Kjell Ola Dahl has been called the Henning Mankell of Norway. The author of eleven highly acclaimed police procedurals, most of which feature Oslo detectives Frank Frølich and Chief Inspector Gunnarstranda, Dahl was introduced to English-speaking readers with his 2007 novel, The Fourth Man (originally published in Norwegian in 2005). Since then other books in the series have been published, including The Man in the Window in 2008, and The Last Fix, 2009, which won Norway’s prestigious Riverton-prisen for Best Norwegian Crime Novel of the Year, and was nominated for a raft of other literary awards.
Known for his psychological insights and questioning of modern society, Dahl writes tight police procedurals with more than a touch of wry humor injected. His character Gunnarstranda has reached something of an iconic status in Norway with his comb-over and grumpy attitude. Equally important in the novels is the setting. Oslo, Norway, is Dahl’s domain, and he brings to the city an insider’s keen eye for detail and nuance.
Kjell, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with Scene of the Crime about your work and the importance of place in it. (more…)
Scene of the Crime 