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Winner of Petrona Award 2026

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The winner of the Petrona Award 2026 for the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year is:

INTO THIN AIR by Ørjan Karlsson translated from the Norwegian by Ian Giles and published by Orenda Books. Both Ørjan Karlsson and Ian Giles will receive a trophy.

The judges would like to highly commend BROKEN, the dark and compulsive police procedural by Jón Atli Jónasson, which is translated by Quentin Bates and published by Corylus Books.

The judges’ statement regarding INTO THIN AIR:

Ørjan Karlsson puts a spotlight on the stunning beauty of the Lofoten Islands in the Norwegian Arctic Circle while discovering devastating secrets hidden beneath the calm surface. With empathy and deep understanding he introduces a fascinating investigative duo dealing with personal challenges, and explores relationships within the tight-knit community.

Told from several perspectives Into Thin Air has a contemporary feel and nuanced narration. This taut and tense thriller has a strong sense of location and utterly engaging characters, with nature as one of them. Perfect pacing and atmospheric storytelling add to the compelling story which moves seamlessly between recent European political history and dramatic local events from the past, all of them having impact on everyone in the area.

Statements from the winning author, translator and publisher:

Ørjan Karlsson:

I am both delighted and honoured to be the recipient of this award. The fact that many of this year’s nominees are my own go-to authors for Scandinavian and Nordic crime makes this recognition extra special. A huge thank you to the jury and the organisers of the Petrona Award for championing Nordic crime fiction in this way; it is truly appreciated.

Publishing your novels in a foreign language is a collaborative effort. I would like to thank my agency at Gyldendal in Norway for their tireless work in opening the world of Jakob Weber to readers in other languages. I am also deeply grateful to my publisher, Karen Sullivan, and the entire ‘Team Orenda’ for believing in the series and making all of this happen.

Translating a book into another language often means reading between the lines and adapting parts of the text to ensure it stays true to the spirit of the original. I couldn’t ask for a better team to achieve that than Orenda’s excellent editorial director, West Camel, and my brilliant translator, Ian Giles. Thank you.

Ian Giles:

I knew from the moment I first read Into Thin Air in Norwegian that Ørjan had nailed the intersection in the Venn diagram of setting, characters, and great writing. Fortunately, Orenda Books grasped this, too, and took a chance on an author who was previously untested in English translation. While I like to think that I have the right voice to share Jakob, Noora and the rest of the gang with anglophone readers, Orenda also had the good sense to pair us with our indefatigable editor, West Camel. I’m chuffed that the Petrona judges recognise what our little trinity worked so hard to achieve with this book.

Karen Sullivan (Orenda Books):

We are absolutely thrilled to see Ørjan Karlsson’s English debut, Into Thin Air, honoured with this prestigious award. I was transfixed by the premise of the book (and series) from the moment I heard about it. The sheer scale of Chief Investigator Jakob Webber’s job – policing Nordland, Norway’s untamed north, a landscape surrounded by glaciers, forests and lakes, with its endless, rugged coastline and thousands of islands – is utterly compelling, bringing dangers and challenges, but the immensely believable characters (of which the landscape is definitely one), and Ørjan’s exceptional writing makes this stand-out Nordic Noir in every way. In fact, this is the quintessential modern example of Nordic Noir, ticking all the classic boxes of the genre while bringing a fresh, highly authentic energy to the traditional police procedural. At its heart are the social issues, moral ambiguity and flawed (but never clichéd) detectives with a superb dynamic – everything we would expect from the best Nordic crime fiction. We are grateful to the judges for choosing Into Thin Air, the first in what we hope will be a long-running series.

Huge congratulations to the author and the translator of the winning book, and to the publisher!

INTO THIN AIR is the fourteenth winner of the Petrona Award.

The Petrona Award was established to celebrate the work of Maxine Clarke, one of the first online crime fiction reviewers and bloggers, who died in December 2012. Maxine, whose online persona and blog was called PETRONA, was passionate about translated crime fiction, but in particular that from the Scandinavian countries.

The previous winners of the Petrona Award are: LAST WILL by Liza Marklund, translated by Neil Smith; LINDA, AS IN THE LINDA MURDER by Leif G.W. Persson, also translated by Neil Smith; THE SILENCE OF THE SEA by Yrsa Sigurđardóttir, translated by Victoria Cribb; THE CAVEMAN by Jørn Lier Horst, translated by Anne Bruce; WHERE ROSES NEVER DIE by Gunnar Staalesen, translated by Don Bartlett; QUICKSAND by Malin Persson Giolito, translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles; THE KATHARINA CODE by Jørn Lier Horst, translated by Anne Bruce; LITTLE SIBERIA by Antti Tuomainen, translated by David Hackston; TO COOK A BEAR by Mikael Niemi, translated by Deborah Bragan-Turner; FATAL ISLES by Maria Adolfsson, translated by Agnes Broomé; FEMICIDE by Pascal Engman, translated by Michael Gallagher; DEAD MEN DANCING by Jógvan Isaksen, translated by Marita Thomsen, and THE CLUES IN THE FJORD by Satu Rämö, translated by Kristian London.

The Petrona Award 2026 shortlist:

  1. Snæbjörn Arngrímsson – One True Word, tr. Larissa Kyzer (Pushkin Vertigo, Iceland)
  2. Stella Blómkvist – Murder Tide, tr. Quentin Bates (Corylus Books, Iceland)
  3. Jón Atli Jónasson – Broken, tr. Quentin Bates (Corylus Books, Iceland)
  4. Ørjan Karlsson – Into Thin Air, tr. Ian Giles (Orenda Books, Norway)
  5. John Ajvide Lindqvist – The Writing in the Water, tr. Michael Meigs (Amazon Crossing, Sweden)
  6. Satu Rämö – The Grave in the Ice, tr. Kristian London (Zaffre, Finland)
  7. Antti Tuomainen – The Winter Job, tr. David Hackston (Orenda Books, Finland)

The judges: Jackie Farrant – creator of RAVEN CRIME READS and a bookseller for a major book chain in the UK. Ewa Sherman – translator and writer, and blogger at NORDIC LIGHTHOUSE. Sonja van der Westhuizen – a book critic for print and online publications in the UK and South Africa, as well as a blogger at WEST WORDS REVIEWS.

