English Translations of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries & Thrillers discussion
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January 2025 - read-along
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by Alex Schulman
to be published on the 7th of January 2025. Sweden. 248 pages. A train races through a stark summer landscape. Everyone on board is traveling to Malma Station, and no one realizes how their fates are intertwined, in this riveting literary suspense.
On board the train to Malma Station are a married couple in crisis, a single dad and his young daughter, and a woman searching for the answer to a mystery her mother left behind. The enigmatic Harriet, the controlling Oskar, and the searching Yana—each of these characters carries within them the scars of what has come before.
From the acclaimed author of The Survivors, Alex Schulman’s Malma Station traces the crooked lines of family and history and shows how memories morph and take new shape. The novel makes the reader wonder if it the past we can change, rather than the future. With vivid prose, the narrative builds like a train hurtling through time, each chapter a separate car hooking into the next.
Malma Station is by turns an enchanting and gut-wrenching novel about family secrets and injustices passed on through generations and a suspenseful hunt for a truth with the power to change everything.
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by Therese Bohman
to be published on the 14th of January 2025. Sweden. 192 pages.Working her way up at a storied Stockholm publisher, a young woman develops an ambiguous, shifting relationship with her boss, in this shrewd novel about the tension between tradition and modernity, and expectations and reality.
The publishing house is anchored like a ship along Stockholm’s main street, a large, bright building with an impressive rooftop terrace. The facade is a grid of wood and granite; flags with a cursive R sway in the wind. R as in Rydéns.
A young woman starts as an intern at this venerated institution, and over many years gains more and more responsibility for its authors and books. All under the supervision of Gunnar, publishing director of the most prestigious imprint behind the finest literature, Andromeda.
Over time their work relationship transforms into something neither of them can truly define. Perhaps built on mutual trust? Or is it something else?
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by Melissa Larsen
to be published on the 14th of January 2025. Iceland. 352pages.In Melissa Larsen's The Lost House comes the mesmerizing story of a young woman with a haunting past who returns to her ancestral home in Iceland to investigate a gruesome murder in her family.
Forty years ago, a young woman and her infant daughter were found buried in the cold Icelandic snow, lying together as peacefully as though sleeping. Except the mother’s throat had been slashed and the infant drowned. The case was never solved. There were no arrests, no conviction. Just a suspicion turned into a the husband did it. When he took his son and fled halfway across the world to California, it was proof enough of his guilt.
Now, nearly half a century later and a year after his death, his granddaughter, Agnes, is ready to clear her grandfather’s name once and for all. Still recovering from his death and a devastating injury, Agnes wants nothing more than an excuse to escape the shambles of her once-stable life—which is why she so readily accepts true crime expert Nora Carver’s invitation to be interviewed for her popular podcast. Agnes packs a bag and hops on a last-minute flight to the remote town of Bifröst, Iceland, where Nora is staying, where Agnes’s father grew up, and where, supposedly, her grandfather slaughtered his wife and infant daughter.
Is it merely coincidence that a local girl goes missing the very same weekend Agnes arrives? Suddenly, Agnes and Nora’s investigation is turned upside down, and everyone in the small Icelandic town is once again a suspect. Seeking to unearth old and new truths alike, Agnes finds herself drawn into a web of secrets that threaten the redemption she is hell-bent on delivering, and even her life—discovering how far a person will go to protect their family, their safety, and their secrets.
Set against an unforgiving Icelandic winter landscape, The Lost House is a chilling and razor-sharp thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists that will leave you breathless.
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by Christoffer Petersen
to be published on the 26th of January 2025. Space.Launching spaceships can be problematic and launching secret ones even more so.
The False Start is a short spin-off story connected to Christoffer Petersen’s coming novel The Virgo Expedition in which we follow the unnamed heroes, working hard behind the scenes to get The Virgo into space.
The novel, The Virgo Expedition, charts the demise and rise of a spacefaring civilisation who have shunned a future among the stars in favour of a safer course. Until, that is, a small and secretive group yearning for adventure set their sights on a distant galaxy.
