It is so exciting to annonce the winner of the Petrona Award 2025 for the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year:
THE CLUES IN THE FJORD by Satu Rämö translated from the Finnish by Kristian London and published by Zaffre. Satu Rämö will receive a trophy, and both the author and translator will receive a cash prize. The Petrona team would like to thank David Hicks for his sponsorship of the Petrona Award.
The judges’ statement on THE CLUES IN THE FJORD:
THE CLUES IN THE FJORD is a sophisticated and atmospheric police procedural with a pleasingly unpredictable dark and twisty plot, set against the backdrop of the raw and untamed beauty of rural Iceland.
Providing the local detective with a Finnish side-kick allows the author to contrast Icelandic and Finnish traits, adding authenticity to an original story. The intriguing back-stories of both characters leave the reader anticipating the next instalments.
In the ever-increasing Icelandic crime fiction scene, Satu Rämö has carved out a unique position between traditional mysteries and the darker end of crime fiction.
Statements from the winning author, translator and publisher:
Satu Rämö:
I am deeply honoured to receive this award, and I want to thank the jury and the organizers of the Petrona Award. I also want to acknowledge the incredible writers nominated alongside me. To be included among such talented writers is a reward in itself. Your words have inspired me a lot!
This award reminds me of a conversation I had with a reader, a ninety-five-year-old woman, who shared how the book, the first part in the Hildur crime book series, THE CLUES IN THE FJORD, made her feel. She told me that she knows she is getting very old but after reading this book, she hoped she would live long enough to read the sequel, to know what happened to the two little girls who got lost on their way from school. When the sequel came out, I sent it to her and called her after a few weeks. She was still as happy and joyful as last time, waiting for the next book in the series to come out…
It is the readers who keep stories alive. Thank you for reading. I want to thank you also, my British publisher Zaffre and my translator Kristian London. Great teamwork! Thank you jury from the bottom of my heart, this award means so much to me.
Kristian London:
When I first took on translating Satu Rämö’s THE CLUES IN THE FJORD, the book’s incredible success in Finland suggested it had a high chance of connecting with audiences abroad as well. I’m gratified to see this is the case. It has been a privilege to act as an intermediary between Rämö’s imagination and those of her English-speaking readers as they enter Hildur’s world of human quirks and foibles, familial traumas and inheritances. For me, the work’s slow power springs from its true protagonist: that isolated land in the North Atlantic that serves as the setting, and the terrain and culture and people we’re introduced to through an outsider’s keen eyes. Many thanks to the Petrona Award jury for this honor.
Kasim Mohammed (editor at Zaffre):
Being Satu’s English-language publisher is a real honour. She has such an eye for crafting stories about real people, and a real heart to her writing that is hard to find these days. Bringing authors’ dreams to life is a privilege and moments like this are wonderful to experience. To know Satu’s work is resonating with so many readers, worldwide, brings the team here at Bonnier so much pride. Thank you to the Petrona Award jury for this honour – we will treasure this as we continue to publish Satu!
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 – 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.
Petrona Award 2025 shortlist in full is here and further information can be found on The Petrona Award website.
Outstanding crime fiction from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden shortlisted for the 2025 Petrona Award
Seven impressive crime novels from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have been shortlisted for the 2025 Petrona Award for the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. The shortlist is announced today, Thursday 18 September and is as follows:
1. Samuel Bjørk – Dead Island tr. Charlotte Barslund (Norway, Bantam)
2. Pascal Engman – The Widows tr. Neil Smith (Sweden, Legend Press
3. Malin Persson Giolito – Deliver Me tr. Rachel Willson-Broyles (Sweden, Simon & Schuster)
4. Óskar Guðmundsson – The Dancer tr. Quentin Bates (Iceland, Corylus Books)
5. Aslak Nore – The Sea Cemetery tr. Deborah Dawkin (Norway, MacLehose Press)
6. Satu Rämö – The Clues in the Fjord tr. Kristian London (Finland, Zaffre)
7. Gunnar Staalesen – Pursued by Death tr. Don Bartlett (Norway, Orenda Books)
The winning title will be announced on 16 October 2025.
The Petrona Award is open to crime fiction in translation, either written by a Scandinavian author or set in Scandinavia, and published in the UK in the previous calendar year. The Petrona team would like to thank our sponsor, David Hicks, for his generous support of the Petrona Award.
The judges’ comments on the shortlist:
There were 31 entries for the 2025 Petrona Award from six countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland). This year’s shortlist sees Norway represented with three novels, Sweden with two and Finland and Iceland with one novel each. The judges selected the shortlist from a strong pool of candidates with the seven shortlisted authors including three previous Petrona Award winners: Pascal Engman, Malin Persson Giolito and Gunnar Staalesen.
As ever, we are extremely grateful to the seven translators whose expertise and skill have allowed readers to access these outstanding examples of Scandinavian crime fiction, and to the publishers who continue to champion and support translated fiction.
