5 Must-Read Crime Novels Set In Norway

Looking for a new read to tide you over until your next vacation? Pick up one of these Nordic noir hits and be whisked away to Norway, where you’ll find Norwegian authors all too keen to lift the lid on the darker side of Scandinavian society.

Over the past two decades, Scandinavian crime fiction has gained significant popularity worldwide in the realms of television, film, and literature.

This genre, also known as Nordic noir, is characterized by its blend of crime fiction with social commentary and psychological depth, set against the backdrop of the often bleak and desolate locations of the Nordic countries out of the tourist season.

The international success of series like ‘The Killing’ and ‘The Bridge’ often steal the Nordic noir spotlight, but it’s literature that truly underpins the genre. Norwegian authors Jo Nesbø and Jørn Lier Horst are among the household names in Norway that have seen their novels turned into visual productions.

Outside of the region, the stories provide readers with an intriguing contrast between the external image of these societies as utopian in terms of happiness, equality, and living standards, and the darker undercurrents that the genre often freely explores.

Topics including immigration and integration, familial bonds and feuds, and corruption at the highest levels are often addressed in novel form in far more depth than can be explored in the shorter-form formats of film or television.

Contrary to the perception of uniformity, Norwegian crime literature offers a diverse range of storytelling. From the movie-friendly bestselling plotlines of Jo Nesbø to the more literary, slower-paced tales of Karin Fossum, the genre offers a story to suit all readers.

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1. ‘The Snowman’ By Jo Nesbø

The movie version may have been a flop, but the original book is a chilling highlight in the back catalog of one of Scandinavia’s most famous crime writers.

The first snowfall of winter brings with it a sinister snowman, signaling the return of a serial killer. Packed with atmospheric tension, psychological depth, and Nesbø's masterful suspense building, ‘The Snowman’ will immerse the reader into a gripping tale of fear, obsession, and the hunt for a killer.

Including themes of love, loss, and the impact of past events on the present, Nesbø successfully melds a traditional detective story featuring his antihero Harry Hole with a psychological thriller.

2. ‘1222’ By Anne Holt

A train on the Oslo to Bergen railway derails in a freak winter storm, forcing survivors to seek shelter in a remote mountain hotel.

Isolated from the outside world by the fierce weather, the situation quickly turns dire when a body is discovered, creating a new twist on the classic locked-room mystery for the reader.

Themes of survival and trust are at the forefront in ‘1222’ as series protagonist Hanne Wilhelmsen, a retired police inspector confined to a wheelchair, finds herself reluctantly drawn into the investigation.

A former Norwegian minister of justice, Holt lends a sense of authenticity to the procedures in the story. Her skillful plotting keeps readers guessing about not only the murderer but also the identity of the passengers in the mysterious extra train carriage.

3. ‘Dregs’ By Jørn Lier Horst

Former police officer Jørn Lier Horst is another Norwegian author offering an authentic look into police investigations via fiction.

Although not the first story in the long-running William Wisting series, ‘Dregs’ was the first to be published in English so makes for a good, slow-burn introduction to the detective and his small-town world.

That tranquil community is unsettled by the macabre discovery of severed feet, encased in training shoes, washing ashore. During his investigation, Wisting navigates the complexities of small-town dynamics, unearthing long-buried secrets and confronting personal demons related to both his family and career.

4. ‘Where Roses Never Die’ By Gunnar Staalesen

Private detectives are not so common in Scandinavian crime fiction. Staalesen offers a refreshing departure from the norm by centering a long series on Varg Veum, a private detective with a deep sense of justice, set against the urban backdrop of Bergen.

In ‘Where Roses Never Die,’ Veum is drawn into a decades-old mystery: the disappearance of a three-year-old girl from her suburban home. Nearly twenty-five years later, as the statute of limitations on the case nears, Mette's mother hires Veum.

As Veum uncovers a complex web of relationships, betrayals, and hidden crimes, Staalesen masterfully builds suspense, layering twists and turns that keep readers engaged, and keep them guessing.

5. ‘In The Darkness’ / ‘Eva’s Eye’ By Karin Fossum

If you think all Norwegian crime authors produce the same style of books, think again.

Renowned for her Inspector Sejer series, Karin Fossum distinguishes herself with a literary approach, favoring a measured pace and small-town settings for her narratives. She delves into the human psyche, exploring the latent potential for violence that lurks beneath the surface.

An early installment in the series, ‘In The Darkness,’ also released as ‘Eva’s Eye’, exemplifies Fossum's skill in crafting intricate mysteries that are as much about the why as the who. Through the eyes of Inspector Sejer, readers are drawn into a compelling investigation that begins with the discovery of a body in a local river.

As Sejer peels back the layers of the case, Fossum uses quiet, introspective moments to reveal the complexities of her characters and the mystery.