English Translations of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

The read-along this month is Karen Fossum's "Eve's Eye", and Arne Dahl's "Bad Blood". Good reading.

Before reading Bad Blood, I'd like to read Misterioso, the first in the A-gruppen or Inter-crime series by Arne Dahl. Does anyone know the English language title?

I just got Misterioso from my public library here in the US, and that's the name on this English-language translation.

The blinded man is the other title.

"Misterioso" in the U.S. and "The Blind Man" in England. If you haven't read the first books feel free to do so. Otherwise the older (misnomer) readers can read the present book Bad Blood.

Curious to hear everyone's remarks after reading, Arne Dahl. We just watched the books made into 1.5 hour each two part series on BBC Four from the UK so with English sub titles. The stories were amazing IMO and the start and development of the unit very interesting with each book bringing a different member of the group into view personally and professionally.....the writer is fun to follow on FB.

Currently reading Misterioso but as The Blinded Man - long wait at library for the new one . So sorry I missed the BBC4. Thanks for fb info will go and check it out. Up around p. 150 and thoroughly enjoying it.

Now finished Misterioso- an excellent read. Looking forward to the one I should be reading! Do like to read series in order.

Visiting in Winnipeg, Canada...my home town....and just found In The Darkness (Eva's Eye) at my favorite book store...the Whodunnit. Will be my next read!

Mary wrote: "I just got Misterioso from my public library here in the US, and that's the name on this English-language translation."

Thanks, Mary. Found it under Misterioso at my library. Really enjoyed the ensemble of detectives. Looking forward to reading Bad Blood next!

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Laura wrote: "Just finished Eva's Eye. Very well written and crafted. Painful at times. Interesting observations about gender, generation, power, and innocence."

Just finished it this morning before going to work. I liked the structure in general, but I was confused by the jump from flashback to final interview with Sejer in Chapter 32 - only because he asks something about "the man who pulled you down the stairs." I suppose this means that he never got the full truth after all?

Haven't fully absorbed the devastation of the ending, but it will haunt me throughout the day!

Just finished Fossum's He Who Fears the Wolf. As someone else remarked, I always try to read in order and this is where I was. Great read! Thanks for selecting her as AoM for Aug!

For her first book to go unpublished after her other books was a mistake on the part of her publisher. It gave so much about Sejer's life that we should have been given up to now. It was a very good read. And the ending was great.

Reading Bad Blood by Arne Dahl just into it (about 193 pages). Its ok so far, Dahl's put a lot into it as extraneous material. So far we know about all the lives of the interested parties. Not quite sure if he should have let the cat out of the bag about Kerstin. Any thoughts, I'm still reading.

I recently finished Eva's Eye and found it to be really engaging. I had a hard time putting it down. This was a little surprising as I was kind of expecting this to be a typical debut novel, especially since it took so long to have it published in English. Just as others here have noted, it's really hard to believe that they would have waited so long to get this out to an English speaking audience. Could it be the subject matter that created the long delay? Who knows? Well, I'm very thankful that it is available now because I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Well I finished Arne Dahl's Bad Blood: A Crime Novel. It was ok that I read so much, it almost made sense. He could have left some of the stuff out and it would have been easier. The people seem to be repeats from other authors.

Just finished Misterioso, I thought it sucked. I am truly baffled by all the good reviews and accolades. Did I get a defective copy or what? The writing was terrible and the story blah at best. I read a ton of Scandinavian crime fiction and I have never come across one I hated before. I guess there is a first for everything.

Finished When the Devil Holds the Candleby Karin Fossum. Have to say she seems to get better with each book...really liked this one. Very different take.

Barbara wrote: "Just finished Misterioso, I thought it sucked. I am truly baffled by all the good reviews and accolades. Did I get a defective copy or what? The writing was terrible and the story blah at best. I r..."

That's how I felt after I read Misterioso!

Oh good, it wasn't just me.

Misterioso was so-so. Not as good as other Scandinavian crime novels. I want to read another book by Arne Dahl to see if he gets any better.

I just finished Arne Dahl, Bad Blood. It started out very slowly, with a lot of character diaglogue that didn't really go anywhere. There were tons of pages about mysterious emails as well. Finally, the story began to get good around page 200, when Hjeln and Kerstin go to New York. After that, it's a good mystery and kept me really interested. It was just a bit hard to get through the begining section, which was way too long. I'd say overall, pretty good, but not as good as other Nordic Crime authors I've read.