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by Christoffer Petersen
to be published on the 28th of January 2025. Space.There's no such thing as a giant leap for humankind with The Virgo!
The Puddle Jumper is the second short spin-off story, throwing some love on the men and women hard at work in the background to get The Virgo off the ground.
The novel, The Virgo Expedition, charts the demise and rise of a spacefaring civilisation who have shunned a future among the stars in favour of a safer course. Until, that is, a small and secretive group yearning for adventure set their sights on a distant galaxy.
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by Camilla Bruce
to be published on the 28th of January 2025. Norway. 368 pages.A murderess becomes the guardian of two very unusual girls in this mesmerizing gothic novel from acclaimed author Camilla Bruce.
Clara Woods is a killer—and perfectly fine with it, too. So what if she takes a couple of lives to make her own a little bit better? At the bottom of her garden is a flowerbed, long overgrown, where her late husband rests in peace—or so she always thought.
Then the girls arrive.
Lily and Violet are her nieces, recently orphaned after their affluent parents died on an ill-fated anniversary trip. In accordance with their parents' will, the sisters are to go to their closest relative—who just so happens to be Clara. Despite having no interest in children, Clara agrees to take them, hoping to get her hands on some of the girls' assets—not just to bolster her dwindling fortune, but also to establish what she hopes will be her legacy: a line of diamond jewelry.
There's only one problem. Violet can see the dead man at the bottom of the garden. She can see all of Clara's ghosts…and call them back into existence. Soon Clara is plagued by her victims and at war with the gifted girls in her care. Lily and Violet have become a liability—and know far more than they should…
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by Christoffer Petersen
to be published on the 30th of January 2025. Scotland.From a run through the primordial jungle, hunting Scottish mammoths, and contemporary run-ins with the law, Dino Dice has it all.
Dino Dice vol.1 is a collection of short stories inspired by the roll of prehistoric-themed dice.
The rules were simple – roll three dice and then, immediately after, write a short story, including whatever was on the dice. Some dice had Velociraptors, others a swamp, and then there was the oft rolled volcano. The dice were themed, but the stories prompted by each roll are all very different.
Writers are often asked where they get their ideas from. Ideas are never the problem, but in the case of this volume, the ideas came with a roll of the dino dice.
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by Christoffer Petersen
to be published on the 30th of January 2025. Space.A short, simulated hop in space results in an unexpected encounter, leaving the crew to ponder over the projected capabilities of their neighbours.
The Toll Road is the third Virgo short spin-off short story.
The novel, The Virgo Expedition, charts the demise and rise of a spacefaring civilisation who have shunned a future among the stars in favour of a safer course. Until, that is, a small and secretive group yearning for adventure set their sights on a distant galaxy.
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Minnesota, Jo Nesbø, early 2025 not found on iBook 31/12/24….
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by LP OBryan to be published on the 16th of January 2025. Denmark. 236 pages.As whispers of a prophecy swirl, Synne and her sisters embark on a perilous journey to Denmark to prove her royal lineage.
But their quest is shadowed by danger—a relentless bishop, bent on branding Synne a witch, follows them close behind.
Arriving in Denmark, they are thrust into chaos as anti-Christian feelings rage. Forced to flee westward, they navigate treacherous forests and icy rivers that lead them to the legendary cities of Kiev and Constantinople. Along the way, they face the savage wilderness, relentless predator tribes, and the heart-wrenching loss of one of their own.
In Constantinople, the sisters arrive in the wake of the catastrophic Battle of Manzikert. The Emperor has been captured, and the Empress is besieged by scheming courtiers as she awaits news of her husband. Amid this turmoil, Synne's growing reputation as a healer and visionary draws the attention of the Empress herself.
As Synne edges closer to uncovering the fate of her father and fulfilling the prophecies that surround her and her sisters, the bishop's unyielding pursuit threatens to destroy everything.
Will Synne's day arrive, or will the forces of betrayal and fear seal her fate?
