Hi shoppers!
Ok, I know I said I’d only be doing one big gift guide this year but a few of you lovely folks have reached out asking specifically for literary thriller recs and you know I cannot resist inducting more people into the cult of nordic noir. I’ve probably read 100+ Scandi noir books this year so I’ve compiled a list of the ones that I think define why it is SUCH a perfect genre and that I think would make interesting and unique gifts for the book lovers on your list. Perfect, stocking stuffers — great last minute gifts too or to add onto a larger gift that needs a little extra flair!
The Snowman - Jo Nesbo: The first Scandi I read and a classic for a reason. Nesbo is one of the most well known Scandi authors and this is part of his Harry Hole series which is fantastic, but it also works as a solo novel. SO dark but so delicious and a great starter Scandi for anyone with a strong stomach.
The Tenant - Katrine Engberg: I love Engberg’s writing and this is the first in a really strong series; like all Scandi’s it’s as much about the internal lives about all the characters as it is about the murders and it’s another great starter Scandi.
Hidden in Snow - Viveca Sten: Sten is an icon of Scandi lit and I devoured this rather large novel in a matter of days. This is a perfect winter read; super cozy, snowy vibes — the prose is beautiful and the plot is so clearly crafted by a pro.
The Lost Village - Camilla Sten: A standout novel from Viveca Sten’s daughter, this is a breathtaking commentary on mental illness and gender and somehow Sten wraps her readers up in the flaws of her characters without you even realizing it. Delicious and atmospheric; definitely a read with the lights on pick.
The Nightmare & The Sandman - Lars Kepler: I’ve read the entire Lars Kepler Killer Instinct series and there’s not a dud in the bunch but these are the two I would start with if you're a thriller lover. They’re like, if Silence of the Lambs was somehow more depraved and also turned into a 9 book (and counting) series. I literally *never* know who the killer is when I read Kepler and I also love that it’s a husband and wife duo behind the pen name. Couple goals???
A Nearly Normal Family: A Novel - M. T. Edvardsson: The most recent Scandi I finished this year, and easily one of my favorites, this book was so incredibly sharp and powerful and truly kept me guessing until the very last word. A beautiful examination of what it means to love unconditionally, the tumult of being a teenage girl, and gender violence. One of the most unique and thought-provoking books I’ve ever read.
The Keeper of Lost Causes - Jussi Adler-Olson: An incredibly visceral read, also the first in a series — this is a race against the clock, claustrophobic novel that kept me up until like, 5am one night to finish it. Like so many Scandi’s it manages to create empathy for the villain in such an unexpected way.
Blaze Me a Sun - Christoffer Carlsson: An instant classic Scandi — a dense and thoughtful police procedural with characters who feel as real as family and friends by the end of it; Carlsson is a beautiful storyteller and never once did I guess what was going to happen next.
The Forgotten Girls - Sarah Blaedel: I’ll read pretty much anything Blaedel writes but this was the first book I read by her and it’s absolutely perfect. A nuanced character study as much as it is a thriller — all the hype about this is deserved and then some.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson: Do I even need to explain this one? A perfect book, a perfect series, perfect characters, perfect plot. I’d say this is equal parts spy thriller, character study, and nordic noir — a classic for a reason and for any reader on your list, I’d say a must have.
Dissolved - Sara Blaedel and Mads Peder Nordbo: The newest release on this list, I was so intrigued to see Blaedel cowriting with a Scandi colleague and wow this did not disappoint. A fascinating commentary on religion (a common theme in so many Scandi’s) with so much depth and heart — a study on family dynamics as much as it is about murder and violence.
The Ice Princess - Camilla Läckberg: Läckberg is considered the Agatha Christie of Scandinavia and it’s easy to see why. This is the first in her famous Erica Falck series and it absolutely blew me away. It is everything I love about nordic noir — cozy atmospheric environments juxtaposed with the harshness of life’s worst traumas. A story about love, family, and the things we do for one another that is essential reading for anyone who loves thrillers or Scandi fiction.
Snow Drift - Helene Tursten: Tursten is another giant in Scandi fiction, known for her Irene Huss series — but this book is part of her newest series and it is the perfect snowy murder mystery. It has a hearty dose of childhood trauma and an absolutely badass female lead.
Jar City -Arnaldur Indridason: Another classic for a reason, Jar City is one of the most emotionally gutting and moving novels I read this year. It is so beautifully written, so thrilling, so tightly woven — you absolutely never know what’s about to happen and you cannot stop reading until you do. It’s about the devastating reality of the human condition, the need for familial connection and goddamn so much more.
Corpse Flower - Anne Mette Hancock: A newer read on this list, Hancock’s storytelling reminds me a lot of so many of the seasoned Scandi writers on this list. Full of heartfelt character studies, and brimming with dynamic female characters who are anything but tropes, it’s a perfect choice for a new-to-Scandi reader.