Award administrator: Karen Meek – owner of the EURO CRIME blog and website. Further information can be found on the Petrona Award website: http://www.petronaaward.co.uk.

Petrona Award: meet the Judges

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Before the announcement of the Petrona Award 2026 Winner, from the shortlist below, on 22nd October, Karen (Euro Crime), the Petrona Award administrator, decided that crime fiction cross-examination was required. Hence the introduction to three judges: Jackie, Sonja and Ewa (me), Karen’s fiendish questions, and our answers.

1. The judging panel is truly international so let’s start with where were you born / live now?

Jackie: Have always lived in the UK.

Sonja: I was born and bred in the Western Cape of South Africa. We live in a Cape Town suburb that offers the best of both worlds: vineyards on one side, and Cape Town CBD just a stone’s throw away. Even though I’ve travelled extensively, South Africa will always be my home and I’m truly lucky to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world with the friendliest people, lots of culture and the most delicious food!

Ewa: I was born in Poland, lived for nearly thirty years in the UK, and now I’m based in a small town by a non-touristy fjord in Norway.

2. Can you remember the first Scandinavian crime novel you read (in translation) and if so do you remember when that was?

Jackie: Roseanna – Maj Sjöwall / Per Wahlöö. Picked up an old, battered copy of this in a thrift sale when I was a teenager, and then tracked down the rest of the series as quickly as I could! From there my love of Scandinavian crime fiction and fiction was born…

Sonja: Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow by Peter Høeg immediately comes to mind. Even though I wasn’t aware of Scandi or Nordic Noir at the time, I knew there was something in the setting, theme, or social commentary of the novel that intrigued me immediately.

Ewa: As a child I read many books by Tove Jansson and Astrid Lindgren translated into Polish. Although they were not crime I felt strong connection to Scandinavian culture and history and I later realised they presented various social topics hidden within children tales. The Redbreast, one of Jo Nesbø’s earlier books, made a huge impression on me. Apart from a gripping narration, it dealt with WWII history and its impact on Norwegian ordinary citizens, as well as Norway’s post-war national trauma tied to the Nazi collaboration. This led me to read more about Nordic / Scandinavian countries in general.

3. What attracts you to Scandinavian crime fiction?

Jackie: I really enjoy the socio-political element of the genre, giving us a window into the Nordic societies, which outwardly seem almost halcyon in some respects, but are actually pervaded by the same societal, political and criminality issues that we recognise from our own. I also like the gender balance that tends to exist where women are not so often portrayed as victims and have more agency. Obviously I love the sense of darkness that usually permeates these books both in plot and characterisation, but also the unexpected glimpses of mordant or absurd wit that some authors exhibit. It’s a smorgasbord of enjoyment!

Sonja: I think it is a combination of reading about countries and cultures far removed from my own, the mystery of crime-solving, and the strong social commentary. The latter feels particularly relevant since I live in a country where people have a strong awareness of social injustices.

Ewa: The mood, atmosphere and environment of the Cold Climate are mesmerising. The settings: distant, mysterious, known from social media and travel logs, inviting or frightening, affect the fictional characters and their actions, and their stories are told in nuanced ways. I am interested in how the stunning yet tough nature and locations shaped human lives and human perceptions of local places and wider world. The writing is often sparse yet emotive. The humour, especially dark or dry, is unexpected and welcoming. All that plus the social and political issues, including the state of Europe and how Scandinavia finds its identity there in recent years, make for truly engaging crime fiction novels.

4. Why do you think it is still so popular in the UK? Is it popular where you live?

Jackie: I think it’s still popular because of the window it gives other Europeans into Nordic life and society. Also because there are so many sub-genres of the crime genre. Where some are incredibly dark, visceral and unsettling, there are those that have cynical private investigators, maverick detectives, a touch of the Golden Age tradition, a sense of the absurd, ones that touch on the countries’ troubled historical past, or conniving families and career criminals. It’s a great mix and something for everyone!

Sonja: There are certainly avid readers of Scandi Noir in South Africa, but people tend to read what they are familiar with. Of course, Deon Meyer remains the most popular author. That being said, alongside recipe books, investigative journalism, and true crime, crime fiction remains the best-selling genre, which is reassuring!

Ewa: In Norway – absolutely! There are many small crime fiction gatherings and festivals around the country throughout the year, often arranged by an author and supported by the publishing houses, local libraries and / or local councils. For example in October readers can come to Kongsberg Krimfestival, or Thomas Engers Krimfestival in Jessheim, and in November to Kristiansand Krimfestival. Oslo has its own Krimfestivalen each March. Norwegians have the longstanding and firmly established tradition of påskekrim or Easter Crime. This is the time to enjoy all types of crime fiction, both on screens and on pages of very popular novels. It goes back to a very successful advertising campaign for Jonathan Jerv’s crime novel. The book, written by two young students Nordahl Grieg and Nils Lie, was launched spectacularly in the country’s biggest newspaper ‘Aftenposten’ on Saturday 24 March 1923, the day before Palm Sunday, with a seemingly real headline at the top of the first page. The words ‘The train to Bergen plundered last night’ were in fact a title, rather than a real news item. The rest is a history, or an incredible interpretation of the fact that reading during holidays can be so enjoyable.

5. Do you have a favourite subgenre of Scandinavian crime fiction and are you willing to say who your favourite authors and translators are?

Jackie: I am a sucker for a grizzled maverick detective, journalist or private eye and I love a bit of dark humour, so no, I don’t really have a favourite sub genre and having the privilege of reading for The Petrona Award every year, it’s always good to keep an open mind!

Sonja: I have a soft spot for police procedurals and a well-written hard-boiled crime novel, particularly one with a good dose of dark humour, will hook me every time. Generally, I am not too fond of cosy mysteries, domestic noir or historical crime.

There are so many great Scandi Noir writers beyond the well-knowns, i.e. Henning Mankell, Jo Nesbo, and Stieg Larsson. Some of my favourites are Malin Persson Giolito, Samuel Bjørk, Max Seeck, Anne Holt, Jussi Adler-Olsen, Karin Smirnoff, and Gunnar Staalesen. I also enjoyed Icelandic writer Hildur Knutsdottir’s horror thriller, The Night Guest, and I look forward to her latest, Dead Weight. One of my all-time favourites is Leif GW Persson’s ‘Story of a Crime’ series and The Dying Detective. Likewise, you can always trust translations by Don Bartlett and Victoria Cribb.

