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Find out moreExploring books that have been translated from a different language can lead to a really special reading experience. The skill of a translator is of course key, they need to be able to truly feel the book in order to successfully and seamlessly translate it. A great translator has the ability to make you feel right at home, while also letting you experience the wonders of a different culture. These books all encourage you to discover the sense of a different place, so we invite you to step forward and broaden your horizons.
A truly stunning debut both powerful and disturbing by a UK-based French author, set in London, the West Coast of Sweden and, worryingly, during WW2 in the Buchenwald concentration camp. The use of such a harrowing location and era might in other less-skillful hands smack of exploitation, but here it just anchors an already scary serial killer investigation in reality with a series of heart-jumping twists you never see coming. When similar mutilations appear in the murder of a female Swedish jewellery designer in Falkenberg and the discovery of young children's bodies on Hampstead Heath, Scotland Yard call on the services of seconded Canadian profiler Emily Roy, and true crime author Alexis Castells who knew the initial victim and feels compelled to become involved. The contrasting couple's investigation alongside both police forces slowly uncovers layers of horror and surprises. The first in a series, winner of several awards in its native France, this heralds the English language debut of a major new talent and will have people talking (DISCLAIMER: I am the translator of this book, which I was pleased to bring to the attention of its British publishers). ~ Maxim Jakubowski The LoveReading view... As the start to a new series, this is a truly menacing, striking and powerful read. Profiler Emily Roy, and Alexis Castells a true crime writer, join forces as mutilated bodies are discovered in Sweden and London. The tale begins in 2013, as a body is hidden and thoughts are revealed in chilling focus. Roy and Castells make a fascinating duo, each adding their own distinct style. Short chapters provoke interest, and set feelings whirling, before moving swiftly on. Buchenwald concentration camp squats with loathing intensity in 1944, breaking into the middle of the story, just how do the atrocities committed there link to the investigation? Maxim Jakobowski ensures a seamless translation as Johana Gustawsson releases evil behind a stark and deceptively simple writing style. ‘Block 46’ left me shuddering as it reached a dramatic conclusion, and yet I couldn’t turn away, oh what a clever and very shocking tale this is! ~ Liz Robinson A 'Piece of Passion' from the Publisher... As sometimes happens, Block 46 was recommended to me by a number of authors and reviewers, whose opinion I trust, and I was very excited to meet with Johana’s French publisher at the London Book Fair last year. My eldest son read it in the original French, as did an outside reader, and both come back with stars in their eyes, and a You MUST publish this book message! Maxim Jakubowski was already a fan, and we hired him to translate Block 46. Six months on and I still hadn’t read it. I flew through the first draft of the translation in less than a day, and knew exactly why everyone was raving – exactly why this book has won so many awards in Johana’s native France. This is a stunning piece of crime fiction, with a plot that twists and turns and leaves the reader both breathless and gasping for more. At its heart is a study of the nature of evil that is eye-opening and also terrifying, and the two main protagonists are fresh, never stereotypical, and hugely engaging. I am thrilled and honoured to be publishing such a fabulous series, with its sweeping plot and timelines. In all honesty, it is probably the best Noir to come out of France for a decade, by a young writer with a massive future ahead of her. ~ Karen Sullivan, Orenda Books Click here to read a Q&A with the author. Books in The Roy & Castells Series: 1. Block 46 2. Keeper 3. Blood Song Serial Reader? Check out our 'Fall in Love With a Book Series' collection to find amazing book series to dive in to.