The judges’ comments on each of the shortlisted titles:
Samuel Bjørk – DEAD ISLAND translated by Charlotte Barslund (Norway, Bantam)
DEAD ISLAND, the fifth instalment in the Mia Krüger and Holger Munch series, sees the duo away from their stomping grounds in Oslo, pondering their future. Both police investigators are dealing with separate professional and personal traumas yet cannot escape the violent events and aftermath of those, on the picturesque island of Hitra in northern Norway. While Mia re-examines a cold case of a missing boy, a teenage girl is brutally murdered. Convinced that the cases are connected, she digs deep into the individual stories of people living behind the sheen of a respectable community. The idyllic surface crumbles to show deceit, danger and darkness as the plot delves into psychological and cunning ways of using violence. A focus on personal dynamics and processing the nuanced information creates tension and a gripping story with empathy and depth, affecting everyone in the vicinity of the crimes.
Pascal Engman – THE WIDOWS translated by Neil Smith (Sweden, Legend Press)
In THE WIDOWS, two bodies are discovered in a Stockholm park, one a policeman and the other an unidentified young woman. With the police believing the woman to be nothing more than unfortunate collateral damage, they focus on the murder of the police officer. But Detective Vanessa Frank takes a different approach and her investigation turns out to be more personal than she could have imagined. Frank must tread carefully as she moves into the world of terrorist networks operating deep within the shadows, where society’s fears make her job more chaotic and dangerous than ever. A previous winner of the Petrona Award with FEMICIDE, Pascal Engman once again produces a high-octane thriller which impressed the judges with its complex plotting, nerve wracking tension and strong characterisation throughout.
Malin Persson Giolito – DELIVER ME translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles (Sweden, Simon & Schuster)
DELIVER ME is a harrowing crime thriller that explores the devastating impact of gang violence and class differences on two childhood friends in suburban Stockholm. The story centres on Billy and Dogge, two boys from different backgrounds whose friendship is tested by the allure of gang activity. Recruited as drug runners, their lives spiral out of control, leading to a tragic confrontation.
The novel is a gritty and uncompromising look at a topical social problems such as restrictive immigration policies, corrupt law enforcement, and economic inequality. Giolito’s account of the boys lives and circumstances is so convincing it might as well have been a true account. A lawyer herself, she poses questions about justice for children who commit crimes in a society that has failed to protect them. DELIVER ME is a powerful, yet unsettling, examination of the dark underbelly of suburban Stockholm and the real victims of gang violence and social inequality.
Óskar Guðmundsson – THE DANCER translated by Quentin Bates (Iceland, Corylus Books)
Tony is a young man who has always been on the losing side in life. He was brought up by his troubled, alcoholic mother who had a past of her own as a talented ballerina, until a life-changing accident brought her dreams to a sudden end. As her own ambitions for fame and success were crushed, she used cruel and brutal methods to project them onto her young son – with devastating consequences. There’s no doubt that a body found on Reykjavik’s Öskjuhlíð hillside has been there for a long time and when the case is handed to veteran detective Valdimar, and his new partner Ylfa, it’s not long before it’s clear a vicious killer is on the loose – and very little about the case is what it appears to be at first glance. THE DANCER is an incredibly dark and uncompromising crime read, that plays with the reader’s perceptions from the outset, alternating between empathy and horror, balanced out by the enjoyable repartee between the police protagonists.
Aslak Nore – THE SEA CEMETERY translated by Deborah Dawkin (Norway, MacLehose Press)
THE SEA CEMETERY is a suspenseful literary thriller and complex family saga moving through Norway’s recent history, its links to Europe and the Middle East, and questioning individual choices made by the main characters. The universal human issues are hidden just below the surface of the dramatic story about trust, legacy and control, and consequences of untruths. Set in the dramatic harsh Norwegian natural beauty and inspired by a devastating maritime disaster during World War II, it follows the fate of two warring branches of the powerful Falck dynasty. The death of its writer matriarch, intestate, and with secrecy surrounding her manuscript confiscated by the secret police decades earlier, sets in motion an inheritance dispute between families in Oslo and Bergen. Private investigation into the affairs, connections and conflicts between those in power are painted with astute detail, making this ambitious novel both a historical and contemporary tale with strong message about Norwegian values and delivering a thrilling mix of espionage, tension and seduction.
Satu Rämö – THE CLUES IN THE FJORD translated by Kristian London (Finland, Zaffre)
Hildur Rúnarsdottir is the only police detective working on the isolated west coast of Iceland. She is desperate to forget her traumatic past by burying herself in her cases alongside her new trainee, Jakob Johanson. Jakob’s life has its own complications however, and it soon becomes clear that neither can run from their pasts for long. When a local man is found with his throat slit, underneath an avalanche that has buried much of the evidence, Hildur and Jakob must set their own problems aside and unravel the dark secrets to expose a killer. THE CLUES IN THE FJORD is a sophisticated and atmospheric police procedural with a pleasingly unpredictable dark and twisty plot, set against the backdrop of the raw and untamed beauty of rural Iceland.