Keep an eye out for authors published by smaller, indie presses such as Orenda Books, Pushkin Press, and Corylus Books. That is where you will find the real gems. Unfortunately, the Scandi Noir market has been flooded since it became more popular, and sadly, not all of them are worthy of the label.

Ewa: I’m not fussed about a subgenre but want a great story that will make me think and reflect, hide behind a sofa, reach for a map, or forget about the world. There are too many favourite authors to list them all here. However, I will say that I have huge admiration for translators who bring these books to life in the English language. Some of them have worked with the same writers over long periods of time and become their English voices. I’m in awe of Neil Smith, Don Bartlett, Ian Giles, Anne Bruce, Kari Dickson, Victoria Cribb, Quentin Bates, Lucy Moffat, David Hackston, Charlotte Barslund. I also always look for connections within and between books. For example, Ørjan Karlsson mentions a character reading Gunnar Staalsen’s novel on a beach in Barcelona. You’ll have to find out which book it is…

6. And finally, where can we find more of your writings?

Jackie: I’m very active on social media as @ravencrime and also have a blog Raven Crime Reads.

Sonja: In the UK, I regularly review for Crime Fiction Lover and occasionally for the European Literature Network. In South Africa, I review for Afrikaans for newspapers and magazines. All my English reviews are available on my blog, West Words Reviews, and on social media under the same handle, e.g. https://www.instagram.com/westwordsreview/

Ewa: I have a blog Nordic Lighthouse and also review various genres for European Literature Network. My earlier reviews are on Crime Review and Euro Crime.

Wronged Woman by Col Bury

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Killing them was her fantasy… soon to be her reality…

Two women. Two pasts they can’t outrun. One violent path that will bring them together.

When a series of brutal murders hits Manchester’s criminal underworld, rookie detective Liv Mendes is determined to prove herself. The victims are dangerous men, but the killer is skilled, and leaves almost nothing behind – a level of precision that doesn’t fit gang retaliation, despite what her colleagues insist. Liv senses something else. Something personal.

Because somewhere in the city, a woman who once survived hell has spent five long years preparing. Training. Waiting. And now the names she feared seeing again have finally resurfaced, forcing her to finally take action.

As Liv digs deeper, the truth behind the killings becomes harder to ignore, and even harder to condemn. The closer she gets to the killer, the closer she gets to her own buried past… and the line between justice and revenge begins to blur.

Gritty. Dark. Relentless. Wronged Woman is a revenge thriller with a conscience.

Nordic Noir it isn’t but what Wronged Woman delivers is as noir, dark and terrifying as the freezing Scandinavian night in the middle of nowhere where orientation seems impossible. Where all maps appear outdated and the compass lost its capacity to show the right way. While reading Col Bury’s latest book set in Manchester I felt stressed, worried and, most of all, outraged by the violence and misogyny of the main perpetrators. The descriptions of their brutality and methods to abuse, intimidate and humiliate others, and not just women, are vivid and hard to stomach. Selfish way of thinking and kind of justifying what they want to do. But of course this is a novel, a work of fiction to tell a gripping story, to capture its readers and to express the author’s ideas and questions. Anyway, I was wondering how our compasses were doing: mine, Liv’s and Jess’s. Is it possible to follow the path of law and justice, and still understand why someone becomes a serial killer? Can you feel connection with a murderer? Does the law apply equally to everyone?

This is the most serious issue that Bury puts under a spotlight: all consequences of rape within the legal system and in the society. On one hand there a series of horrible murders, and violent men being killed, plus the tough investigative day-to-day police work: analysis of all possible data, interviews, spactulations, internal verbal battles; pressure and evidence. On the other: Jess Lawler, a young woman whose life has been completely destroyed on all levels: emotional, physical and psychological. A woman functioning apparently well within the society while devising revenge plans over the years. Every aspect of her existence leads to complete the mission, and she has awareness that what she’s constantly thinking about and then doing is morally wrong: ‘Yes, Lenthwaite had been messier and more horrific than even she’d anticipated, in spite of playing out all possibilities in her mind beforehand. She thought she’d blown it at one point when he staggered away and started flailing his arms. The fear factor had been greater on this occasion, knowing what he was capable of. But, in truth, it wasn’t just him who she was scared of… it was herself. What had she become?’

The other main female character is Detective Constable Liv Mendes, bright, eager, newly promoted and trying to find her place in the well-established Major Incident Team. ‘On the outside – notwithstanding the lack of men in her life, which was her own choice – Mendes had it all: independence, good job, own place, lovely son and supportive mother. According to others, she also had the good looks. The latter could sometimes be a hindrance.’ She still remembers her earlier work experiences and can relate to ordinary police staff: ‘Being here now, took her back to her uniform days and a part of her missed it, despite being firmly at the bottom of the food chain where shit ran downhill by the bucket-load.’ What nobody knows though is that, just like Jess, she has been severely marked by being raped.

When Jess and Liv meet both their lives change. As our perceptions might.

‘The best thing about running in the rain was that no one could see your tears.’

Wronged Woman, told from several perspectives, makes for a compelling, powerful and gritty story, with richness of local knowledge which is very welcome. Dialogues and work-related interactions bring confrontations, reflections and dry sense of humour which often diffused difficult situations: ‘I’m not into slagging off our colleagues, but they were gone like shit off a shovel once we arrived.’ I’d recommend that you read it. And adjust your moral compass.

The author is an ex-cop and the former award-winning crime editor of the popular ezine Thrillers, Killers ’n’ Chillers. His debut crime novel My Kind of Justice, originally traditionally published, attracted interest from a New York agent. His short fiction appears online, in his Amazon collections, and in numerous anthologies, including three editions of The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime, proudly alongside some of the genre’s biggest names. Col Bury lives near the inspiring hills of the Peak District, just outside his beloved Manchester, with his wife and youngest daughter. He has two grown up children, a long running season ticket at Manchester City, and still plays five a side twice a week with lads half his age.

