English Translations of Scandinavian/Nordic Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

For July 2023 we presently have 4 read-alongs. We will add books as they become known to us. Good reading.

1) You Can't See Me: The twisty, breathtaking prequel to the international bestselling Forbidden Iceland series… by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir to be published on the 6th of July 2023. Iceland.

A wealthy family is investigated and dark secrets are exposed when a body is found on the isolated Icelandic lava fields outside the hotel where they've gathered for a reunion … the chilling, gripping prequel to the addictive Forbidden Iceland series… 'A tense, twisty page-turner that you'll have serious trouble putting down' Catherine Ryan Howard 'In a Forbidden Iceland novel, there's no terrain more treacherous than the mind … a deep-dark thriller to read with the lights on' A J Finn 'Riveting, exciting, entertaining and packed with intrigue … like Succession on ice' Liz Nugent **WINNER of the STORYTEL AWARD for Crime Book of the Year*** –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The wealthy, powerful Snæberg clan has gathered for a family reunion at a futuristic hotel set amongst the dark lava flows of Iceland's remote Snæfellsnes peninsula. Petra Snæberg, a successful interior designer, is anxious about the event, and her troubled teenage daughter, Lea, whose social-media presence has attracted the wrong kind of followers. Ageing carpenter Tryggvi is an outsider, only tolerated because he's the boyfriend of Petra's aunt, but he's struggling to avoid alcohol because he knows what happens when he drinks … Humble hotel employee, Irma, is excited to meet this rich and famous family and observe them at close quarters … perhaps too close… As the weather deteriorates and the alcohol flows, one of the guests disappears, and it becomes clear that there is a prowler lurking in the dark. But is the real danger inside … within the family itself? Masterfully cranking up the suspense, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir draws us into an isolated, frozen setting, where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted, as the dark secrets and painful pasts of the Snæberg family are uncovered … and the shocking truth revealed. Succession meets And Then There Were None … A Golden Age mystery for the 21st Century, with a shocking twist.

2) Passage to Greenland by Judith Cranswick to be published on the 17th of July 2023. Greenland.

A body in the lift, a stolen handbag and a break-in
Amanda’s hopes of an enjoyable, relaxing cruise are dashed when she finds a body in one of the lifts. The captain and his staff appear to be treating the woman’s death as a heart attack, but Amanda is far from convinced. It doesn’t help that the dead woman appeared to have upset everyone with whom she came in contact, but is that sufficient grounds for wanting her dead?
The questions keep coming. Who stole Doreen’s handbag? Why did someone break into her cabin? Who is the mysterious Mr Brown Suit?
With a ship full of suspects, this is as a much as a whydunit as a whodunnit. This is the first in a new series of British cozy crime novels set on a cruise ship by the author of the popular Fiona Mason Mysteries and the Aunt Jessica Mysteries. There’s a touch of humour with plenty of unexpected twists and red herrings that will keep you trying to solve the puzzles until the last page.
Agatha Christie in a modern setting!

3) The Mammoth Hunt: A Constable Petra Jensen Novella by Christoffer Petersen to be published on the 22nd of July 2023. Greenland.

When a party of enthusiastic fossil hunters descends on the remote Arctic village of Uummannaq, Constable Petra ‘Piitalaat’ Jensen picks up the pieces when one of them is left behind.

The Mammoth Hunt is the seventeenth in the Greenland Missing Persons series of novellas and novels set in the harsh, unpredictable Arctic, rich in tradition, myth and culture.

The Mammoth Hunt continues the adventures of Constable Petra ‘Piitalaat’ Jensen, ably assisted by interesting characters, together with a few familiar faces making cameo appearances in the series.

The Greenland Missing Persons stories are set prior to The Ice Star and Seven Graves, One Winter .

4) Derailed: A Detective Ravn Thriller by Michael Katz Krefeld to be published on the 25th of July 2023. Denmark.

A grieving cop goes on the hunt for a missing person—and is drawn into a serial killer’s dark web—in this propulsive thriller from Denmark’s King of Crime.

Criminal investigator Thomas Ravnsholdt—better known as Ravn—is on leave from Copenhagen’s special crime unit following the brutal murder of his wife. Wracked with guilt over her death, Ravn has withdrawn to a ramshackle houseboat with only his grumpy Old English Bulldog to keep him company. But his self-imposed exile ends when a friend asks him for help finding a young woman who disappeared without a trace a few years earlier.

The investigation brings Ravn back to his former workplace and the underworld he’d hoped to leave behind. All evidence suggests the girl has been sold to the crime boss Slavros, who runs a network of brothels across Europe. When the trail leads to Stockholm, Ravn is pulled into the seedy underbelly of the Swedish capital. As he races to determine if the missing girl is still alive, his investigation is complicated by the presence of a sadistic murderer who displays his victims in the scrapyards of the city—and has his next target squarely in his sights.

Fast-paced, moody, and atmospheric, Derailed is the first book in another exciting, international-bestselling series from Michael Katz Krefeld, award-winning author of the Inspector Cecilie Mars Thrillers .

5) Splinter by Paul McHugh to be published on the 11th of July 2023. Norway.

A sudden attack, a daring response...

On the shore of Oslo Fjord, teenagers Kristian Thorsen and Helene Berg
watch in shock and horror as their world is upended by a Nazi invasion.

Driven apart by tragedy and trauma, Helene and Kristian take different paths
to join the Resistance, but fate soon swirls them back together. Like many
who rebel against the invaders, they must become spies and covert warriors
on the fly, making huge mistakes along the way. Yet even on such a tortuous
path, they are surprised by moments of grace.

