Catching Up With Some Of My Favourite Writers

Two novels, which I’ve not read yet, by two of my favourite writers have been published recently in Spanish: Blood Safari by Deon Meyer (Safari sangriento, RBA 2012) and Arctic Chill by Arnaldur Indridason (Invierno ártico, RBA 2012). I’ve downloaded both to my Kindle to read them soon. Stay tuned.

The Annika Bengtzon series

This post was intended as a private note, but I thought it might be of interest to some regular or sporadic readers of this blog, given that Last Will has been published recently in English.   

The Annika Bengtzon series has not been written in the order in which the events in the novels take place. The chronological order is as follows:

• Studio sex (1999; Studio 69, trans. Kajsa von Hofsten, 2002; Exposed, trans. Neil Smith, 2011) (Spanish translation: Studio Sex, trad. Carlos del Valle, Suma de Letras, 2010) – takes place eight years before the action of The Bomber
• Paradiset (2000; Paradise, trans. Ingrid Eng-Rundlow, 2004; Vanished, trans. Neil Smith, 2012) (Spanish translation Paraiso, trad. Carlos del Valle (?), Suma de Letras, 2011) – a direct continuation of Studio 69
• Prime Time (2002; Prime Time, trans. Ingrid Eng-Rundlow, 2006) – the action occurs between Paradise and The Bomber.
• Sprängaren (1998; English translation The Bomber, trans. Kajsa von Hofsten, 2000; The Bomber, trans. Neil Smith, 2011) (Spanish translation Dinamita, trad. Carlos del Valle, Suma de Letras, 2010) – the first book published in the series.
• Den Röda Vargen (2003; English translation The Red Wolf, trans. Neil Smith, 2010) – an independent story which picks up from the end of The Bomber.
• Nobels testamente (2006; English translation Last Will, trans. Neil Smith, 2012) – takes place some months after The Red Wolf.
• Livstid (2007; English translation Lifetime, pro. title, publ. October 2012) – a direct sequel to Last Will.
• En plats i solen (2008; English translation  A Place in the Sun, pro. title. pub 2013) – a direct sequel to Lifetime.

The last three novels can be considered as a trilogy, within the series.

• Du gamla, du fria (2011; the English title might be Borderline) – I’m not sure if this is another novel in the Annika Bengtzon series.

 

The Annika Bengtzon novels at Crime Scraps Review

The Annika Bengtzon books: Liza Marklund translated by Neil Smith at Crime Scraps Review

International Dagger Speculation (2013)

Guess it’s about time for an update. The list of next year International Dagger eligible novels can be found HERE, thanks to the dedication of Karen (Euro Crime).

I’ve read thus far:

• Black Skies, by Arnaldur Indridason.
• The Black Path, by Asa Larsson
• A Private Venus, by Giorgio Scerbanenco (Venus Privada in Spanish) 
• The Thief, by Fuminori Nakamura
• The Age of Doubt, by Andrea Camilleri (La edad de la duda in Spanish)

I look forward to reading Seven Days, by Deon Meyer; The Bat, by Jo Nesbo; The Sound of One Hand Killing, by Teresa Solana (Catalan title: L’Hora Zen); The Ghost Riders of Ordebec, by Fred Vargas (French title: L’armée furieuse), and The Weeping Girl, by Hakan Nesser.

I wish I had the time to read, among others, the books by: Arne Dahl; Karin Fossum; Anne Holt; Stefan Tegenfalk; Marek Krajewski; Kristina Ohlsson; Arni Thorarinsson; Camilla Ceder; Mons Kallentoft; Liza Marklund; Ferdinand von Schirach; Kaaberbol & Friis, and Jussi Adler-Olsen.

OT: Purgatory Waterfall – Rascafria – Madrid – Spain

From Wikipedia: Rascafría is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain. The Monastery of Santa Maria de El Paular is located on its territory. The route to the Purgatory Waterfall departs in front of the Monastery. For more information click HERE. The photos are mine and were taken today.

2012 Global Reading Challenge (Completed)

To widen my horizons, I decided to participate again this year in the Global Reading Challenge at the easy level.

The rules are simple: Read one novel from each of these continents in the course of 2012: Africa, Asia, Australasia/Oceania, Europe, North America, South America and The Seventh Continent (here one can either choose Antarctica or our own ´seventh´ setting, eg the sea, the space, a supernatural/paranormal world, history, the future, …etc.) From your own continent: try to find a country, state or author that is new to you.

According to my own rules I restricted myself to authors I have not read before and crime fiction books in its broadest sense. Today I am pleased to report that I have completed this challenge after having read:

• Europe: A Place of Execution, by Val McDermid (Great Britain)****
• Africa: Mixed Blood, by Roger Smith (South Africa)*****
• North America: Open Season, by CJ Box (USA)****
• South America: Retrato de familia con muerta, (Family Portrait with Dead Woman) de Raúl Argemí (Argentina)****
• Asia: The Thief, by Fuminori Nakamura (Japan)****
• Australasia/Oceania: The Brotherhood, by Y.A. Erskine (Australia)****
• The Seventh Continent: Black Out, by John Lawton (History)***

I am delighted to have had the opportunity to read each and every one of these authors and books.

You can find out HERE other suggestions from fellow participants.