NEWS
15 MAY — Creating a detective
Head on over to the Dead Good website where Liza has written a piece on how she went about researching her first ever police procedural for her latest novel out in the U.K, Lifetime.
8 MAY — POSTCARD KILLERS available in Iran!
Postcard Killers, the novel Liza co-wrote with bestselling American thriller writer James Patterson, is now translated into Persian. Click here to read more.
7 MAY — Annika Bengtzon in the Philippines
Featured this May on CinemaWorld, a new cable channel in the Philippines that brings first-class movie entertainment from around the world, is the six Annika Bengtzon films. Manila Standard Today posted a great article on their website with short summaries of each film as well as air times, click here to read.
6 MAY — BOOKS TO DIE FOR awarded the Agatha Award!
Books to Die For, John Connolly's and Declan Burke's anthology that Liza contributed to, has been awarded the 2013 Agatha Award for 'Best Non-Fiction'. Congratulations to Liza and to everyone else that contributed!
30 APRIL — A PLACE IN THE SUN and BORDERLINE sold to Estonia
The eighth and ninth installment in the Annika Bengtzon series, A Place in the Sun and Borderline, are sold to the publishing house Varrak in Estonia.
11 APRIL — THE BOMBER book-trailer from Ikar in Slovakia
4 APRIL — LIFETIME reviewed in Literary Review
"This is a cleverly plotted story which, like so much Swedish crime fiction, features situations and characters one can believe in or sympathize with and is set firmly in contemporary society"
27 MARCH — Annika Bengtzon on German Television
The six Annika Bengtzon films, based on Liza's novels Exposed, Prime Time, Red Wolf, Last Will, Lifetime and A Place in the Sun will be shown on ARD, German television, starting with Last Will tomorrow!
Click here to visit ARD's website dedicated to Annika.
14 MARCH — LIFETIME reviewed in Booklist
"The latest in Marklund's Annika Bengtzon series tells a complex but fascinating story full of misdirection and police obfuscation." Booklist (US)
11 MARCH — LAST WILL shortlisted for The Petrona Award
Last Will is nominated for the 2013 Petrona Award for the 'Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year'. The Petrona Award has been established to celebrate the work of Maxine Clarke, one of the first online crime fiction reviewers and bloggers, who died in December 2012. Maxine, whose online persona and blog was called Petrona, was passionate about translated crime fiction but in particular that from the Scandinavian countries.
The winning title will be announced at the annual international crime fiction event CrimeFest, held 30 May to 2 June 2013.
7 MARCH — BORDERLINE reviewed in Italian Panorama
"Swedish crime fiction strikes again. /.../ Liza Marklund is still a bestseller machine thanks to her Annika Bengtzon. /.../ a novel different from the usual."
To read the full review (in italian), please click here
27 FEBRUARY — A great review For LAST WILL from Crime Pieces
"This is a complexly plotted book that nevertheless grips the reader. The mystery of the shooting is the central story and we get the narrative of both Annika and the shooter, who is a satisfyingly ruthless and compelling character."
To read the full review, please click here
27 FEBRUARY — VANISHED reviewed by Artslink New Zealand
"Liza Marklund has made her name with several crime thrillers and this latest one does not disappoint. /.../ Annika is a rounded, likeable character with a bulldog tenacity for the truth. In this episode she has to cope with family troubles and a tentative, rather endearing romance."
To read the full review, please click here
26 FEBRUARY — POSTCARD KILLERS one of the most borrowed books in Scotland
Scotland's favorite library books have been revealed and Postcard Killers, the novel that Liza co-wrote with James Patterson in 2010, is one of the most borrowed books between July 2011 and June 2012! To see the full top ten list, please click here
25 FEBRUARY — Annika Bengtzon on French and German Television
The six films based on Liza Marklund's Annika Bengtzon series will be shown in Germany and in France as TV films. Last Will is the first to be aired and premieres on March 24 on 13eme Rue in France and a few days later on ARD in Germany. The films are produced by Yellow Bird, the production company behind the Millenium films. Malin Crepin plays Annika Bengtzon.
12 FEBRUARY — LIFETIME Starred Review in Publishers Weekly
"Marklund has created a complex page-turner, complete with gritty realism, a flawed but likable protagonist, and nonstop suspense".
Read the full review here.
11 FEBRUARY — BOOKS TO DIE FOR shortlisted for the Agatha Award
Books To Die For has been nominated for an Agatha Award in the 'Best Nonfiction' category, again as part of an illustrious short list. The Agathas are fan-based awards, voted on by the registrants at Malice Domestic, which happens May 3-5 in Bethesda, MD. The awards will be presented at the annual Agatha banquet, on May 4. Read more and see the full list of nominees here.
