Lars Kepler’s The Spider appears on yet another international bestseller list, coming in at No. 3 on the Slovakian book retailer Martinus’s most sold list. Anders Hansen is No. 5 on the same list with The Happiness Cure.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, and Richard Madden are set to headline Amazon Studios’ thriller Killer Heat, which is based on Jo Nesbø’s short story The Jealousy Man, from director Philippe Lacôte.
Killer Heat follows twin brothers (Madden) who are caught in a violent love triangle on a remote Greek island. A damaged detective, known as “The Jealousy Man” (Gordon-Levitt), is called in to investigate.
Killer Heat is off a script written by Roberto Bentivegna (House of Gucci), with revisions by Oscar and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies, Treason).
Makeready’s Brad Weston is producing the film, which begins production next month in Crete. In addition to starring in the film, Gordon-Levitt will also executive produce the project alongside Jo Nesbø, Niclas Salomonsson, Tom Karnowski and Makeready’s Collin Creighton.
Read the full article in Deadline by clicking ‘Read More’ below.
Simona Ahrnstedt’s An Unthinkable Fate debuts on the official Swedish bestseller list for hardcover fiction this week, coming in at No. 2. Martin Widmark performs a hat trick on the children’s bestseller list, returning to No. 1 with The Detective Mystery as well as placing at No. 3 with The Library Mystery, and No. 4 with The Diamond Mystery.
The Norwegian booksellers’ association has announced a list of the most sold crime novels of 2023 so far, and Liza Marklund takes the No. 1 spot with The Polar Circle. Horst & Enger meanwhile is the most sold domestic authorship, featuring at the top with their Unhinged, followed by Smoke Screen and Death Deserved. Also on the list are Anne Holt’s The Eleventh Manuscript, Liza Marklund’s The Mire, Jørn Lier Horst’s The Traitor, Jo Nesbø’s Killing Moon, Lars Kepler’s The Spider, and Kristina Ohlsson’s Storm Watch.
Photo: Gustaf Kumlin
Netflix today announced The Helicopter Heist, a Swedish reality-based and character-driven suspense series in eight parts about the secret drama behind one of the most spectacular heists in history. The limited series is based on Jonas Bonnier’s novel The Helicopter Heist, adapted to the screen by scriptwriter Ronnie Sandahl and directed by Daniel Espinosa.
Ronnie Sandahl, scriptwriter, says: “I wanted to write an epic robbery tale, about great dreams and even greater risks. A feverish, character-driven heist show about friendship, adrenaline, and hubris. I can’t imagine a more perfect director for the series than Daniel Espinosa, and I’m incredibly happy that he’s chosen to step aboard.”
The Helicopter Heist will be Daniel Espinosa’s TV directorial debut. He says: “I have followed and been fascinated by this story ever since it happened. When the opportunity presented itself to do it in a way that does it justice, with Ronnie and Netflix and the entire crew behind it, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
The series is produced by Johannes Åhlund for B-Reel Films. Executive producers are Ulf Synnerholm, Fredrik Heinig, Niclas Salomonsson, Ronnie Sandahl and Jonas Bonnier.
The Series Mania Festival has unveiled its champions and Blackwater triumphed in the International Panorama section, receiving the top prize for ‘Best Series’.
Based on Kerstin Ekman’s classic novel of the same name, Blackwater is written by Karin Arrhenius and Maren Louise Käehne, and directed by Mikael Marcimain.
Jonathan, Bollan, and Zasha have their own band of thieves, the Dillsta Gang. Dillsta’s best and only gang! Until one day another gang appears in town, and have the audacity to evict the Dillsta Gang from their own headquarters. That is not even the worst part, because left in the headquarter is Vickan, Bollan’s beloved hamster!
Zasha does not care all that much about Vickan, but is rather more worried about the soda that has also been left behind. Jonathan realizes that something must be done, it is time to plan a heist! To get into the headquarter and save Vickan, the gang needs to build a ladder in the backyard, and to do that they need to “borrow” some planks from a construction site nearby… Everything goes according to plan, until someone gets it into their head that the borrowed planks are part of the wave of break-ins that is tormenting the city. But the Dillsta Gang is innocent! Question is if their dodgy rivals, on the other hand, could have something to do with the break-ins?
