English Translations of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

This month we will be reading Cilla Börjlind's Spring Tide and if James Thompson ever gets his book published we might read it. It's now January 2015. Where is James Thompson??? In the clutches of some movie mogle?? Good reading.

I've just read Spring Tide. It is at very good crime novel. I've read in danish, and it have been standing on my bookshelf for very long.

What do you think about this fantastic book?

I'm on the waiting list at the library. Can't wait for it to come.

Have you seen the Beck crime TV-Series? The Authors have made the screenplay to that Series :)

I'm 3/4 through the book and am not yet sure if I really like it much. The plot is good and there are some interesting characters, but probably too many. Also there are two plots running along at the same time, but of course they could turn into one, we'll see. I'll comment more fully when I've finished it.

Gisela wrote: "there are some interesting characters, but probably too many."

I'm about 40 pages in and would agree with that - but really enjoying it. Easy reading so far.

Finished it and gave it a thee star although it is probably a bit more.

Not totally convinced by this book although it has a lot of good in it, for instance the main characters are interesting, but could have done with more explaining. For an entry into a series there are probably although too many main characters. There were also at least 2 plots depending how you look at it, both of which were good topics, but in conjunction with all these new characters the plots fell a bit below the wayside in my opinion. But, a decent read and if there is a seond book, I will certainly give it a chance.

Gisela, there are a book number 2 - I'm reading it right now :) It came out in Denmark - in danish in january this year. So I think there go a little more time before it is out i English. It should be even better than the first book.

Got the book from the library and I am on page 62. To me, it makes sense but it could have been a little better in the translation.

Finished. Thoroughly enjoyed it once I'd worked out who the characters were. Good strong police characters and some interesting other ones. I thought the plot flowed well. Used to duel/triple time frame novels so not too bothered by the number of plots, which were tied up by the end. Looking forward to the next one now. Glad to hear, Lone, that there is one.

Also, finished. Spring Tide by Cilla Börjlind and her husband, was at first a complicated book with too many people to keep track of until about the halfway mark and then it took off. All the plots finally came to a conclusion and made use my gray cells.

I'm reading and enjoying 'Spring Tide' at the moment too.

Sue wrote: "Finished. Thoroughly enjoyed it once I'd worked out who the characters were. Good strong police characters and some interesting other ones. I thought the plot flowed well. Used to duel/triple ti..."

Hi Sue.
I just finished the next cirme novel fra Cilla & Rolf Børjlind. It was just as good as the "spring tide" - so you have something to look forward to :)

Lone wrote: "Have you seen the Beck crime TV-Series? The Authors have made the screenplay to that Series :)"

Haven't seen the Beck series yet. Is it like the books or do they use cell phones and computers?

I've taken off James Thompson book Helsinki Dead and will put it on in September 15 when it's going to be published. (latest entry).

Kenneth wrote: "I've taken off James Thompson book Helsinki Dead and will put it on in September 15 when it's going to be published. (latest entry)."

Kenneth wrote: "I've taken off James Thompson book Helsinki Dead and will put it on in September 15 when it's going to be published. (latest entry)."

Kenneth wrote: "Lone wrote: "Have you seen the Beck crime TV-Series? The Authors have made the screenplay to that Series :)"

Haven't seen the Beck series yet. Is it like the books or do they use cell phones and ..."

Been watching it for last few years and it is truly excellent. Also the Varg Veum series I really recommend. We watched an exceptionally well done tv film last night of Camilia Lackberg's The Hidden Child too and there have been some good Helen Huss episodes on lately too. All make it difficult to watch anything else as the quality of filming, drama and acting is so high IMHO.

Kenneth wrote: "I've taken off James Thompson book Helsinki Dead and will put it on in September 15 when it's going to be published. (latest entry)."

Thanks Kenneth. Have tried many times to find the book to pre order but think it is only on kindle ie amazon and so far unsuccessful.

Kenneth wrote: "Lone wrote: "Have you seen the Beck crime TV-Series? The Authors have made the screenplay to that Series :)"

Haven't seen the Beck series yet. Is it like the books or do they use cell phones and ..."

They do use cell phones and computers in the Beck series :)

What do I remember this wrong or wasn't this in the 60s? I read it quite a while ago, but seeing how the police did thinks without technologies was ONE of the attractions.

My cell phone was over 5 lbs. in 1985. Always cutting out. Its battery was huge, couldn't fit in a pocket.

It's a new series based on Sjöwall and Wahlöö' characters - The series I'm talking about started in 1997 :)

I really enjoyed this fast paced novel. Good characters although I found the young female heroine irritating to begin with but she got better as the novel went on. I did not think that there were too many characters or plots. I think it has the potential to be a very good series of novels and it will doubtless be adapted for TV. The only thing that spoils it a bit is the English translation for the UK market which has not been properly edited / proofread and has several typos and some very clunky unnatural dialogue.

I would be very interested to know if the readers who read "Spring Tide" in the original language (which I believe is Swedish) also found the dialogue clunky / stilted / unnatural / unbelievable in places. I am willing to believe that the fault lies in the translation and the editing / proofreading, but it would be very interesting to know what others think.

I have read it in the danish translation - and there was nothing unnatural about the dialogues there :) So maybe it just a bad translation to english :(

Lauren wrote: "I really enjoyed this fast paced novel. Good characters although I found the young female heroine irritating to begin with but she got better as the novel went on. I did not think that there were..."

I checked a few pages and the dialog does not sound very natural. If I had a copy of the Swedish I might indeed blame the translator this time...