The final pages have been turned, the last review written, and so it’s that time of year to reflect and share Nordic Watchlist’s Top 10 Best Nordic Books of 2025.
2025 has been another strong year with new writers, new partnerships and new series all launched. After 32 books reviewed, 11,984 pages read and 18,968 words written in reviews, Iceland has come out top again, with half of this year’s top 10 coming from Icelandic writers. Norway, Sweden and Finland all do well (albeit with some French influence for two entries!). Denmark is once again missing from the list. Danish authors are producing work, but it seems still a forgotten market for English-language translations. Time for a Danish literary invasion in 2026?
It’s interesting that two books right from the start of 2025 top this chart, a clear example that a really good book stays with you long after the final page has been turned. So, who will be crowned Nordic Watchlist’s best Nordic book of 2025?…
Support Nordic Watchlist: Before you jump in and see what we put forward as our Top 10, we’d like to share our new partner, Recce, a brilliant new, free App designed to simplify your viewing. Review films and series, and instantly find out exactly where to watch. By following the link below and signing up you will be supporting the running of Nordic Watchlist for another year and it won’t cost you a penny. Now, let’s get to the list you’ve been waiting for!
10. Home Before Dark | Eva Björg Ægisdóttir – translated by Victoria Cribb | Orenda Books | Iceland
A standalone work from the Forbidden Iceland series, author Eva Björg Ægisdóttir takes us on a decade-long journey filled with secrets, lies, and a mysterious disappearance. Haunted by her sister Stina’s vanishing and her own role in the events, Marsi returns home a decade later to confront unresolved family trauma and a resurfacing pen pal. An intricate narrative, psychological depth, and a moving exploration of grief with potentially one of the biggest plot twists of the year Home Before Dark grows Ægisdóttir’s reputation as a masterful storyteller.
Read Nordic Watchlist’s review of Home Before Dark
9. Death Of A Diplomat | Eliza Reed | Sphere Books | Iceland
Drawing on Eliza Reid’s real-life experience as Iceland’s former First Lady, Death Of A Diplomat, set in the remote Westman Islands, finds a series of suspicious deaths occurring during a Canadian ambassadorial visit. A fresh and confident debut that cleverly uses the classic Agatha Christie-style murder mystery structure but adds its own twists and surprises, Reid’s intimate knowledge of diplomatic circles adds authenticity, making this a standout entry in contemporary crime fiction.
Read Nordic Watchlist’s review of Death Of A Diplomat
8. Broken | Jón Atli Jónasson – translated by Quentin Bates | Corylus Books | Iceland
Broken by Icelandic screenwriter Jón Atli Jónasson is a gripping Icelandic crime novel that pairs two flawed detectives—Dora, a brain-injured local, and Rado, a Serbian immigrant with family ties to Reykjavík’s criminal underworld. Their investigation into a missing teenager, who is transitioning and has a history of vanishing, quickly entangles them in gang violence and personal struggles. Jónasson’s debut English novel stands out for its raw depiction of Iceland’s darker side, complex character development, and cinematic pacing. Already picked up for a screen adaptation, Jónasson promises even more intrigue in future instalments of this planned trilogy.
Read Nordic Watchlist’s review of Broken
7. The Winter Warriors | Olivier Norek– translated by Nick Caister | Open Borders Press| France/Finland
Harrowing and deeply moving, Olivier Norek’s The Winter Warriors brings the brutal realities of the Winter War between Finland and Russia to life. With a masterful balance of historical accuracy and emotional depth, Norek transforms staggering wartime statistics into unforgettable human stories.
The portrayal of survival, loss, and the universal horrors of war resonates powerfully today, drawing poignant parallels to modern conflicts and reminding readers that history’s echoes are never far away. While it’s French language origin may lead some to question its inclusion in a Nordic Top 10, this essential, timely read is a testament to one of Finland’s darkest hours.
Read Nordic Watchlist’s review of The Winter Warriors
6. Black As Death | Lilja Sigurđardóttir – translated by Lorenza Garcia | Orenda Books| Iceland
In Black As Death, Lilja Sigurđardóttir’s gripping finale of the Áróra Investigates series, financial investigator Áróra seeks closure after her sister’s tragic death, only to be drawn into a complex web of money laundering within Reykjavík’s coffee shop scene.
Blending a current Europol case with flashbacks to her sister’s troubled life, Sigurđardóttir crafts a suspenseful and emotionally resonant narrative that eschews easy answers for a subtle, devastating reveal. Black As Death stands out for its unflinching portrayal of trauma, its nuanced characters, and a sense of hope amid darkness, making it a powerful conclusion to a remarkable crime series.
