With all its gloom, November is one of my favorite months of the year. You might wonder what is wrong with me? It is because I can dedicate the whole month to reading my go-to genre, Nordic Noir!
So, what better time to put together my most anticipated post of the year. Here are 10 of my favorite Nordic Noir books I will always recommend.
I don’t think I need to get into more details than that for my regular readers. But for those of you who are new to my page, Nordic Noir is a sub-genre of the thriller category. You can check out my previous post that goes into more detail, linked here:
A Guide to Nordic Noir Authors
I also had a previous post that explained the difference between mystery and thrillers, where I mention Nordic Noir thrillers as well:
Mystery Versus Thriller: The Difference Between the Two Genres Explained
But for today’s post, I would like to mention 10 of my favorite Nordic Noir books that I will always recommend to those interested in getting acquainted with the genre. Let’s get right to it:
Stalker by Lars Kepler
Husband and wife writing duo Lars Kepler is one of the authors I recommend for those who like long, dark, and disturbing thrillers. This atmospheric Nordic Noir book is the 5th installment in the Joona Linna series. It is propulsive and fast-paced, despite its hefty size, like most of the couple’s books are. The first one in the series is the Hypnotist. Their books can be read in order or as standalones, but this is my favorite of the nine I’ve read so far by the authors.
I’m Traveling Alone by Samuel Bjork
Samuel Bjork is one of the more understated Scandinavian authors, but he is definitely worth mentioning. I’m Traveling Alone is one of the best Nordic Noir thrillers you can read, and the first one in the series. I’m currently reading the fourth installment in the Munch and Kruger series, entitled The Wolf. I will see if I will actually love it more than the first one in the series. I wrote an Author Spotlight post featuring Samuel Bjork a couple of years ago, which you can read by clicking on the link below:
Nordic Noir November 2021 Author Spotlight
The Snowman by Jo Nesbo
If you’re not familiar with Norwegian author Jo Nesbo, you are truly missing out. He became famous thanks to his Harry Hole series. The Snowman is actually also a motion picture based on the book, but it doesn’t do it justice. Out of the 13 installments in this series, The Snowman (#7), is actually my favorite. If you plan to start from the beginning, you may do so. But honestly, you can skip to the third one, The Redbreast or even Nemesis, the following one. The books get better and better as the series goes on, but the first two are a flop.
The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe
If you’re new to the Nordic Noir genre, this book will confuse you. Especially if this is the first book you choose to grab. It’s clever and it comes with a shocking twist at the end, but it’s a bit harder to get into. Once you do though, it is hard to put down. This psychological thriller will keep you on your toes, and it will make you wonder what is going on. Once you figure it out, be forewarned, it will blow your mind. Grebe, like many of her fellow Scandinavian writers, has a knack for getting into the human psyche.
The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck
This is a great book to read once fall comes, preferably around Halloween. It has witchy vibes, Nordic Noir style, of course! This is also the first book in a series. The Jessica Niemi series contains four books so far, and I find the author improves with each one. I still recommend you start with this one since it is easier to follow the storyline. Each book has its own independent cases the team tries to solve. Although, by reading them in order you follow the characters’ lives and see how they evolve and grow.
The Crow Girl by Erik Axl Sund
Writing duo Erik Axl Sund is one of the best authors I’ve read who seem to understand the dark mind better than most people, so brace yourselves. This book is quite a ride!
The Crow Girl was recommended to me by Abby Andler, aka Crime by the Book, back when I discovered Bookstagram. So, I find it’s only fair I recommend it to you now.
I must warn you, it is not for the faint of heart. Its subject matter is dark and deeply disturbing, so abstain from reading it if you can’t handle it. It isn’t for everyone, but those of you who enjoy twisted stories will definitely fall in love with The Crow Girl. In North America the series of three books was translated into a huge volume, so that’s another detail you might want to know. The book is over 800 pages, but it reads easily.
Victim Without a Face by Stefan Ahnhem
Another underrated author, Stefan Ahnhem is one of my favorite Scandinavian thriller writers. Victim Without a Face is the first book in the Fabian Risk series, a must-read for Nordic Noir lovers. It is, like most of the books on this list, fast-paced and filled with twists and turns. The characters are flawed yet relatable, hence it is very easy to get immersed in their stories. What I particularly like about his writing style is that he bounces off from one storyline to another flawlessly. While the plot is complex, you still get to follow without getting confused.
The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
Camilla Lackberg is one of my very first Swedish authors I fell in love with after Stieg Larson. Her writing is easygoing and solid, and her books, while filled with great storylines, aren’t as gory and dark as a couple of other Scandinavian authors I’ve mentioned. The Ice Princess is the first book in the Fjallbacka series featuring true crime writer Erica Falck and detective Patrick Hedstrom. The two main characters make this series highly enjoyable, and they do it all while solving various disappearances and murders.
The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup
You might have heard of the Netflix adaptation of this book, but let me tell you: if you think the tv adaptation is good, wait until you read the book. It is very close to perfection. The only reason it’s not is because it had to end. The author is the producer of another favorite Danish series of mine based on a book entitled The Killing. The reason I didn’t include it on its own here is because (hint, hint) it is one of my favorite books of the year.
Back to the Chestnut Man: it is a great book to read in the fall when chestnuts fall to the ground. In French, it is actually entitled Octobre. I read the French version first, since the English version came out later in North America. Whichever language you decide to read it, grab a copy. At the very least watch the series on Netflix if you’re not much into reading these days. It is so atmospheric and so well done, you’ll be glad you gave it a chance.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
And, my number one all-time favorite Nordic Noir thriller that got me loving the genre is The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Stieg Larson is an exceptional writer who unfortunately left us after the third installment in the Millenium series was published.
As some of you know, David Lagerkrantz as well as Karin Smirnoff continued writing the series after Larson’s death. Unfortunately, they didn’t do the trilogy justice. It’s possible the publishers will stop the series after the seventh book, The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons, wasn’t as great as we all expected. But I heard rumors there might be a book #8. We shall see.
Back to my favorite book, possibly ever: I wrote a full review at the very beginning of Books For Mind, which you can read here:
First Book Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
There aren’t any more words to describe how much I adore this book, so pick it up and judge for yourself if you agree that it deserves my high praise.
Concluding Words
This sums up 10 of my favorite Nordic Noir books I will always recommend. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did putting it together.
Nordic Noir is my absolute favorite genre, so I’m your gal if you have any additional questions. Let me know in the comment box below if I managed to entice you to read any of these books.
Until next time, keep reading my fellow bookworms!