When Helene manages to steal secret Nazi plans for precision bombing of
England, Kristian launches a life-or-death mission to get this crucial
intelligence across the North Sea and into Allied hands. He'll try anything to
defeat the fascist occupiers—and to win Helene's heart.

6) Invasion by Robert Tregay to be published on the 3rd of July 2023. Norway.

It’s late 1939 and a body is dumped in the dark, icy fjord.

Soon after, a British student, Thomas Galtung, arrives and is quickly targeted as a foreign spy in Robert Tregay’s gripping tale of love, intrigue and survival.
INVASION transports readers to the tumultuous events of the Nazi takeover of Norway. As the invaders seize the capital, Thomas is drawn into a desperate plan to save the country’s gold reserves. Now on the run, he must rely on childhood friends who risk everything to keep him alive.

But not everyone is who they seem. Who can he trust as ruthless assassins close in? And in the pitiless cold of a long and brutal winter, can he solve the haunting mystery of Marta, a girl who vanished years ago from an isolated farm high in the forests?

7) Uma tragédia familiar by M. T. Edvardsson to be published on the 25th of July 2023. Sweden. This was published in English last month (The Woman Inside).

Numa pequena cidade universitária da Suécia, dois policiais atendem um chamado e se deparam com uma cena aterrorizante: um casal sem vida dentro da própria casa em um bairro pacato. Novo thriller do autor de Uma família quase perfeita, que deu origem à série da Netflix.

Steven e Regina Rytter são um casal abastado, vivem em uma mansão deslumbrante e aparentam uma vida perfeita. Mas há algo fora do comum: a esposa não sai de casa há meses, tomada por uma grave e misteriosa doença.

Depois de alguns desentendimentos com a funcionária anterior, Steven contrata uma nova faxineira, Karla, para cuidar da residência dos Rytter duas vezes por semana. A jovem chegou na cidade há pouco tempo, e trabalha para se manter no curso de direito. Ela aluga um quarto simples no apartamento de Bill Olsson, um homem gentil que, viúvo e desempregado, passa por maus bocados para sustentar a filha de oito anos.

Conforme a situação de Bill vai ficando cada vez mais crítica, Karla se vê obrigada a fazer uma escolha terrível. E quando os Rytter são encontrados mortos, tanto Karla quanto Bill precisarão revisitar um passado que preferiam evitar.

Todas as pessoas em Uma tragédia familiar escondem algum segredo, mas alguma delas seria capaz de cometer um assassinato? Um thriller eletrizante de um mestre do suspense que apresenta uma história sobre dependência, justiça e a linha tênue entre o certo e o errado.

8) A PLOT TO DELAY AGING by Jorn Heldrup to be publishednon the 16th of July 2023. Denmark.

The final book of the 21st Century Trilogy follows Lars on a journey to Denmark in his old age to participate in a medical research program. However, his trip takes a dangerous turn when he is pursued by unknown criminals in Copenhagen. Lars returns to New Zealand, hoping to leave the danger behind in Europe.

9) Icelandic Nature and Supernatural Phenomena: Exploring the Mystical Tapestry of Land and Lore by Wanda Welch to be published on the 21st of July 2023. Iceland.

"Icelandic Nature and Supernatural Phenomena," delves into the enigmatic essence of the extraordinary land of Iceland, unveiling the secrets that lie within its volcanoes, glaciers, geothermal areas, and haunted wilderness.
Step into a realm where fiery volcanoes become gateways to otherworldly realms, and ethereal beings inhabit hidden corners of the land.
Discover the legends of ancient spirits and elemental beings that breathe life into Icelandic folklore.
Witness the eerie dance of the Northern Lights as they paint the sky with vibrant colors, leaving you spellbound by their mystical allure.
Through meticulous research and captivating storytelling, this book explores:
the intricate connections between Icelandic culture, nature, and the supernatural.
Delve into the folklore of hidden folk, mischievous elves, and restless spirits, and uncover the profound influence they have on the lives of Icelanders.
Unravel the mysteries of ghostly encounters and UFO sightings that defy conventional explanations,
inviting you to contemplate the boundaries of reality.

Drawing upon scientific investigations; firsthand accounts, and the timeless wisdom of Icelandic folklore, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of the enigmatic forces that shape Iceland's landscapes. From the majestic glaciers that guard ancient secrets to the geothermal areas that unleash nature's energy, you'll embark on a quest for understanding and connection.

10) The eye over the frozen snow by Montgomery Lee to be published on the 19th of July 2023. Iceland.

A dangerous terrorist mysteriously escapes from a high-security UK prison at the start of the Covid 19 pandemic. His escape highlights the shortcomings of the British penal system since the rise to power of Premier Vlado Ivanson, who prioritizes cost-cutting over security.
From here the hunt is on for the most wanted terrorist of recent times, a member of a bloodthirsty organization, Sakinat e'Ala, which plans to carry out the most brutal, bloody and lethal attack of all time.
A thrilling novel of action and adventure from the first to the last page that transports us to the frozen lands of Iceland, which leaves you breathless until its surprising ending.

11) Haunting Season: A Constable David Maratse novella by Christoffer Petersen to be published on the 14th of July 2023. Greenland.

When chasing a brutal adversary across the sea ice, Constable David Maratse loses his dog team and risks losing his mind when he is visited by three ghosts. Haunting Season is a story in five parts...