‘A Grave For Two’ published in Norway

Selma Falck, a former professional athlete and star lawyer, is in a deep crisis. In the blink of an eye she’s been left by her husband and child and lost her job and house – and it’s all her own fault. With nowhere else to go, Selma moves into a wreck of an apartment, her only companion a pedigree cat she can’t stand.

On the same day that Selma moves into her new place, Hege Chin Morell – Norway’s best female skier – fails a doping test. With just two months to go till the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, the test shows that Morell has taken clostebol, a drug that could mean several years of suspension. Selma Falck is approached by Morell’s wealthy father. He believes that his daughter is the victim of sabotage and offers the broke and unemployed Selma the seemingly impossible job of proving Morell’s innocence before the final athlete selections are made.

Shortly thereafter, a male cross-country skier is found dead after a training accident in Maridalen. The autopsy reveals traces of the same substance as in Morell’s blood. The panic that spreads in Norway’s cross-country team is total. In addition to losing its two best members, the whole team is at risk of being banned from the Olympics.

Selma Falck’s race against time begins. She encounters camaraderie and corruption, hidden enmity and shady connections. As she realizes that more lives are at stake, the pattern of recent crimes and ancient sins becomes undeniable.

A Grave For Two is the first installment in Anne Holt’s new crime series featuring Selma Falck.

Jonas Gardell, Leif GW Persson, Anders de la Motte, Niklas Natt och Dag and Jørn Lier Horst on the Swedish lists

On this week’s official bestseller list from Sweden, Jonas Gardell’s In Memory of an Unconditional Love shoots to the top of the hardcover fiction list, claiming the No. 1 spot. On the audio list Gardell comes in at No. 4. Leif GW Persson’s memoir Master Detective Willy: the Story of My Career places at No. 5 on the same audio list, and stays at No. 4 on the nonfiction list.

Anders de la Motte’s Deeds of Fall continues to hold the No. 1 spot on the paperback list and is joined by Niklas Natt och Dag who places at No. 2 with 1793.

Finally, The Katharina Code by Jørn Lier Horst places at No. 3 on the e-book list.

Katrine Engberg shortlisted for the Martha Award

Katrine Engberg’s The Butterfly House has been shortlisted for the MARTHA award by Denmark’s largest book retailer Bog & idé. The MARTHA award is an extraordinary author award since it honors Bog & idé and the Danish readers’ favorite author. Previous winners include Jussi Adler-Olsen, J.K. Rowling and Stephen King.

To see the list of nominees and to vote, click on “Read more” below.

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Jo Nesbø on the German bestseller list

Jo Nesbø’s Macbeth is No. 4 this week on Der Spiegel’s bestseller list for hardcover fiction in Germany, and The Thirst is No. 5 on the paperback list.

‘SKAM Season 1: Eva’ published in Norway

The SKAM books are the original scripts of the worldwide hit web drama series of the same name, just as they were written.

Each SKAM book contains one of the four seasons that aired between 2015 and 2017. The scripts have never recorded scenes, lines that were later cut, newly written prologues and epilogues, and Julie Andem’s own comments and unique mind maps.

SKAM Season 1: Eva follows the main character Eva Kviig Mohn as she starts high school. Eva has just begun dating Jonas, but the new relationship is putting a strain on her friendship with Jonas’ ex. Unable to trust her boyfriend and reconcile with her old friends, Eva’s first year at the Hartvig Nissen school (“Nissen”) becomes a turbulent one filled with love, betrayal, and broken friendships – but also new ones as she finds and connects with Noora, Chris, Vilde and Sana.

The SKAM books are the ultimate key to the universe that absorbed an entire generation of viewers. Get ready to get to know Eva, Noora, Isak and Sana like never before.

New Author – Julie Andem

Julie Andem (b. 1982) is the world-renowned Norwegian screenwriter and director of SKAM, the teen drama web series that became an unprecedented national and international success upon airing in 2015. The series, which follows a new main protagonist in each of the four seasons, utilized a unique approach where social media posts, texts and clips were released in real time while it aired. The innovative concept won Andem the prestigious Norwegian Golden Screen award for “Best Innovation” as well as “Best Writing for a Drama” and “Best Directing for a Drama.” Andem has also directed the American remake, SKAM Austin, a Facebook Watch web series.

‘The Mummy’s Riddle’ published in Sweden

One stormy night in Eldsala a giant sinkhole opens up right in the middle of the meadow. The hole reveals an old cellar, but Herbert can’t recall there ever being a building there. At the same time, a horrible stench spreads throughout the small town, and in the graveyard one of the plots has been dug up. All that is left is two empty coffins. Where have the bodies gone? And what terrible things have been done in the cellar? Herbert and his best friend Sally quickly realize that they’re all in grave danger: the supernatural is back to haunt little Eldsala. Will they succeed in saving their hometown one last time – or is it already too late?

The Mummy’s Riddle is the third book in Kristina Ohlsson’s bestselling Monster Trilogy about the small town Eldsala, a place with deep ties to the paranormal, and the two friends Herbert and Sally.

Jørn Lier Horst & Hans Jørgen Sandnes dominate the June/July children’s books bestseller list

Jørn Lier Horst & Hans Jørgen Sandnes dominate the June/July bestseller list for Norwegian children’s fiction, claiming a staggering thirteen out of fifteen spots on Bok og samfunn’s list. The bestselling titles are, in order, Operation Pirate at No. 1, Operation Mummy at No. 2, Operation Summer Island at No. 3, The Search for the Castle’s Secret at No. 5, Operation Shipwreck at No. 6, Operation Ghost at No. 7, The Search for the Queen of the Jungle at No. 8, Operation Circus at No. 9, Operation Shadowman at No. 11, Operation Thundercloud at No. 12, Operation Windblast at No. 13, Operation Sunset at No. 14, and Operation Bronze Square at No. 15.

Jonas Gardell, Anders de la Motte, Leif GW Persson, Niklas Natt och Dag, Arne Dahl and Jørn Lier Horst on the Swedish lists

This week’s official bestseller lists from Sweden see Jonas Gardell at No. 3 on the hardcover fiction list with his just published In Memory of an Unconditional Love.

The paperback list is meanwhile topped by Anders de la Motte’s Deeds of Fall, coming in at No. 1. De la Motte is joined by Niklas Natt och Dag who places No. 4 with 1793.

Leif GW Persson makes a repeat appearance on the lists with his Master Detective Willy: the Story of My Career, which claims the No. 4 position on the nonfiction list and the No. 5 on the audio list. Arne Dahl’s Turmoil comes in at No. 4 on the same audio list, and No. 3 on the e-book one. Jørn Lier Horst’s just published The Katharina Code is No. 2 on the e-book list.