Nordic Noir is a subgenre of crime fiction that originated in the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. It gained popularity in the 1990s and 2000s and has since become a global phenomenon. Nordic Noir is known for its dark, atmospheric, and bleak portrayal of crime, often featuring complex characters and exploring social and political issues. One of the defining characteristics of … Continue reading What is Nordic Noir: A Primer
The Day is Dark is a crime thriller novel by Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurdardottir. It is the fourth installment in the author’s series featuring lawyer Thora Gudmundsdottir. The story takes place in the small town of Siglufjordur, located in northern Iceland. When a wealthy German tourist is found murdered, the town is shaken by the crime, as it is usually a peaceful and safe place. … Continue reading Book Review: The Day is Dark by Yrsa Sigurdardottir (2012)
Faceless Killers is a crime novel by Swedish author Henning Mankell. It was first published in 1991 and is the first book in the popular Kurt Wallander series. The novel introduces readers to Kurt Wallander, a detective with the Ystad Police Department in southern Sweden. The story begins with the brutal murder of an elderly couple, Johannes and Maria Lövgren, who are found savagely beaten … Continue reading Book Review: Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell (1991)
Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson is a chilling and atmospheric Nordic Noir novel that takes place in a small, isolated town in northern Iceland. The book centers around Ari Thor Arason, a young police officer from Reykjavik who is posted to the town of Siglufjordur to serve as its newest police officer. As Ari Thor tries to adjust to his new life in the remote town, … Continue reading Book Review: Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson (2010)
Roseanna is the first book in the Martin Beck series, written by Swedish authors Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö. The book is a police procedural novel, and it follows the investigation of a young woman’s murder in Sweden. The story begins with the discovery of the body of Roseanna McGraw, a young American tourist, in the Göta Canal. Martin Beck, a detective with the National … Continue reading Book Review: Roseanna by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo (1965)
Golden Age of Detective Fiction 