Gunnar Staalesen – PURSUED BY DEATH translated by Don Bartlett (Norway, Orenda Books)
PURSUED BY DEATH, the latest in the long-running Varg Veum series, is a hard-boiled noir that tackles contemporary social issues in Norway. The plot begins when private investigator Varg Veum reads a newspaper article about the missing Jonas Kleiva, a man he recognises as the driver of a camper van he noticed at a bus stop. Kleiva disappeared after attending a demonstration in Solvik against the powerful salmon-farming corporation, Sunfjord Salmon. This case leads Veum to investigate not only the missing protestor but also a cold case from the past that was originally dismissed by the police.
The novel, told through a first-person narrative, showcases Veum’s wry, deadpan observations. Staalesen consistently creates fully fleshed-out, vibrant, and lively characters, with Veum standing out as an unforgettable protagonist. The story is set against a compressed history of Norway’s salmon-farming industry, while also providing a critical look at the environmental and social conflicts surrounding it. Staalesen, again, masterfully blends a traditional detective story with a commentary on modern issues, making the novel a relevant, topical, and thoroughly engaging read.
Gunnar StaalesenAslak Nore (c) Agnete BrunSatu Rämö (c) Björgvin HilmarssonÓskar GuðmundssonSamuel Bjørk (c) Harald OrenPascal EngmanMalin Persson Giolito
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 – 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.
Bloody Scotland Internatonal Crime Festival kicked off with the prize announcements, a Day of the Deid parade led by an effigy of Sir Ian Rankin, and the big reveal of the mystery crime writer.
Dreich weather (is that the correct word?) outside my windows and I might be suffering from a serious case of FOMO but Bloody Scotland always has criminally good news. Here are some highlights straight from the people who are in Stirling.
The winner of the McIlvanney Prize was revealed – in the ballroom with a giant crystal glass – to be Tariq Ashkanani with The Midnight King. It was presented to him on stage on the opening night – Friday 12th September – of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival by the winner of the 2024 McIlvanney Prize Chris Brookmyre. Tariq, a solicitor from Edinburgh, appeared as a support act for Ian Rankin in Crime in the Spotlight at the 2021 festival and went on to win the Bloody Debut Prize in 2022. The McIlvanney Prize win brings the process of nurturing authors at Bloody Scotland full circle.
The judges who included broadcaster Nicola Meighan, journalist and writer Arusa Qureshi and crime reviewer Gordon McGhie said: ‘Tariq Ashkanani manages to create an atmosphere of dread while uniquely exploring the theme of nature vs nurture… When we speak about thrillers being page turners (this) should be used an example of how it should be done.’
The winner of the 2025 Bloody Scotland Debut Prize was revealed to be David Goodman with A Reluctant Spy (Headline). Like Tariq, he was previously selected for Crime in the Spotlight, and appeared as a support act for thriller writer Frank Gardner at Bloody Scotland last year. This year it is he who takes centre stage. He also won the inaugural Theakston Old Peculier McDermid Debut Award in July. He lives in East Lothian with his family.
David GoodmanTariq Ashkanani
The 2025 prize was judged by crime writer and Bloody Scotland founder Alex Gray, broadcaster Bryan Burnett and Kenny Tweeddale from The Glencairn Glass. They said: ‘Everything about this feels authentic. In fact, the only thing that’s not believable is that this could be a debut novel.’Kirsty Nicholson, Design and Marketing Manager at the awards sponsor Glencairn Crystal, said: ‘A huge congratulations to Tariq Ashkanani on winning the McIlvanney Prize with his page-turning thriller The Midnight King, and to David Goodman on receiving the Debut Prize for his gripping first novel A Reluctant Spy. Being a Scottish family company, we are proud to sponsor these distinguished annual awards with the Glencairn Glass, the official glass for whisky – both of which are deeply rooted in Scotland. It is an honour to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on such exceptional authors in the wonderful world of crime fiction.’
The prize giving was followed by the inaugural Bloody Scotland Day of the Deid procession with actors and local pipeband in full make up led by the two winners and an effigy of Sir Ian Rankin. It concluded at the Albert Halls where the ‘mystery authors’ behind Evelyn Clarke’s, The Ending Writes Itself, (HQ, 7 April 2026) were finally revealed to be #1 Sunday Times bestselling author, V.E. Schwab and longtime friend and screenwriter Cat Clarke. V.E. Schwab is best known for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Bury Our Bones. HarperCollins acquired rights in a nine publisher auction and will be publishing simultaneously in the US and Australia.
Highlights on Saturday included Mick Herron (author behind TV series Slow Horses), broadcasters Steph McGovern, Jeremy Vine and The Reverend Richard Coles, bestselling writer Kate Atkinson, actor Richard Armitage and superstar of American crime fiction Kathy Reichs. The day concluded with a Bloody Scotland take on Crime Family Fortunes and the sold-out Karaoke at the Coo where famous authors took to the mic.
