Parallel Projects for Crime Mastermind Kallentoft

It has been seven years since Mons Kallentoft first introduced himself as one of the most striking new voices in Scandinavian crime fiction in conjunction with the launch of Midwinter Sacrifice (Midvinterblod) – the first book in the successful Malin Fors series. Last year, Kallentoft announced that he was working on a new project together with fellow writer Markus Lutteman, and in June 2014, the readers became acquainted with Zack for the first time.

Mons Kallentoft had been nurturing the idea for several years – to write a series of crime novels loosely inspired by the Hercules myth, but based in 21st century Stockholm. He met Markus Lutteman at an awards ceremony and the pair immediately connected. Together they created the complex young Detective Inspector Zack Herry and his fictional universe: the dark, sinister underbelly of contemporary Stockholm. Their plan is to write twelve books – just like the twelve labours of Hercules.

The first title, Zack, was published by new, innovative publishing house Bookmark in June 2014 and it was not long before the book was top of the charts. The readers have described the book as “modern”, “captivating” and “action-packed”. International rights have been sold to nine territories, including France and the USA.

But fans of Malin Fors do not need to worry. The eighth book in the series, Earth Storm (Jordstorm), will be published at the end of this month and Kallentoft has an outline for another five books about the troubled Linköping detective.

Jordstorm webbZack_webbZack Number 1Mons Kallentoft & Markus Lutteman

 

The queen of new Swedish romance

As far back as we can remember romance and love have had a strong presence in literature. With her lates novel Only One Night Simona Ahrnstedt shows us why romance is the largest literary genre in the Western world.

What is romance? That is the most frequently asked question we get from friends, other authors and journalists. Simona Ahrnstedt usually compares the genre to that of crime novels, but instead of solving a case, there is a love story that needs to have a happy ending. The events leading up to this is what separates good romance from great and Simona Ahrnstedt is one of the best.

Her latest, and first contemporary, novel is a game-changer. As pretty and inviting as a box of chocolates it will put all your preconceived notions about romance to shame while elegantly entertaining readers from 15 to 95 in the time honored tradition of all great fiction.

Only One Night (En Enda natt) is a story of revenge, heated power plays and above all: Forbidden Love.

In the glamorous and high-powered setting of the Swedish finance world we meet corporate advisor Natalia De la Grip and magnetic venture capitalist David Hammar. Both have set a strong course in their lives. Proud Natalia, who was born into the upper class’ highest echelons is forging her own way by building an impressive career.

Meanwhile David, a self-made and ruthless billionaire is determined to seek revenge on the people who have hurt him in the past. But David´s plan to take over the De la Grip family business sets him on an inevitable collision course with Natalia. As passion strikes and secrets rise to the surface, unavoidable disaster looms and life-altering decisions must be made.

Strong women, intense plots and a free flowing narrative are what make up the backbone of this author’s storytelling. Her character’s are as compelling as her love stories and she never lets her readers down. That is why Simona Ahrnstedt earns her title as Sweden’s queen of romance.

Once again she has managed to create characters that I like instantaneously. I really appreciate that the women in Simona Ahrnstedt’s novels are self-sufficient, strong and have their own career.
Boklysten

Impossible to put down. Simona Ahrnstedt’s novels invite non-stop reading
Katarina Bivald

Literature that completely breaks all prejudices.
Litteraturmagazinet

New spine chilling horror from Unni Lindell

Brudekisten is number one on the Norwegian bestseller list after one day on the market and has been chosen as book of the month in three major book clubs.

Unni Lindell’s convincing characters and her intimate themes have proved an unbeatable combination and have made her books about Cato Isaksen one of the bestselling crime series in Norway and around the world, and with Brudekisten she confirms her position as Queen of crime in Norway.

 12-year-old Maike Hagg, the daughter of a psychiatric patient, fell down the stairs and cracked her head on the stone floor in the basement of Gaustad Psychiatric Hospital

Twenty-five years later the statute of limitations for murder is coming up and Emmy Hammer and Aud Johnsen meet up to talk about what really happened.

But dusting off old memories can be dangerous. When the past meets the present, fear and hatred draw a cold-blooded killer out from the shadows.

Slowly the culture of Gaustad Hospital is revealed – something lurks in its past, obscured by other issues and in the catacombs of the abandoned building complex Unni Lindell conjures up a classic horror movie atmosphere.  In her unrivalled and characteristic style dark moods is mixed with everyday life and with surprises, twists and turn she captivates contemporary crime readers offering superb entertainment, but also a thought-provoking read.

Superbly executed, nearly ingenious
Professor Hans H. Skei, Professor in litteratur at Oslo Universitet

With The Angel is a Devil Unni Lindell has pretty much hit the bull’s eye.
Torbjørn Ekelund, Dagbladet

Lindell really knows the art of telling a suspenseful story.
Sindre Hovdenakk, VG

A Well composed and intriguing mystery that will appeal to many readers.
Torbjørn Ekelund, Dagbladet

Unni Lindell meets all the expectations in the crime genre and her clever narrative deceives the reader more than once. This is the great art of illusion.
Geir Rakvaag, Dagsavisen.

