The Nordic Mystery Boom

Americans are often unaware of major cultural trends developing just slightly off the beaten path. Take the Scandinavian Whodunit Boom. A month ago, Karin Fossum's novel, "The Indian Bride," won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for best mystery. Fossum, a glum Norwegian, beat out a moody Swede and a German who writes about a severe Finnish cop. Yes, there also were two Irish writers in the running, but there was not a Yank or a Brit in the bunch.

By Joe Queenan

May 25, 2008