What was the best book in Scandinavian literature in 2013?

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

What was the best book in Scandinavian and Nordic crime that you read in 2013?

[[deleted user]]

For me, it was the Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg. I want to read more of her books.

[Jeremy]

Hi Kenneth, I read a lot of crime fiction and my hands-down favorite last year was the rare book Icelandic murder mystery The Flatey Enigma. I'd love to hear what others thought of it. I explain my top 5 at Crime Fiction Lover, if you want to see more. Nesbo and Jussi-Adler were close runners-up.

[Billys]

I'd be inclined to agree about 'The Flatey Enigma'.

[Maggie]

My favourites were:

Cell 8 by Anders Roslund
The Nightmare by Lars Kepler
The Boy in the Suitcase by lene kaaberbol and agnete friis

I have soooooo many on the TBR shelf!

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

I liked so many but the ones I liked most were

Helsinki Blood by James Thompson
The Bat by Jo Nesbø

What I like about them is that you can dream or interpret or guess what the next book will be. But you're always wrong.

[Richard]

Someone to Watch Over Me
Part of a strong series; always relevent and really frightening at times

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

Yrsa is good, I want to go to Iceland so bad.

[Kay]

I loved the Flatey Enigma. I am delighted to see it mentioned.

[Maggie]

Richard wrote: "Someone to Watch Over Me
Part of a strong series; always relevent and really frightening at times"

Recently bought a few of her books as I've not read any yet.

I forgot about The Bat (Nesbo) - really enjoyed that too.

[Anna]

My two picks for the Scandinavian or Nordic crime would have to be Jo Nesbø's Police, and as the best of the new authors, The Andalucian Friend by Alexander Söderberg - can't wait to read the other two books of his series when they come out. Kind of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets the Sopranos.

[Dawn]

The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell was great!! did it come out in 2013?

[Elizabeth]

Kenneth wrote: "Yrsa is good, I want to go to Iceland so bad."

Friends just got back from Iceland. $800.00 Icelandic Air for 4 days .Leaves from Seattle 7 hour flight and the most wonderful people are there for you. 26 degrees and if you want to eat take lots of money.

Also loving Flatey Enigma!

[Elizabeth]

Kenneth wrote: "What was the best book in Scandinavian and Nordic crime that you read in 2013?"

Kenneth wrote: "What was the best book in Scandinavian and Nordic crime that you read in 2013?"

Kenneth wrote: "Yrsa is good, I want to go to Iceland so bad."

Friends just got back from Iceland. $800.00 Icelandic Air for 4 days .Leaves from Seattle 7 hour flight and the most wonderful people are there for you. 26 degrees and if you want to eat take lots of money.

Also loving Flatey Enigma! Best book 2013 for me Return of The Dancing Master by Henning Mankell

[Andy]

Strange Shores: An Inspector Erlendur Novel for me, as it's been a while since the main character Inspector Erlendur was included in the story. Hourable mentions also for The Keeper of Lost Causes my first venture with the author as well as ol' favs Three Seconds & The Day is Dark

[Elizabeth]

Andy wrote: "Strange Shores: An Inspector Erlendur Novel for me, as it's been a while since the main character Inspector Erlendur was included in the story. Hourable mentions also for [book:The ..."

Strange Shores is on the floor by my bed. So glad to hear your views. Jar City was the first Scandinavian book I read and have been hooked ever since.

[Andy]

Yes im a big fan of the Erlendur crime mysteries & strange shores was a welcome return to the main character after the prior 2 books in the series were devoted to his 2 sidekicks. Felt like Arnaldur Indridason had started a fresh after a break.

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

Elizabeth wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "What was the best book in Scandinavian and Nordic crime that you read in 2013?"

Kenneth wrote: "What was the best book in Scandinavian and Nordic crime that you read in 2013?"

Ken..." Going to be a year without trave, for me. My wife's going to europe with her dad this year to go over his WWII travels. He going to be 99 years young.

[Elizabeth]

That is fantastic Ken!

[Gary]

Dawn wrote: "The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell was great!! did it come out in 2013?"
Goodreads says 2008.

[Gary]

Dawn wrote: "The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell was great!! did it come out in 2013?"

Goodreads says 2008.

[Elizabeth]

Okay The Man from Beijing and Strange Shores are both by my bedside . which one?????

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

Read the oldest first. It's great.

[Elizabeth]

Thanks!

[Dawn]

man from beijing is great

[Mary]

I know this is a forum for Nordic authors but I have to share a book I read recently that was fantastic! The author is Pierre Lemaitre and the book is titled "Alex". It had a twist to the story that I was not ready for. Also, the characters are quite different. All and all I just loved this book. I'm always checking to see if another title has been published. In fact, I'm going to check right now! Ciao

[???!!!]