Abir Mukherjee with Steph McGovern and Jeremy VineMick HerronIan RankinIan Rankin photographed with members of the Rubber Chicken Theatre in Stirling, Scotland at Bloody Scotland 2025.
All photos (c) Bloody Scotland International Crime Festival
Winter storms lash the Isles of Scilly, when DI Ben Kitto ferries the islands’ priest to St Helen’s. Father Michael intends to live as a pilgrim in the ruins of an ancient church on the uninhabited island, but an ugly secret is buried among the rocks. Digging frantically in the sand, Ben’s dog, Shadow, unearths the emaciated remains of a young woman.
The discovery chills Ben to the core. The victim is Vietnamese, with no clear link to the community – and her killer has made sure that no one will find her easily.
The storm intensifies as the investigation gathers pace. Soon Scilly is cut off by bad weather, with no help available from the mainland. Ben is certain the killer is hiding in plain sight. He knows they are waiting to kill again – and at unimaginable cost.
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I made a basic rookie mistake, accidentally of course, and for first time since my teenage years, I read the last paragraph of Deadman’s Pool. However, I managed to keep it at the back of my mind as I got pulled into the unknown world of the Scilly Islands which after a while felt like the landscapes and realities of the distant Nordic areas. That was a strange experience as I’ve been to distant edges of Cornwall before but no further. My non-existent knowledge of the tightly knit communities on the archipelago ‘You can’t sneeze without someone knowing round here’ changed as I followed the story. The unique location, shaped by unforgiving nature, sea and wind, becomes a character of its own in the series featuring my new favourite policeman / investigator. The islands are beautiful. Harsh living conditions make their inhabitants and the visitors truly appreciate the atmosphere, fauna and flora. They also created self-assured groups of people who feel they can trust and support one another as they’re bound by the same values, similar hardships, hope for the future. In this context of being close together, and dependable on the weather to reach mainland, it seems impossible that anything truly bad can happen: ‘Tight communities offer you protection, unless you have something to hide.’ Sure, past historical events never neglected the archipelago, perfect for pirates and smugglers. There were death, disease, riches, conflicts… But times and things change, yes? Well…
DI Ben Kitto is a solid character and I would absolutely spend time in his company. In a way this is my chance to read seven earlier novels in Kate Rhodes’ Isles of ScillyMysteries series. The snippets of background information of how he had developed as a person and a professional were scattered around the story and inviting to reach for previous books. Having left for London years ago and then returned home to settle down with his wife Nina and a year-old son, Ben feels deep connection to the place and the locals: ‘Reassurance is our biggest role in a community like this, where policing often feels more like social work.’ The most recent events shake his beliefs, though.
Second in command at the police station, he takes charge of the investigation as his superior (and sadly a micromanager) DCI Madron has to withdraw due to health reasons. Finding a young woman’s body on the uninhabited island, followed by discovery of a barely alive baby left to die, push Ben to the brink as the hunt for the killer unfolds, and his personal life is affected in a terrible way. The difficult process of police work among friends, colleagues and neighbours forces him also to rethink the role of people with authority and whether trust can be given or earned: ‘The islands’ mindset of rugged individualism doesn’t sit well with law and order.’ Additionally, islands’ youngsters claim that there is danger lurking underneath the surface of safe environment, local power holders and conspiracy theories about human trafficking. They talk about children brought from poor countries and then sold as slaves. Which in itself is horrifying.
Kate Rhodes brilliantly creates strong characters, believable crimes and realistic island locations that perfectly evoke Cornwall’s complex history and stunning geography. Haunting mood of Deadman’s Pool brings other distinct locations to mind, such as Faroe Islands or isolated places in Iceland or northern Norway. The plotting is superb, with many strands of emotion that culminate in chilling realisation that evil might live very near us. Deadman’s Pool, published by Orenda Books, is out on 25th September and can be pre-ordered now.
Outstanding crime fiction – twelve crime novels from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have made the longlist for the 2025 Petrona Award for the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. They are:
Samuel Bjørk – Dead Island tr. Charlotte Barslund (Norway, Bantam)
Stella Blómkvist – Murder Under the Midnight Sun tr. Quentin Bates (Iceland, Corylus Books)
Pascal Engman – The Widows tr. Neil Smith (Sweden, Legend Press)
Malin Persson Giolito – Deliver Me tr. Rachel Willson-Broyles (Sweden, Simon & Schuster)
Óskar Guðmundsson – The Dancer tr. Quentin Bates (Iceland, Corylus Books)
Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger – Victim tr. Megan E Turney (Norway, Orenda Books)
Jo Nesbø – Blood Ties tr. Robert Ferguson (Norway, Harvill Secker)
Aslak Nore – The Sea Cemetery tr. Deborah Dawkin (Norway, MacLehose Press)
Sólveig Pálsdóttir – Shrouded tr. Quentin Bates (Iceland, Corylus Books)
Satu Rämö – The Clues in the Fjord tr. Kristian London (Finland, Zaffre)
Max Seeck – Ghost Island tr. Kristian London (Finland, Mountain Leopard Press)
Gunnar Staalesen – Pursued by Death tr. Don Bartlett (Norway, Orenda Books)
The longlist contains a mix of newer and more established authors including previous Petrona Award winners Pascal Engman, Malin Persson Giolito, Jørn Lier Horst, and Gunnar Staalesen. Both large and small publishers are represented on the longlist, with Corylus Books having an impressive three entries. The breakdown by country is Norway (5), Iceland (3), Finland (2) and Sweden (2).
