K. Svensson’s debut, The Winterman Files, and Ulf Kvensler’s Let the Waves Do the Rest have both been shortlisted for the prestigious 2025 Swedish Academy of Crime Writers’ Award in the categories of ‘Best Debut Crime Novel’ and ‘Best Swedish Crime Novel’, respectively.

The winners will be announced on November 30.

This is the tale of private detective Moses Winterman and his humble little agency tucked away at the bottom of a closed down furrier’s shop. What begins as a series of routine cases soon unravels into deeply buried family secrets, stretching across continents and generations. Along the way, Winterman navigates fleeting romance, mouthwatering meals, far too many late-night drinks, and ongoing battles of will with his eccentric landlady, Clotilde Nothnagel. Told in three interconnected parts—these are The Winterman Files.

K. Svensson (b. 1981) is a comedian and author. He has a background as a screenwriter for television, radio, and theatre. The Winterman Files is a dream of recapturing the reading experiences of childhood.