If you love Agatha Christie, Stephen King, serial killer documentaries, unsolved murders, and eerie mysteries, Nordic noir is the perfect subgenre for you! Nordic noir books have been proudly sitting on bookstores’ shelves for decades. However, we have to make sure everyone is up-to-date on this irresistibly spooky subgenre. So, let’s thoroughly investigate the eerie and odd subgenre of Nordic noir.
Trigger Warning: The mention of sexual violence and suicide may be triggering for some readers. Please exercise personal care when reading.
What is Nordic Noir?
Nordic noir can fit into the vast murder mystery genre. However, it has its own style and unique flair. AKA the perfect recipe for a subgenre! This subgenre’s storyline features a strange murder that is investigated. Once a bunch of secrets come to the surface, the crime is luckily solved. Nordic noir is full of plot twists and spine-chilling occurrences.
Expectations
The main aspect that makes Nordic noir iconic is its setting. This subgenre is characterized by always being set in a Nordic nation. The Nordic nations are Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, and Norway. Therefore, when you begin a book from this mysterious subgenre, always expect the storyline to be set in one of these chilly countries.
Although the settings sound like beautiful snowy landscapes, that’s not exactly where the subgenre takes you. You must be prepared for desolate city streets and remote villages. AKA the places where no one is there to help you in a desperate time of need. These settings are oozing with creepy vibes and unsettling feelings.
The storyline is usually presented from the investigator’s point of view. The investigator has a strong sense of confidence and seeks the answers to the case so justice can be achieved. If you prefer avoiding metaphoric language, then this subgenre is perfect for you. Nordic noir is all about being straightforward and direct.
Nordic noir features dark themes and morally complex characters. Some common plots include familial bonds, corruption, social status, and psychological issues. Since this subgenre is part of the vast genre of murder mysteries, violence is also extremely prevalent. You must be prepared to read about brutal acts of murder and rape.
History
Nordic noir’s origin story can be traced all the way back to 1965. Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo were Swedish authors who wrote various novels as a duo. Their first book was titled Roseanna, which was published in 1965. This book laid the foundation for the Nordic noir subgenre. After Roseanna was published, Sjowall and Wahloo published other murder mystery books, including The Laughing Policeman, The Man on the Balcony, The Terrorists, and The Abominable Man.
Popularity
The Nordic noir subgenre really took off once Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo’s books were adapted into movies in the 1990s. Producers and directors saw the potential that their plots had and seized the opportunity. Once the movies were released, their storylines became popular, and so did the up-and-coming subgenre. Everyone couldn’t get enough of these Nordic mysteries.
When authors noticed this influx of attention fixated on this subgenre, they discovered a new passion and used it to their advantage. Sjowall and Wahloo set standards and featured the epitome of the Nordic noir subgenre. Nordic noir has been in the spotlight since the 1990s, and it has established its presence. This subgenre is here to stay as murder mystery fans flock to eagerly read the eerie and spine-chilling storylines!
Where To Start or Continue
Since you’re all caught up on this mysterious subgenre, let’s discover some books that may start or continue your Nordic noir spiral!
The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck
A bestselling author’s wife was found dead in an eerie scene. Her lifeless body was sitting at the head of an empty dining table, wearing a black evening gown with a ghastly smile frozen across her face. The murder completely shocked the affluent suburb of Helsinki, Finland. Everyone suspected that a deranged psychopath reenacted the gruesome murder from her husband’s best-selling trilogy. However, investigator Jessica Niemi realizes that dozens of individuals are participating in a sinister form of witchcraft.
The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe and Elizabeth Clark Wessel
Everyone knows winter has begun in Stockholm, Sweden, when police arrive at the scene of a shocking murder. An unidentified woman’s lifeless body is discovered in a posh suburban home. She has been beheaded, and the scene is quite similar to an unsolved case that occurred ten years ago. But things are different this time since a prime suspect and various detectives are investigating. Behind CEO Jesper Orre’s charismatic personality lies a controversial businessman who has a playboy reputation and a series of financial misdeeds.
Hunting Game by Helene Tursten and Paul Norlen
Embla Nystrom is a detective in Gothenburg, Sweden. She has been having frequent nightmares due to a dark incident in her past. The stress from her job and these frightening nightmares lead her to take a vacation. She attends the annual moose hunt at her uncle’s cabin in Dalsland, Sweden. Although she is used to her family and friends being there, an unfamiliar face has joined. As they embark on their hunt, two hunters disappear. Eventually, one of them is found floating lifelessly in a nearby lake.
The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg and Steven T. Murray
Erica Falck returns to her seaside hometown, Fjallbacka, Sweden, after her parents’ death. Unfortunately, she has another tragedy waiting for her. Alex, who was her childhood best friend, is found suspended over a bathtub full of frozen water. Erica is highly confused about why she would take her own life, so she teams up with a detective named Patrik Hedstrom. They begin uncovering a series of horrifying secrets. However, someone is willing to do anything to keep these secrets hidden, even commit murder.
Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson
Ari Thor is a rookie policeman who is embarking on his first investigation. He is thrown into an isolated fishing village in Northern Iceland. The village seems safe, especially since no one locks their doors. But everything changes when a young woman is found bleeding and unconscious in the snow. To make matters worse, a highly esteemed writer also falls to his death. Ari is stuck in the middle of this village, where he cannot trust anyone and must uncover the secrets and lies that are hidden in the community.
Now that you have the 411 on this eerie subgenre and these five creepy books, you know where to turn next! Grab one of these spooky books and prepare for the best murder mystery you’ve read. These pages will take you to a snowy setting and capture you with all the strange happenings. It’s your opportunity to discover the dark secrets that Nordic noir has waiting for you!
Click here to discover more spine-chilling mystery books!
Find these books and more mystery books on Bookshop.org.
