Twenty years after the publication of Stalin’s Cows, Sofi Oksanen is back with an impactful essay, Same River Twice, depicting how Russia is repeating its old playbook in Ukraine, a playbook first executed by Catherine the Great in Crimea in 1783, and again on a larger and bloodier scale by the Soviet Union and Stalin.

Russia has never confronted its imperialist past. Instead, the Kremlin has focused on creating enemies, using them to lay the groundwork for the sexual violence it employs in wars and dehumanizing those who become victims of human rights abuses. Gender equality progress is in decline in Putin’s Russia. Russia silences women, uses rape as a weapon, and humiliates its victims in the media, threatening them with further sexual violence.

This essay on colonialism, oppression and genocide is also a story of war and of women. It addresses the necessity of talking about war, and about war crimes, arguing that no matter what happens, silence cannot ever win.

TIME has presented the 100 most gripping, twist-filled, satisfying, and influential mystery and thriller books of all time. With a panel of celebrated authors—Megan Abbott, Harlan Coben, S.A. Cosby, Gillian Flynn, Tana French, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Sujata Massey—TIME has selected Jo Nesbø’s The Redbreast as one of these, with the following praise:

”In many ways, The Redbreast—the third novel in Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø’s best-selling Harry Hole series—is as much of an enthralling crime thriller as it is an epic war novel. Here, hard-headed detective Harry Hole is tasked with monitoring neo-Nazi activity in modern-day Oslo when someone mysteriously purchases an expensive, sought-after gun, known as the Marklin Rifle, from the black market. Subsequently, as more murders of dishonored soldiers that conspired with Nazi Germany are discovered, Hole uncovers a dangerous conspiracy where Norway’s violent past and restless future collide.

Switching from Hole’s journey to the frontlines of World War II, the 2000 novel cleverly turns the detective trope on its head, asking the reader to hold all of the pieces while Hole desperately tries to turn over every stone and catch the killer. Its unflinching look at the violence and effects of war, as well as its vivid character development, has garnered The Redbreast, which was translated into English by Don Bartlett in 2006, numerous accolades and awards including the 2000 Norwegian Booksellers’ Prize for Best Novel of the Year, and has also cemented Nesbø as one of the most exciting Scandinavian crime writers to date.”

In an introduction to the project, panelist and best-selling author Tana French reminds us of the genre’s impact, especially in increasingly turbulent times. “In a world that can often be chaotic and reasonless, we need these stories,” she writes. “We need to believe that sometimes things can fit together and make sense, even when that seems impossible; that someday our crisis will end and we’ll be able to leave it behind.”

To see the full list, click ‘Read More’ below.

Danish TV 2 has released the trailer for the new thriller series Oxen, created by Emmy-award-winning duo Mai Brostrøm and Peter Thorsboe, and directed by Jannik Johansen. Oxen is the television adaptation of the international bestselling book series of the same name by Jens Henrik Jensen recounting the story of war veteran Niels Oxen.

The six-episode series will premiere October 22 on TV 2 Play and October 29 on TV 2.

The first exclusive trailer for Silent Night, starring Joel Kinnaman, has been released. From legendary director John Woo, known for films like Face/Off and Mission: Impossible 2, Silent Night stars Joel Kinnaman as Godlock, a grieving father who is determined to kill everyone responsible for the death of Godlock’s son, who was killed in the crossfire of gang violence on Christmas Eve. While recovering from a wound that costs him his voice, he makes vengeance his life’s mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen in order to avenge his son’s death.

Kid Cudi, Harold Torres and Catalina Sandino Moreno also star in the film, which was shot in Mexico City and famously features no dialogue. Woo has previously said the movie uses “music instead of language” as part of its visual storytelling.

Robert Archer Lynn penned the script, while Erica Lee, Basil Iwanyk, Lori Tilkin, and Christian Mercuri produce. Lionsgate will release the film in cinemas on December 1st.

A beautiful old cruise ship has laid anchor in Hazy Valley’s port. The Ghost Detectives Elsa and Carl are curious. Soon it becomes clear that there is trouble on board. Someone is knocking over chairs and tables and eating all the food. The police cannot find a single trace of the perpetrator. And what is the mysterious light that shines on deck every night?

The passengers are getting impatient and the ship has to leave Hazy Valley soon! The captain turns to The Ghost Detectives for help. Will Elsa and Carl be able to solve the case before the ship sets sail?

The Ghost Detectives and the Case of the Weeping Ghost is the fifth installment in Kristina Ohlsson’s spine-tingling, humorous and clever series for the younger readers.

Police inspector Tilda Davidsson is in the late stages of pregnancy when she walks into the dark house on a farm on northern Öland. There she finds an elderly couple, where the man appears to have been dead for several weeks while the woman was killed earlier that day.

Tilda’s old relative Gerlof realizes that the isolated farm is located on the site of a secret World War II defense project. It dawns on him that the mysterious deaths that struck the island during the war are not forgotten and that a killer from the past is still on the loose.

Scratch Marks is the standalone sequel to Weathered Bones and the sixth installment in the internationally bestselling Öland Series.

July 29, 1971: Club Etoile opens its doors to what will be known as “Sweden’s biggest sissy-fest ever.” Taxi after taxi rolls by, dropping them off one by one: Kajsa, Betty, Rosa, Nana, Jeanette, Frances and the others – the ones derided even by other gays. For one night only, they own the world.

At the same time, across town in one of Stockholm’s sleepy suburbs, a little boy gets out of bed and looks through the window, towards the city. It’s as if he can hear the laughter. As if the city’s calling him.

Sissy is a bitchy, painful, funny, dark, and filmic tale about coming of age and of fems – then as now, among the most vulnerable of us all.

Lars Kepler is the winner of the 2023 Crime Author of the Year award, bestowed by BookBeat and the Crimetime Festival. The award is based on statistics from the three latest audiobooks by Swedish crime authors during the last 12 months and the winner was announced this weekend during an award ceremony at the Gothenburg Book Fair.

“The fact that Lars Kepler wins Crime Author of the Year once again shows the power of the Joona Linna series, that the readers and listeners can’t get enough of”, says Emelie Hollbox , Senior Content Performance Specialist at BookBeat.

Alexandra and Alexander Ahndoril say:
“We are incredibly happy for this award and want to thank all the listeners who have followed Joona Linna’s journey into the darkness. You have been very brave! And we also want to thank [narrator] Jonas Malmsjö, who is Lars Kepler’s perfect Vergil, the guide through the inferno. ”