Photo: Thron Ullberg Photo: Thron Ullberg

Martin Widmark

Martin Widmark (b. 1961) is an acclaimed Swedish children’s book author known for popular series such as The JerryMaya Detective AgencyNelly RappHalvdan the Viking, and many more. His books have received countless awards, sold more than 20 million copies, and been translated into 39 languages. Many of the books have been adapted into feature films and TV series, or made into board games, theater, and video games.

Martin is strongly engaged in promoting reading comprehension among children and young people and is considered one of the most prominent writers of children’s fiction today. He has received multiple prestigious awards. In 2014, he was awarded the Swedish Government’s medal Illis quorum for his work to encourage young people’s reading.

Before becoming a full-time author, Martin Widmark worked as a middle school instructor and a Swedish language teacher. In the year 2000, he made his debut with the book To Catch a Tiger (Att fånga en tiger). Since then, he has written over a hundred books for children and young people and is today one of Sweden’s most popular children’s book writers.

Martin Widmark & Helena Willis


Swedish writer Martin Widmark (b. 1961) and illustrator Helena Willis (b. 1964) have together created the bestselling children’s book series The JerryMaya Detective Agency
 for ages 6-9.

The popular books with the young detectives Jerry and Maya are constantly on the bestseller lists, on the libraries’ most popular lists, and have been awarded the children’s own book award 12 times.

Awards

The Adlibris Award (Children’s book 6-12 of the Year) Sweden – Smugglarmysteriet The Smuggler Mystery 2026
Shortlisted for the Storytel Awards (Best Children's Book) Sweden – Smugglarmysteriet The Smuggler Mystery 2026
Shortlisted for the Adlibris Awards (Children’s Book of the Year, Ages 6-12) Sweden – Smugglarmysteriet The Smuggler Mystery 2025
Shortlisted for the Storytel Award Iceland – Galoppmysteriet The Racecourse Mystery 2024
Shortlisted for the Storytel Award Sweden – Dinosauriemysteriet The Dinosaur Mystery 2024
Shortlisted for the Adlibris Award (Children’s Book of the Year, Ages 6-12) Sweden – Dinosauriemysteriet The Dinosaur Mystery 2023
Shortlisted for the Storytel Awards (Best Children's) Sweden – Berättelser från Valleby: Det mystiska brevet Stories from Valleby: The Mysterious Letter 2023
Shortlisted for the Storytel Awards (Best Children's) Sweden – Maskeradmysteriet The Masquerade Mystery 2023
The Emil Prize (by the Småland Academy, in honor of Astrid Lindgren) Sweden 2021
USBBY Outstanding International Books United States – Huset som vaknade The House of Lost and Found 2019
The Crimetime Award (Best Children’s Book) – LasseMajas deckarhandbok JerryMaya’s Handbook for Detectives 2019
Astrid Lindgren’s World Scholarship Sweden 2015
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Fängelsemysteriet The Prison Mystery 2015
The Illis quorum medal Sweden 2014
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Brandkårsmysteriet The Fire Brigade Mystery 2014
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Cykelmysteriet The Bicycle Mystery 2013
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Födelsedagsmysteriet The Birthday Mystery 2012
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Simborgarmysteriet The Swimming Pool Mystery 2011
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Campingmysteriet The Campsite Mystery 2010
The Blood Hound (Best Children's and Youth Detective story) Sweden – Nåjdens sång The Song of the Wise One 2008
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Biblioteksmysteriet The Library Mystery 2007
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Guldmysteriet The Gold Mystery 2006
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Tidningsmysteriet The Newspaper Mystery 2005
The Blood Hound Sweden – Tidningsmysteriet The Newspaper Mystery 2005
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Nelly Rapp och varulvarna Nelly Rapp and the Werewolves 2004
Close award list

Bibliography

Activity books

The JerryMaya Detective Agency

Stories from Valleby

Nelly Rapp, illustrated by Christina Alvner

Nelly Rapp, illustrated by Emil Maxén

The Jansson Family

David & Larissa

Picture books

Halvdan Viking

Related news

The Norwegian Storytel Awards 2026

The Norwegian Storytel Awards 2026 are now open for voting.

Among the nominated in the category Crime & Suspense are Jørn Lier Horst’s The Lake, Lars Kepler’s The Sleepwalker, Jo Nesbø’s Blood Ties, and Liza Marklund’s Storm Mountain.