May 2017 Book of the Month. A captivating, fiendishly puzzling crime drama with an exotic, fascinating backdrop. Martial, Liane, and their daughter Sopha are on holiday on the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean, then Liane disappears and Martial finds himself the only suspect. The main pair in the investigating team are simply fabulous characters, in particular Christos, who would rather sit back with a glass of rum than work for a living. Michel Bussi has the wonderful ability to take you on a completely different journey with each book he writes, yet each is a compelling, high-octane, outstanding read. I found my thoughts tumbling over each other as Bussi took me into the minds of the characters. The daughter Sopha talks in the the first person, creating incredibly intimate and powerful moments in time. Translations of certain local words sit waiting for you, allowing a discovery of the place and people. ‘Don’t Let Go’ twists and writhes, constantly moving forward, tension escalates until the final heart-stopping moments. ~ Liz Robinson
May 2017 Book of the Month. A chilling, stimulating, intensely dark tale set in Norway. A young woman is found dead in woodland on the edge of Oslo Fjord, with her body arranged in a strange, unsettling backdrop. The policing team in charge of the investigation are lost, until help comes from an unlikely source. This is the second in the ‘Munch and Kruger’ series which started with ‘I’m Travelling Alone’. Munch and Kruger are a fascinating pairing, work Kruger’s reason for living, while Munch should really take time out. In short sharp chapters, characters were slowly introduced, ruffling my senses, keeping me in suspense, there were times when I wanted to shout a warning, to hold out a restraining arm. Samuel Bjork creates a jagged zig-zagging edge of understanding, there isn't a convenient jigsaw shaped hole waiting for your thoughts. ‘The Owl Always Hunts at Night’ is a cunning, dramatically sinister tale, it looks as though this is a series with staying power. ~ Liz Robinson
An assured, chilling, and intense piece of crime fiction set in Oslo. Detectives Frolich and Gunnarstranda investigate the murder of a woman who has been found scalded and wrapped in plastic, Gunnarstranda gets help from an unexpected source, while things get very personal for Frolich. This is an established policing team, however my first outing, and while it took me a little while to get to know them, ‘Faithless’ can easily be read without prior knowledge of the series. Kgell Ola Dahl establishes a strong, sparse structure, yet Norway flowed from page and into my mind. A sinister edge hovers over the characters, ready to slice and cut, while the complexity of the investigation sent my mind into overdrive. Information is slowly revealed, creating tension, pushing anticipation forwards. The plot runs a jagged course, twisting through story, all the while building to a dramatic conclusion. If you love Nordic Noir, then look no further, ‘Faithless’ is a fiercely powerful and convincing read. ~ Liz Robinson
If you thought The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was the epitome of Nordic noir's savage darkness, think again. Graphic, violent and weaving a thread of evil with the dexterity of a malevolent spider, this Swedish trilogy by a collaborative duo of writers, ups the ante yet another notch with pedophilia, mutilation, human trafficking and a veritable catalogue of deviance unveiled following the discovery of a mummified child's corpse by the police and the ensuing investigation by troubled detective Jeanette Kihlberg, the scion of a family of cops through the generations. Once you set the manifold horrors aside (if you can), the investigation proves entrancing, with a complex plot swerving in all directions that make this a psychological thriller of the highest order, with positive female characters to the fore. Might not be to the liking of lovers of cozy crime, but otherwise will have you truly gripped.
