Love a good mystery set in Iceland? Then you probably know Arnaldur Indriðason. His crime novels are something special, aren’t they? Many readers get hooked by the atmosphere and how deeply he explores his characters.
Detective Erlendur is one of those characters you just can’t forget. If you are drawn to his style, particularly the way he uncovers the quiet darkness of people against the stark Icelandic landscape, here are some authors who offer a similar kind of reading experience.
They also write crime novels that look into the shadows of society and the complicated nature of people’s hearts.
Books by Jo Nesbø offer crime fiction readers dark plots and complex protagonists reminiscent of the style of Icelandic author Arnaldur Indriðason.
In “The Snowman,” Nesbø brings detective Harry Hole into a chilling case in Norway, where women mysteriously vanish each year at the first snowfall. Hole suspects he faces a serial killer, and the unsettling snowmen left behind at each scene add an eerie note to the tension.
Nesbø lays out sharp turns and intricate clues, building suspense through Oslo’s cold and unforgiving winter landscape.
Readers who appreciate Arnaldur Indriðason’s careful characterization and atmospheric mysteries in Reykjavik will find Nesbø's Harry Hole series a rewarding find.
Henning Mankell is a Swedish author famous for his Inspector Kurt Wallander series, which readers of Arnaldur Indriðason’s detective novels often find appealing.
If you enjoyed Indriðason’s careful character portraits and absorbing Nordic settings, try Mankell’s “Faceless Killers,” the first Wallander novel. This book begins with a brutal double murder in a remote Swedish farmhouse.
Inspector Wallander faces growing pressure to solve the case amid growing tensions over immigration.
Mankell’s writing style pulls readers into Sweden’s landscapes and societal tensions, while Wallander himself grapples with isolation, personal struggles, and his dedication to justice.
If you enjoy Arnaldur Indriðason’s atmospheric Icelandic crime novels, you might appreciate the suspenseful thrillers of Stieg Larsson. A good place to start is his first book, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”.
Set in Sweden, the story follows investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the enigmatic computer hacker Lisbeth Salander. Together they uncover dark family secrets and a decades-old mystery involving a missing young woman.
Larsson combines complex characters with chilling Nordic settings, creating a crime story that pulls you deeper with every page.
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is an Icelandic author known for atmospheric crime novels steeped in mystery and suspense. If you enjoy Arnaldur Indriðason’s dark and moody storytelling, you’ll find her style appealing too.
One of her books, “Last Rituals,” introduces attorney Thóra Gudmundsdóttir, who is hired to investigate the chilling murder of a German student in Reykjavík.
The student’s strange fascination with medieval torture and ancient witchcraft draws Thóra deep into an unsettling puzzle. Sigurðardóttir builds tension gradually. Her sense of place and tradition make the Icelandic setting vivid and unforgettable.
Fans of carefully plotted Nordic noir will find plenty to appreciate in her stories.
Books by Camilla Läckberg often explore tight-knit communities harboring dark secrets beneath the surface, similar to Arnaldur Indriðason’s Icelandic crime novels.
In “The Ice Princess,” Läckberg introduces readers to Fjällbacka, a quiet Swedish town where writer Erica Falck returns following her parents’ death. Soon after her arrival, Erica discovers that her childhood friend, Alex, has died under mysterious circumstances.
As Erica starts looking into the case, unsettling truths about her friend and the townspeople emerge. Family betrayals, long-hidden secrets, and unexpected connections slowly surface, making for a suspenseful and engaging story.
If the complexity of human nature and close-knit settings in Indriðason’s novels appeal to you, Camilla Läckberg’s stories may provide a similarly satisfying read.
If you enjoy Arnaldur Indriðason’s atmospheric mysteries set in Iceland, Karin Fossum provides similar satisfaction with her thoughtful Norwegian detective novels.
Her book “Don’t Look Back” introduces Inspector Konrad Sejer, a calm, methodical detective confronted by the unsettling case of a missing teenage girl in a quiet village.
As the mystery unfolds, the novel explores complex emotions and hidden secrets within seemingly ordinary lives.
Fossum’s storytelling is detailed and subtle, filled with psychological depth, making her an excellent choice for fans of Indriðason’s reflective and evocative crime novels.
Readers who enjoy Arnaldur Indriðason’s atmospheric Icelandic mysteries might appreciate James Thompson’s novels set in Finland. Thompson brings vivid realism and cultural depth to his detective series.
In “Snow Angels,” detective Kari Vaara investigates a shocking and violent murder in the chilling darkness of an Arctic winter. The isolated Finnish setting, fascinating characters, and tense storyline keep readers hooked.
Fans of Indriðason’s moody narratives and unique locations will find Thompson’s portrayals equally engaging.
Liza Marklund is a Swedish author known for her engaging crime novels featuring sharp investigative journalism and intense characters. Readers who enjoy Arnaldur Indriðason’s atmospheric Nordic mysteries with thoughtful character studies might appreciate Marklund’s “The Bomber.”
In this novel, reporter Annika Bengtzon investigates a deadly explosion at Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium, where suspicion and pressure mount as the city prepares to host the Olympics.
