Includes the author's interviews with various crime writers conducted at Yellowbird Productions, Stockholm, Sweden, Mar. 30, 2011.

HKBU Library

Swedish crime fiction became an international phenomenon in the first decade of the twenty-first century, starting with novels but then percolating through Swedish-language television serials and films and on to English-language BBC productions and Hollywood remakes. This books looks at the rich history of "Nordic noir" examines the appeal of this particular genre and attempts to reveal why it is distinct from the plethora of other crime fictions. Examining the popularity of Steig Larsson's international success with his 'Millenium trilogy' as well as Henning Mankell's 'Wallander' across the various media, Peacock also tracks some lesser-known novels and television programmes. He illustrates how the bleakness of the country's "noirs" reflects particular events and cultural and political changes, with the clash of national characteristics becoming a key feature --