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Calling all experts on lesser known genres! We are going to need lots of suggestions here!

I have no idea what this one means

Heather wrote: "I have no idea what this one means"

lol same

Found this list.

/list/show/4...

It says at the top of the list:
"Dark, gritty mysteries with a Scandanavian setting."

Im from Scandinavia and I had no idea. But when explained it fits perfect. It is pretty much all we publish at the moment. Crime and mysteries.

Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland are called the Nordic countries and Nordic Noir is dark crime fiction from those countries.

(It's a good thing they used "Nordic" and not "Scandinavian" because Finland and Iceland are not a part of Scandinavia, even though they are often included, which then causes problems. Like in the definition of the listopia mentioned at #4...)

I believe this will be my reason to read the next Jo Nesbo / Harry Hole mystery!!

Nadine wrote: "I believe this will be my reason to read the next Jo Nesbo / Harry Hole mystery!!"

ooh, i've been wanting to read The Snowman!

There are quite a few good authors to read:Camilla Läckberg , Karin Fossum, Asa Larsson, Jussi Adler-Olsen, Jens Henrik Jensen, Lars Kepler and the ones mentioned.
I like the books by Jussi Adler -Olsen and Asa Larsson a lot

I'm excited for this prompt! I am Norwegian so I think I'm going to find one specifically by a Norwegian author/set in Norway.

Claire wrote: "...Asa Larsson a lot..."

That's Ã…sa Larsson.

Monkiecat wrote: "would The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo fit this category? I have it sitting on my nightstand begging to be read :D"

Yes! That series is listed at the top of the listopias devoted to Nordic Noir. I just got the first two books in that series at my library's book sale a couple weekends ago, so I guess I'm set for this prompt.

Claire wrote: "There are quite a few good authors to read:Camilla Läckberg , Karin Fossum, Asa Larsson, Jussi Adler-Olsen, [author:Jens Henrik Jen..."

I love Jussi Adler-Olsen his Q-department series is amazing.

Monkiecat wrote: "would The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo fit this category? I have it sitting on my nightstand begging to be read :D"

Yes, it's the top three books listed on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.

I'm returning The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye back to the library unread so I can save it for the challenge. I'll read it in January, LOL.

Smilla's Sense of Snow is a good one. It's also set at sea and in Greenland, in case someone is looking for books that tick off several categories at once.

Hi, everyone! Is The Dinner by Herman Koch in this category at all?

Liz wrote: "Hi, everyone! Is The Dinner by Herman Koch in this category at all?"

No, Herman Koch is Dutch and the book is set in Amsterdam

Here's another list of Nordic Noir reads. There is some overlap with the list above, but there may be some different ones, as well.

/list/show/1...

Tytti wrote: "Claire wrote: "...Asa Larsson a lot..."

That's Ã…sa Larsson."

Yes, correct, but for an obscure reason my keyboard acted strange:-(

Lars Kepler is another.

Let the Right One In I think would work for this.
The Ice Beneath Her will be my pick.

I should pick a Henning Mankell book since my SO named our son after him 😂

I'm going to go with
The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye

I didn't like the last one but maybe this one is better. David Lagercrantz is no Stieg Larsson.

I'm Traveling Alone
Police

To me, Nordic Noir and paranormal go together like peanut butter and jelly. (Gravlax and rye? Sorry, jokes)

Anyone have recommendations for books like Let the Right One In? I've recently read that one but would love something with the same atmosphere.

Otherwise I'll probably re-read the Millennium series; it's been awhile!

I'm thinking about Smilla's Sense of Snow. My Mom really loves that book.

I am a huge fan of crime fiction from scandinavia and other nordic countries.
I can recommend the series by Liza Marklund about Annika Bentzon the journalist (Studio sex is the first one),
also Arne Dahl. He wrote two series that are finished (I think) and started a new one recently (for that one we have the second book out in Germany right now). The first series is about the A-Group, in English the series is obviously called intercrime (first book: The Blinded Man), this is a series about a special task force in the Swedish Police for especially difficult cases (e.g. serial killers or crimes that affect the whole country...).
The second series by him contains some of the characters from the intercrime series, but is set in Stockholm and Brussels with a special task force of the EU (opcop). I think it can be read without having read the Intercrime books as well. The first book in this series is called Viskleken in Swedish, and as far as I can see it, it hasn't been translated into English, but there are Editions in German, other Scandinavian languages, Italian, Greek etc.
The newest series starts with the book Watching You

Then, thinking of more Swedish authors, of course all crime novels by Henning Mankell come to mind. Most of them revolve around Wallander, the depressive, not very nice, socially sometimes awkward detective. The cases are pretty brutal, but who doesn't mind that is in for seriously good crime fiction.

