9月1日
Found this link on the net this morning. I also just discovered the first of Camilla 's books and therefore her top 10 is a pertinent read. Just finished her pick for No7 and No 9. Both are rivetting stuff.
Scandinavian crime novels are taking over. The Top 10
Stieg Larsson was named one of the bestselling fiction authors in the world last year, being rivled only by Khaled Hosseini, Ken Follett and John Grisham for
world wide acclaim last year. Based on that company its no real secret
that his sucess has generated some interest in his fellow Scandinavians.
The Guardian had one of these afformentioned fellow writers, Camilla Läckberg, list some of her favourites, and they are as follows.
1. The Mind’s Eye by Håkan Nesser
Nesser sets his stories in a fictional country that’s not quite Sweden,
but the people in them are very, very real. He used to be a school
teacher before becoming a writer, and it shows in the meticulous way he
handles his texts. But yet his writing never feels cold or static –
there’s heart in everything he writes and you find yourself
understanding and sympathising with some real villains.
2. Blackwater by Kerstin Ekman
Loosely based on a true story, this is dark, sinister and wonderfully
written. It’s been a hugely popular book for many years in Sweden, with
an appeal that extends to readers who don’t usually touch thrillers. A
real classic.
3. Missing by Karin Alvtegen
Karin Alvtegen is the master at psychological suspense, and her plots
unfold themselves naturally from the character studies. No one does
this better than Alvtegen, and her homeless murder suspect, Sybilla, is
one of crime fiction’s most memorable characters.
4. Sun Storm by Åsa Larsson
Northern Sweden holds a special kind of magic. It’s cold, lonely, and
the people are tough and silent, or so the stereotype says. This is Åsa
Larsson’s home turf and I find as much joy in reading her closely
observed descriptions of the environment, as in following her
intriguing plots. And I love the fact that the heroine in her books is
a tax attorney.
5. The Fifth Woman by Henning Mankell
Inspector Wallander has become a household name along with the little
town of Ystad where he pursues most of his cases. But Mankell’s range
is far from parochial. Drawing on his own experience living both in
Sweden and in Africa, this tale of a serial killer takes us around
Congo as well as Ystad.
6. Unseen by Mari Jungstedt
Emma and Johan, the intriguing couple caught up in this murderous plot,
are characters to really fall in love with, and combined with the
picturesque environment of Gotland, and a great plot, you’ve got a book
to cherish. Mari is also not only a colleague but a close friend of
mine, and we love talking about murder methods, forensics and criminal
psychology over dinner.
7. Shame by Karin Alvtegen
Another winner from Alvtegen, this book really touched me. She often
has a theme based on human nature and shortcomings in her books - and
this book is a searing portrait of someone bearing the shame of being
unloved.
8. Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin
Johan is a relative newcomer to crime fiction, but has already really
carved out his own niche, which blends the murder mystery with the
ghost story. It’s so spooky, I could never read this one at night!
9. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Fiction like nothing else, Larsson’s books offer the unusual experience
of serious, character-driven writing that also provides helter skelter
action. Buckle up before you start reading!
10. Midvinterblod by Mons Kallentoft (not yet translated)
Mons came to crime fiction relatively late, after three other books
including Food Noir, a collection of groundbreaking essays on food and
travel. As well as a terrific plot, this book also has one of the
best-realised female heroines I’ve read by a male writer. It’s not yet
translated into English, but it really should be.