The shortlist will be announced on 18 September 2025.
The Petrona Award 2025 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, 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 Petrona team would like to thank our sponsor, David Hicks, for his continuing support 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 award is open to crime fiction in translation, either written by a Scandinavian author or set in Scandinavia and published in the UK in the previous calendar year. More information on the history of the Award and previous winners can be found at The Petrona Award website.
A young criminologist Helgi Reykdal is finishing his MA dissertation on so called ‘deaths at the sanatorium’, a thirty-years-old case. Stuck in an unhappy relationship and unable to decide on own future in the UK or in Iceland, Helgi focuses instead on what he thinks were murders and begins to follow his far-fetched theory.
Old sanatoria are not fun places, especially if they are in quite isolated locations and provide care for very ill or dying people. Akureyri tuberculosis sanatorium was such a place, as it stood high up in the mountains in the northern Iceland, surrounded by beautiful nature and very dark memories. In the 1950’s there were still many cases of TB and the medical staff did the best they could to ease their patients’ pain, though death and suffering were always present. In 1983 only one wing of the hospital building remained open to allow conducting of the research, and only six employees worked there: two doctors, two nurses, a caretaker and a young research assistant. When one of them, nurse Yrsa, was found dead in horrible circumstances in her office, others initially became suspects, and an ambitious detective Sverrir Eggertsson was called from Reykjavik. He conducted investigation, assisted by more experienced Hulda Hermannsdóttir, also from CID in the capital, aiming to wrap up the case as quickly as possible. Hulda, known from a previous series of Ragnar Jónasson’s books, wasn’t so keen to follow flaky evidence from a nurse Tinna but had no say. A caretaker Broddi was arrested. Then a body of a doctor was found on the ground. It seemed a suicide, and so Sverrir concluded the investigation. Case was closed but not exactly forgotten.
Nearly thirty years later Helgi Reykdal, a young criminologist finishing his MA dissertation on so called ‘deaths at the sanatorium’, had decided to re-examine a cold case from a purely academic perspective, armed with the latest criminological theories. Fascinated by the classic whodunnit detective stories, Helgi started digging through old documents and news reports, and reluctantly made contact with the sanatorium’s members of staff who in a meantime moved to Reykjavik. Although his intention wasn’t to become an investigator in this situation, his dedication proved very useful.
I appreciated the complex intertwined history between the main characters in the story spanning nearly sixty years and shown from different perspectives. Here the author brilliantly places opinions and thoughts in the social context. Personal experiences and feelings at the time influenced the explanation of possible reasons behind two deaths which Helgi considered to be murders. Small clues are thrown around the novel and any self-respecting fan of Agatha Christie would be able to draw lines between them. Aided by the unsettling connections between people now and then, the sense of foreboding and danger never leaves the reader, and as Helgi keeps working on his semi-investigation, the tension steadily grows. I must admit it was difficult to warm up to the main characters but I understood why they behaved the way they did, regardless of what their moral compasses could have shown. For example Helgi’s uneasy relationship with his girlfriend Bergthóra affects his indecisiveness and how he deals with life generally, or why Braggi’s sense of injustice and despair colour the novel’s mood. Overall Death at the Sanatorium, translated by Victoria Cribb, is an engaging read in Jónasson’s trademark style, combining classic solid ‘technical’ analysis of crime and the strong sense of place.
Good evening to you all… Hope 1st January has been a good relaxing day. I went for a long walk in the forest with my son, we fell down several times on the icy paths covered by new not-snowman-type snow, then we helped our best friends with snow shovelling and had hot dogs by a fire in the cold white garden. Feeling lazy and content I want to recommend links to the pages that you should or could follow, pages by wonderful bloggers who enjoyed the novel below…
The new year 2025 is very young and full of promises for all of us as we look into the future and want the goodness of the world to win. Again and again. Just like it often happens in the books of various types, and especially in the crime fiction genre. And right now I want to go back to the recent past for long enough to enjoy the strange marvellous beauty of Chris Ould’s latest translation: The Island of Liesby the mysterious O. Huldumann, published a couple of months ago. I organised a blogtour for this Nordic Noir book and so did not write a review for my own blog. However, if I may I would love to share what our favourite Scandi Brit / Icelander Quentin Bates wrote here: The Huldumann Enigma.