Then of course there are Helene Tursten with her series around Irene Huss Detective Inspector Huss is the first one.

There are two series by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir. Both set in Iceland. (She is icelandic). The first one contains some supernatural elements from Icelandic beliefs. Also quite brutal, bloody cases. First book about Dora: Last Rituals. In the series there is an attorney (Dora) and a German attorney/investigator who takes part in the cases as well.

New series around a policeman and a psychologist The Legacy, really good, too.

Those are just the first that come to mind, will post more.

This is one of my favorite genres, especially good for cold winter days.

I read Jar City by Arnaldur Indriðason (set in Iceland) this year, and might do the next book in the series: Silence of the Grave--I've heard good things about it!

Other nordic noir books on my radar, but that I haven't read yet are:
The Ice Princess
The Boy in the Suitcase
Unseen
The Dogs of Riga
Last Rituals

Peter Høeg's Smilla's Sense of Snow would work, though some people may choose to use it as an alliterative title instead.

I would also recommend the books by Joakim Zander, the first book of the series: The Swimmer. These books have international settings and cases, but they are always tied to Sweden, somehow. More thrillers than pure crime fiction, especially the first one.
Next, Kristina Ohlsson from whom I have only read Buried Lies so far, a book which also has international implications. It has one sequel.

From Finland, I love the series around Maria Kallio. Written by Leena Lehtolainen. The first book is calledMy First Murder.

From Sweden again, the series around police psychologist Sebastian Bergman written by two authors Michael Hjorth and Hans Rosenfeldt is also addictive. Bergman is brilliant, but not very nice, the cases are gripping and I can't wait for the next one. Dark Secrets is the first one.

By Viveca Sten, the series around Thomas Andreasson is a little bit less harsh and brutal, Thomas Andreasson actually is a very nice guy. The cases (set in Sandhamn, Sweden) are all very good and interesting, anywayStill Waters is the first book in the series.


With the following, I am not sure, there are English translations, but I found translations into other European languages.

Also very good, and pretty tough stuff, the series by Taavi Soininvaara, also from Finland. One series revolves around Arto Ratamo, the first book is calledEbola-Helsinki, I am not sure, there is an English translation. The second series is called Mundus Novus, in German the books are called Schwarz°Â±ð¾±ÃŸRotTot. It's a four-book-series and very international and thriller-like.


From Denmark, there is Anna Grue who writes a series around a private detective (Dan Sommerdahl) and his friend, the police detective. So far I've read three cases and liked them. They are a Little bit different, because Dan Sommerdahl is not police. Also he is a character that you feel with, but he also has quite a few flaws.Dybt at falde, again, I am not sure, there are English versions, but other European languages (French, Italian, German, Scandinavian languages...).


The whole genre is just so huge, I could go on and on. Very rarely do I read a book from this genre I don't like.

I haven't read the Harry Hole books by Jo Nesbø yet, will probably read one of those for the prompt, or one of the books by Cilla Börjlind or by Jussi Adler-Olsen or ...

I'm really excited to read The Bird Tribunal for this prompt. A review said if you like Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and the gothic genre then you'll like it.

So naturally I'm in!

Kristina wrote: "Nadine wrote: "I believe this will be my reason to read the next Jo Nesbo / Harry Hole mystery!!"

ooh, i've been wanting to read The Snowman!"

Do you have to read the Snowman in the order of the series?

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer. More of a short story, rather than a full length novel; but the storyline seems interesting and personal.

Does anyone know if you have to read the Harry Hole Mystery books in order?

Jessica wrote: "Kristina wrote: "Nadine wrote: "I believe this will be my reason to read the next Jo Nesbo / Harry Hole mystery!!"

ooh, i've been wanting to read The Snowman!"

Do you have to read ..."

I was wondering as well. I have a copy of Headhunters but none of the others in the series. The part of me that is a bit of a nut about reading series in order is warring with the part of me that wants to read the books I already have.

