The sale of crime novels in Norway increases 500% in the week leading up to Easter.  Norwegians simply love to read crime novels around Eastertime.  When I first heard this, my first question was why Easter?  Halloween seemed like the most reasonable holiday to be accompanied by a crime theme if I were to choose one.  I do not believe anyone knows the origins of the tradition for certain, but I have found one theory.�

Prior to 1923, new novels were released in the fall.  Kind of like movies in the U.S.-the major blockbusters usually come out late spring-summer.  In an apparent marketing campaign, the Gyldendal Publishing house decided to release a book about a criminal act on a Train in Norway set at Eastertime.   In Norway, as I have referenced in several of my posts, it is very quiet on Sundays and on holidays, times when most businesses are closed.  This means no entertainment outside of the home.  With a new crime novel out, this seemed like a great form of entertainment in an entertainment-deprived time.  And thus, according to many people, the mystery of crime novels in Norway at Eastertime is solved.

Although it has become more and more popular for Norwegians to travel south over Easter break (which is typically about 5 days, much more than we receive in the U.S.), many people still engage in the old tradition of snuggling up in their hytte (cabin) next to the fireplace reading a thrilling, suspenseful, crime novel.  There are very few things better than a long day out in the snow skiing or snowmobiling and then returning to a nice warm, cozy place with a good meal followed by a couple hours on the couch totally into a good book. 

I have not yet read any Norwegian crime novels, but I hear author Kjell Ola Dahl recently released his book ‘The Fourth Man’ that is supposed to be fantastic. 

Have any of you read any Norwegian crime novels?  Any one particular author you recommend?  I have heard that Jo Nesbø is great.