The Island of Lies follows Citizen Detective / Citizen Detective, also translated by Chris Ould who is much better known among crime fiction fans as the author of the fantstic Faroese Trilogy, set, yes, in the Faroe Islands and seen from the perspective of a semi-ousider. Details and reviews can be found in the links.
The winner of the 2024 Petrona Award for the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year is:
DEAD MEN DANCING by Jógvan Isaksen, translated from the Faroese by Marita Thomsen and published by Norvik Press. Jógvan Isaksen will receive a trophy, and both the author and translator will receive a cash prize.
The judges’ statement on DEAD MEN DANCING:
Similar to the story of the ancient god Prometheus, a man has been shackled to rocks on the Faroe Islands, and left to drown on the beach. The discovery of his body throws the local community into an unsettling chaos, and as the journalist Hannis Martinsson investigates, he comes across evidence of similar deaths. He realises they are linked to the events in Klaksvík in the 1950s, and a local revolt which tore the community apart. As Martinsson digs into the troubled past, he learns about his country’s history, and also gives the reader a chance to discover what makes the Faroes intriguing and spellbinding. Being a largely unknown territory to most, Dead Men Dancing includes a useful introduction to the modern reality of these islands by the CEO of the Faroese Broadcasting Corporation, mirrored by the social commentary that lies at the heart of the book itself, and the portrayal of the relationship with Denmark throughout the years.
This is only Isaksen’s second novel to be translated into English following Walpurgis Tide. This contemporary Faroese crime fiction writer places his characters in the wild, beautiful, and unforgiving environment and allows them to search for truth. The judges found the location to be absolutely integral to the unfolding of the plot, and how the raw natural beauty of the Faroes served as a reflection of the thoughts and actions of the characters.
Dogged and uncompromising, Martinsson is a superb creation, similar in his ‘detective’ thinking and approach to Gunnar Staalesen‘s lonely wolf PI Varg Veum, which the judging panel found very appealing. Martinsson’s gloomy demeanour and natural cynicism was beautifully balanced throughout with the more empathetic side of his nature, and in the age-old tradition of crime fiction his personal and professional relationships are fraught with tension.
The translation by Marita Thomsen is both accomplished and a little unusual, drawing as she does on the vernacular and intonation of the Scottish dialect. Again, the judges found this to be refreshingly different, and enjoyed the unique cadence and rhythm this gave to the book overall, an essential quality of any book in translation.
The judges agreed that in Dead Men Dancing the balance between location, plot and characterisation worked well, incorporating some of the familiar tropes of crime fiction, but also providing a refreshingly different reading experience. This was achieved by the depiction of the Faroes themselves and their history, working in symmetry with the narrative, and also by the characterisation of Martinsson, reminiscent of the traditional spare style in Nordic crime fiction. The assured and distinctive translation was also a significant factor in the judges’ overall decision.
Jógvan Isaksen, author of Dead Men Dancing
Statements from the winning author, translator and publisher:
Jógvan Isaksen (author):
I feel it is a great honour to win this award, especially when I see that the competition includes several of my favourite Scandinavian authors. I am also proud to represent my country, the Faroe Islands, a self-governing part of the Danish Kingdom with its own language and traditions. Furthermore there are special bonds between the UK and The Faroes since the friendly occupation during World War II. I personally became a member of Collins Crime Club when I was only thirteen, and fought my way through crime novels I could hardly read. But at last I got there and have for many years been an admirer of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Eric Ambler, Colin Dexter, Ian Rankin and many, many more.
Marita Thomsen (translator):
It was thrilling to translate the Faroese novel Dead Men Dancing and a great honour to receive the Petrona Award. I am privileged to find myself in the company of the master crafters of stories and languages shortlisted this year, congratulations to all! My thanks first and foremost to Jógvan Isaksen for keeping us in suspense, as he navigates the rugged outlines of the psychology and wild shores of the Faroe Islands. This book offers a fascinating window into regional tensions in the archipelago and historical tensions in the Kingdom of Denmark. Thank you to the passionate Norvik team for expert guidance and editorial advice. And to Richard and Jane for your patience and boundless enthusiasm for everything, even the difference between rowing boats and oared boats.
Janet Garton (Norvik Press Commissioning Editor):
We are delighted that Dead Men Dancing has won this year’s Petrona Award. Jógvan Isaksen is a master of suspense, and his maverick amateur sleuth Hannis Martinsson takes the reader on hair-raising trips by land and sea before – of course – solving the mystery before the frustrated police. The Martinsson series was the basis of the successful TV series TROM, and this is the second of the series to be published by Norvik Press, after Walpurgis Tide in 2016. Hopefully there will be more to come!
