Scandinavian Noir: In Pursuit of a Mystery

This book is a deep dive into Scandinavian crime fiction and culture. For nearly four decades, Wendy Lesser relied on mystery and crime novels set in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark to understand these countries. Though never visiting, she created a fictional Scandinavia, blending elements of a map, portrait, and cultural history. This fictional world was populated by police officers and filled with everyday life, detailed in the novels she read. Despite this, she never felt the urge to visit the real countries until she realized it was time. This book illuminates this imagined world, first as it appears on the page, then in her mind, and finally in reality. Shaped by critical analysis, travel writing, and a whimsical desire to distinguish between existence and imagination, reality and dream, this thrilling literary adventure showcases Lesser’s mastery as a writer and critic.

(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)