A sweeping tale of resilience, betrayal, and the unbreakable bond of sisters, this compelling story will transport you to the heart of medieval intrigue and peril.
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by Ørjan Nordhus Karlsson
to be published on the 16th of January 2025. Norway. 369 pages.Chief Investigator of Nordland Police, Jakob Weber is drawn into a complex case when a teenaged girl goes missing in Northern Norway, and a second woman disappears from a remote island in similar circumstances ... FIRST in a compelling, dark new Nordic Noir series.
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When nineteen-year-old Iselin Hanssen disappears during a run in a popular hiking area in Bodø , Northern Norway, suspicion quickly falls on her boyfriend. For investigator Jakob Weber, the case seems clear-cut, almost unexceptional, even though there is some suggestion that Iselin lived parts of her life beneath the radar of both family and friends.
But events take a dramatic turn when another woman disappears in similar circumstances – this time on the island of Rø st, hundreds of miles off the coast, in the wild ocean.
Rumours that a killer is on the loose begin to spread, terrifying the local population and leading to wild conspiracies. But then Jakob discovers that this isn' t the first time that young women have vanished without a trace in the region, and it becomes clear that someone is hiding something ... and another murderous spree may have just begun...
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by Kerem Cetin to be published on the 11th of January 2025. Sweden. 190 pages."The Page Closed in Sweden" is a captivating romantic thriller set against the icy, mysterious landscapes of Sweden, where forbidden love, dark secrets, and danger intertwine in a heart-pounding narrative. The story follows an intense, forbidden romance between two souls destined to be together but torn apart by lies, hidden truths, and a past that refuses to remain in the shadows.
Amid the haunting beauty of a Swedish autumn, where the days grow shorter and the cold sets in, two people find solace in one another despite the looming risks. But with each passing moment, the burden of secrets becomes harder to bear. What starts as a passionate love affair soon turns into a fight for survival, as secrets from their pasts come to light, threatening to tear their world apart.
As the plot unravels, Sweden's snow-covered forests and secluded villages become more than just a backdrop—they are integral to the story, echoing the isolation and the danger that surrounds the couple. The chilling landscapes are a constant reminder that in this cold world, trust is fragile and every truth is a costly revelation. Will they escape the forces closing in on them? Or will they succumb to the dark history that haunts them?
"The Page Closed in Sweden" is a tale of love, loss, betrayal, and the dangerous cost of uncovering the truth. A suspenseful and emotionally charged journey, this book explores the lengths one will go for love and the sacrifices made to protect it. In a place where the cold cuts deep and the past never truly fades, the couple must confront their darkest fears and fight for a future together—if they can survive the shadows that threaten to consume them.
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by J.J. Tuomi to be published on the 20th of January 2025, Finland. Short Story.Elias
Shadows Over Turku
In the cold, neon-lit streets of Turku, Finland, Elias lives a life on the margins. Trapped in a cramped one-room apartment and haunted by anxiety and a troubled past, he turns to his only escape: dangerous side jobs for Aleksi, a man who thrives in the shadows of the city’s underworld.
When Elias takes on a seemingly routine task—delivering a briefcase—he is thrust into a deadly conspiracy that goes far beyond anything he could have imagined. The job spirals out of control, dragging him into a world of betrayal, violence, and secrets that threaten to unravel the fragile threads of his existence.
Guided by Järvi, a hardened veteran with a past as scarred as his face, Elias must navigate a treacherous path where every decision could be his last. But as the truth behind the briefcase comes to light, Elias discovers that running isn’t an option—this time, he must confront the shadows head-on.
Shadows Over Turku is a gripping crime thriller filled with atmospheric tension, high-stakes action, and a city that becomes as much a character as the people who walk its streets. Perfect for fans of gritty noir and pulse-pounding suspense, this is a story of survival, redemption, and the cost of stepping into the unknown.
Would you risk everything to escape the shadows—or to become one of them?