In the Children’s category, Martin Widmark is nominated for both The Dinosaur Mystery and Nelly Rapp and the Mare.

The winners will be announced on February 12. To cast your vote, click “Read more” below.

Read more

Martin Widmark winner of the 2025 Adlibris Award

The winning titles of the 2025’s Adlibris Awards have been announced, and Martin Widmark’s The Smuggler Mystery has been crowned as the ‘Children’s book 6-12 of the Year’.

Adlibris is the leading book retailer in the Nordics and the Adlibris Award was founded in 2019 to celebrate the site’s greatest titles.

The Swedish bestseller lists of 2025

The official 2025 bestseller lists in Sweden have just been announced. Among the most sold titles of the year was Lars Kepler’s The Sleepwalker, coming in at No. 4 in the hardcover fiction category. Lisa Ridzén takes the No. 1 spot for paperback fiction with When the Cranes Fly South, while Kristina Ohlsson’s Nightshifter comes in at No. 3 in the e-book category.

Additionally, Kristina Ohlsson is No. 1 on the list of authors’ total sales in 2025, closely followed by Martin Widmark who claims the No. 2 spot. Martin Widmark’s The JerryMaya Detective Agency series also comes in at No. 4 among book series with the largest turnover.

The Swedish Storytel Awards 2026

The 2026 Swedish Storytel Awards are now open for public voting.

Among the nominated in the category Crime & Suspense are Hans Rosenfeld’s Dark Harvest, Pascal Engman’s The Clanand Kristina Ohlsson’s Nightshifter.

Martin Widmark’s The Smuggler Mystery is nominated in the children’s category.

The winners will be announced at the Storytel Awards gala on March 25.

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

Read more

The Adlibris Awards 2025

The nominees for the Swedish 2025 Adlibris Awards have just been revealed. Adlibris, the leading book retailer in the Nordic region, established the award in 2019 to honor the platform’s most popular titles. While a jury of Adlibris employees selected the nominees, the winners will be chosen through a public vote.

Ulf Lundell’s Weekday 12 is recognized in the “Fiction of the Year” category.

The “Crime Fiction” category features Kristina Ohlsson’s Nightshifter, Pascal Engman’s The Clanand Lars Kepler’s The Sailor.

Björn Nattiko Lindeblad’s From Björn Natthiko Lindeblad. With an open hand is nominated in the “Non-fiction” category.

Estrid Klint’s Ran competes in the “Young Adult of the Year” category.

Finally, in the “Children’s Book of the Year, Ages 6-12” category, Martin Widmark has received a nomination for The Smuggler Mystery, and Anders Hansen and Mats Wänblad are nominated for The Real Happy Pill Minior

The winning titles will be announced on January 28, 2026.

To vote, click the “Read more” button below.

Read more

The weekly Swedish bestseller lists

This week, the newly published From Björn Natthiko Lindeblad. With an Open Hand, written by Caroline Bankler and based on a thoughtful selection of Björn’s texts, talks, and reflections, claims the No. 1 spot in the non-fiction category. The Smuggler Mystery, Martin Widmark’s latest installment in the LasseMaja series, dominates the children’s list at No. 1. In the paperback category, Simona Ahrnstedt’s Charlies Revenge, debuts at No. 4.

The Swedish bestseller lists for June

The official Swedish bestseller lists for June have just been released. Anders & Anette de la Motte’s latest murder mystery Intrigue in Amalfi comes in at No. 4 in the hardcover category. On the paperback list, the previous installment in the same series, Death on Capri, claims the No. 2 spot.

Martin Widmark is featured at No. 3 in the children’s category with JerryMaya’s Summer Holiday Book: The Ghost in Valleby.

The May bestseller lists in Sweden

The official Swedish bestseller lists for May have just been released, and Kristina Ohlsson tops the hardcover category with Nightshifter, the latest installment in her August Strindberg series. Ulf Lundell’s Weekdays 12, the twelfth volume in his critically acclaimed diary series, lands at no. 5.

On the paperback list, Kristina Ohlsson’s Beyond Rescue takes the No. 2 spot, and  Death on Capri, the first installment in Anders and Anette de la Motte’s whodunit mystery series, comes in at No. 4.

On the children’s list, Martin Widmark’s The Great Summer Holiday Book claims the No. 5 position.

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