Bloody Scotland reveals that for the first time ever the same author has won the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and the McIlvanney Prize

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It has been a year of firsts. The first year Bloody Scotland had an all-woman shortlist for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. The first year four of those women made it onto the longlist for the McIlvanney Prize and now, for the first time ever, the same author has won both The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and the McIlvanney Prize. Congratulations to Frances Crawford whose novel A Bad, Bad Place (Transworld) has swept the boards at Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival this year, only two months after picking up the McDermid debut prize at Harrogate.

Bloody Scotland 2026: Debut Prize & McIlvanney Prize finalists (c) Paul Reich
Frances Crawford receiving the Mcilvanney prize from Denise Mina © Paul Reich

Guest programmer Denise Mina has long been vocal about the lack of women in the prize landscape and is thrilled by the result. She said: ‘Frances Crawford’s ‘A Bad Bad Place’ is a novel of profound depth and scope. Insightful, harrowing and very funny, it deals with the reality of violent crime and its impact on many victims. This is a spectacular debut from a wonderful new voice. She is the very first double winner and it could not be more deserved.’

Bloody Scotland co-founder, author and chair of the Debut Prize judges Alex Gray said: ‘A Bad, Bad Place captured my heart from the first mention of Janey’s dog, Sid Vicious. From then on the Glasgow patter and the different characters wound around me like a familiar … though not so comfy… blanket. Beautifully written, thoughtfully perceived from a child’s perspective, this is one novel that will remain with me for a long time to come.’

McIlvanney Prize judge, author and broadcaster, Sally Magnusson, said: ‘This is a novel full of Glasgow wit and deep humanity. Unpacking a harrowing crime through the impressions of a grandmother and a child is gloriously original. The world we encounter through their eyes is scary, unfair, misogynistic, tragic – and wonderfully funny. The cost of murder is movingly evoked in a way that stays with you long after the book is closed.’

Kirsty Nicholson, Marketing Director at Glencairn, sponsors of The Bloody Scotland Debut and McIlvanney Prizes with The Glencairn Glass, the official glass for whisky, said:‘This has been a truly remarkable year of firsts for Bloody Scotland and we are delighted to celebrate Frances Crawford’s extraordinary achievement. Winning both the Debut and McIlvanney Prizes is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to her exceptional storytelling talent. It is particularly wonderful to see Frances’ journey come full circle, having won our Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition in 2023. A huge congratulations on this well-deserved success – we cannot wait to see what comes next!’

The presentation of both prizes took place in the Church of the Holy Rude at on Friday 18 September before a grand procession led by guest programmer Denise Mina to her event with Lee Child at The Albert Halls.

Frances Crawford started writing late in life. She secured a scholarship to study Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow and credits her tutor, Louise Welsh, with encouraging her to take her short story and develop it into a novel. She graduated aged 60 with MLitt (Distinction). The short story won the Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story competition in 2023. Following a ten-way auction Transworld editor, Finn Cotton, acquired rights from agents Oli Munson and Euan Thorneycroft at A M Heath. At Bloody Scotland 2025 an informal proof signing drew larger crowds than some of the event signings. A Bad, Bad Place was published to great acclaim in February 2026 and will be published in paperback on 31 December. Bloody Scotland is delighted to celebrate an extraordinary new talent representing Scottish crime writing on the world stage.

Denise Mina and Frances Crawford Procession ©Paul Reich
Frances Crawford, winner of Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and The MacIlvanney Prize 2026, photographed at The Church of The Holy Rude in Stirling at Bloody Scotland 2026.
Denise Mina and Frances Crawford RCT ©Paul Reich

The Butterfly House by Teresa Solana

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As the blog tour for Teresa Solana’s The Butterly House, translated from Catalan by Peter Bush, is coming to an end, allow me to invite you to an extract from the book. However, before that I would like to share posts from other bloggers who have already read the novel. They are: LoveBooks, ReadBooks, Jen Med’s Book Reviews, Blue Book Balloon, AnnaBookBel, Peter Turns the Page, Shots Blog, WildWritingLife Madame Bibi Lophile Recommends, West Words Reviews and Books’n’banter.

Now, Chapter 5 of The Butterfly House: Barcelona at its noirest (Barcelona Nights Book 2):

          ‘There’s a dead woman in the garden,’ repeated Gerard, struggling to recover his breath.

           ‘What do you mean?’

           Standing in the doorway, a stunned Violeta stared at Gerard’s frightened face.

           ‘What I said. I found a woman and I think she’s dead. I reckon she’s been murdered.’

           ‘You’re joking.’

           ‘I’m not.’

           Gerard stood to one side and Violeta took a few steps towards him.

           ‘Where is she?’

           ‘Next to the elder tree,’ said Gerard, pointing to a tree by one of the walls surrounding the property.

           Violeta stood on her tiptoes and, leaning into Gerard, strained her neck. Straight away she saw the red painted nails on the bare feet sticking out of the green weeds.

           ‘Oh my God, I think I can see her… Are you sure she’s dead?’

           ‘I think so, well…’

           ‘We should go and check…’

           They made their way through the bushes of wild mustard that had started to take over the garden at the beginning of spring. Violeta walked towards the body. The woman’s skirt was rolled up, her legs were apart and her knickers had been pulled down to her knees. Violeta averted her gaze.

           ‘Are you OK?’ asked Gerard.

           ‘Yes, I just need a moment.’

           The stranger lay there, mouth open, eyes shut. To confirm she was dead, Violeta stooped down to find her pulse. As she held out her hand, she saw the woman had several injuries to the chest and stomach, and she instinctively stood up and stepped back. The ground was wet and she almost slipped, but Gerard came to the rescue, grabbed her, making sure she didn’t fall.

           ‘She’s been stabbed,’ she muttered.

           Her heart was pounding, and as she pulled herself up, her legs went all floppy again. She made every effort to stay on her feet, but began to feel nauseous, and realised she was about to pass out. Leaning against Gerard, she made her way to one of the plastic chairs scattered across the garden and sat down.

           ‘What are you doing?’ asked Gerard.

           ‘Trying not to faint,’ said Violeta, bending forward and putting her head between her knees.

           She had to steady herself. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen a corpse, though it was the first time she’d found herself at a crime scene and not an aseptic autopsy room listening to Octavi droning on about the transformations the body undergoes after death… Besides, that woman was the victim of an attack, not of a random accident or illness. When she began to feel the blood returning to her cheeks, she got up and, with Gerard behind her, returned to the spot where the body lay.