So, at first glance this prompt looked fun, but as I'm looking for a specific book to read, all of the top recommendations seem to be full of sex and graphically described violence, plus mostly drunk, divorced, miserable detectives.

I'm okay with some violence, and I can tolerate the 'psychological thriller' aspects, but I really don't like graphic descriptions of either sex or gore. I'd also like a main character that doesn't repulse me, but I realize that might be asking for a lot in this genre. :-)

Any suggestions?

I read a middle Harry Hole book first and enjoyed it very much, so no you do not have to read them in order. But I had the sense that Harry goes through some character development through the series and I was missing out on that. So I'm going back to the beginning and I will read The Bat this year and then eventually read the rest in order.

Every time I see someone nominate the girl with the dragon tattoo I'm like nooooo lol I hated that book!! I'm hoping to do the group read but I just can't with that series.

Tara wrote: "Every time I see someone nominate the girl with the dragon tattoo I'm like nooooo lol I hated that book!! I'm hoping to do the group read but I just can't with that series."

^^This. The second one was OK, but I really hated the other two. (I mean only the original trilogy. I haven't bothered with the new ones...)

LOL I tried Girl with a Dragon Tattoo twice and i just could not with that book!!! I actually got it as a Xmas present too, it sits there in my bedroom now, glaring at me, daring me to try a third time... People say it gets more interesting ...

Raquel wrote: "So, at first glance this prompt looked fun, but as I'm looking for a specific book to read, all of the top recommendations seem to be full of sex and graphically described violence, plus mostly dru..."

That might be tough, it tends to be darker and gritty, hence "noir." Maybe someone who is more of an expert in this sub genre will have better suggestions. I did read a Swedish mystery that was more of a romance / corporate mystery, nothing too graphic that I remember (I didn't really love this book!! But it's got a gorgeous cover!!): All In

ETA: You know, on second thought, "All In" may have explicit sex; I can't really remember now. Use caution!

ETA a second time: I googled "Nordic cozy mystery" and found this: Death comes to Strandvig

Jessica wrote: "Does anyone know if you have to read the Harry Hole Mystery books in order?"

While the books can definitely stand alone, I think you will enjoy them more if you read them in order. There are major threads that progress chronologically through the series: Harry's personal life and relationships, and the corruption/intrigue of the police force and local political world. Having said that, I started with the 3rd book (the first two had not yet been published in the US) and then progressed through all the following books. But I still haven't gone back to read the first two.

Nadine wrote: "Raquel wrote: "So, at first glance this prompt looked fun, but as I'm looking for a specific book to read, all of the top recommendations seem to be full of sex and graphically described violence, ..."

Yeah, I realize I'm asking for a lot. The funny thing is I don't mind 'dark' in some ways. I've absolutely loved The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom since I was about 8, and it's pretty harsh for a little kid. I just don't like some of the ick that almost always comes along with the dark stories, if that makes any sense.

I'll probably use All In as a fallback if I can't find anything tolerable that fits the prompt better, so thank you! (ETA: or your cozy mystery suggestion, now that I've seen your edited comments. :-) )

Heh. I just went to SYKM to see what the original publication order was for the Harry Hole series, and come to find out that Headhunters isn't even in the series. It's a standalone. Is it also Nordic noir? If not, does it perhaps fit the heist prompt?

M. wrote: "I'm thinking about Smilla's Sense of Snow. My Mom really loves that book. "

I just recently bought this, and definitely want to pick it up for this prompt! Very excited to read it, as my dad is a big fan.

Oh no, I've seen a few of you with negative feelings toward The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which was what I was planning on going with as I just received it from a friend. What aspects about it turned you off??

For me I found it rambling and boring and it could have been 100 pages shorter if he didn't spend pages describing her "apple notebook" and other product placement

I found the mystery to be weak. I liked it overall, though.

Nadine 😂😂😂 the second in the series has been on my dresser for years!! I just got rid of it a couple weeks ago!

Thanks for your honesty everyone. I'm going to give it a go seeing as I now own it. I'm also a bit of a scardy cat so that fact that its a bit 'weak' might work for me haha

Trina wrote: "I'm also a bit of a scardy cat so that fact that its a bit 'weak' might work for me"

I thought the descriptions of violence were too long for me, I would have understood with less. OTOH I found the story pretty unbelievable but also boring. Not a good combination.

Thanks Tytti. Any recommendations for an alternative that isn't too explicit??