The Petrona team would like to thank David Hicks for his continuing sponsorship of the Petrona Award. Petrona Award 2024 – shortlist
Brilliant academic and government consultant Hans Rekke and his unofficial work partner Detective Micaela Vargas are the latest duo following the well-established ‘method’ of the famous Sherlock and Watson partnership. However, they did not make a conscious decision to embark together on the crime-fighting journey. Beginnings of their cooperation are in Crime Review – Dark Music (2022), first novel of the new gripping series by David Lagercrantz, which is absolutely worth reading. Translation of both by Ian Giles is superb: flowing and engaging capturing the attention. I would expect that collaboration between Lagercrantz and Giles will continue as the complex threads of Fatal Gambit invite further investigations.
As the modern take on Sherlock-Watson theme continues, it is not difficult to realise who is who here, and how that uneasy working relationship slowly embraces friendship and deeper understanding of personal motives. At times it is such a slow painful process that not only the readers might find it frustrating – the main characters as well, especially Vargas (but devil’s in the details). She had to move into Rekke’s vast apartment as a lodger because of her own private situation. Living with the professor who is both disillusioned and disgraced, and surviving on the diet of various pills and self-loathing, creates many practical and emotional challenges. Contrast between wealth and social standing, mostly going years back (to be precise) of Rekke versus down-to-earth attitude and immigrant background of Vargas amplify the difficulties within the Swedish society, too.
Main story strands focus on a missing woman Claire Lidman who was confirmed as dead in a fire fourteen years ago. Yet she suddenly appears in the background of a recent holiday photo taken in Venice. Her still-hopeful husband Samuel Lidman brings this anomaly to the pair. Scepticism seems to be the only reasonable response as the earlier investigation into Claire’s death showed no doubt. Rekke cannot deal with this cold case: he is very concerned that his daughter Julia has a secret new boyfriend and there are nuanced signs of dangerous darkness. At the same time he becomes aware of hearing a name from his past, a memory of a genius rival, a mastermind of words, deeds and manipulation. Enter Gabor Morovia, lapsed mathematician and evil player of chess and women. As a villain he is definitely outstanding, as a link in the chain holding lives of Rekke and others which will become obvious as the plot intensifies. This villainous creation takes me back to the latest book in the Millenium series: The Girl in The Eagle’s Talons where Karin Smirnoff pulled all the stops, just like Lagercrantz in his contribution to the Stig Larsson’s legacy. But back to Fatal Gambit.
Vargas tries to balance her life in the realm divided by the law-abiding profession she has chosen and the reality of criminal underworld. Her gangster brother threatens to silence her if she doesn’t get off his back, and he absolutely means that. Caught in the web of real and perceived violence, lack of support and understanding, and confusing emotions towards Rekke, she struggles with convincing others of making the right steps. When she finds out identity of Julia’s mysterious boyfriend, her fragile world collapses. However, this is not the time to stop and hide.
Perilous mystery opens avenues that nobody anticipated. Symbolic chess game is already on and Hans Rekke and Micaela Vargas are caught in the bigger game of the post iron-curtain connections, political machinations, big money and fear. Conclusion of the Claire case and exploration of various small elements in this picture affected them in deeply personal ways, and a as result brought their professional lives closer. And I loved the tension, drama and moral questions along the way.
Six impressive crime novels from the Kingdom of Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have been shortlisted for the 2024 Petrona Award for the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. The shortlist is announced today, Thursday 10th October and is as follows:
· Anne Mette Hancock – The Collector tr. Tara F Chace (Denmark, Swift Press)
· Jørn Lier Horst – Snow Fall tr. Anne Bruce (Norway, Michael Joseph)
· Arnaldur Indriðason – The Girl by the Bridge tr. Philip Roughton (Iceland, Harvill Secker)
· Jógvan Isaksen – Dead Men Dancing tr. Marita Thomsen (Faroe Islands (Kingdom of Denmark), Norvik Press)
· Åsa Larsson – The Sins of our Fathers tr. Frank Perry (Sweden, MacLehose Press)
· Yrsa Sigurðardottir – The Prey tr. Victoria Cribb (Iceland, Hodder & Stoughton)
The winning title will be announced on 14 November 2024.
The Petrona Award is open to crime fiction in translation, either written by a Scandinavian author or set in Scandinavia, and published in the UK in the previous calendar year. The Petrona team would like to thank our sponsor, David Hicks, for his continued generous support of the Award.
The judges’ comments on the shortlist:
There were 31 entries for the 2024 Petrona Award from six countries (Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden). This year’s shortlist sees both the Kingdom of Denmark and Iceland represented with two novels each and Sweden and Norway with one novel each. The judges selected the shortlist from a strong pool of candidates with the shortlisted authors including Petrona Award winners Jørn Lier Horst and Yrsa Sigurðardottir. As ever, we are extremely grateful to the six translators whose expertise and skill have allowed readers to access these outstanding examples of Scandinavian crime fiction, and to the publishers who continue to champion and support translated fiction.