           The victim was a young woman, but her appearance didn’t match the aesthetic of the girls who lived in the butterfly house or other nearby squats. She was dressed conventionally, in the fashionable colours of that season, and the gaudy pattern on her blouse hid the blood, injuries and torn material. Violeta stooped down and scrutinised her for a few seconds.

           ‘She’s been stabbed, though there’s not much sign of blood,’ she said, thinking aloud.

           ‘And what does that imply?’

           ‘I’m not sure.’

Gerard’s shouts had also alerted the other house occupants who gradually emerged and congregated in the garden.

           ‘What the fuck’s happened?’

           ‘Where are the cops?’

           ‘I heard someone screaming…’

           ‘Fuck, I feel shattered…’

           Twenty or so squatters lived in the butterfly house, but on weekends that number tripled. Violeta knew what their parties and meetings were like and thought it very unlikely any of them were involved in that woman’s death.

           ‘For fuck’s sake…’ exclaimed a shirtless young man in jeans, the first of them to set eyes on the corpse. ‘What on earth…’

           ‘I found her this morning. I went out to get some breakfast and spotted her when I came back,’ said Gerard.

           The youngsters recoiled and looked away in horror.

           ‘Do you know who she is? Does anyone recognise her?’ asked Violeta.

           They all shook their heads.

           ‘She’s not one of us,’ said one male voice. ‘And I don’t think she’s from around here either.’

           ‘Nor do I…’

           ‘Poor thing…!’ muttered a girl.

           A couple of lads went to approach her, out of curiosity, but Violeta put her body between the corpse and the squatters.

           ‘Don’t touch anything,’ she warned them. ‘I’m going to call the Mossos.’

           ‘The Mossos?’ exclaimed a girl.

           ‘You want to call the cops?’

           ‘Since when did we ever trust them pigs, I’d like to know?’ said a half-naked lad with dreads as long as Violeta’s.

           Violeta recognised his voice: he was an idiot with an alpha-male complex, and, according to some, a snitch.

           ‘You got a better idea? Just so you know, this is a murder,’ retorted Violeta.

           ‘They’ll pin it on us. You know the cops have got it in for us. They’ll seize the opportunity to accuse us of being rapists and murderers. As if we didn’t know how they like to set us up!’

           ‘Fuck, they’ll put us inside!’ shouted another voice.

           ‘I pass…’

           ‘So do I…’

           Violeta confronted the people protesting.

           ‘So what do you want to do?’ she exclaimed. ‘Convene a meeting and vote on whether we leave her here, and act as if nothing’s happened?’

           ‘Violeta’s right. We must tell the police,’ said a female voice.

           ‘Don’t count on me… I’m outta here.’

           ‘Me too!’

           Most of the young people started to walk towards the house. Ignoring the protests, Violeta took out her mobile and dialled Norma’s number.

           ‘Nothing will happen to you, kid, your mum’s a cop…’ snapped a dark-haired girl with her fair share of piercings.

           ‘Fuck off, you!’ shouted Violeta viciously. And addressing the group of youngsters still standing around her, she added, ‘If I were you, I’d go back to the house and give it a good clean. This place will soon be swarming with cops.’

Teresa Solana
Peter Bush

Bloody Scotland affirms support for new writers and revelas new sponsor for Pitch Perfect

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Bloody Scotland has long supported new writers with The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, sponsored by The Glencairn Glass and innovative initiatives such as Crime in the Spotlight (the equivalent of a support act for the headline authors) sponsored by Open University in Scotland and Pitch Perfect (a quest to find unpublished crime writers). This year Pitch Perfect will be sponsored by Whodunnit, a new bookazine which will be launched by D C Thomson to coincide with the festival.

Susan Watson, Editor of Whodunnit said: “As we launch Whodunnit?, we’re thrilled to partner with Bloody Scotland on Pitch Perfect. Supporting new crime-writing talent feels like a perfect fit for a publication dedicated to celebrating the genre, and we look forward to seeing the creativity, originality and ambition on display from this year’s entrants.”

The full list of authors selected for Pitch Perfect 2026 which will take place in Stirling Central Library at 12 noon on Sunday 20 September are today revealed to be:

  • Rebecca Benson from Edinburgh with A Cold Case in Time
  • Susan Kemp from East Lothian with Tied
  • Angela Dixon from Cambuslang with The Weight of Blood
  • Caroline Grebbell from Edinburgh with Songs of Trojan Mothers
  • Ellen Jackson from Dumbarton with In Too Deep
  • Christopher Kestell from Dublin with His Mortal Agony
  • Zuzi Pope from 4 Swanston Muir with Murder at the Grand Hotel Bohemia
  • Laura Beckley from Stockton-on-Tees with Lavender Slayer

The winner will be selected by literary agent, Diana Beaumont; crime reviewer and author, Lisa Howells and publisher, Stephen Cameron. They will receive a cash prize of £500 and coverage in the November issue of My Weekly.

Crime in the Spotlight is for published authors at the beginning of their career who get to share the stage with some of the biggest names in crime fiction. Authors selected to be the support acts for the 2026 headliners are:

FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER
Pat McTaggart from Clackmannanshire will be appearing with Lin Anderson, Alex Gray and Andrew Raymond
Kevan Christie from Edinburgh will be appearing with Chris Brookmyre and Abir Mukherjee
Colette Lewis from Teddington will be appearing with Lucy Foley
Ryan MacDonald from Dundee will be appearing with Robert Peston
N J Hatton from Worcestershire will be appearing with Lee Child
Victoria West from Sussex will be appearing with Richard Osman

SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER
Emilie Castera & Eve Goodfellow originally from France and the US now living in Gloucestershire will be appearing ahead of Janice Hallett, Steve Higgs and Olly Smith
Wes Browne from Kentucky will be appearing with SA Cosby Angela Clegg from Cheshire will be appearing with Liz Nugent, Harriet Tyce and Andrea Mara
Jen L Crow from Edinburgh will be appearing with Jane Harper and Jane Casey
Kelly Mancaruso originally from upstate New York and now in Nottingham will be appearing with Steve Cavanagh & Nadine Matheson
Elspeth Latimer from East Anglia will be appearing with Tana French
Alys Cummings from North East England will be appearing with Jeremy Vine and Matthew Sweet

SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER
Chris Lerpiniere from North Berwick will be appearing with Cai Jun & Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Ruth Knafo Setton from Morrocco will be appearing with Gregg Hurwitz and Robert Bryndza
Kathryn Sharman from North Yorkshire will be appearing with Ardal O’Hanlon
Alison Aitchison from Glasgow will be appearing with the cast of Department Q
Sam Dounis from Edinburgh will be appearing with Professor David Wilson
Robert Parker from Edinburgh will be appearing with Val McDermid and Denise Mina

The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize which began in 2019 has launched the careers of numerous Scottish crime writers including Natalie Jayne Clark, Tariq Ashkanani, Allan Gaw, Claire Askew, Kate Foster, Callum McSorley and David Goodman.