1 FEBRUARY — Eurocrime Favourite Read Of 2012 Is LAST WILL
The Euro Crime website review team have voted Last Will by Liza Marklund, translated by Neil Smith and published by Transworld, as their favourite read of 2012. Euro Crime reviewer Lynn Harvey writes: Liza Marklund has [] said that it doesn't matter in which order you read her Annika Bengtzon books as she herself doesn't write them in chronological order, having started with the "fourth" in terms of journalist Annika Bengtzon's life and career. Last Will is the sixth in the series to be translated into English, this time by the sure skills of Neil Smith. And I say too - read them in whatever order you like, but do read them. Not least this nail-biter, Last Will.
Read more here.
23 JANUARY — BOOKS TO DIE FOR is shortlisted for an Edgar Award
Books To Die For, John Connolly's and Declan Burke's anthology that Liza contributed to, is nominated for the 2013 Edgar Awards, in the 'Best Critical/Biographical' category. The winners will be announced on Thursday, May 2, 2013. To see the full list of nominees, please click here.
21 JANUARY — LIFETIME reviewed by Kirkus Reviews
Lifetime, the seventh installment in the Annika Bengtzon series, will be published in the US on April 9 and the pre-publication reviews are already starting to roll in. Here's one from Kirkus Reviews:
"The plot is smart and suspenseful. The agreeably flawed Annika's personal story, which avoids cliches even as her husband falls into one in taking up with a beautiful blonde, draws us in. And Marklund knows her journalistic turf: Her rendering of the methods, internal politics and economics of newspapers is spot on. The best of Marklund's books to be published in the U.S., this work sets readers up for the next installment of the Annika Bengtzon series, A Place in the Sun, with a tantalizing last-minute revelation."
24 SEPTEMBER — LAST WILL released in the UK on Thursday
There are three days to go until Last Will, the sixth installment in the Annika Bengtzon series, will be published in the UK. The novel just got a fantastic pre-publication review in Raven Crime Reads:
"Marklund once again proves her credentials amongst the Scandinavian crime posse presenting the reader with not only a perfectly researched and gripping plot line where much can be learnt about a subject not normally addressed in the crime genre, but fuelling the plot with her wonderfully observed characters, intermingling the constraints and challenges for Annika in balancing the demands of her job with her emotional life and the danger that this places her in. An excellent read"
10 SEPTEMBER — THE BOMBER won The Reading Relay Gold Medal
The results are in for The Reading Relay, an Olympic themed Scottish summer reading promotion where readers award bronze, silver and gold medals to the competing books and we are delighted to announce that The Bomber is the winner! Silver medal went to The House of Dust and Dreams by Brenda Reid and there was a dead heat for bronze between The Midas Code by Boyd Morrison and Master of Rome by John Stack. Liza was thrilled to have been chosen by Fife's readers, saying:
I'm so glad and grateful that the Scottish Reading Relay readersenjoyed my novel The Bomber. I know that my heroine can be quite ahandful, but you guys up north on those islands knows how to handle her. You are just as tough as we are up here in Scandinavia...
17 AUGUST — BORDERLINE reviewed in De Volkskrant
Borderline, Annika Bengtzon #9, got a great review in Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant:
"Liza Marklund...has sold more than 13 million thrillers in 30 countries, of which 300.000 in the Netherlands alone. She writes in the same socially conscious tradition as her colleagues Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson. With Larsson, she shares the interest for the dark side of Sweden, and like Mankell she writes about the relationship between the 'heavenly' Sweden and the rest of the world. There is, however, a big difference between Marklund and the two other Swedish crime writers. Marklund's main character is called Bengtzon instead of Wallander or Blomkvist: and she is a woman."
9 AUGUST — Books To Die For
Liza is one of the contributors to John Connolly's and Declan Burke's anthology BOOKS TO DIE FOR. 120 crime and thriller authors around the world have with personal essays come together to create a great guide for crime and mystery lovers and for those of you new to the genre. Other contributors are Dennis Lehane, Minette Walters, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Elmore Leonard and Jo Nesbo among many other great names.
To read more about the book and its contributors, release dates and subjects, please click here
6 AUGUST — Liza interviewed by Barry Forshaw at Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
Liza was one of the guests at the panel discussion 50 Different Words For Murder moderated by Barry Forshaw on the closing day of Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. Please click here to read a post about the event written by The Venetian Vase. Euro Crime posted a great summary of the event, read it here. You can see pictures from the event on Liza's Facebook
27 JUNE — Signed copies of LAST WILL
To get your own first hardcover edition of Last Will personally autographed by Liza, please click here
8 JUNE — Petrona's book of the month
Last Will was book blogger Petrona's book of the month in May! "A brilliant thriller that combines all the elements I love in a book." To read the full post, please click here.
The novel was also reviewed by Reviewing the Evidence: "Marklund knows how to weave an exciting story out of unexpected materials, and she packs a fair amount of dynamite into the conclusion." Click here to read the full review.