ZACK – NUMBER ONE!

Zack Number 1

With “Zack” Mons Kalllentoft and his co-writer Markus Lutteman have put a modern spin on the Greek myth of Hercules – probably one of the most dynamic and thrilling stories in history. They are relocating it to Stockholm 2014 and hope to create an immortal hero. Zack is a different type of hero – multi–faceted with a turbulent background, many difficult childhood traumas that have come back to haunt him. He is just a young adult, but with an incredible energy as a police officer. When he was five years-old his mother – also a police officer – was murdered, but the perpetrator was never found. He has sworn to find his mother’s killer. The authors are using a classic fairytale from many centuries ago that is both captivating and dramatic. Each book centers around a specific case that is part of a grand, truly epic story.

Zack is number 1 on the largest Internet store Adlibris in Sweden after the second day on the market. The book rights are already sold to nine countries.

NEW! Deckarhuset – Swedish website for crime and thrillers reads ZACK and they say that the book gave them “Stieg Larsson vibes”!

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SOFIA NORDIN’S “ONE SECOND AT A TIME” NOMINATED FOR THE NORDIC COUNCIL CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE PRIZE!

Motivation: Sofia Nordin’s gripping, dense and horrid story about life after a catastrophe is unique of its kind. It crawls under your skin, poses questions about our existence and confronts us with things that we would rather not think about.

One Second At a Time is moving, and captivating story of survival against all odds featuring 11-year old Hedvig who is left alone in the world when her entire family, along with the rest of the population, has died in a mysterious fever. It was published last year by Rabén & Sjögren.

Sofia Nordin made her debut as a children’s author in 2003, and has since then published a number of books for teenagers and young readers. Two of her books, Night Sky (2009) and It Happens Now (2010) were shortlisted for the August Prize. In 2005 her first novel for adults was published. Critics and readers alike have praised her books.

Read more about Sofia at www.sofianordin.se

Thomas Engström’s “West of Liberty” wins Crime Debut of the Year

The Swedish Crime Academy has named Thomas Engström’s West of Liberty (“Väster om friheten”) the Crime Debut of the Year with the following motivation: “A fully developed international thriller in an aptly portrayed Berlin setting.” Some of the previous winners of the debutant prize include well-known household names such as Håkan Nesser, Åsa Larsson and Johan Theorin.

West of Liberty – published by Albert Bonniers Förlag – is the first title in a trilogy about former Stasi agent Ludwig Licht. The book has received plenty of positive attention in the Swedish press with Skånska Dagbladet calling it “a spy novel to fall in love with” and Aftonbladet’s Ingalill Mosander comparing Engström to John le Carré (“but with more humour”) and branding it “a thriller of high international standard.”

While the book isn’t actually Engström’s first novel, it is however his first as a crime author and judging by the response it has been a very successful transition. Congratulations, Thomas!

SOFIA NORDIN’S “ONE SECOND AT A TIME” NOMINATED FOR THE NORDIC COUNCIL CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE PRIZE!

Motivation: Sofia Nordin’s gripping, dense and horrid story about life after a catastrophe is unique of its kind. It crawls under your skin, poses questions about our existence and confronts us with things that we would rather not think about.
“One second at a time” is moving, and captivating story of survival against all odds featuring 11-year old Hedvig who is left alone in the world when her entire family, along with the rest of the population, has died in a mysterious fever. It was published last year by Rabén & Sjögren.
Sofia Nordin made her debut as a children’s author in 2003, and has since then published a number of books for teenagers and young readers. Two of her books, Night Sky (2009) and It Happens Now (2010) were shortlisted for the August Prize. In 2005 her first novel for adults was published. Critics and readers alike have praised her books.
Read more about Sofia at www.sofianordin.se

“WEST OF LIBERTY” IS NAMED CRIME DEBUT OF THE YEAR

Thomas Engström’s “West of Liberty” wins Crime Debut of the Year

The Swedish Crime Academy has named Thomas Engström’s “West of Liberty” (“Väster om friheten”) the Crime Debut of the Year with the following motivation: “A fully developed international thriller in an aptly portrayed Berlin setting.” Some of the previous winners of the debutant prize include well-known household names such as Håkan Nesser, Åsa Larsson and Johan Theorin.
“West of Liberty” – published by Albert Bonniers Förlag – is the first title in a trilogy about former Stasi agent Ludwig Licht. The book has received plenty of positive attention in the Swedish press with Skånska Dagbladet calling it “a spy novel to fall in love with” and Aftonbladet’s Ingalill Mosander comparing Engström to John le Carré (“but with more humour”) and branding it “a thriller of high international standard.”

While the book isn’t actually Engström’s first novel, it is however his first as a crime author and judging by the response it has been a very successful transition. Congratulations, Thomas!