Read Nordic Watchlist’s review of Black As Death
5. Scars of Silence | Johana Gustawsson – translated by David Warriner | Orenda Books| France/Sweden
Set in the snowy Stockholm Archipelago, Johanna Gustawsson’s Scars of Silence is both chilling and deeply human. When two teenage boys are found murdered in the days leading up to Lucia Day—each dressed in the traditional costume of Saint Lucia—local police and a visiting French detective must unravel the connection to a similar crime from 25 years earlier. Gustawsson’s dual-perspective storytelling, vivid sense of place, and willingness to tackle difficult themes like trauma and the long-term impact of violence make this a standout. Masterfully blending past and present, Scars of Silence offers a gripping, timely, and emotionally poignant mystery that lingers long after the final page.
Read Nordic Watchlist’s review of Scars Of Silence
4. The Wake | Yrsa Sigurðardóttir – translated by Victoria Cribb | Hodder & Stoughton | Iceland
The Wake, the second entry in Yrsa Sigurðardóttir’s Black Ice series, delivers a masterfully plotted Icelandic Noir that keeps you guessing until the final page. Five university friends who reunite on Iceland’s remote Westman Islands, only to find themselves haunted by a dark secret from their past and stalked by a mysterious threat. With a clever dual timeline and mounting suspense, Sigurðardóttir explores fractured friendships, fate, and the devastating consequences of hidden truths. Less gory than its predecessor, The Wake is nonetheless utterly chilling, with a slow-building tension and a shocking twist ending that cements Sigurðardóttir’s reputation as the “Queen of Icelandic Noir.”
Read Nordic Watchlist’s review of The Wake
3. The Sleepwalker | Lars Kepler – translated by Alice Menzies | Zaffre | Sweden
The Sleepwalker delivers a fast-paced, nightmare-fuelled story that explores the troubled mind of seventeen-year-old Hugo, whose severe sleepwalking lands him at the centre of a gruesome murder investigation. As the body count rises and Hugo is cleared, Detective Superintendent Joona Linna races to stop a serial killer before a deadly winter storm hits.
A deep dive into the science of sleep disorders and the emotional trauma affecting Hugo and his family, Lars Kepler maintains a relentless suspense and graphic intensity. Despite being the tenth instalment in the Joona Linna series, the storytelling prowess of the husband-and-wife writing team behind Lars Kepler shows no sign of running out of steam. A true page-turner, this dark and meticulously plotted tale is a must-read for thriller fans in 2025.
Read Nordic Watchlist’s review of The Sleepwalker
2. Into Thin Air | Ørjan Karlsson – translated by Ian Giles | Orenda Books | Norway
Set against the stark beauty of Norway’s Lofoten islands, Into Thin Air launches Ørjan Karlsson’s Arctic murder series with a chilling, atmospheric mystery. Chief Investigator Jakob Weber faces a complex case when two disappearances—one involving a prominent social media influencer—draw global attention and echo an unsolved crime from a decade earlier. Karlsson masterfully balances gripping plot twists while introducing a cast whose secrets and motivations promise plenty of scope for future instalments.
The narrative’s multiple perspectives, including that of the perpetrator, add a psychological intensity to this first book. A standout in Nordic Noir, Into Thin Air is both a compelling crime thriller in its own right and a strong foundation for a planned series. The fact that the first book read in 2025 sits at number 2 in this Top Ten books of 2025 list is a testament to Karlsson’s skill as a writer.
Read Nordic Watchlist’s review of Into Thin Air
1. Son | Thomas Enger and Johana Gustawsson | Orenda Books | Norway, Sweden/France
Son by Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger was the second book read in 2025 and this standout Nordic Noir has stayed in the mind ever since. A debut for this writing partnership that masterfully blends psychological insight with a gripping crime plot. The story follows psychologist and police consultant Kari Voss, known as “The Human Lie Detector,” as she navigates a complex murder investigation in the idyllic town of Son, Norway.
The narrative excels in portraying both verbal and non-verbal communication, with Voss’s acute observations adding depth and tension. The authors skilfully balance character development and plot, ensuring the story remains fast-paced and full of twists. The last page plot twist will leave its readers open-mouthed with its simple audacity. With its seamless collaboration—remarkably written in English by two authors from different countries and languages—Son delivers a compelling, emotionally charged read that leaves readers eager for the next instalment (not due until 2027). Truly a worthy book of the year from Nordic Watchlist!
Read Nordic Watchlist’s interview with the writers behind Son – Johanna Gustawsson and Thomas Enger
Agree of disagree with our list? What have we missed which you think should be added – we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
