English Translations of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Hi folks, Anne here from Ireland. Love the crime fiction genre. Sporadic reader and rather random reader of the Scandinavian ones, mostly found at home from stealing my mothers library books when I'm home various weekends. But sometimes don't pay too much attention to who wrote it or the name, just gobble the up.

One particular one has stuck in my head though, and I'd love to know who wrote it (crime but kinda fantasy too!). I don't want to put in the plot here because of spoilers. Is there a place I can go within this group or another to put in a plot and see if somebody can identify the book/author so I could try reading a few more!?

Go ahead and give us the plot, someone will know it.

No idea Junying, but for the benefit of those Brits who missed the original Danish version of The Killing, it is being repeated on BBC4 - 4 episodes a week for 5 weeks from Sunday. It is preceded by a repeat of "Nordic Noir - the Story of Nordic Crime Fiction."

Also next Tuesday at 11pm also on Beeb4, there is a documentary on called "Italian Noir - the Story of Italian Crime Fiction" followed by the first of a 2 part Italian crime drama "Inspector Montalbano." Happy days - anyone for an Italian sub-group???

I enjoy Inspector Montalbano or Andrea Camilleri. Have all his books so far except for the 13th in the series. His humor amuses me. You get all his books early.

Hi everyone!

I'm a TV producer who lives in Manhattan (New York, NY; USA). I've worked for Court TV and truTV and I am very drawn to books and programming involving murder mysteries/true crime/crime fiction.

The Stieg Larsson trilogy initially set off my interest in Scandinavian crime novels. During a trip to the Baltic region earlier this summer, I became obsessed with Jo Nesbo. Tonight I finished The Hypnotist (Lars Kepler) and have placed an order for The Keeper of Lost Causes (Jussi Adler-Olsen). My appetite for this genre is insatiable. Who else do you all recommend??

Henning Mankell, Hakan Nesser, Helene Tursten, Asa Larsson, Arnald Indridson, Ake Edwardson, Peter Hoeg, Mari Jugstedt, Karin Fossum, Kjell Eriksson, Karin Alvtegen, K.O. Dahl, Per Petterson for starters.

Thanks, Kenneth!! I appreciate your suggestions!

Hi, my name is Kerry and I live in Warwick (West Midlands).

I love to read and am becoming a huge fan of Scandinavian crime fiction.
I've read Larsson's Millennium Triology and was given 'The Snowman' by Jo Nesbo, as a Christmas gift - i'm now hooked on Nesbo's books and have just started reading 'The Redbreast'.

Aside from reading I enjoy travelling and Norway is high on my list of places to visit.

Hi Kerry and welcome. You'd better start saving if you plan to visit Norway - one of the world's most expensive countries.....don't know how Harry Hole can afford to be an alcoholic there

Hi all, I have already i troduced myself but I'd just like to say another hello to Junying and Kerry - I'm in Wolverhampton!
I'll be watching the fantastic Killing again, eagerly anticipating the return of Sarah Lund in the new series late summer. Real edge of the seat stuff, best I've seen in years - and way, way better than the US version!

Hi! I'm Joanna and I'm from Poland. I'm a film art historian and a visual artist. Addicted to books of course :)

I started with the Millennium Trilogy some time ago and now I'm slowly discovering Scandinavian literature in general. I like Henning Mankell's novels a lot.

Hello Ian, Yes i've heard a pint is over £10?! Would so love to go there one day. I'm a big fan of A-ha too :)

Hello Maggie :)

Hello again, Ian & Maggie, and hi Kerry - love Warwick (first destination after I arrived in the UK many years ago :).

I must try and catch The Killing.

Bought several Jo Nesbo books a couple of days ago - any recommendations as to which one I should start? While Larsson is my top man closely followed by Henning Mankell, I need to catch up with some other authors.

Yes, Kerry, highly recommend Norway - visited Oslo and Sanjiefiord a couple of years ago and loved it. It's expensive but not hideously so and worth every penny :)

Hi to everyone else, no I'm not ignoring anyone :)

Junying, the Nesbo books run in the order... The Redbreast, Nemesis, The Devils Star (these 3 are referred to as the Oslo Trilogy), The Redeemer, The Snowman, and The Leopard.

Thanks, Dave.