The Dillsta Gang and the Hamster Heist is the sixth installment in The Dillsta Gang series – fast-paced and fun books for younger readers by Jens and Hedda Lapidus.
In the spring of 1884 the young society woman Alexandra Rosenkvist is living in the north of Sweden, exiled having caused a scandal that shocked the high society. Now she’s finally allowed to return to Stockholm, where modern inventions such as the telephone and electricity are seeing the day of light, and where intelligence and money are beginning to be considered more important than fine ancestry. The women’s fight is in its early stages and within Alexandra a longing is growing for independence and the prospect of devoting herself to her passion: art.
The one coming to collect Alexandra is Atle Falk, a man with a dark past. Together with Atle, her cheery maid Minna and the pious handmaiden Emmy, Alexandra will traverse through a Sweden that is rapidly changing. On the surface the young dreamy socialite Alexandra and the scarred and cynical Atle have nothing in common, but during the course of their journey they grow closer to one another and unthinkable feelings blossom. Alexandra’s dreams of an independent and free life begin to flourish. But at home in Stockholm her rich and conservative family await. And they have very different plans for her.
An Unthinkable Fate is the fourth stand-alone set in Simona Ahrnstedt’s Wadenstierna-universe.
Kristina Ohlsson’s Dimmed Lights, the second installment in the August Strindberg series, climbs the Norwegian hardcover fiction list, landing at No. 4 this week. The novel also features on the e-book list, at No. 3.
Aron Levander’s Detective #24 (Detektiven från Beledweyne) premiered on SVT Play March 10 to great reviews. The series has received praise for its revival of the crime genre, its originality and unconventional characters.
“Finally, a fun, intelligent Swedish cozy crime – and an innovative way forward for the procedural form. /…/ Sprinkles salt in a type of genre series where we’re used to getting sugar. That’s why the humor never gets boring either. It rather chafes uncomfortably, and I love it.”
– TVdags ★★★★
A revival of the Swedish crime genre. /…/ TV creator Aron Levander returns with another well-written, exciting and entertaining crime series.
– Moviezine ★★★★
“Finally a brilliant Swedish cozy crime /…/ of international class. /…/ The series has also managed to create a unique double act, which is truly impressive. /../ I can’t wait until all the episodes are available on SVT Play.”
– VLT
“A unique and successful Swedish cozy crime series.”
– Aftonbladet
Albania, Shkupi
Three-book deal closed by Ida Schabbauer
Slovakia, DOT
Closed by Emma Granberg
Finland, Otava
Two-book deal closed by Linda Andersson
Brazil, Editora Record
Closed by Emma Granberg
Croatia, Fokus
Closed by Emma Granberg
Finland, WSOY
Three-book deal closed by Josephine Oxelheim
This series starter’s screen-ready story and masterfully developed cast promise big payoffs for fans of espionage and team-centered procedural thrillers.
– Booklist
A real intense read in a classic race-against-time resolution.
– Skånska Dagbladet
The new series from the creators of Snabba Cash [Oskar Söderlund and Jesper Ganslandt] is world-class. /…/ Cry Wolf oozes with Coen Brothers-vibes and is wonderfully stylistic.
– Filmtopp
A successful mix of Northern Sweden and the Coen brothers. /…/ High quality and accuracy in every aspect, and a unique combination of atmosphere, environments and characters.
– Aftonbladet
The Crow Girl is an entertaining watch that will draw you deeper and deeper into its dark world episode by episode. /…/ It ramps up the drama in just the right places creating a sense of urgency and unpredictability that keeps you anticipating danger at every turn. It’s a twisty ride that will make you glad you hopped on the viewing train in the first place.
– Digital Spy
In Wolf Hour, Jo Nesbø sets the action in the American Midwest in 2016. A hard-boiled police novel in the best Nesbø style – from an America that’s on the edge of a precipice.