For the first time ever, the shortlist for The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize is entirely made up of women, one of whom was a previous finalist in Pitch Perfect, proof that there is a definite pathway at Bloody Scotland from pitch to publication and beyond.

The Debut Prize panel takes place at the new venue of Made in Stirling and the prize winner will be announced at the Opening Reception at The Church of the Holy Rude at 5pm on the opening night. Pitch Perfect takes place at Stirling Central Library on the last day of the festival. Tickets for the Albert Halls events featuring the Crime in the Spotlight authors, as well as online passes, can be purchased at Bloody Scotland.

Bloody Scotland #blogtour

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Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival held in Stirling every autumn has been bloody good since its beginning in 2012. Each time I attended it presented an invigorating variety of crime fiction genres, new and established authors, a huge range of topics, and loads of interesting titles to read and devour. Above all it always demonstrates passion for writing and reading, and also friendship. A very special bond exists between people involved in this kind of literary life: writers, bloggers, publishers, editors, book readers.    

This year I cannot wait for the opportunity to travel to Stirling again. The festival has been growing, developing new ideas and creating more connections. The stellar team running the event includes Alex Gray Craig Robertson, Lin Anderson, Abir Mukherjee, Gordon Brown, and this year’s Guest Programmer Denise Mina. The programme is packed with sessions, conversations, walks and spontaneous events, and I hope to catch as many as I can.  Apart from The Helsinki Noir (see recommendation from Live and Deadly) there are two panels I will definitely not miss as they feature Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, the Queen of Icelandic Noir, and the brilliant Norwegian author Ørjan Nordhus Karlsson whose only two novels have been published in English so far. There’s hope for more.

Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, born in Reykjavík, trained as a civil engineer at the University of Iceland and later completed an MSc in engineering at Concordia University in Montreal. She has worked on major Icelandic infrastructure projects, including the Kárahnjúkar dam project, and continued to work in engineering alongside her writing, although writing is now her main career. Yrsa became a writer of children’s books first due to her dissatisfaction of the books available for her own children. Her strictly technical professional background is a stark and welcoming contrast to her writing.

It would be a cliché to say that Yrsa needs no introductions, as she’s known by her first name, and her multi-award-winning books, leaning to the darker side of crime fiction with a dose of horror, have been translated into more than thirty languages and are available world-wide. However, there are always new generations of readers who look for a thriller with an apparent supernatural touch hence might not discovered Yrsa’s writing yet. I am a huge fan and have read and reviewed most of her novels. Here are some examples: Why Did You Lie? (2017), The Legacy (2017), The Reckoning (2018), The Absolution (2019),  Gallows Rock (2020). The latest novel The Depths was published by Hachette UK.

Ørjan N. Karlsson is a bestselling Norwegian crime and thriller author with more than 25 novels to his name, encompassing thrillers, sci-fi and crime genres. He was born and grew up in Bodø, a town north of the Arctic Circle. He holds a master’s degree in sociology and received officer training in the army. He has participated in international missions for the EU, UN and NATO, and has worked for the Norwegian Ministry of Defence and the Directorate for Civil Protection. Ørjan is the creator of the critically acclaimed Jakob Weber detective series, set against the harsh, atmospheric backdrop of the Arctic North. The series has captured international attention, with its first instalment Into Thin Air published in English in 2025.  The novel received much acclaim, including being longlisted for the Petrona Award 2026. The highly anticipated book umber five in this Arctic Mysteries series will be released in Norway on 1st October this year. In a meantime the second novel Into the Dark is available thanks to Orenda Books.

I enjoyed novels by both authors: masters at creating gripping, suspenseful and atmospheric stories, firmly set in the cold, often bleak and remote Nordic landscapes. The feeling of isolation and fear intensifies even if the factual locations might be populated and alive with ordinary daily activities. The contrast in size between of island of Iceland and the elongated Norwegian country really appeal to me when transported into a novel. The local environment, weather and geography become a character in telling a story and following clues to discovering a culprit or a hidden truth. Reykjavík remains one of Yrsa’s most important settings, especially in The Legacy and The Reckoning. The police station, harbour, hospital and other parts of the city appear as strong points of orientation. The Westman Islands / Vestmannaeyjar where the volcanic eruption on Heimaey happened in 1973 play a huge role in Ashes to Dust. In My Soul to Take the Snæfellsnes Peninsula becomes the haunting setting of a tale where an isolated farm is being converted into a spa hotel. The unsettling mood adds to the mystery.

Bodø and the surrounding region of Nordland seem to be the most important location in Ørjan’s recent crime novels. We have had a chance to feel their presence in the two Jakob Weber books. The world-famous stunning Lofoten islands also feature in his writing. Other places such as Oslo and the northern town of Narvik are equally important. In his earlier political / espionage thrillers such as Hauge’s Directive and The King’s Council,the capital city sets the pace, and The Soldier’s Heart takes in the Battle of Narvik during World War II.  

Volcanoes, lava, ocean, mountains, fjords and islands lend their natural personality to Yrsa and Ørjan who in turn compel and force their protagonists and background characters to feel, think and act. Exploring fear, crime, secrets and the influence of the past while trying to stand firmly in the present, in the current social and political environment; well, that’s a real challenge for everyone who comes from these two authors’ worlds. Let’s meet them (and huge thanks to translators Victoria Cribb and Ian Giles!) and their creators in the realm of buzzing Stirling of 2026.

The links to buy tickets are here: Murder at the edge of the world: Ørjan Karlsson, Malcolm Kempt and Zoë Rankin – 21:45, Saturday 19th September, and Cai Jun and Yrsa Sigurdardottir – 10:30, Sunday 20th September. Bloody Scotland – programme lists all festival events, including those online.   

