
Photo: Anton Soggiu
Jørn Lier Horst (b. 1970) has with his award-winning novels about William Wisting joined the elite of Nordic crime writers. Having worked as a head of investigations before becoming a full-time author, Horst brings a unique brand of suspense and realism to the table. Besides his novels for grown readers, Horst has gained recognition for his unparalleled ability to thrill even young readers with charming mysteries. His standing as the Norwegian king of crime fiction for all ages was cemented when he created the Detective Agency No. 2 and CLUE series, both the most popular children’s book series in their respective age categories.
“Horst, a former Norwegian police detective, is often compared to Sweden’s Henning Mankell for his moody, sweeping crime dramas.”
-New York Times
“Jørn Lier Horst writes literary crime with high credibility and keen-eyed societal depictions – he’s Norway’s own Henning Mankell.”
-Hjorth & Rosenfeldt
“Jørn Lier Horst writes some of the best Scandinavian crime fiction available. His books are superbly plotted and addictive, the characters wonderfully realized.”
-Yrsa Sigurdardóttir
Norwegian writer Jørn Lier Horst (b. 1970) and illustrator and animator Hans Jørgen Sandnes (b. 1979) have together created the bestselling children’s book series Detective Agency No. 2 for ages 6-9. Jørn Lier Horst has won multiple awards for his crime fiction for adults, and is also the author behind the highly praised CLUE series for children aged 9-12. Horst’s ability to create charming and believable characters has resulted in a rich universe full of adventure and mystery. Together with Hans Jørgen Sandnes’ award-winning illustrations, the Detective Agency No. 2 series’ universe and its lovable young detective duo are brought to vivid life before the reader.
Set in the idyllic small town of Riverton, the Detective Agency No. 2 series follows the adventures of our main protagonists Tiril and Oliver – not to mention their dog Ocho! Together the two young detectives collect evidence, search for connections, and join the at times perilous hunt for criminals. Concluding each book is an afterword in which readers can put their own sleuthing skills to the test.
Shortlisted for BOK365’s Book of the Year Award Norway – Sak 1569 A Question of Guilt | 2020 |
Shortlisted for the Petrona Award (Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year) UK – Det innerste rommet The Cabin | 2020 |
Longlisted for the CWA International Dagger UK – Det innerste rommet The Cabin | 2020 |
Shortlisted for BOK365’s Book of the Year Award Norway – Illvilje The Inner Darkness | 2019 |
Longlisted for the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière France – Hulemannen The Caveman | 2019 |
The Petrona Award (Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year) UK – Katharina-koden The Katharina Code | 2019 |
Longlisted for the CWA International Dagger UK – Katharina-koden The Katharina Code | 2019 |
Nordic Noir Thriller of the Year Sweden | 2018 |
Longlisted for the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière France – Jakthundene The Hunting Dogs | 2018 |
Longlisted for the CWA International Dagger UK | 2017 |
Shortlisted for the Bokslukerprisen Award Norway – Ulvehundgåten The Wolfhound Mystery | 2017 |
Shortlisted for the Bookworm Award Norway – Rivertongåten The Riverton Mystery | 2016 |
Special Award for Excellence in Crime Fiction Writing Poland | 2016 |
The Petrona Award (Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year) UK – Hulemannen The Caveman | 2016 |
Shortlisted for the Ark’s Book of the Year Award Norway – Blindgang Ordeal | 2015 |
The Swedish Academy of Crime Writers’ Award Sweden – Jakthundene The Hunting Dogs | 2014 |
Shortlisted for the Petrona Award (Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year) UK – Vinterstengt Closed for Winter | 2014 |
The Glass Key The Nordic Countries – Jakthundene The Hunting Dogs | 2013 |
Shortlisted for the Norwegian Booksellers’ Prize Norway – Hulemannen The Caveman | 2013 |
The Vestfold Literature Prize Norway | 2012 |
The Riverton Prize Norway – Jakthundene The Hunting Dogs | 2012 |
The Norwegian Bookseller’s Prize Norway – Vinterstengt Closed for Winter | 2011 |
2020, Crime
2019, Crime
2018, Crime
2017, Crime
2019, Children’s suspense
2018, Children’s suspense
2017, Children’s suspense
2016, Children’s suspense
2016, Children’s suspense
2015, Children’s suspense
2015, Children’s suspense
2014, Children’s suspense
2014, Children’s suspense
2013, Children’s suspense
2013, Children’s suspense
2012, Children’s suspense
2012, Children’s suspense
2020, Children’s crime fiction
2020, Children’s crime fiction
2019, Children’s crime fiction
2019, Children’s crime fiction
2018, Children’s crime fiction
2018, Children’s crime fiction
2017, Children’s crime fiction
2017, Children’s crime fiction
2016, Children’s crime fiction
2016, Children’s crime fiction
2015, Children’s crime fiction
2015, Children’s crime fiction
2014, Children’s crime fiction
2014, Children’s crime fiction
2014, Children’s crime fiction
2013, Children’s crime fiction
2013, Children’s crime fiction
2013, Children’s crime fiction
2020, Children’s activity book
2019, Children’s activity book
2018, Children’s activity book
2017, Children’s activity book
2016, Children’s activity book
2015, Children’s activity book
Sweden’s leading newspaper Dagens Nyheter has chosen Stina Jackson’s The Last Snow, Jørn Lier Horst’s The Inner Darkness, and Kristina Ohlsson’s Storm Watch as three of their “Best Crime Novels of 2020.” Literary critic Lotta Olsson gives the following reviews:
“Stina Jackson debuted with The Silver Road two years ago: a brilliantly told story of rural villages, forests, and lonely girls. The Last Snow is at times even better.” (The Last Snow)
“Jørn Lier Horst raises the suspense level to horror proportions.” (The Inner Darkness)
“Kristina Ohlsson succeeds in combining suspense, feelgood and social realism.” (Storm Watch)
Detective Agency No. 2’s seasonal booklet for 2020, The Search for the Gingerbread Man, sails to No. 2 on the official Norwegian bestseller list for children’s fiction. However, it isn’t the only title from the series that’s featured: Operation Red Ribbon appears at No. 4.
