleagues and family. It did slow down but then life does that. In terms of the history and the realities of the American politics and situations, I really enjoyed it.

Good discussion to follow:http://www.crimefictionlover.com/2014...

Iceland Noir: Nordic prespectives, in translation

Sharon wrote: "Good discussion to follow:http://www.crimefictionlover.com/2014...

Iceland Noir: Nordic prespectives, in translation"
Was interesting, gotta new Sigurdardottir.

And more. http://www.nordicstylemag.com/2014/11...

Kenneth you will enjoy this.

Viewing pleasure.....as of today the new third season of Lilyhammer, all episodes, is on Netflix!! Looking forward to this. ;-)

I still haven't read the silence of the sea by yrsa sigurdaroottir. They publish them in England and then don't sell them in the US. But they put them on Amazon to confuse you. Like I haven't read Children of War
by Martin Walker. It's over in England so the library won't order it till it comes to the US. But it's on Amazon and they are pushing The Children Return. Don't know if this is Children of War to confuse the issue. Well, I'll watch all the season 3 episodes of Lilyhammer in one or two days, watched the previews.

Kenneth wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Good discussion to follow:http://www.crimefictionlover.com/2014...

Iceland Noir: Nordic prespectives, in translation"
Was interestin..."

Yrsa Sigurdardottir. Or simply Yrsa. Sigurdardottir is not her family name, just a patronymic "first name".

Now I'm confused, were using English here, I'm slow, so Sigurdardottir is only a patronymic name which according to the way we look at it is a first name but relates to the father and Yrsa is name she goes by. Why wouldn't the patronymic name be like ours. So they don't have a last name at all, they're only first names? So, Yrsa and Lilja are both Sigurdardottir's but may not be related, but in theory the are, i.e. 300,000 people in Iceland.

At least the Wallender series has an end. In a number of cases the author has died before the series could be finished.

There are also some episodes of the Swedish TV version of this series that were inserted before the last book takes place. Mankell was involved in them.

Kenneth wrote: "Now I'm confused, were using English here, I'm slow, so Sigurdardottir is only a patronymic name which according to the way we look at it is a first name but relates to the father and Yrsa is name ..."

Some people do have family names in Iceland (like Halldor Laxness). However, since 1925 new last names are not allowed.

Someone's name doesn't change depending on the language you are using. If you don't have a last name you just don't have it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandi...

Gary wrote: "At least the Wallender series has an end. In a number of cases the author has died before the series could be finished.

There are also some episodes of the Swedish TV version of this series that ..."

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallan...

Kenneth wrote: "I still haven't read the silence of the sea by yrsa sigurdaroottir. They publish them in England and then don't sell them in the US. But they put them on Amazon t..."

I ordered a copy from the UK which I would be happy to sell to you. ;-) This wasn't one of my favorites. Not enough Thóra.

Sharon wrote: "Lori wrote: "I just finished The Farm by Tom Rob Smith. An unusual plot, mystery/thriller that takes place in Sweden and London. Both places I have visited and loved. This is a slow and steady p..."

I didn't but I did look at the synopsis. I have so many "to read" books but I might choose that later :)

Sharon wrote: "Gisela wrote: "Bobbi wrote: "Just finished Henning Mankell's novella An Event in Autumn. A nice quick read and a short visit with Wallendur. I sure am going to miss that man!"

Me too. I am not a s..."

my favorite Mankell book was The Man from Beijing and enjoyed it so much. but I find with Mankell, either I like it or I don't. Tried Faceless Killers but I have some trouble with some of the "scenes." Loved The Dancing Man. Hit or miss I guess.

Sharon wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I just finished The Disappeared by Kristina Ohlsson. Each one in her series keeps getting better! She's right up there as a favorite with Camilla Lackberg now."

Thanks. Reading this..."

Have you read Shadow by Karin Altvegin? It's one of her best!

Gary wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "I still haven't read the silence of the sea by yrsa sigurdaroottir. They publish them in England and then don't sell them in the US. But they put ..."

It was my favourite of Yrsa's The combination of sea, family and supernatural was great. Just dumped "House of Dolls" Life is too short to get bogged down with unsatisfying books.

Just going to start A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Would love to hear comments!

Elizabeth wrote: "Just going to start A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Would love to hear comments!"

I have lost interest in Jussi Alder-Olsen. Very disappointed in his last book. Going to re-read Johan Theorin's The Quarry. My favourite Scandi writer.

Helen wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Just going to start A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Would love to hear comments!"

I have lost interest in Jussi Alder-Olsen. Very disappointed in his last book. Goin..."

Thank goodness someone else.....I have totally stopped with Jussi Alder-Olsen...just got way to unrealistic for me!! There are so many better Scandi writers and writers in general.....

Helen wrote: "Gary wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "I still haven't read the silence of the sea by yrsa sigurdaroottir. They publish them in England and then don't sell them in the US. ..."

Helen I was very annoyed by House of Dolls till past half way when it finally took off and a fairly good story developed but the stereotyping and bs really got to me. When finished I was left with respect that the writer had done a great deal of research to construct the book but he does write every book outside his home turf UK and so research seems a given but I was still annoyed with the typical UK attitude to Amsterdam. Am curious about his series set in Italy and he says it is being filmed so will wait for that.

I did not like the latest Adler-Olsen either.