The tension rises rapidly through Annika’s discoveries, difficult ethical choices, and realistic newsroom drama, leading to revelations about politics, media, and the dark secrets people hide.
Fans of Nordic noir will be drawn to Marklund’s detailed storytelling, meticulous plotting, and realistic portrayal of Sweden’s contemporary social issues.
If you enjoy Arnaldur Indriðason’s atmospheric mysteries set against Iceland’s haunting landscapes, Jussi Adler-Olsen offers another intriguing path into Nordic crime fiction.
Adler-Olsen, a Danish writer, is known for his sharp, suspenseful detective novels featuring detective Carl Mørck and Department Q. In “The Keeper of Lost Causes,” Carl and his unconventional assistant Assad reopen long-neglected cases that pull them into dangerous realms.
In their first investigation, they examine the strange disappearance of prominent politician Merete Lynggaard. The case, marked by overlooked clues, dark secrets, and a gripping conclusion, reveals how chilling past events shape human lives.
Adler-Olsen gives us thoughtful puzzles, sharp character studies, and intriguing explorations of Danish society and its shadowy corners.
Readers who enjoy Arnaldur Indriðason’s atmospheric Icelandic mysteries might appreciate his novel “Jar City.” Set in Reykjavik, detective Erlendur investigates the murder of an elderly man, discovering a photograph and cryptic note at the crime scene.
Erlendur uncovers unsettling secrets buried deep within Iceland’s quiet past, connecting present-day violence with decades-old crimes.
Indriðason brings readers into Iceland’s bleak landscape and complex social issues, similar to Scandinavian authors like Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbø, whose characters also seek truth hidden beneath society’s polite facade.
Readers who enjoy Arnaldur Indriðason’s atmospheric mysteries set in Iceland might want to explore Peter Høeg, a Danish author known for his unique blend of suspense and thought-provoking narratives.
One of Høeg’s notable books is “Smilla’s Sense of Snow,” a novel that follows Smilla Qaavigaaq Jaspersen, a woman of Greenlandic and Danish heritage.
When a young neighbor falls to his death from their Copenhagen apartment roof, Smilla becomes suspicious of the official explanation. Her journey to uncover the truth takes her deep into her homeland’s icy landscapes and the hidden lives of those around her.
Høeg’s style gracefully merges a thrilling mystery with themes of identity, cultural tension, and the powerful influence of nature, elements that resonate strongly with fans of Indriðason’s works.
Ragnar Jónasson is an Icelandic author known for atmospheric mystery novels set in bleak, isolated landscapes. If you’re intrigued by Arnaldur Indriðason’s detective fiction, Jónasson’s “Snowblind” is worth exploring.
In this first installment of the Dark Iceland Series, a young policeman named Ari Thór moves from Reykjavik to remote Siglufjörður, a town surrounded by mountains and snow. Soon after arriving, Ari Thór finds himself investigating a sudden death in the local theater.
Secrets begin surfacing and suspicion quickly spreads through the small, closed-off community. The harsh winter setting and tight-knit town make it hard to know who to trust.
Ragnar Jónasson combines suspense with vivid descriptions of Iceland, creating a compelling read for mystery lovers.
Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö are a Swedish writing team known for creating detective novels full of social insights and realistic settings. Readers who appreciate Arnaldur Indriðason’s approach to crime fiction will likely find Sjöwall and Wahlöö's work engaging.
Their series features detective Martin Beck, a calm, methodical investigator who tackles crime against the gritty backdrop of Stockholm in the sixties and seventies. In “Roseanna,” the first novel of the series, Beck investigates a woman’s body discovered in a canal.
With few clues, Beck diligently reconstructs the victim’s last days and patiently searches for the truth. The realistic detective work and atmospheric storytelling provide depth and enable readers to experience the challenges of a complex homicide case step by step.
Håkan Nesser Håkan Nesser has written an impressive collection of novels that stay with you long after the final page. In “The Mind’s Eye,” the first book in the Van Veeteren series, detective Van Veeteren faces a challenging murder case with few clues and even fewer leads.
The mystery unfolds in a quiet yet tense manner that closely resembles the bleak, thoughtful style found in Arnaldur Indriðason’s work.
Another memorable title in the series is “The Return,” where the discovery of a body drags Van Veeteren into an investigation tangled with hidden connections and troubling secrets.
Fans of Indriðason’s careful character studies and thoughtful plotting will find Nesser’s novels absorbing and satisfying.
If you enjoy Arnaldur Indriðason’s atmospheric crime stories, Stefan Ahnhem might catch your interest too. He is a Swedish author known for his Fabian Risk series, starting with “Victim Without a Face”.
Set in the chilly coastal city of Helsingborg, this thriller introduces detective Fabian Risk, who returns to his hometown only to find himself drawn into a disturbing murder case.
Old classmates from Risk’s childhood begin to die mysteriously, their murders hint at dark secrets buried in the past. Ahnhem builds tension slowly, balancing the investigation with intriguing character backstories that add depth to the mystery.
If you like mysteries that explore deeper human dramas hidden beneath everyday lives, this book offers a great start.