King Harald V of Norway

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Yesterday evening people began gathering outside Det kongelige slott / Slottet (The Royal Palace) in Oslo. They brought flowers, candles, cards and small tokens of affection for the ailing King Harald V who was taken to the hospital last week for treatment for a rare blood condition. The last of summer sunshine added some hope to a beautiful heart of the city.

Today skies turned grey and the rain fell relentlessly on serious crowds in the streets and all those walking towards the palace and its park to pay tribute to the King Harald who died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet this morning at 6:35. He was popular, loved and highly respected for his compassion, practicality, for modernising the monarchy and breaking with some old traditions. Norwegians consider him as a unifying person during the country’s most difficult moments. He also had a sense of humour and felt that he was a king for Norway as his role and duty was to serve the people of Norway. His personal motto was ‘Alt for Norge’.

Yesterday I remembered the King’s famous speech given during a garden party at the Palace’s park on 1st September 2016.

Today it rained heavily and I went with my best friends to Oslo to pay our respects, light candles and lay flowers outside Slottet. We saw cortege driving to the palace. Everyone felt sadness and also gratitude for King Harald’s 35 years of service. I want to share his speech in full, both in Norwegian and in English, as it really shows the late monarch’s values, his passion for equality of all citizens, support of refugees and religious tolerance in a diverse but united nation.   

Etter at vi gjennom mange år har reist rundt i det meste av landet, er det veldig hyggelig å få være vertskap for representanter fra hele Norge!

Hjertelig velkommen til oss, alle sammen!

Dere som er samlet her utgjør bredden av det Norge er i dag. Så hva er Norge?

Norge er høye fjell og dype fjorder. Det er vidder og skjærgård, øyer og holmer. Det er frodige åkre og myke heier.

Havet slår mot landet fra nord, vest og syd.

Norge er midnattssol og mørketid. Det er både harde og milde vintre. Det er både varme og kalde somre.

Norge er langstrakt og spredt bebodd.

Men Norge er fremfor alt mennesker.

Nordmenn er nordlendinger, trøndere, sørlendinger – og folk fra alle de andre regionene. Nordmenn har også innvandret fra Afghanistan, Pakistan og Polen, Sverige, Somalia og Syria.

Mine besteforeldre innvandret fra Danmark og England for 110 år siden.

Det er ikke alltid så lett å si hvor vi er fra, hvilken nasjonalitet vi tilhører. Det vi kaller hjem, er der hjertet vårt er – og det kan ikke alltid plasseres innenfor landegrenser.

Nordmenn er unge og gamle, høye og lave, funksjonsfriske og rullestolbrukere. Stadig flere er over hundre år. Nordmenn er rike, fattige og midt i mellom.

Nordmenn liker fotball og håndball, klatrer fjelltopper og seiler – mens andre er mest glad i sofaen.

Noen har god selvtillit, mens andre sliter med å tro på at de er gode nok som de er.

Nordmenn jobber i butikk, på sykehus, på oljeplattform. Nordmenn arbeider for at vi skal være trygge, arbeider med å holde landet rent for søppel, og leter etter nye løsninger for en grønn fremtid. Nordmenn dyrker jorda og driver fiske. Nordmenn forsker og lærer bort.

Nordmenn er engasjert ungdom og livserfarne gamle. Nordmenn er enslige, skilte, barnefamilier og gamle ektepar.

Nordmenn er jenter som er glad i jenter, gutter som er glad i gutter, og jenter og gutter som er glad i hverandre.

Nordmenn tror på Gud, Allah, Altet og Ingenting.

Nordmenn liker Grieg og Kygo, Hellbillies og Kari Bremnes.

Med andre ord: Norge er dere.

Norge er oss.

Når vi synger «Ja vi elsker dette landet», skal vi huske på at vi også synger om hverandre. For det er vi som utgjør landet. Derfor er nasjonalsangen vår også en kjærlighetserklæring til det norske folk.

Mitt største håp for Norge er at vi skal klare å ta vare på hverandre.

At vi skal bygge dette landet videre – på tillit, felleskap og raushet.

At vi skal kjenne at vi – på tross av all vår ulikhet – er ett folk.

At Norge er ett.

After having travelled around most of the country for many years, it is very nice to be able to host representatives from all over Norway in our garden here at the palace! A warm welcome, everyone!

You who are gathered here represents the width of what Norway is today. So what is Norway?

Norway is high mountains and deep fjords. It’s plains and coastline, islands and islets. There are lush meadows and gentle hills.

Sea crashing against the country from the north, west and south.

Norway midnight sun and polar night. It is both harsh and mild winters. There are both hot and cold summers.

Norway is elongated and sparsely  inhabited.

But Norway is, above all, people.

Norwegians are northerners, those from Trondheim region, southerners – and people from all the other regions. Norwegians have also emigrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Poland, Sweden, Somalia and Syria. My grandparents emigrated from Denmark and England 110 years ago. 

It is not always easy to say where we are from, what nationality we belong to. What we call home is where our heart is – and that is sometimes difficult to place within borders.

Norwegians are young and old, tall and short, able-bodied and wheelchair users. An increasing number over one hundred years. Norwegians are rich, poor and all in between. Norwegians like football and handball, climbing mountains and sailing – while others are most fond of the sofa.

Some have good self-esteem, while others are struggling to believe that they are good enough as they are. 

Norwegians are working in shops, in hospitals and on oil platforms. Many Norwegians work to ensure that we are safe, and many work to keep the country clean of garbage, and are looking for new solutions for a green future. Norwegians cultivate the land and fish. Norwegians do research and teach.

Norwegians are engaged youth and experienced old. Norwegians are unmarried, divorced, families with children and old couples. Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who like boys, and girls and boys who are fond of each other.

Norwegians believe in God, Allah, Everything and Nothing.

Norwegians like Grieg and Kygo, Hellbillies and Kari Bremnes.

In other words, Norway is you.

Norway is us. 

When sing ‘Yes, we love this country’, we must remember that we also sing about each other. For it’s us who make up the country. Therefore, our national anthem also is a declaration of love to the Norwegian people.

My greatest hope for Norway is that we are able to take care of each other.

That in the future we will build this country on trust, fellowship and generosity.

That we shall know that we – despite all our differences – are one people.

