Karin Fossum
Encyclopedia
Karin Fossum is a Norwegian
author of crime fiction
, often referred to as the "Norwegian queen of crime".
in Vestfold
county, Norway. She currently lives in Oslo
. Fossum debuted as a poet with Kanskje i morgen, her first collection published in 1974 when she was just 20. It won Tarjei Vesaas' debutantpris
. She had previously worked in hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
She is the author of the internationally successful Inspector Konrad Sejer series of crime novels, which have been translated into over 16 languages. She won the Glass key award
for her novel Don't Look Back, which also won the Riverton Prize
, and she was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association
Gold Dagger
in 2005 for Calling Out For You. Fossum's books have been translated into 25 languages and have been rewarded with several awards.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
author of crime fiction
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
, often referred to as the "Norwegian queen of crime".
Biography
Karin Mathisen was born in SandefjordSandefjord
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sandefjord. The municipality of Sandefjord was established on 1 January 1838...
in Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
county, Norway. She currently lives in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. Fossum debuted as a poet with Kanskje i morgen, her first collection published in 1974 when she was just 20. It won Tarjei Vesaas' debutantpris
Tarjei Vesaas' debutantpris
Tarjei Vesaas's debutantpris is a prize awarded annually for the best first literary work in Norwegian. It is awarded by the Norwegian Authors' Union, and the organisation's 9-member Literary Caucus constitutes the jury for the prize...
. She had previously worked in hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
She is the author of the internationally successful Inspector Konrad Sejer series of crime novels, which have been translated into over 16 languages. She won the Glass key award
Glass key award
The Glass Key award is a literature award given annually to a crime novel by an author from the Nordic countries.The award, named after the novel The Glass Key by American crime writer Dashiell Hammett, is a real glass key given every year by the members of the Crime Writers of Scandinavia to a...
for her novel Don't Look Back, which also won the Riverton Prize
Riverton Prize
The Riverton Prize is a literature award given annually to the best Norwegian crime story .- Winners :...
, and she was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association
Crime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
Gold Dagger
Gold Dagger
The Gold Dagger Award was an award given annually by the Crime Writers' Association for the best crime novel of the year.For its first five years, the organization's top honor was known as the Crossed Red Herring Award....
in 2005 for Calling Out For You. Fossum's books have been translated into 25 languages and have been rewarded with several awards.
Inspector Sejer Series
(also featuring Inspector Jakob Skarre):- 1995 - Eve's Eye (Evas øye) (not yet published in English)
- 1996 - Don't Look BackDon't Look Back (novel)Don't Look Back is a novel by Norwegian writer Karin Fossum, the second to feature Inspector Konrad Sejer. The novel won the Glass Key Award in 1997....
(Se deg ikke tilbake!); English translation 2002 - 1997 - He Who Fears the WolfHe Who Fears the WolfHe Who Fears the Wolf is a novel by Norwegian writer Karin Fossum, the third in the Inspector Konrad Sejer series....
(Den som frykter ulven); English translation 2003 - 1998 - When the Devil Holds the CandleWhen the Devil Holds the CandleWhen the Devil Holds the Candle is a novel by Norwegian writer Karin Fossum, fourth in the Inspector Konrad Sejer series. In 2007, upon its publication in the USA, the novel won the Gumshoe Award for Best European Crime Novel....
(Djevelen holder lyset); English translation 2004 - 2000 - Calling Out For YouCalling Out For YouCalling Out For You is a novel by Norwegian writer Karin Fossum. It features her series’ protagonist Inspector Sejer and his investigation into the vicious murder of an Indian bride recently moved to Norway to be with her husband....
(Elskede Poona); English translation: 2005; American translation: The Indian Bride, 2007 - 2002 - Black SecondsBlack SecondsBlack Seconds is a novel by Norwegian writer Karin Fossum, the sixth in the Inspector Konrad Sejer series. The novel won Sweden's Martin Beck Award in 2002.- The storyline :...
(Svarte sekunder); English translation 2007 - 2004 - The Murder of Harriet Krohn (Drapet på Harriet Krohn) (not yet published in English)
- 2007 - The Water's Edge (Den som elsker noe annet); English translation 2009
- 2008 - Bad Intentions (Den onde viljen); English translation 2010
- 2009 - The Caller (Varsleren); English translation 2011
Other novels
- 1974 - Kanskje i morgen – poet
- 1978 - Med ansiktet i skyggen – poet
- 1992 - I et annet lys - short story
- 1994 - Søylen - short story
- 1999 - De gales hus - novel
- 2002 - Jonas Eckel - novel
- 2003 - The Night of November 4th (Natt til fjerde november);
- 2006 - Broken (Brudd); English translation 2008
- In the Darkness; English translation 2012
Awards
- Tarjei Vesaas' debutantprisTarjei Vesaas' debutantprisTarjei Vesaas's debutantpris is a prize awarded annually for the best first literary work in Norwegian. It is awarded by the Norwegian Authors' Union, and the organisation's 9-member Literary Caucus constitutes the jury for the prize...
1974, for Kanskje i morgen - Rivertonprisen 1996, for Se deg ikke tilbake
- Glass Key awardGlass key awardThe Glass Key award is a literature award given annually to a crime novel by an author from the Nordic countries.The award, named after the novel The Glass Key by American crime writer Dashiell Hammett, is a real glass key given every year by the members of the Crime Writers of Scandinavia to a...
1997, for Den som frykter ulven - Bokhandlerprisen 1997, for Den som frykter ulven
- Brage PrizeBrage PrizeThe Brage Prize is a Norwegian literature prize that is awarded annually by the Norwegian Book Prize foundation...
2000, for Elskede Poona - Martin Beck AwardMartin Beck AwardThe Martin Beck Award is an award given by the Swedish Crime Writers' Academy for the best crime novel in translation. It is one of the most prestigious international crime-writing awards....
2002, for Svarte sekunder - Cappelen PrizeCappelen PrizeThe Cappelen Prize is a Norwegian literary award that is awarded each year by the Cappelen Damm publishing company. It was established in 1979, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the publishing house of Cappelen.-Laureates:...
2003 - The Gumshoe Awards for best European crime novel 2007, for Når djevelen holder lyset (translated as :When the Devil Holds the Candle")
- Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the category Mystery/Thriller for 2007 published in 2008, for Elskede Poona (translated as "The Indian Bride")