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If you’re wondering where all the publishers of Scandinavian mysteries are getting their scoop on the best novels to translate and ship across the pond, perhaps they’re looking here. Here’s a listing of five of the top awards given to Scandinavian writers of mysteries. Quite a few haven’t been translated, but as long as the author’s name is out there, we can keep an eye peeled for these soon-to-be-forthcoming smash reads.

The Danish Crime Academy gives out The Palle Rosenkrantz Prisen for the best crime fiction published in Danish. Jo Nesbo won in 2010. The most recent winner is Mercy by Jean-Christophe Grangé.

The best Finnish crime novel is recognized with the Vuoden Johtolanka Award from the Finnish Crime Society. The current winner is Antti Tuomainen whose award-winning Parantaja (The Healer) has been picked up by a UK publishers. It’s a dystopian novel set in a futuristic Helsinki with shades of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. I hope this novel gets stateside soon. Read a little more about it here. Looks like one book groups could really sink their teeth into.

The Rivertonprisen, bestowed by the Riverton Club, is given to the best Norwegian work of crime fiction. This includes screenplays, short stories, and plays, as well as novels. Dødens Sirkel (Circle of Death) by Chris Tvedt is the most current awardee. I can’t find any news that it’s being translated anytime soon, but I’m hoping.

The Swedish Crime Academy gives awards to best Swedish Crime Novel and Best Translation. At the top of the murderous heap sits Viskleken (Chinese Whispers) by Arne Dahl. Dahl’s last novel, Misterioso, was published in the U.S in 2011. Hopefully, this one isn’t far behind.

Everyone gets to compete for The Glass Key Award, given by the Crime Writers of Scandinavia. Flaskepost fra P (Message in a Bottle) by Jussi Adler-Olsen holds the prize at the moment for this third entry in his Department Q series. Until this title hits American shores, tide over with Keeper of Lost Causes.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 20th, 2012 at 8:13 am and is filed under Adult Books, Book Awards, Good Books for Book Clubs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.