‘Salted Pearls’ published in Sweden

The secret life of a star chef.

Recently divorced and disillusioned by life, freelance journalist Desiree Swahn is handed a job by her new boss: to write a portrait of legendary star chef, Pierre Bernard. It’s an assignment far from the prestigious one she’d been promised. But Desiree and Pierre’s meeting will come to be more transformative than she could have ever imagined.

Pierre Bernard’s life hasn’t only been filled with culinary accomplishments, but also passionate love and heart-rending sorrow. He takes Desiree on a journey through time, from the Grand Hotel in Stockholm in the 1920s, to Paris and a war-torn London, to a Budapest in upheaval, and the most iconic wedding of the century. In Pierre’s stories, history is given scent, texture, taste. Desiree comes to know a man who has dedicated his life to discovering new culinary sensations, but has likewise sacrificed much. By the time the interview is over, everything has changed.

Salted Pearls is the debut fiction title of Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt and author Katarina Ekstedt.

Jørn Lier Horst No. 5 in the Netherlands

Jørn Lier Horst’s The Lake enters the Dutch bestseller list for crime and suspense titles at No. 5. The Lake is the seventeenth novel in the William Wisting series.

Lisa Ridzén No. 2 in Canada

The just released French edition of Lisa Ridzén’s debut When the Cranes Fly South enters the weekly bestseller list of Renaud-Bray at No. 2 in Canada. Renaud-Bray is the largest chain of French-language bookstores in North America.

‘The Serpent Woman’ Published in Sweden

The same night that actor Mauritz Möller drinks himself into oblivion in a hotel room in Stockholm, a young woman is found murdered in his apartment. The next morning, his memories are clouded by alcohol as he stands outside Hotel Diplomat, staring at a newly refurbished Saab for which he has just received the keys.

Unaware that he is wanted for murder, Mauritz leaves Stockholm. Through a series of text messages, he is given instructions that send him north along the coast of the Bay of Bothnia, and soon he realizes that he is not only on the run from the police. Someone else is following him on the roads.

Meanwhile, Inspector Claes Ståhl and his colleague Janina Ekström are leading a rigorous investigation into multiple murders. Could the missing Miriam de Brenner’s secrets hold the key to solving the case?

The Serpent Woman is the second part of the closely connected trilogy Maras Children –  A story about how abundance, trauma, and lovelessness can affect a family for generations , and create people who are dangerous to everyone, even themselves.

‘SON’ nominated for Prix Babelio 2026

Thomas Enger and Johana Gustawsson’s hit novel SON is nominated for Prix Babelio 2026 in France. The award includes ten categories, and SON is included in the “Crime and thriller” category along with nine other titles. The Prix Babelio is awarded yearly and each of the ten categories includes a selection of the ten highest ranking and most popular titles among Babelio’s over 2 million members.

Voting is open until May 26 and winners will be announced June 10. To vote, click “Read More” below.

Read more

‘The Search for the Blue Dragon’ published in Norway

Tiril, Oliver and Grandpa Franz have travelled to Mongolia to collect a valuable statue called the Blue Dragon. The journey unfolds like a carefully planned puzzle. Along the way, they discover that a man disguised as Grandpa Franz has arrived before them.

A thrilling race begins, through villages, over fields and mountains, past hidden signs, secret symbols and strange riddles. The reader follows along every step of the way.

The Search for The Blue Dragon is the sixteenth activity book in the Detective Agency No. 2 series. Find the traces, solve the codes and follow the clues. The solution is hidden in the texts and illustrations!

Anders Baasmo and ‘A Better Man’ win at the Gullruten Awards

Actor Anders Baasmo has won the award for Best Leading Actor at this year’s Gullruten Awards for his acclaimed performance in A Better Man (Ølhunden Berit).

The series also took home the award for Best Drama Series, and the creator Thomas Torjussen was honored with awards for both Best Directing and Best Screenplay.

Anders Hansen and Kristina Ohlsson April’s bestsellers in Sweden

The just published latest titles from Anders Hansen and Kristina Ohlsson make an impact on the monthly bestseller list for April in Sweden. Hansen is No. 2 in non-fiction with The Achilles Heels of Your Brain, while Ohlsson claims the No. 5 spot on the fiction list with Beyond the Bridges.

Prime Video’s new crime drama ‘Bishop’ announces cast

It was previously announced that Joel Kinnaman will lead Bishop in the title role, and the series has now revealed additional cast members joining the production.

In Bishop, homicide detective Bishop Graves (Joel Kinnaman), brilliant and battle-scarred, puts all of his skills to the test in the hunt for an elusive killer targeting San Francisco’s moneyed class.

The main cast also includes Jennifer Jason Leigh, John Malkovich, Jordana Brewster and Erik Svedberg-Zelman.

Latest reviews

Salta pärlor Salted Pearls

by Katarina & Niklas Ekstedt

The more I read, the more certain I am that I have a gem on my hands. /…/ The milieus are so lifelike I feel as if I’m inside the novel. The culinary storytelling makes my mouth water. /…/ The love story throughout is a cut above the rest, hitting me hard. /…/ The feeling I’m left with upon finishing the book is one I’ve only experienced three times before, during live concerts: goosebumps all over my body, tears running over because I’m overwhelmed by something so beautiful.

– malin_bibliotekarien