I’m delighted to be one of the judges for the 2014 Petrona Award for Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. The award will celebrate the work of Maxine Clarke, one of the first online crime fiction reviewers, who died in December.
The press release can be found here: http://eurocrime.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-petrona-award-for-scandinavian.html
Scandinavian crime fiction is experiencing a boom both here in the UK and abroad and there are a vast range of translated titles to choose from. There’s some exciting reading ahead.
The 2013 shortlist, which is based on Maxine’s reviews and ratings, has some great books on it too. They are:
PIERCED by Thomas Enger, tr. Charlotte Barslund (Faber and Faber)
BLACK SKIES by Arnaldur Indridason, tr. Victoria Cribb (Harvill Secker)
LAST WILL by Liza Marklund, tr. Neil Smith (Corgi)
ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER LIFE by Leif GW Persson tr. Paul Norlen (Doubleday)
Who would you most like to win out of these?
Without doubt “Last Will” by Lisa Marklund. Not only is it a great book but if I remember correctly Marklund was one of Maxine’s favourite authors.
Thanks Philip. Marklund consistently produces substantial and interesting books.
What nice way to honour her ,I ve not read any of there look forward to seeing who wins ,all the best stu
Thanks Stu.
How wonderful to be chosen to be a judge. I am sure that will be a hard choice. I have not read any of these authors, but hope to remedy that someday.
Thanks Tracy. I would recommend all of them as they are a diverse bunch united by excellent writing.
I thoroughly enjoyed Liza Marklund’s ‘Last Will’ and Thomas Enger’s ‘Pierced’ so my loyalties are divided!
Yes it’s difficult to separate them out isn’t it raven.
Sarah – An excellent post and it’s good to see so many fine candidates. I’m going to have to go with Last Will but there’s an excellent case for some of the others too. Whichever is the winner, I think this is a more than fitting way to remember Maxiine.
I totally agree Margot. All worthy of the short list and an excellent way to remember Maxine.
Sarah- I have read all four and Last Will would be my choice because there is a scientific theme, and Liza Marklund was one of Maxine’s very favourite authors.
Thanks Norman. Yes the scientific angle to this book would have resonated with Maxine wouldn’t it?
I have only read Last Will and Black Skies, both good. I would recommend Last Will for the award because Maxine Clarke loved Liza Marklund’s books and her character, Annika Bengtzon. The reason I read this one and another of Marklund’s books is because of Maxine’s rave reviews.
Thanks Kathy. Interesting to hear about how Maxine’s reviews influenced your reading. It sounds like you enjoyed them too.
Congratulations on being one of the judges for 2014. I would choose Last Will from these four. I didn’t know Maxine very well but I have read many of her reviews and she seemed a bit fan of Liza Marklund. All the best with the award.
Thanks Lindsay.
Many congratulations, Sarah. I am hearing a lot about Scandinavian fiction these days and I hope to read at least a couple of books to begin with.
I’m sure you would enjoy it Prashant. Any of these 4 short listed authors would be a great place to start.
Maxine’s good reviews drew me to many excellent crime fiction books. Even when I read a book, having read about it from another source, I’d look up her review to see what she had to say about it. Always insightful.
Sarah,
I am so pleased that you are going to be doing this! Fantastic! A wonderful tribute to Maxine, whom I miss so, like so many of her correspondents in the crime blogging world.
Judith
Thanks Judith!