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by K.R.M. Morgan
to be published on the 11th of January 2025. Norway. 50 pages.In the hushed embrace of Norway’s majestic fjords, where the serene landscape masks the lurking shadows of untold stories, Professor John Castellanos believed he had finally found his sanctuary. Seeking refuge from a tempest of headlines and the haunting echo of murder investigations that had invaded his peaceful retirement in West Sussex, he envisioned a solitary retreat—an escape steeped in the tranquillity of winter's embrace. Little did he know that his quest for solace would unravel into a haunting mystery that entwined him in a web of secrets, despair, and the chilling spectre of death.
As he stepped off the plane, the crisp, clean air filled his lungs like a balm, washing away the remnants of chaos from his life. Here, among the towering peaks and endless vistas of glistening snow, he hoped to find clarity, perhaps even redemption. But tranquillity is a fragile thing, easily shattered. On the second day of his retreat, while hiking along a secluded trail, Castellanos stumbled upon a discovery so grotesque it would forever alter the course of his vacation—and draw him deeper into a dark narrative he could not resist.
What awaited him in this land of breathtaking beauty was not just the solace he craved but a dire puzzle cloaked in ice and mystery, where every footprint in the snow whispered tales of a life lost, and every gust of wind carried the chilling reminder that even the most serene landscape can conceal unspeakable horrors. In this perilous journey through the Norwegian wilderness, Castellanos would confront not only the chilling evidence of a crime but also the ghosts of his own past that refused to be laid to rest.
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by Robert Scott to be published on the 27th of January 2025. Greenland. 142 pages.Once more the Oxford Group led by John Peters is off on a cruise on the oceanographic vessel Echo II to investigate strange activities of the Chinese on Greenland. Once more a mystery to solve and potential evil to confront.
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by YANUSH SOBCHAK to be published 0n the 4th of January 2025. Russia, Finland, Sweden et.... 270 pages."In the shadow of Putin's deathbed, an empire crumbles.
When Zhang Wei and Aleksander "Alek" Nowicki – former university roommates in Shanghai – cross paths at a diplomatic function, they carry more than just memories of their student days. Now operating as covert agents for their respective nations, they become the architects of history's most audacious territorial coup.
As Governor Viktor Petrov declares Yakutia the independent Republic of Siberia, the dominoes begin to fall. Colonel Li Mei orchestrates the Chinese "peacekeeping" mission into Vladivostok, while Polish General Marcin Kowalski leads a lightning strike on Kaliningrad under the pretext of nuclear threats from Russia
In Helsinki, Commander Anna Virtanen coordinates with Swedish Admiral Erik Lindström, pushing their forces toward a vulnerable St. Petersburg. Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Defense Minister Tanaka Hiroshi positions Japan to reclaim its historic territories in the Kurils and Sakhalin.
Behind closed doors in Washington, CIA Deputy Director Sarah Mitchell maintains official ignorance while quietly ensuring America's strategic interests are secured in the chaos.
As Moscow's grip weakens beyond the Urals, regional leaders like the ambitious Governor Dmitri Volkov transform into warlords, each fighting for their piece of the fallen empire. In this masterful geopolitical thriller, witness the fall of a superpower and the rise of new empires, where loyalty is currency and borders are written in sand.
When an empire falls, who will claim its crown?"
English Translations of Scandinavian/Nordic...
Books mentioned in this topic
Russia For Parts (other topics)Incident in Greenland: A John Peter's Mystery Thriller (other topics)
Elias : Shadows Over Turku (other topics)
"The Page Closed in Sweden": "A Love, a Secret, the Dark Side of a Country..." (other topics)
Into Thin Air (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
YANUSH SOBCHAK (other topics)Robert Scott (other topics)
K.R.M. Morgan (other topics)
J.J. Tuomi (other topics)
Kerem Cetin (other topics)
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1) The Wild Horses: A Greenland Missing Persons short story
When a group of tourists on a point-to-point horse riding tour in the south of Greenland goes missing, it’s up to Constable Petra ‘Piitalaat’ Jensen to find them.
The Wild Horses is a light, quick read connected to Christoffer Petersen’s Greenland Missing Persons series, guest starring Birgitte Harfeld.