Lars Kepler’s The Mirror Man is No. 1 in e-books on the list covering week 48 in Norway. Jørn Lier Horst features at No. 4 on the same list, with A Question of Guilt.
Jo Nesbø and Jørn Lier Horst are two of the authors shortlisted for the Norwegian book industry publication BOK365’s Book of the Year Award. Nesbø is nominated for his stand-alone The Kingdom, while Horst features on the list with A Question of Guilt, the fourth installment in the Cold Case Quartet.
Kristina Ohlsson’s third Martin Benner title, To Him Who Knocks, stays put at No. 5 on the paperback list in Norway. Lars Kepler also repeat their performance from the past weeks, coming in at No. 1 in e-books with The Mirror Man. The No. 5 spot goes to Jørn Lier Horst’s A Question of Guilt.
The Petrona Award’s jury has just presented its shortlist for the 2020 Petrona Award for ‘Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year.’ The list of six nominees include Antti Tuomainen’s Little Siberia, Stina Jackson’s The Silver Road, Jørn Lier Horst’s The Cabin, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir’s The Absolution and Thomas Enger’s Inborn.
A quote from the judges about the titles shortlisted for this year’s award:
“The Petrona Award judges selected the shortlist from a rich field. The six novels stand out for their writing, characterisation, plotting, and overall quality. They are original and inventive, often pushing the boundaries of genre conventions, and tackle highly complex subjects such as legacies of the past, mental health issues and the effects of grief.”
The winning title, usually announced at the international crime fiction convention CrimeFest, will now be announced on Thursday 3 December, 2020.
Lars Kepler’s The Mirror Man stays at No. 1 on the official e-book bestseller list in Norway. Not far behind is Jørn Lier Horst’s A Question of Guilt at No. 3. Kristina Ohlsson meanwhile lays claim to the No. 5 spot on the paperback list with To Him Who Knocks.
Operation Red Ribbon, Jørn Lier Horst & Hans Jørgen Sandnes’ eighteenth Detective Agency No. 2 book, is No. 2 on the children’s books bestseller list for the month of October. The No. 5 spot goes to William Wenton and the Centrifugal Catastrophe, the sixth William Wenton book by Bobbie Peers.
Lars Kepler’s The Mirror Man claims the No. 1 spot on the Norwegian e-book list, additionally coming in at No. 3 in hardcover. Jørn Lier Horst’s A Question of Guilt is No. 3 in e-books and No. 5 in hardcover. The paperback list’s No. 5 placement goes to Kristina Ohlsson’s To Him Who Knocks.
Lars Kepler’s The Mirror Man doesn’t budge from its placements on the Norwegian bestseller lists, coming in at No. 1 in e-books and No. 3 in hardcover also this week. Also on the e-book list is Jørn Lier Horst’s A Question of Guilt, which places at No. 4.
Week 43’s official bestseller lists see Lars Kepler’s The Mirror Man debut at No. 1 in e-book and No. 3 in hardcover. Featuring on the same two lists is Jørn Lier Horst, whose A Question of Guilt is No. 3 and No. 5 respectively. Lastly, Kristina Ohlsson claims the No. 3 spot on the paperback list with To Him Who Knocks.
Jørn Lier Horst’s The Cabin – the second installment in the Cold Case Quartet – has sailed to No. 1 on Rahva Raamat’s bestseller list for e-books. Rahva Raamat is the largest retail and wholesale bookseller in Estonia.