English Translations of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Sharon wrote: "Fabulous time reading the just out Coffin Road, Peter May."

Love his books! Simon mayo will be discussing it with Peter May on radio 2. Two weeks on Monday. They are usually very interesting. Sadly im a long way down the waitlist at the library!

Thanks for the heads up on Anne Holt.

The Paris Architect Charles Belfoure. Great. Been reading it well into the night.

To those that loved the first film with Department Q here is good news:
A new spine-chiller in TrustNordisk and Zentropa Productions's cold case series is reaching the cinemas in March. Directed by Hans Petter Moland, "A Conspiracy of Faith" sets off as an eight-year old message in a bottle ends up at Department Q. Carl Mørck (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and his assistant Assad (Fares Fares) are drawn into a case involving a psychopathic murderer, religious fanaticism and abducted siblings never reported missing by their parents. Mikkel Nørgaard directed the first two adaptations of crime writer Jussi Adler-Olsen's novels, The Keeper of Lost Causes: A Department Q Mystery and The Absent One. Danish release 3 March.
The trailer is great and happy to see they kept the same actors!

What a wonderful series of books that is, haven't seen any movies in the US.

Nor in Canada.....sigh.....

Well, don't get them here in Holland either without ordering and buying or renting the film! I order the DVD/Blu-ray from Amazon or wait for them to arrive on Netflix. Just pre ordered the film Blu-ray on Amazon Germany and expect it end February...looking forward to it.

Susan wrote: "What a wonderful series of books that is, haven't seen any movies in the US."

Susan, I read somewhere that AcornTV (a cable channel available in the US) shows stuff from eurotv so you may eventually see them there.

I dont know if we can get Acorn but I will double check. We see quite a few on MHZ mostly nordic but we're in florida for the winter and it's not available here.

Just started, new author for me.

I bought "The girl in the spidersweb", hope it's as good as the previous millenium books...

Henning Mankell's #2 Wallander story, "The Dogs of Riga", then on to the next in the series.

Reading The Defenseless and just finished The Hummingbird. Both byKati Hiekkapelto. Thanks to others on Goodreads who recommended this author.

I read The Celtic Ring by Björn Larsson and I was really surprised. Kind of reminded me of a Treasure Island but in the 1990's. There is action throughout the book and Björn doesn't leave you to catch your breath. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story line.

Just ordered this from the library, thanks for the recoommenation.

Sounds like I've been drinking.

Just finished yesterday but include my review here as its quite a series.
David Hewson (author of The Killing 1,2,3, etc) Nic Costa & Vos series.

Vatican city...art, culture, history, religion, lots of sex and the bodies just keep piling up with the most gruesome killings......chilling stuff!!! Many characters and makes keeping all straight a challenge at times I found but there is no end to action......read the final of the series or book ten and this was the first Nic Costa series in Rome. Amazing people keep the faith! Quite interesting very well written series but I think I'll stick with the Amsterdam detective Vos and having enjoyed the filmed versions of his The Killing...books. If you are looking for a very gritty series though, this could be it!

A Season For The Dead (Nic Costa, #1) iBook. 12/15.
The Villa Of Mysteries (Nic Costa, #2)
The Sacred Cut (Nic Costa, #3)
The Lizard's Bite (Nic Costa, #4)
The Seventh Sacrament (Nic Costa, #5)
The Garden Of Evil (Nic Costa, #6)
Dante's Numbers (Nic Costa, #7)
The Blue Demon (Nic Costa, #8)
The Fallen Angel (Nic Costa, #9)
Carnival For The Dead (Nic Costa, #10) ...READ....

Confession. I am so overwhelmed with continued death and gory detail I need a rest!! So going back to literature or old established writers seems a good idea. Herein though lies a question, why today is everything needing to be so OTT with gore, blood and mayhem? Written or film.... Indeed where has the joy of description for great characters and spaces gone...situations more substantial because they are so subtle? Ah, I'm bored......

I go back and read a cozy after too many intense novels.

What I tire of is the prevalence of characters that are beset by 1000 problems. For example, I read a lot of police procedurals & it seems to be a rule that the MC detective has to be separated/divorced, struggles with any personal relationships, there's an addiction of some kind, has superiors gunning for them, still reels from a terrible childhood, tragically lost a loved one & maybe their dog just died.
It's also prevalent in the other genres such as NA & I sometimes wonder if it's because the main story line isn't strong enough so there's a "kitchen sink" approach taken to character development.
If I find myself rolling my eyes, I know it's time to add something lighter with humour to my reading list.

Susan wrote: "I go back and read a cozy after too many intense novels."

I used to really alternate my genres well but too many now so get myself bogged down....my own fault.

Sandy wrote: "What I tire of is the prevalence of characters that are beset by 1000 problems. For example, I read a lot of police procedurals & it seems to be a rule that the MC detective has to be separated/div..."

AND the endless description! AND not everyone that ever worked together has sex with each other ....that is just so damn dumb! Totally agree with you.......

Susan wrote: "Sounds like I've been drinking."

I'll have what you're having.

Sandy, it sounds like a country song.

Susan wrote: "Sandy, it sounds like a country song."

I know, right? All that's missing is a flat tire on their pickup truck...

I agree with all of you. Sometimes you just need a change of pace. I discovered Elizabeth George with her recent mystery and Peter Robinson. So after so many Scandi mysteries, I'll read one of theirs. I know it's the same genre but I just love mysteries!

Scott wrote: "Reading The Defenseless and just finished The Hummingbird. Both byKati Hiekkapelto. Thanks to others on Goodreads who recommended this author." Yes, I am reading The Defenseless also. Finished The Hummingbird last week. Then I am going to start Yrsa's The Undesired

I know you can't always read noir books, but here are some other crime novels you can go to and get a change of pace.