I had Nemesis first. Now I know which one I should start:) Would be great to read about Oslo :)

Hi Junying - and everyone else on here :-)

Hey! ok well rather imaginative - it was about this girl, a bit estranged from her father I think. Anyway returns home when he dies (mysteriously - hence the crime genre) I think and trying to tie up loose ends in the bookshop he owns. anyway weird things start happening and she discovers that she has special powers at reading (or maybe listening). All the books have kind of magical powers and the more they have been read the more powerful the effects, hence the older the book (like first editions) the more powerful it is. then there are people with special listening powers who enhance the power of the book when it's read. then there's the obigitary love story, and i think another mysterious death and a fire and a torture scene. anyway it's all a bit hazy but I thought it was a fairly imaginative plot.

It sounds like The Library of Shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard, only it's his son but the girl is there also, love story. But they have these weird powers. It's Mikkel's first book as far as I know thats been translated. People listen when he reads and Katherine (the girl) has the power to make him see things differently when he reads. If you want more books like this there is The Angel's Game, and The Shadow of the Wind, and also The Club Dumas by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. They're not quiet the same but have a hidden library where books are hidden.

Sorry, I stand corrected. I think The Library of Shadows is a great book
and would recommend it to anyone who can believe in the unknown. Otherwise it may be a bogus read.

Thanks a million Laura/Kenneth, that's it! will definately keep an eye out for them. Liked the kind of semi realistic, semi fantasy of it! Anyway looking forward to being part of this group!

Hello; I'm Glenys and I live in Greater London. I would like to find out more about Nordic crime novels. I've read some of the Wallander novels and a few other of Henning Mankell's. And of course Stieg Larson which was my starting point. I've really enjoyed them all, and have found the social context of Larson's novels fascinating. My view of Scandinavian has evolved and I would like to visit that area. Does anyone have any other recommendations for me please?

Glenys wrote: "Hello; I'm Glenys and I live in Greater London. I would like to find out more about Nordic crime novels. I've read some of the Wallander novels and a few other of Henning Mankell's. And of course S..."

Hi Glenys..I was wondering if you were of Welsh extraction..I am a Celt..hence my curiosity

Ian wrote: "No idea Junying, but for the benefit of those Brits who missed the original Danish version of The Killing, it is being repeated on BBC4 - 4 episodes a week for 5 weeks from Sunday. It is preceded b..."

Hello Ian
I've been watching the US version of "The Killing" - Okay but a bit slow I thought and lacking in tension. I'm sure that the Danish version will be better. Glad that we can catch it on its second showing.

Hello Rachel

No I'm not Welsh but I did study in Wales (Aberystwyth) for my degree. So I do love Wales.

have you tried sjowall and wahloo?
maybe wallander's teachers

Knowing the people from England get all the TV and Movies before we do in America. Are there any people there that would be willing to do a TV and Movie section? Hands across the Atlantic and all that.

I would volunteer if I had more time to watch TV these days, Kenneth, but I'm sure someone with more up-to-date knowledge of such programmes would jumpt at this opportunity. I would contribute where I can. I guess we start with Stieg Lasson's film adaptations :).

I have seen all the Yellow Bird productions of Wallander and The original Danish version of The Killing

There you go, Rachel. U can lead on this :) Thanks for the friend add :)

Now good night from the UK, and happy weekend, everyone!

You want to head up TV and Movies. I have to get a ok from Molly and Dave so we'll see.

Thanks Junying..not sure I am up to leading much for the next few months..I go back to work next week ( I am a teacher) so I suspect my goodreads activity may tail off considerably from Monday!

Thanks for wanting it Rachel, it's a bummer got the ok. Well we'll try again. Open position for TV and Movies to someone in England. Got the OK for it.

