Liza Marklund

If Sjöwall/Wahlöö created the modern Swedish police procedural in the 60s, Liza Marklund (b. 1962) revolutionized it in the late 90s with The Bomber, the first installment in a series that would become the most successful ever from a female Scandinavian writer.

Liza Marklund’s series about crime reporter Annika Bengtzon – in which life at a bustling tabloid and the conflict between motherhood and career set the stage for immensely suspenseful crime stories – quickly established the author as a bestseller worldwide. Since then, Marklund’s novels have sold more than 24 million copies in more than 40 languages. She is the recipient of a vast number of literary awards and prizes.

In addition to being an author, Liza Marklund has worked as a journalist as well as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.

“It’s no accident that Liza Marklund is one of the most dynamic and popular crime writers of our time.”
–Patricia Cornwell

“It’s obvious why Liza Marklund is such a popular writer, and so beloved by her loyal fans. Her voice is crisp and clean, and she has a knack for building beautifully elaborate and suspenseful plots. Her storytelling captivates readers, keeping them guessing right to the end with twists and turns you never see coming. /…/ I am but one member of a steadily growing group of loyal fans.”
–Karin Slaughter

“Liza Marklund is in a league of her own thanks to her intelligent stories, her confident writing and her radical view on society. There is no doubt about it.”
–Henning Mankell

“An astonishing talent. /…/ Liza Marklund’s thrillers are stellar examples of those qualities inherent in the best fiction: She wholly immerses the reader in her world, and she writes with consummate intelligence, consistency and passion.”
–Jeffery Deaver

“Liza Marklund is the next great Nordic export for fans of crime fiction to discover. Her books deliver edge-of-your-seat suspense, sophisticated plotting, complex characterization, and unique locales. Enjoy!”
–Harlan Coben

“Liza Marklund’s thrillers are beautifully structured and tautly written. Dynamic plots with suspense throughout.”
–Kathy Reichs

“What impresses me most about Liza Marklund’s novels is that they are intelligent and gripping. As if that isn’t enough to raise them above just about everyone else’s work—Liza writes lively, often funny dialogue.”
–James Patterson

Awards

Shortlisted for the Mofibo Awards (Best Translated Fiction of the Year) Denmark – Stormberget Storm Mountain 2024
Shortlisted for the Storytel Awards (Best Suspense) Sweden – Kallmyren The Mire 2023
Shortlisted for the Mofibo Awards (Best Translated Fiction of the Year) Denmark – Kallmyren The Mire 2023
Shortlisted for the Adlibris Awards (Best Crime Fiction) Sweden – Kallmyren The Mire 2022
Shortlisted for the Swedish Academy of Crime Writers’ Award (Best Crime Novel of the Year) Sweden – Polcirkeln The Polar Circle 2021
Shortlisted for the Storytel Awards (Best Fiction) Sweden – Pärlfarmen Black Pearl Farm 2019
Crimetime Specsavers’ Honorary Award Sweden 2018
Radio Bremen’s Crime Award Germany – Järnblod The Final Word 2016
The Swedish Academy of Crime Writers’ Award (Special Honorary Award) Sweden 2015
The Petrona Award (Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year) UK – Nobels testamente Last Will 2013
Eurocrime Read of the Year (Favourite read of 2012) UK – Nobels testamente Last Will 2012
The Reading Relay Gold Medal Scotland – Sprängaren The Bomber 2012
The Platinum Paperback Award (Outstanding Paperback Sales) Sweden – En plats i solen The Long Shadow 2010
The Swedish Literary Award (Best Novel of the Year) Sweden – Livstid Lifetime 2007
Scanorama Awards (Scandinavian of the Year in the Literature category) Scandinavia 2002
St. Erik’s Medal Sweden 2002
Book of the Year Award Sweden – Paradiset Vanished 2001
QX’s Novel of the Year Award Sweden – Paradiset Vanished 2001
Paperback of the Year Sweden – Sprängaren The Bomber 2000
Shortlisted for the Glass Key (Best Nordic Crime Novel of the Year) The Nordic Countries – Sprängaren The Bomber 1999
The Swedish Union’s Award (Author of the Year) Sweden – Studio sex Exposed 1999
Shortlisted for the Swedish Academy of Crime Writers’ Award (Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year) Sweden – Studio sex Exposed 1999
The Poloni Prize (Best Swedish Crime Novel by a Female Writer) Sweden – Sprängaren The Bomber 1998
The Swedish Academy of Crime Writers’ Award (Best Debut) Sweden – Sprängaren The Bomber 1998
Shortlisted for the Swedish Academy of Crime Writers’ Award (Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year) Sweden – Sprängaren The Bomber 1998
Close award list

Bibliography

Stand-alone

The Polar Circle Trilogy

Annika Bengtzon

Related news

‘The Traitor,’ ‘Killing Moon’ and ‘The Mire’ chosen as some of 2023’s best novels in Estonia

Jørn Lier Horst’s latest title in the William Wisting series, The Traitor, along with Jo Nesbø’s Killing Moon, and Liza Marklund’s The Mire, were at the start of January chosen by Estonia’s leading crime critic Jaan Martinson as three of 2023’s best novels.

Martinson gives this glowing review of The Traitor:

“Every time I finish even one-quarter of another crime novel by Jørn Lier Horst, I wants to shout that this is probably the best crime writer there is, and his best work to date. This time, the author finds an opportunity to place the main character of his novels, probably one of the most human and big-hearted police inspectors, William Wisting, in a situation where he has to abandon all his beliefs and turn his back on both himself and the whole system that he’s a part of and has shaped his soul and life. To save his loved ones, he must swim against the current, all the while doubting what he’s doing and fearing failure.”

