As the cold and frost are setting in, now is the perfect time to snuggle up with a tantalising new read. Here's where to begin with the chilling work of one of Scandinavia's most successful contemporary writers
Viveca Sten has sold almost three million books worldwide, and a new show based on The Åre Murders books is set to air next year. But where should you begin if you're new to her work? Well, our exclusive short story by the award-winning author is a good place to start, but beyond that, we've put together some of her most spine-chilling, utterly addictive novels to help you get familiar with one of our region's finest writers.
Sten is not just a fantastic novelist, she’s also had a highly successful legal career, which gives her even more of an edge when she shares with us the mysteries that she creates in her head. She selects settings that are already incredibly familiar to her, which ensures her stories are incredibly detailed and eerily atmospheric. Her family has spent every summer on the island of Sandhamn since 1917 – the writer describes it as her favourite place on earth – and this is where the majority of her books are set. Meanwhile, The Åre Murders revolve around the ski resort of the same name, where Sten retreats in the winter.
Together, these traits make help her produce works that are both incisive and quintessentially Scandinavian – with plenty of good twists along the way. Here are seven spoiler-free introductions to Sten's thrillers you need to know.
Still Waters
Sten’s debut novel is a key place to start, since it introduces the cherished characters of police detective Thomas Andreasson and his childhood friend and lawyer Nora Linde. It documents the beginning of Thomas and Nora’s partnership, and begins to reveal their characters and backgrounds, which — like so many iconic sleuths — are complex and littered with faults. It also draws the reader into the seemingly idyllic island of Sandhamn, where the duo begin to uncover a labyrinth of secrets.
The sleepy island in the Stockholm archipelago teems with tourists, city dwellers, and yachting enthusiasts each summer — Sandhamn hosts the ÅF Offshore Race-regatta every year, and is considered a sailing capital. In Still Waters however, the jubilant atmosphere is rocked when the body of a missing bachelor is discovered tangled in fishing nets. The mystery deepens when a cousin of the deceased is found murdered in a bed and breakfast. Thomas and Nora team up to tackle their first case of many.
Hidden in Snow
Hidden in Snow is the first novel in Sten’s most recent series The Åre Murders. The author began concocting this new cast of characters when she was stuck in the ski resort during lockdown.
Before Åre became synonymous with winter sports, this mountainous corner of the country was mostly frequented in the summer by tourists who relished the high, clean air and outdoor pursuits such as hunting and fishing. Åre now buzzes in the winter too, and is packed with thrill-seekers who crave the powder-soft snow that coats its slopes. However, its enchanting scenery can be as treacherous as it is beautiful, and it is this threat of nature that adds to the suspense within Sten’s 2020 thriller.
The story centres around a local teenager who goes missing, leaving behind just a scarf in the snow. When the girl vanishes, Stockholm police officer Hanna Ahlander happens to be holed up at her sister’s lodge, which is located in the area. Despite dealing with crises in both her personal and professional life, Hanna becomes entrenched in the case, partnering with Detective Inspector Daniel Lindskog. The team faces unknown threats, impending blizzards, and increasingly sinister clues. It’s a chilling yet unputdownable tale that will make you want to pull your blanket, and your loved ones, a little closer.
Guiltless
The third book in the Sandhamn Murders Series opens with a very macabre discovery, one that feels a little too close to the integral character of Nora Linde for comfort. In the depths of a snowy winter — a contrast to the sundrenched summers that Sten portrays in the first two Sandhamn novels — the lawyer’s two young sons come across a severed arm in the woods. The limb belongs to a woman who went missing in the autumn, and so the case becomes far more gruesome. Nora reunites with now local police detective Thomas Andreasson and the pair end up deeply submerged in the mystery, as well as Sandhamn’s history.
The modern day story is told in parallel with another tale, which is set on the island in the 1900s. While it’s unclear at first quite how the two threads intertwine, connections begin to form to culminate in an ending that has certainly divided readers.
In the Heat of the Moment
Midsummer’s Eve, the celebration of the longest day of the year, has inspired a number of writers and filmmakers. While frightening happenings often occur under the cloak of darkness, there’s something incredibly unsettling about crimes that happen when the sun doesn’t set at all.
The fifth book in the Sandhamn series is a very personal case for Nora, as the daughter of her new boyfriend Jonas goes missing during the Midsummer revelry. Another young partygoer is discovered murdered and a teenage girl is found drugged on a beach, as the events of the solstice celebration open up a web of wickedness that extends deep into the community.
Critics have praised In the Heat of the Moment for its satisfying ending and its value as a standalone book as well as a part of the overall series. While the novel doesn’t overuse violence and murder, the secrecy surrounding the teenagers — much like in other unsettling dramas like Twin Peaks — evokes intense intrigue, and encourages readers to read just one more chapter.
In Harm’s Way
Sten continues to compel in her sixth Sandhamn story, In Harm’s Way, which centres around the murder of a famous journalist on Boxing Day. War zone correspondent Jeanette Thiels comes to stay in a hotel on the island, but her body is found frozen in a nearby garden, leading Thomas and his partner Margit to believe that she has been murdered. Jeanette’s work as a journalist adds another layer of conspiracy – as well as plenty of possible suspects, including members of political groups.
The novel has been lauded for weaving in wider topical issues and building up to the death of Jeanette rather than opening with it, allowing readers to get to know the journalist a little more and build a picture of what might have potentially caused her death. Yet again, this novel can easily be read as a standalone.
In the Name of Truth
The eighth Sandhamn Island installment whisks readers away to a sundrenched summer sailing camp, which turns sour when a young boy is abducted. The child also happens to be the son of one of Nora’s clients, who is a key witness in an embezzlement trial.
This novel is considered one of Sten’s darkest; its many subplots deal with themes of bullying, paedophilia and organised crime. It’s also been highly praised for its complex and gripping storylines, one of which is scattered with red herrings to keep readers on their toes until the very end.
While it’s perhaps one of the most ambitious of Sten’s novels, her style remains punchy, with plenty of short, satisfying chapters and rich character deep dives.
In Bad Company
Last year, we welcomed the most recent release within the Sandhamn series. In Bad Company sees Nora at the forefront as she takes on what is potentially her most complicated case to date. Meanwhile, Thomas remains more of a background presence, as he grapples with some relationship issues. The plot of the novel is, like In the Name of Truth, very dark and at times disturbing — it includes scenes of domestic abuse and violence towards women.
The character of Andreis Kovač, a violent criminal who Nora is trying to build a case against, is particularly terrifying. His wife Mina is Nora’s key witness, and she must make sure she and her son are safely hidden from Andreis throughout the build up to the trial. In Bad Company also incorporates flashbacks to the Bosnian War, which traumatised Andreis, often leading him to fits of rage.
In Bad Company might be latest novel in Sten's Sandhamn Murders series, but it won’t be the last. The novelist has signed up to write at least three more thrillers featuring Nora, Thomas et al – so watch this space to see what Sandhamn witnesses next…