That Norway is one.

Rest in peace Kong Harald V.

Petrona Award 2026 – Longlist

On By Ewa ShermanIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Twelve outstanding crime fiction novels from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have made the longlist for the 2026 Petrona Award for the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. They are:

  • Snæbjörn Arngrímsson – One True Word, tr. Larissa Kyzer (Pushkin Vertigo, Iceland)
  • Stella Blómkvist – Murder Tide, tr. Quentin Bates (Corylus Books, Iceland)
  • Jón Atli Jónasson – Broken, tr. Quentin Bates (Corylus Books, Iceland)
  • Ørjan N Karlsson – Into Thin Air, tr. Ian Giles (Orenda Books, Norway)
  • John Ajvide Lindqvist – The Writing in the Water, tr. Michael Meigs (Amazon Crossing, Sweden)
  • Jo Nesbø – Wolf Hour, tr. Robert Ferguson (Harvill Secker, Norway)
  • Aslak Nore – The Heirs of the Arctic, tr. Sean Kinsella (MacLehose Press, Norway)
  • Satu Rämö – The Grave in the Ice, tr. Kristian London (Zaffre, Finland)
  • Lilja Sigurðardóttir – Black as Death, tr. Lorenza Garcia (Orenda Books, Iceland)
  • Yrsa Sigurðardóttir – The Wake, tr. Victoria Cribb (Hodder & Stoughton, Iceland)
  • Karin Smirnoff – The Girl with Ice in her Veins, tr. Sarah Death (MacLehose Press, Sweden)
  • Antti Tuomainen – The Winter Job, tr. David Hackston (Orenda Books, Finland)

The longlist contains a mix of newer and more established authors including previous Petrona Award winners Satu Rämö, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and Antti Tuomainen. Both large and small publishers are represented on the longlist, with Orenda Books having  three entries and Corylus Books and MacLehose Press having two apiece. Both longlisted entries by Corylus Books have been translated by Quentin Bates.

The breakdown by country is Iceland (5), Norway (3), Finland (2) and Sweden (2).

Huge congratulations to all writers, translators and publishers!

The Petrona Award 2026 judging panel comprises Jackie Farrant, the creator of RAVEN CRIME READS and a bookseller for a major book chain in the UK; Ewa Sherman, translator and writer, and blogger at NORDIC LIGHTHOUSE; and Sonja van der Westhuizen, a book critic for print and online publications in the UK and South Africa, as well as a blogger at WEST WORDS REVIEWS. The Award administrator is Karen Meek, owner of the EURO CRIME blog and website.

The shortlist will be announced on 24 September 2026.

The Last Viking / Den Sidste Viking

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Something exciting is happening this coming Friday: Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Mads Mikkelsen as sibllings with weird family history will present you with a new level of absurd and black humour that is funny, disturbing and criminally good.

However, let me tell you about ScandiGang that had appeared on our horizon during the first Nordicana in June 2013 in London. The event was the result of Jon Sadler’s team, and his own expertise, to bring the best of the Nordic Noir creative talent for the British fans who kept wanting more. Nordicana 2 (February 2014) and 3 (June 2015) followed, here’s an older post: Nordic Noir & Beyond. Saga’s car was brought to central London. We all wanted to wear Sarah Lund’s sweater, to inhale hygge and to read anything from the Nordic / Scandinavian authors, as well as from the Scandi Brits whose books had the similar themes, mood and equally interesting haunting stories and main characters.

The ScandiGang watched together but separately all Scandinavian shows on BBC Four on Saturday evenings while commenting on everything that happened on our screens, Twitter was a super friendly and innocent place back then. We met at various locations for different events and shared news about all exciting films, books and TV series. We ate at ScandiKitchen, ordered Scandinavian food online, bought novels and non-fiction books about the Nordic Noir phenomenon. We are still in touch but life takes over and there are not many moments to meet up.

Additionally, we played Scandi bingo which was always fun and sometimes a touch challenging as we kept discovering new names and faces, and marvelled at how well the Nordic countries collaborated in the creative spheres. You might have also played that game. Let’s take Danish The Killing / Forbrydelsen, Danish Borgen and Danish Swedish The Bridge / Bron/Broen for example. How many familiar faces have we seen since these three iconic gripping series took over our screens? How many connections between actors, projects, books and events have followed after that? Who are the actors that had worked across the genres and countries, always leaving a huge impression, sometimes big questions and for ever the passion to keep searching for more their high-quality creative work. The Danish industry has been particularly rich in delivering unforgettable experiences for all the ScandiGang members.  

The idea of Scandi Bingo isn’t gone, especially as new films and TV shows keep coming, and we are still hungry for them. Therefore, I would like you to join me, and us, in this game ahead of the UK premiere of The Last Viking, the latest film by Anders Thomas Jensen, produced by Sisse Graum and Sidsel Hybschmann. The main stars are Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Lie Kaas, with strong support by Sofie Gråbøl, Søren Malling, Bodil Jorgensen, Nicolas Bro and Lars Brygmann.  

The Last Viking | Official Website | 26 June 2026

The premise of The Last Viking is fairly simple. After serving fifteen years in prison, bank robber Anker (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) is released for good behaviour, and determined to recover the stolen money his brother Manfred (Mads Mikkelsen) had buried years earlier. There’s just one problem: Manfred, caught in an identity crisis and convinced he is John Lennon, can no longer remember where it is hidden. The brothers set off on an increasingly chaotic hunt for the missing fortune, digging up old family secrets on the way. It gets dark and complicated as they must face uncomfortable and painful memories while dealing with strange present. You might have already seen Riders of Justice or Men and Chickens so you know that Mads and Nikolaj are totally brilliant as film partners, knowing each other so well, and playing off each other’s strengths. Ridiculous humour and chaotic life situations prevail.

The Last Viking got great reviews: ‘Fast, furious and funny’ (Screen Daily), ‘A bloody and utterly delightful black comedy’ (The Hollywood Reporter) and ‘Brutal, hilarious, and sick in the best way possible’ (Cut to the Take). It opens in the cinemas across UK on Friday 26th June and now you have a chance to win a couple of tickets to watch it in any of the Picture House cinemas in the country. Just share my post and tell me why you also belong to the ScandiGang. Because you do, yes?

All photos (c) Rolf Konow