‘Master Detective Willy: the Story of My Career’ published in Sweden

This is the story of how Gustav’s boy, Master Detective Willy, became Master Detective Leif GW Persson. And how the dream of a life as a great detective turned into a career in studying and solving crimes.

In this memoir, we meet the hardworking and successful professional as well as the husband and family father. Leif GW Persson opens up about the years at the junior secondary school, about happy marriages and break-ups, messy relationships, an increasing alcohol abuse and the class journey he has made. About rising fame and what it brought him, what money has meant and what it means to him now. About what drives him as a professional, and the price he has had to pay for success and failure. About friends and enemies, friendship and betrayal. About his secret life. Persson also shares his views on several well-known murders, solved and unsolved.

Master Detective Willy: the Story of My Career is the gripping and fascinating true story about the life of the renowned criminologist and critically acclaimed novelist, Leif GW Persson.

Jørn Lier Horst, Jo Nesbø and Ingar Johnsrud on the Norwegian bestseller lists

The official Norwegian bestseller lists remain largely unchanged also this week. On the hardcover list, Jørn Lier Horst & Hans Jørgen Sandnes’ The Search for the Castle’s Secret stays at No. 1, and is closely followed by Jo Nesbø’s Macbeth at No. 2. Macbeth is also No. 2 on the e-book list, where the No. 1 spot is yet again claimed by Ingar Johnsrud’s The Cross I Bear. Johnsrud also features heavily on the paperback list, where his Those Who Follow comes in at No. 2 and As We Fall at No. 4.

Photo: Nora Lorek (left)

Daniel Espinosa to direct Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff ‘Morbius’

Daniel Espinosa is set to direct Morbius, Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff, with Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto signed on to star in the feature. The project is based on the Spidey antihero Morbius the Living Vampire, a former biochemist who in an attempt to cure a fatal blood disease injected himself with a treatment serum derived from bats and thus became Morbius.

The film was penned by the team of Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama, the duo who created Netflix’s Lost in Space remake.

Sony has not dated the film, but the movie will likely be slated soon as production is expected to start sometime this year.

Espinosa has strong ties to Sony after directing the sci-fi thriller Life starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds, and is also developing the Afghanistan War pic Red Platoon for the studio.

Read more
Photo: Jesper Brandt

Magnus Martens signs with Salomonsson Agency

Norwegian screenwriter and director Magnus Martens is internationally recognized for his ability to deliver stylish and violent action while remaining staggeringly entertaining and savagely funny. He made his feature breakthrough with the slick comedy thriller Jackpot, which he wrote and directed based on a Jo Nesbø story, and has since directed multiple episodes for some of the biggest TV shows in the US. Martens and Nesbø have now teamed up for a second time on a feature film that Martens is attached to direct.

We will shortly reveal the next addition to our select list of top directors. Stay tuned!

‘Three Hours’ chosen by Dagens Nyheter as one of this spring’s best crime novels

Dagens Nyheter, Sweden’s largest national newspaper, has announced a list of this spring’s best crime novels, and on it is Anders Roslund’s Three Hours. The newspaper motivates its choice thusly:

“Anders Roslund and Börje Hellström wrote Three Seconds (2009) and Three Minutes (2016) together. Now Anders Roslund continues the series alone, and he does it brilliantly. /…/ Action and social interest, Swedish everyday life and international crime.”

Ingar Johnsrud, Jørn Lier Horst and Jo Nesbø on the Norwegian bestseller lists

Ingar Johnsrud’s Fredrik Beier trilogy continues to feature on the Norwegian bestseller lists. On the paperback list Those Who Follow is No. 2, and As We Fall is No. 3. The Cross I Bear is No. 1 on the e-book list for the second consecutive week and Jo Nesbø’s Macbeth continues to hold the No. 3 spot. On the hardcover list, the No. 1 spot is still occupied by Jørn Lier Horst and Hans Jørgen Sandnes’ The Search for the Castle’s Secret and Jo Nesbø’s Macbeth stays at the No. 2 spot.

‘U – July 22’ nominated for seven awards at the Norwegian International Film Festival

U – July 22 has been lauded all over the world and referred to as a “masterpiece” by critics. It is now official that it has also been nominated in seven categories at the Norwegian International Film Festival, among them for ‘Best Screenplay’ and ‘Best Norwegian Film.’

U – July 22 is written by Anna Bache-Wiig and Siv Rajendram Eliassen, and directed by Erik Poppe.

Read more

‘Unwanted’ and ‘The Helicopter Heist’ chosen by Dagens Nyheter as the best audiobooks of the summer

Dagens Nyheter, Sweden’s largest national newspaper, has announced a list of this summer’s best audiobooks, and on it is Kristina Ohlsson’s Unwanted and Jonas Bonnier’s The Helicopter Heist. The newspaper motivates its choices thusly:

Kristina Ohlsson, Unwanted: “It’s easy to be taken with the series about civil investigator Fredrika Bergman. /…/ An easy-to-listen-to crime novel that quickly absorbs you and has an ending that’s hard to guess at beforehand.”

Jonas Bonnier, The Helicopter Heist: “A pacey and thoroughly entertaining story about one of the most spectacular robberies in Swedish history. The audiobook’s capacity to give life to different kinds of speech and jargon is masterfully utilized by Gerhard Hoberstorfer. It’s worth listening to the original novel before it’s made into a TV series on Netflix.”

Ingar Johnsrud, Jørn Lier Horst, Jo Nesbø, and Hedvig Montgomery on the Norwegian bestseller lists

All three of Ingar Johnsrud’s novels in the Fredrik Beier trilogy continue to feature on the Norwegian bestseller lists. On the paperback list Those Who Follow is No. 4, and As We Fall is No. 5. The Cross I Bear is No. 1 on the e-book list, where it’s joined by Jo Nesbø’s Macbeth at No. 3. Macbeth also comes in at No. 2 on the hardcover list. The No. 1 spot is still occupied by Jørn Lier Horst & Hans Jørgen Sandnes’ The Search for the Castle’s Secret. Lastly, Hedvig Montgomery’s Parental Magic stays firm at No. 5.

Niklas Natt och Dag and Jo Nesbø on the Swedish bestseller lists

Niklas Natt och Dag continues to feature on the weekly Swedish bestseller lists, and on this week’s lists he makes a double appearance with his 1793. On the e-book list he claims the No. 3 spot, and on the paperback list he comes in at No. 4. Jo Nesbø’s The Thirst is No. 4 on the audiobook list.