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Martin Widmark

Martin Widmark (b. 1961) is an acclaimed Swedish children’s book author known for popular series such as The JerryMaya Detective Agency, Nelly Rapp, Halvdan the Viking, and many more. His books have received countless awards, sold more than 15 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

Fenix Awards (Best Role-Play Book of the Year) Sweden – Nelly Rapps rollspelsbok för monsteragenter Nelly Rapp’s Role-Play Book for Monster Agents 2023
USBBY Outstanding International Books United States – Den långa vandringen Dreams of Near and Far 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 Adlibris Award (Best Children’s 6-12) Sweden – Maskeradmysteriet The Masquerade Mystery 2022
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
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Bibliography

The JerryMaya Detective Agency

Stories from Valleby

Activity books

Nelly Rapp, illustrated by Christina Alvner

Nelly Rapp, illustrated by Emil Maxén

The Jansson Family

David & Larissa

Picture books

Halvdan Viking

Related news

The Adlibris Awards 2023

The nominees for the 2023 Adlibris Awards have been announced. Adlibris is the leading book retailer in the Nordics and the award was founded in 2019 to celebrate the site’s biggest titles. The nominated works have been selected by a jury of Adlibris employees, but the winners will be voted forth by the public. The winning titles will be announced on January 25, 2024.

In the category “Fiction of the Year,” Niklas Natt och Dag competes with Hope and Destiny.

In “Children’s Book of the Year, Ages 0-6,” Sarah Sheppard and David Sundin have both received a nomination. Sheppard for her Animals of the City, and Sundin for his You Must Be QUIET Now!.

Lastly, in the category “Children’s Book of the Year, Ages 6-12,” Martin Widmark vies for the winning title with The Dinosaur Mystery.

Niklas Natt och Dag Sarah Sheppard David Sundin Martin Widmark

‘The Dinosaur Mystery’ No. 3 on the Swedish bestseller list for the third quarter

A round-up of the bestselling titles in Sweden during the third quarter of 2023 have just been published. Martin Widmark’s The Dinosaur Mystery comes in at No. 3 in the children’s category.

Martin Widmark

‘Christmas in Valleby: Boxing Day’ published in Sweden

Christmas Eve is fast approaching and Valleby’s cozy bookshop is packed with customers. But in the middle of all the pleasant Christmas shopping, a sabotage is discovered! Who would want to mess with the bookshop?

Christmas in Valleby: Boxing Day is a new cozy, crazy Christmas story with loads of tricky challenges to solve together with Jerry, Maya, and all your other favorite characters from Valleby. Crack the codes, follow the clues, and find your way through the Christmas presents to figure out who is causing Christmas mayhem.

The new Christmas in Valleby book will put you in just the right mood for this holiday season!

Martin Widmark

‘Nelly Rapp and the School of Higher Magic’ published in Sweden

Around Halloween, strange things are always happening in the town where Nelly and Valle live. This year, the two agents have received a mission from the Monster Academy to find out why.

This particular night, the Halloween swim meet is taking place, and the oddities are soon piling up! The water turns to slime, the trampoline is as soft as cooked spaghetti, and a huge shark suddenly appears in the pool. There is definitely something supernatural going on. Could Nelly and Valle’s classmate Bim have something to do with it?

Nelly Rapp and the School of Higher Magic is the twenty-fourth installment in Martin Widmark’s spooky series about monster agent Nelly Rapp.

Martin Widmark

Martin Widmark and Helena Willis top list of most borrowed authors in Swedish libraries 2022

The list of 2022’s most borrowed library titles is out, and Martin Widmark and Helena Willis top the list. Their series The JerryMaya Detective Agency regularly feature at No. 1 on the Swedish bestseller lists and has been translated into over 30 languages.

Martin Widmark

Martin Widmark No. 5 in Iceland

The Hospital Mystery, Martin Widmark’s nineteenth JerryMaya novel, is No. 5 on the official Icelandic bestseller list for the month of September.

Martin Widmark

Martin Widmark and Kristina Ohlsson on the Swedish bestseller lists

Martin Widmark’s The Dinosaur Mystery is still No. 1 on the weekly bestseller list for children’s books in Sweden. New among the top placements this week is Kristina Ohlsson’s just published Wheel of Fire, which claims the No. 4 spot.

Martin Widmark Kristina Ohlsson
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