Martin Walker (English) and his Bruno Chief of Police (France)
Cara Black (US) and Aimée Leduc investigations (France)
Andrea Camilleri (Italy) and Inspector Montalbano mystery (Sicily)
Peter Mayle (UK) and many crimes (France)
Nele Neuhaus (Germany) and Pia Kirchhoff Mysteries (Germany)
Alexander Campion (US) and Capucine Culinary Mystery (France)
Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Spain) mysteries with magic (Spain)
Frank Tallis (UK) Doctor Max Libermann mysteries (Austria)
Louise Penny (Canada) and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache (Canada)
Kerry Greenwood (Australia) a Phryne Fisher Mystery (Australia)

There are plenty more from where these authors come from but they are the ones off the top of my head.

Martin Edwards Lake District Mysteries.

Sharon wrote: "Confession. I am so overwhelmed with continued death and gory detail I need a rest!! So going back to literature or old established writers seems a good idea. Herein though lies a question, why tod..." I think the best thing to do is to read some Trollope and Eliot sprinkled in - such great writing and characters.

Kenneth wrote: "I know you can't always read noir books, but here are some other crime novels you can go to and get a change of pace.

Martin Walker (English) and his Bruno Chief of Police (France)
Cara Black (US)..." Well Kenneth I have just finished reading "The Ghosts of Altona" Craig Russel" Loved it. I also read "Sausage Hall"Christina James. Which I enjoyed also. I also read "The Paris Architect " which was interesting but also annoying. I can see why some people are critical of this book at present reading "The Defenceless" . Hot in Australia at present so doing work early morning and reading in afternoon and night.

Helen wrote: "I am readingVictim Without a Face Stefan Ahnhen It is a story set in Sweden. I had no heard of this particular writer but he does a lot of script writing, apparently for Henning Man..."

I currently have this book in a stack from the library, hope to get to it in the next few days.

Sandy wrote: "What I tire of is the prevalence of characters that are beset by 1000 problems. For example, I read a lot of police procedurals & it seems to be a rule that the MC detective has to be separated/div..."

I agree with you. I read mostly police procedurals set in the UK and it seems like most of the male detectives have or have had problems with alcohol and/or a spouse or girl friend who has died. The female detectives are more likely to have some sort of mild mental impairment (such as being unable to feel emotions) or a traumatic past.

Gary wrote: "Sandy wrote: "What I tire of is the prevalence of characters that are beset by 1000 problems. For example, I read a lot of police procedurals & it seems to be a rule that the MC detective has to be..."

What fun would they be if they were brilliant AND perfect in every way? Maybe some are a bit overdone on imperfections, but it still makes a more human character in my opinion.

Agreed, Gary. I don't understand that tired old trope as I know several female cops & they're all really great, smart & dedicated people. It would be nice to see more fictional cops portrayed like that. The story doesn't have to suffer as there are a million ways to inject drama & tension into the mystery aspect of the plot with strong characters trying to solve it.

When I begin to despair about the books I'm reading, I am reading too many mediocre books and find re-reading a book from 10 or so years ago that I loved usually gets me out of my funk. My most recent get-out-of-funk books: R Lance Hill, The Evil That Men Do; David Lindsey, Mercy; Michael Barak, The Secret List of Heinrich Roehm. I'd be interested to know if anyone else enjoys these "old" books.

Good discussion! Good points. I think it's fabulous how digital apps or sources provide the Classics for free. Or very reasonable priced deals.
Its grand returning to literature and enjoying subtlety and great use of language. I love mystery but sick of the OTT violence and excessive descriptions so it works. Same with films and series.
Need to return to alternating genres! Many great writers i follow but by playing catch up i bogged down ;-) First for everything....

Anyone read "The Human Flies" by Hans Olav Lahlum?

Try Helen Tursten's Inspector Huss mysteries,she has the rare good marriage among police,also Donna Leon's Commisario Brunnetti mysteries another happy marriage.

The Human Flies sounds very interesting and Inspector Huss is a must read for me. She has a new one out.

I just finished it. (The Human Flies) it is interesting but not noir. Like Agatha Christie in a way. She keeps quoting her. I've got the next book coming from the UK.

Thanks, Kenneth.

Kenneth wrote: "I just finished it. (The Human Flies) it is interesting but not noir. Like Agatha Christie in a way. She keeps quoting her. I've got the next book coming from the UK."

I finished it on the 26 Jan - I really enjoyed it & look forward to the next one - I like the characters and early detection.

Thanks, Simona. Sounds as if it's more like a good old mystery, I think I'm going to pick it up.

Decided to give this series a try.

Greg Iles
33 mins · Monterey, LA, United States ·
Hello Readers! The new title of Book 3 of the trilogy is no longer Unwritten Laws, but "Mississippi Blood." I can't give you the release date yet, despite receiving literally thousands of emails about it. I am working hard to finish the novel right now, and I will update you about its release as soon as I know. What I can tell you is that "Mississippi Blood" will at long last answer every question that arose in "Natchez Burning" and "The Bone Tree." So... stop thinking "Unwritten Laws" and start thinking "Mississippi Blood!"

Just started, new author for me.

Finished book above, scary read.
Now on to , good so far.

I finished Clinch by Martin Holmén. It's about a boxer that is in and out of prison and has fleeting relations with both men and women. He toughens up a man and then the man is killed. He see a prostitute as a witness that he didn't kill the man and then he meets Doris, who's very wealthy. Herberger was put on to the prostitute and to Harry. It works out very noir in the end. But Harry gets Dixie, Doris dog, in the end.

Finally got to this in my TBR pile.