Seriously, what’s going on with with Denmark, Finland, Sweden—really, any of the Nordic countries? It seems like our whodunit column almost always features a mystery from some Scandinavian country. And we’ve chatted with several of them: here, here and here.
Whatever they’re doing, we’re paying attention. This month, whodunit columnist Bruce Tierney recommends Jussi Adler-Olsen’s newest thriller, The Absent One, which stars Copenhagen cold case investigator Carl Mørck and a 20-year-old murder:
“The prime suspects were the progeny of some of Denmark’s most prestigious families, all classmates in a high-dollar (er, kroner) boarding school. Most of said suspects went on to become contemporary Danish movers and shakers. One, a “poor relation,” went to jail for the murders. And one, Kimmie—who knows that the convicted murderer was nothing more than a paid scapegoat for his wealthy friends—is living on the streets, furtively plotting her revenge on the band of sociopathic socialites. Somehow, Mørck will have to find a way to bring the miscreants to justice before Kimmie has the opportunity to administer her altogether more Old Testament style of retribution.”
Author Adler-Olsen answered a 7 question interview—all the way from Iceland—in as few words as possible. My favorite is his response to my first question, Describe your book in one sentence? Forget one sentence; try one word: “Thrillastonishinggood.”
Who’s your favorite Scandinavian thriller writer?