The judges’ comments on each of the shortlisted titles:
Anne Mette Hancock – THE COLLECTOR translated by Tara F Chace (Denmark, Swift Press)
When ten-year-old Lukas disappears from his Copenhagen school, police investigators discover that the boy had a peculiar obsession with pareidolia: a phenomenon that makes him see faces in random things. A photo on his phone, posted just hours before his disappearance, shows an old barn door that resembles a face. Journalist Heloise Kaldan thinks she recognises the barn – but from where? When Lukas’s blood-flecked jacket is found, DNA evidence points to Thomas Strand, a former soldier suffering from severe PTSD, but then Strand turns up dead in his apartment.
This is a complex thriller of buried secrets, that beautifully wrong-foots the reader from beginning to end.
Jørn Lier Horst – SNOW FALL translated by Anne Bruce (Norway, Michael Joseph)
The discovery of an Australian backpacker’s body in Spain prompts a group of amateur true crime detectives into action. They are scattered online around the world, attempting to solve the mystery of her death. Astri, a young Norwegian woman whose intense pursuit takes her closer than anyone else to solving the case, prepares to reveal her findings and then goes offline. When William Wisting reluctantly gets involved in the investigation, he is faced with the unusual, unorthodox investigators of varied skills and intentions, and puzzling connections.
A slow methodological approach gathers pace and pulls readers into a complex web of low-key international ties. As always Lier Horst delves deep into the psychology and motives of the characters, creating a slow-burning police procedural of empathy and human interest, firmly rooted in Norwegian society.
Arnaldur Indriðason – THE GIRL BY THE BRIDGE translated by Philip Roughton (Iceland, Harvill Secker)
When a young woman known for drug smuggling goes missing, her elderly grandparents have no choice but to call friend of the family, retired detective Konrád. Still looking for his own father’s murderer, Konrád agrees to investigate the case, but digging into the past reveals more than he set out to discover, and a strange connection to a little girl who drowned in the Reykjavík city pond decades ago recaptures everyone’s attention.
One of Iceland’s most established authors, Indriðasonskilfully interweaves different timelines along with assured characterisation, in this second book to feature Konrád.
Jógvan Isaksen – DEAD MEN DANCING translated by Marita Thomsen (Faroe Islands (Kingdom of Denmark), Norvik Press)
Similar to the story of the ancient god Prometheus, a man has been shackled to rocks and left to drown on the beach. But this time it happens on the Faroe Islands. The discovery of his body throws the local community into an unsettling chaos. As the journalist Hannis Martinsson investigates, he comes across evidence of similar deaths. He realises they are linked to the events in Klaksvik in the 1950s, and a local revolt which tore the community apart. As Martinsson digs into the past, he learns about his country’s history, and the reader has a chance to discover what makes the Faroes intriguing and spellbinding.
This is only Isaksen’s second novel to be translated into English. The contemporary Faroese crime fiction writer places his characters in the wild, beautiful, and unforgiving environment and allows them to search for truth. Dogged and uncompromising, Martinsson is a superb creation.
Åsa Larsson – THE SINS OF OUR FATHERS translated by Frank Perry (Sweden, MacLehose Press)
Rebecka Martinsson, disillusioned with her challenging job as a prosecutor, initially has no intention of looking into a fifty-year-old case involving the missing father of Swedish Olympic boxing champion, Börje Ström. Agreeing, however, to the dying wish of her forensic pathologist friend she begins to follow links when a body is found in a freezer at the house of a deceased alcoholic. The grim realities of life in the area years ago, and the current influx of criminals attracted by developments in Kiruna make for a tough investigation and difficult soul-searching, coupled with Rebecka’s own history in a foster family.
Larsson remains a wise observant social commentator and creator of a gripping, suspenseful and utterly moving series, with her eye to the past and the future, and emotive style. Delicate and relevant humour adds hope to the fragile lives of the main characters.
Yrsa Sigurðardottir – THE PREY translated by Victoria Cribb (Iceland, Hodder & Stoughton)
Kolbeinn has been called to his old home as the new owners have uncovered some photos, and a muddied child’s shoe bearing the name ‘Salvor’. A name Kolbeinn doesn’t recognise. Soon after, his mother’s carers say that she has been asking for her daughter, Salvor.
Jóhanna is working with the search and rescue team in Höfn to find two couples from Reykjavik. Their phones’ last location, the road leading up into the highlands. In a harsh winter, the journey is treacherous, and they soon find the first body.
Hjörvar works at the Stokksnes Radar Station in the highlands. He’s alone when the phone connected to the gate rings: the first time it’s ever done so. Above the interference he can hear a child’s voice asking for her mother.
How are these events connected?
Sigurðardottir balances these three storylines, each with her trademark creeping sense of unease, in this dark and disturbing standalone.
The judges
Jackie Farrant – creator of RAVEN CRIME READS and a bookseller/ Area Commercial Support for a major book chain in the UK. Ewa Sherman – translator and writer, and blogger at NORDIC LIGHTHOUSE. The Award administrator is Karen Meek – owner of the EURO CRIME blog and website.
Further information on the history of the Award and the previous winners can be found on the Petrona Award website.
Nordic Lighthouse 