Thanks Kenneth :)

Hi, I'm Anna and I live in Texas. I lived in Finland and Italy and a bunch of other places when I was younger, and the thrillers and mysteries have more or less always been among my favorites. So that would count for some specific authors that I dig or dug - mostly Andrea Camilleri (original when I can get, otherwise translated by Sartarelli, the UK translations aren't as enjoyable).
Of the Nordic crime my recent favorites would include Stieg Larsson, Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbø. Sam Eastland's Pekkala-character is intriguing too, but I'm not sure if I'd count him in Nordic crime... if a Finn transplanted in the tsarist or post-trarist Russia counts, then I guess I would count it.
I like my thrillers and crime books to be located anywhere, as far and exotic as possible, but just a huge percentage of them seem to be in Sweden and around those parts for some reason. :)

If you exhibit the plot and do not tell from what book is coming, it does not look to me as a spoiler, anyway

Anne wrote: "Hi folks, Anne here from Ireland. Love the crime fiction genre. Sporadic reader and rather random reader of the Scandinavian ones, mostly found at home from stealing my mothers library books when I..."

Hey everyone! I am Siddharth. I live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and I am originally from India. I will graduate as an electrical engineer in September.
I enjoy reading crime/thriller fiction and non-fiction book on finance. I got drawn to the Scandinavian fiction after reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Now try "The Snowman" by Norwegian Jo Nesbo, you will not be dissapointed

Siddharth wrote: "Hey everyone! I am Siddharth. I live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and I am originally from India. I will graduate as an electrical engineer in September.
I enjoy reading crime/thriller fiction a..."

Hi All-
My name is Michelle and I live in Bristish Columbia. I have always been a huge reader of general fiction. A local bookstore owner turned me onto Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell a couple of years ago- now I am hooked on Scandinavian mysteries!

Welcome Siddharth and Michelle

Manugw - I will definitely read the book!

Ian - Thank you!

Ok, Great !

Siddharth wrote: "Manugw - I will definitely read the book!

Ian - Thank you!"

Hi there- my name is Stephanie and I first became interested in Scandinavian literature after reading "The Axe" (Master of Hestviken series) by Sigrid Undset and "Smilla's Sense of Snow" back when I was in college. After college I spent a year living in Gothenburg, Sweden, and upon returning to the US, I started looking for novels with a Swedish setting. At the time, I could only find Henning Mankell's Wallander books, and I bought and read every one that I could get my hands on. It was actually the Wallander books that led to my interest in mysteries. It's so exciting that there are so many new and wonderful Scandinavian authors available now in English AND that there are book clubs specializing in Scandinavian Noir (like this one!).

Hi there,I'm Sandra from North Yorkshire in England ....and I'm absolutely addicted to scandinavian & Nordic crime ....I'm always on the hunt for new authors so will be reading comments to hopefully find someone new

Kerry wrote: "Hello Ian, Yes i've heard a pint is over £10?! Would so love to go there one day. I'm a big fan of A-ha too :)

Hello Maggie :)"
I didn't drink much on my two trips round Norway which was a big money saver but I had a fantasic time. It was so worth it. Did the triagle from Oslo across the Hardinger plateau (snow drifts in summer) with a side trip to Flam and the to the Glacier museum and glacier at Norways book town (forgotten the name) and back to Oslo.
I've also been to Tromso land of the midnight sun. Fantastic scenery. Atmosphere thick enough to spread on toast. Lucky with the weather too.

Stephanie wrote: "Hi there- my name is Stephanie and I first became interested in Scandinavian literature after reading "The Axe" (Master of Hestviken series) by Sigrid Undset and "Smilla's Sense of Snow" back when..."
Have you read Kristen Laverndaughter (Sp?) which Sigrids Nobel Prize winner? It's got a wonderful medieval feel.

Kristin Lavransdatter

Hi everyone - I'm Sue from Illinois. I have recently retired and so have tons of time to read as much as I like and have recently been exposed and began to love Scandinavian and Nordic crime novels and movies as well. I am truly excited to join this group and already have Snow Angels on my Nook!

Hi Sue, welcome to the group! I think you'll find lots of great recommendations for Scandinavian books and even movies here. Hope you enjoy Snow Angels as well.
How do you like your Nook?

Jane wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Hi there- my name is Stephanie and I first became interested in Scandinavian literature after reading "The Axe" (Master of Hestviken series) by Sigrid Undset and "Smilla's Sense ..."

Hello Jane,
I own the trilogy and am ashamed to say that I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. However, I do believe that I'll add it to my next round of reads once I finish the pile that I'm currently working my way through. Thanks for the reminder!

Thanks Dave. I switch back and forth between the Nook and real pages. I like that I can download samples of books before making a purchase. I'm just about done reading Tony and Susan and then on to Snow Angels.