And The Mire:

“The return of Liza Marklund. /…/ An utterly dark and tragic story.”

Liza Marklund and Jo Nesbø shortlisted for the 2024 Mofibo Awards

The Danish audio and e-book service Mofibo has announced this year’s nominees in the Mofibo Awards. Competing for the title of Best Translated Fiction is Liza Marklund’s Storm Mountain and Jo Nesbø’s Killing Moon.

To cast your vote, click “Read more” below. The winner will be announced on March 14th.

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‘Storm Mountain’ published in Sweden

In the midst of Midsummer celebrations in Stenträsk, a body surfaces out in the mire. It is assumed to be Wiking Stormberg’s missing wife. But the body in the mire is soon identified as a man, and he didn’t die by drowning. Someone plunged a stake through his heart, nailing his corpse to the bottom of the mire. For Wiking, the discovery means a dizzying journey back into his family history. Before long, he can no longer be sure of what is the truth and what is a lie – or even, who he himself is.

Storm Mountain is the final part in the trilogy about Stenträsk in Northern Sweden. The novel is an epic drama with police chief Wiking Stormberg and his family at the center, but also the land itself, the river, and Storm Mountain.

The first two installments about Stenträsk, The Polar Circle and The Mire, were instant successes and became that year’s most critically acclaimed and bestselling books.

Here, Liza Marklund uses the stories she grew up with as a child. She writes about longing and secrets, and history’s ruthless exploitation of people and nature.

‘The Mire’ No. 1 in Sweden

Liza Marklund’s The Mire is No. 1 on the official paperback bestseller list. The Mire is the standalone sequel to The Polar Circle, Marklund’s critically acclaimed return to the crime genre.

Liza Marklund and Horst & Enger the most sold of 2023 so far

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.

The Storytel Awards 2023 Shortlist Announced

The nominees for this year’s Swedish Storytel Awards have been announced. The Storytel Awards have been bestowed since 2007 in Sweden to highlight the best audio books of the year. The awards are granted within six categories: Suspense, Fiction, Non-fiction, Feelgood, YA, and Children’s books.

Among the nominees for suspense are Lars Kepler’s The Spider, Anders de la Motte’s The Mountain King, Kristina Ohlsson’s Dimmed Lights, Anders de la Motte and Måns Nilsson’s Death Goes Antiquing, and Liza Marklund’s The Mire.

The Details by Ia Genberg is featured within the fiction category.

Meanwhile, Anders Hansen and Mats Wänblad’s The Happiness Cure for Teens and Elaf Ali’s Who Said Anything About Love? feature on the YA list, whilst Martin Widmark’s The Masquerade Mystery and Stories from Valleby: The mysterious letter are in the running for the children’s books award.

Readers will be able to vote for their favorite works until February 5, after which a jury will pick a winner among the three candidates with the most votes in each category.

To cast your vote, click “Read more” below.

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The 2023 Mofibo Awards

The Danish audio and e-book service Mofibo has announced this year’s nominees in the Mofibo Awards. Competing for the title of Best Crime & Suspense is Katrine Engberg with The Writing on the Wall. In the Translated Fiction category, Lars Kepler, Liza Marklund, Stefan Ahnhem and Hjorth & Rosenfeldt are vying for the top spot. Kepler with The Spider, Marklund with The Mire, Ahnhem with The Final Nail, and Hjorth & Rosenfeldt with As You Sow.

To cast your vote, click “Read more” below. Voting closes on January 29.

Read more

Liza Marklund No. 1 in Norway

Liza Marklund continues to place first on the official Norwegian bestseller list for paperbacks, coming in at No. 1 also this week with The Polar Circle.

Liza Marklund No. 1 in Norway

Liza Marklund performs a hat-trick on the first weekly bestseller list of 2023 in Norway. The Mire, the standalone second installment in Marklund’s The Polar Circle trilogy, goes straight to No. 1 on the official list for hardcover fiction as well as on the e-book list upon publication, while The Polar Circle comes in at No. 1 on the paperback list.

The most sold books of 2022 in Sweden

The official list of the bestselling books of 2022 has just been released. Published towards the end of October, Lars Kepler’s The Spider performed a remarkable feat and became the most sold novel in Sweden of last year. Also featuring on the top 10 is Ia Genberg’s August Prize winning The Details which comes in at No. 9 on the fiction list, Björn Natthiko Lindeblad’s I May Be Wrong at No. 8 on the non-fiction list and No. 4 on the paperback list. The paperback list also sees Anders de la Motte & Måns Nilsson’s A House to Die For on the No. 2 spot and Liza Marklund’s The Polar Circle at No. 5, while Martin Widmark’s The Masquerade Mystery takes the No. 8 spot on the children’s list.

The December bestseller lists in Norway

The last bestseller lists of 2022 in Norway saw both Jo Nesbø and Lars Kepler feature at No. 1 on the hardcover lists; first Nesbø with Killing Moon – also the No. 1 most sold hardcover fiction title of the entire month – and then Lars Kepler with The Spider. Kepler’s title was additionally No. 1 on the e-book lists. Lastly, on the final set of lists, Kepler and Nesbø were joined by Liza Marklund, who came in at No. 1 on the paperback list with The Polar Circle.

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