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | April 2017 Book of the Month. Simply superb, ’Black Water Lilies’ has leapt straight into my heart and soul. Thirteen days in the heart of Claude Monet’s homeland, where murder, death, lies, and deceit stalk the village of Giverny. Three women and two investigators dance through a weaving, magical, almost dreamlike story. The prologue sent a thrilling chill coursing through me, I was immediately captivated and remained that way for the entire tale. This is most definitely a crime novel, yet it is also a mystery, and a story about love, I almost feel as though it shouldn't be categorised, but enjoyed instead for what it is, a stunning piece of literature. Michel Bussi is an award-winning French novelist, this is the second of his novels to be translated into English. Descriptions are so immediate and evocative I felt as though I was about to step into a Monet painting. The plot kept me on the edge of the frame, just on the edge of understanding as I viewed the scenes in front of me. The unexpected ending made me weep, not through sadness, but because, as my brain raced to catch up with the shock of awareness, my feelings were affected at a basic level, and I’m still affected by it now. As soon as I had finished, I just wanted to start reading again from the beginning. ‘Black Water Lilies’ has been a bestseller in France, and it deserves to be a bestseller here, it is, without doubt, a must read. ~ Liz Robinson A 'Piece of Passion' from the Publisher... 'I have to ’fess up, I did a French degree and am predisposed to love all things French. But that’s not why I love this book. Why I love it is that it is such a clever and compelling read – mystery after mystery is revealed as the story unfolds, and at every turn you meet a new and fascinating character. For me, one of the best ‘characters’ is the village of Giverny itself – by day, a mecca for tourists from all around the world; by night a place where decades-old rivalries and secrets play out behind closed doors. And then there’s the twist . . . I immediately wanted to go back and read the whole thing again!' ~ Kirsty Dunseath, Weidenfeld & Nicolson
This fourth fiercely gripping novel featuring crime reporter Henning Juul sees Henning’s ex-wife Nora (also a journalist) investigating the disappearance of her college friend, Hedda. Following the death of her wealthy father, Hedda announced to her husband that she was heading to an Italian retreat for three weeks. That was over a month ago, and she’s still not home. In fact, she never even went to the retreat, or boarded the plane to Italy.As Nora’s research connects Hedda to an elderly man who was shot dead in his own forest, it also reconnects Nora and Henning as their joint investigation entwines them in a web of increasingly intense discoveries: family secrets, dark days of history, and truths about the tragic death of their son. And, at the same time, someone wants Henning dead. From the gritty tension of the plot, to its underpinning emotional depths, this is a powerfully compulsive page-turner. ~ Joanne Owen A 'Piece of Passion' from the publisher... 'I had been a fan of Thomas Enger’s Henning Juul series for many years, and when his agent mentioned that he had parted company with his English publisher, I made a two-book offer on the spot and insisted that she ring him from the Frankfurt Book Fair to get an instant response. Within three minutes, we had a deal, and I am truly honoured to be published Cursed and (next year) Killed. It was almost painful waiting for brilliant translator Kari Dickson to deliver the manuscript, which I read in one breathless sitting. Thomas is not only one of the best crime writers in the world (his books have been published in 24 countries), but one of the best writers I have ever come across. Cursed is Nordic Noir at its very finest, with a gripping, taut storyline, some unforgettable characters, and a plot that continually throws up twists and teasing clues, before the final stunning final reviews turns everything on its head again. Perhaps more importantly, this is a moving, emotive book – a father’s quest to find out who started the fire that killed his young son – and the characterisation is simply sublime. Every book in this series stands alone, but I can guarantee that once you’ve had a taste of Henning Juul, you are unlikely to stop here.' ~ Karen Sullivan, Orenda Books Click here to read a Q&A with Thomas Enger.
Deceptively clever and utterly compelling, this beautifully written little book will continue to haunt your thoughts long after you've finished it. Set in Montreal, the world of Bilodo the postman is a simple one, but he regularly sneaks a peek into other peoples worlds by reading their handwritten letters; events take a darker turn as he deviates from voyeur into an obsessive usurper. The author uses Japanese haiku and tanka poetry to allow Bilodo to converse with the woman of his dreams; exquisite clusters of words will snag your attention and demand that you re-read them. This is essentially a book of love, of what might have been and of what could still come… One of our Books of the Year 2014. Selected as a BBC Radio 2 Book Club title in September 2014.