High-five! Love "Alex" in every level. It's just why does the US translate the second in the series first? Well, the first in this series "Irene" is coming out pretty soon. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

[Mary]

Thank goodness,???!!!, a kindred spirit! I saw "Irene" on Amazon but I didn't realize it was the first in the series. Can't wait to read it. Interested in your feedback!

[???!!!]

Sigh! I couldn't get my hands on it till next week. Who are your favorite authors?

[Gretel]

Just picked up a copy of "Alex" from my public library. Didn't realize this was the second in a series. Maybe I can snag the first one when the libe opens on Tuesday. Glad to see such positive comments on this author (Pierre Lemaitre).

[Lone]

Helle Vincentz' Nukaakas kabale. It came out in Denmark the 1. of november 2013 - but I don't know if it's out in english yet :)

Helle Vimcentz' have written 2 other crime novel :)

[Elizabeth]

Just got Black Skies By Indridason. I guess that would be considered 2014. Started Strange Shores. Indridason was the first author that got me into the Scandinavian scene.

Will look for "Alex".

I am so confused on Mari Justedt(sp) order of books and also Lackberg's ? Anyone else feel this way. What is a great site to get through this mess?

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

If you look on Wikipedia under Mari Jungstedt all the books are shown in order.

[Gary]

Goodreads has problems with accented characters. It you look here:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
or look up Camilla Läckberg you will see them in order.

There shouldn't be any problem with Mari Jungstedts books. 1-7 are available in English.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

[Daniel Aaron Schwartz]

The Day is Dark, Yrsa Sigurdardottir. I think its brilliant and a true use of "la fantastique' principal of dramatic tension.

[Gary]

Yes. I thought this was pretty good. This is another author with problems in Goodreads with accented characters. There appear to be five different spellings of her name.

[Gary]

Getting back to the original subject of this thread, the best book I read in this category (and was published in 2013) was Police: A Harry Hole Novel.

[Elizabeth]

Jeremy wrote: "Hi Kenneth, I read a lot of crime fiction and my hands-down favorite last year was the rare book Icelandic murder mystery The Flatey Enigma. I'd love to hear what others thought of ..."
I too really liked The Flatey Enigma!! And of course The Day is Dark or anything else by Yrsa

[Bonnie]

Elizabeth wrote: "Jeremy wrote: "Hi Kenneth, I read a lot of crime fiction and my hands-down favorite last year was the rare book Icelandic murder mystery The Flatey Enigma. I'd love to hear what oth..."
Absolutely loved it.

[Mary]

I just finished Spring Tide and it was a great book! Once you picked it up and started reading, well, don't look to be putting it down anytime soon! So looking forward to any new books by these authors.

[Gretel]

Gary wrote: "Getting back to the original subject of this thread, the best book I read in this category (and was published in 2013) was Police: A Harry Hole Novel."
I whole-heartedly agree with you, Gary: Police gets my vote for best book I read in 2013 (that was published in 2013 in USA).
My last post mentioned checking out "Alex" from the library. It was excellent. I was rather stunned at one point, then felt totally satisfied by the ending. It was so satisfying that it is on my "to be re-read in a year (or so) list" - which is getting exceedingly long considering all of Nesbo's books that are on it.

[???!!!]

Gretel wrote: "Gary wrote: "Getting back to the original subject of this thread, the best book I read in this category (and was published in 2013) was Police: A Harry Hole Novel."
I whole-h..."

You finally finished reading Alex. I was waiting to know your response. Happy that you like "Alex". It's not by Scandinavien or else I would put it my best book of 2013.

[Ian]

Published in 2012 but just read and really enjoyed by Derek B. Miller. Offbeat, witty and clever and as much about growing old as about Norway and crime. Won the CWA New Blood Dagger for 2013.

[Helen]

I loved Linda as in the Linda Murder. by G W Leif Person. Funny, exciting and ever so educational about Swedish society. Loved it.

[Andy]

Mary wrote: "I just finished Spring Tide and it was a great book! Once you picked it up and started reading, well, don't look to be putting it down anytime soon! So looking forward to any new books by these aut..."

Agreed, the makings of a good series to follow, allbeit its written style is for TV adaption in parts.

[Gretel]

Message 42:???!!!: Wasn't Alex an exciting, invigorating read? I had so much to think about! (Same way I feel each evening after we watch an episode of Breaking Bad - what a great script!) Glad you liked it enough to make it your #1 read of 2013. It would probably be #2 if I kept a list) I read so many books that I find myself forgetting the plots and only after I read the first page it comes flooding back (if it doesn't come flooding back, I probably have forgotten it for a good reason). I am eager to read another Pierre Lemaitre book.

[Ellie]

I won Irene as a GR first read but haven't read it yet. Glad the series sound good.

I read & enjoyed Some Kind of Peace by Camilla Grebe & Ava Traff. Sister writing team from Sweden. Pretty sure it was published in 2013...