The Significance of Landscape in Nordic Noir

In addition to reading detective stories, nautical adventures, and cozy mysteries, I am a self-confessed Scandinavian crime fiction addict. In comparing the detectives in Scandinavian crime fiction with British or American sleuths, I have found little difference. The troubled protagonists all appear to sacrifice any facsimile of a normal social or family life, they are alcoholics, nicotine addicts, exceedingly clever, and violent characters. They struggle with bad memories and regret, yet maintain their dogged pursuit of the villain. But what hooks me with Nordic Noir is the way in which the gloomy and introspective landscape often reflects the inner monologue of its major character. Look at Joe Nesbo's Harry Hole series...Harry's character needs the haunting Scandinavian landscape, it's a metaphor for his inner turmoil and brooding self.

Have you read these Nordic Noir authors yet?:

JO NESBØ

STIEG LARSSON

YRSA SIGURÐARDÓTTIR

ANNE HOLT

BO LUNDIN

CAMILLA LÄCKBERG

LIZA MARKLUND

KARIN FOSSUM

GUNNAR STAALESEN

HENNING MANKELL

MAJ SJÖWALL

PER FREDRIK WAHLÖÖ