An artful and intriguing story set in a remote Icelandic landscape. As a highly contagious fever forces his village into quarantine, Ari Thor begins to investigate an ice cold case. He enlists the help of reporter Isrun from ‘Blackout’ and a further crime begins to coil around them. This is the fourth in the ‘Dark Iceland’ series, I feel that it is best to start with ‘Snowblind’ in order to understand Ari, and as importantly, the area he works in. Iceland sits centre stage, the island is brought to sharp, vivid life. Ragnar Jonasson excels in running several investigations in one story, separate strands waiting for links and connections. Foreboding lies in wait and throws darts of disquiet, and my mind scuttled to and fro as I collected information and joined in the investigation. History and time are essential to the storyline and echo with striking vibrancy, ensuring ‘Rupture’ just throbs with dramatic intensity and is a riveting read. ~ Liz Robinson A Piece of Passion from the Publisher... In a rather strange turn of events, I met Ragnar Jonasson playing football for England, at the annual England v Scotland football match at Bloody Scotland crime festival, and he told me about his Dark Iceland series. Ragnar appeared on a panel, and I watched readers queue up for books that did not yet exist in English. I learned that Ragnar had translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic, and that the setting of the Dark Iceland series was Siglufjörður, a tiny town at the top of Iceland, bound on one side by the sea and on the other by mountains, only accessible by a single mountain tunnel that was often closed by snowstorms and avalanches. The perfect locked-room mystery. So, almost sight unseen, I bought the series, and Snowblind was published seven months later, beautifully translated by Quentin Bates. It went almost instantly to number one on the kindle charts, and a star was born! From there, we haven’t looked back, and every title that has followed (Nightblind and Blackout) has sold in the tens of thousands and attracted a legion of fans and fabulous reviews. Rupture is a brilliant addition to the series, dark, chilling, beautifully written, atmospheric and full of masterful plotting and unforgettable characters. We follow police officer Ari Thor, as he tries to solve a cold case, with the town in quarantine and a stalker on the lose. I can’t speak highly enough of Ragnar and this series. The books are a gorgeous combination of Golden Age crime and Nordic Noir and there is, quite simply, nothing like them. I am honoured to publish Ragnar! ~ Karen Sullivan, Orenda Books Click here to read a Q&A with Ragnar Jonasson about this book.
Retired Chief of the National Crime Police and Swedish Security Service Lars Martin Johansson has just suffered a stroke. He is paying the price for a life of excess - stress, good food and fine wine. With his dangerously high blood pressure, his heart could fail at the slightest excitement. In the hospital, a chance encounter with a neurologist provides an important piece of information about a 25-year-old murder investigation and alerts Lars Martin Johansson's irrepressible police instincts. The period for prosecution expired just weeks earlier and that isn't the only limitation. Lars Martin Johansson is determined to solve the atrocious crime - from his deathbed.
One of our Books of the Year 2016. The publisher’s blurb for this quirky novel certainly drew me to it especially since I am an enormous fan of his first, A Man Called Ove. I’m afraid I didn’t read his second (shame on me!). Here we have a woman who is definitely on ‘the spectrum’, who has at last left a cheating, domineering husband (when he had a heart attack in the arms of another woman) and must now earn a living. She will not accept that the Job Centre has nothing for her and is eventually given a dead-end, short-term job as caretaker in a closing sports centre in a dying town. She ends up coaching the local kids’ football team in a delightful, warm-hearted tale of great charm. How she wins everyone round and makes a life for herself is poignantly realised. A lovely read.
A startling, intense and clever tale of destructive, chilling corruption. 30 year old journalist Janne tells his own story after he is offered information about an environmental catastrophe, another similarly deadly tale is revealed at the same time, and the two stories unfold side by side. I read the first few pages, full of impact, setting the scene, yet spinning and tumbling my thoughts, twice. Antti Toumainen writes with a wonderful blend of beautiful descriptive detailing and chilling sparse intensity, he leaves you guessing, thinking, on high alert. As I read I felt a storm gathering, a force, a reckoning started to hurtle towards me, and in the middle of this the importance of family sits centre stage. The violence is prominent, yet there is a subtle thought provoking energy that twists through this tale, and ensures that ‘The Mine’ is an absolutely cracking read. ~ Liz Robinson Click here to read a Q&A with this author.
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