31 MAY — LAST WILL premieres in New Zealand today!
The movie adaptation of Liza's sixth installment in the Annika Bengtzon series, Last Will, premieres at the movie theaters in New Zealand today. Click here to find out more.
10 MAY — LAST WILL praise keep rolling in
"The ending is great. Stunningly great. It is deadly and explosive, and by the time the dust settles and the smoke clears, everything changes, or has the potential to do so."
Bookreporter.com
To read the full review, please click here
8 MAY — LAST WILL reviewed for Good Reads
"The Annika Bengtzon books are raw and violent, with non-stop tension. ... Last Will is an interesting read for the information of the Nobel Prize, but the characters are the strong part of this series. You'll be hooked."
To read the full review, please click here
3 MAY — TV Host
I'm a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, which on occasion makes me do the strangest things. This Tuesday, I was hosting a fundraising TV show, broadcasted live.
About two minutes into the feature, Bjorn Ulvaeus from Abba starts telling the story of the song "Chiquitita": he and Benny Andersson wrote it in 1979 and decided to donate half of the royalties from the song to UNICEF. Over the years, this has rendered close to 20 million kronors (three million dollars) to UNICEF. And, after that, the feature brings you something Bjorn calls "Chiquitita in a new and fresh version".It was a close-to-death-experience, I have to tell you...But in order to help the children of the world, one has to make sacrifices, right?
19 APRIL — Atria's Great Mystery Bus Tour video diary
USA Today have been running video diaries of the Mystery Bus Tour on their website:
12 APRIL — Mystery Bus Tour starts today!
The Atria Mystery Bus is officially on the road! The troupe is kicking off in Manhattan, NYC, today, at Mysterious Bookshop. Liza, alongside John Connolly, William Kent Krueger and M.J. Rose will be there from 6:30-7:30 to talk about their work and sign copies of their latest novels.
For tweeters, you can follow the team around 12 cities in 8 days by clicking here
2 APRIL — Ten days to go
The Atria Mystery Bus tour is kicking off in just 10 days with start in New York at the Mysterious Bookshop. On the Mystery Tour website you can download your own free sampler by clicking here.
14 MARCH — Atria Mystery Tour
In just a little less than a month, Liza will board the bus that will take her, John Connolly, William Kent Krueger and M.J. Rose on a tour around the U.S. Atria has made a fantastic web-page for this where you can follow the bus around the country, sign up for newsletters and count down the days until departure. Please click here to visit the website.
29 FEBRUARY — LAST WILL praise
Last Will will be publish din the U.S. on April 10 but has already received a lovely review in Booklist:
"Readers who first encountered Annika Bengtzon in 2010's Red Wolf will cheer the return of the stubborn Swedish reporter ... Although fast paced and packing plenty of thrills, the story unwinds slowly over several months, effectively mixing Annika's personal troubles with work problems and the ongoing investigation. Recommend to readers who enjoy complicated Nordic thrillers with plenty of backstory, like those by Stieg Larsson"
21 FEBRUARY — Nobel's Last Will Gala Premier
Yesterday was the Gala Premier of Nobel's Last Will, the movie adaptation of the sixth installment in Liza's Annika Bengtzon series. The premier was held in Stockholm and Liza's Swedish publisher Piratfšrlaget made a short interview with Liza prior to the opening night:
What do you think of Malin Crepin as the "new" Annika Bengtzon?
I've seen the raw cuttings of all the six film adaptations, and I am absolutely floored by Malin. I knew she was an amazing actress but she is absolutely fantastic in the role of Annika Bengtzon. It is not an easy role to play - and not an easy character to live with for as long as Malin has.
Have you had the chance to influence the production?
A little. Tove Alsterdal (my editor) and I read all script versions and have had the chance give advice and criticism. The production company really listened to what we had to say. We've seen rough versions of the films and have made proposals for changes in the editing and the same applies there; they have listened and embraced what has been good, which was exactly what I hoped for. In general, the cooperation has proceeded beyond all expectations.
Many fans have mixed feelings about seeing their favorite book transferred onto the big screen. How do you feel about that?
I just thinks it's great. I know that I can trust the production company.
Nobel's Last Will will have it's official premier March 2nd.
2 FEBRUARY — Liza on tour
In April, Liza will go on a bus tour around the U.S. together with authors John Connolly, M.J Rose and William Kent Krueger. The tour is called the Mystery Bus Tour and is arranged by Liza's American publisher, Atria. Atria has a Tumblr blog where you will find lots of information and news about the tour. Please check it out by clicking here.
27 JANUARY — LAST WILL available for pre-order
Last Will, the sixth installment in the Annika Bengtzon series where Annika finds herself caught in the middle of an intricate drama with links to Alfred Nobel, and this time not merely as a reporter but as a key witness, will be published in the US on April 10th. You can already pre-order the book here.
13 JANUARY – Swedish Marketing Campaign
Liza's Swedish publisher Piratförlaget recently ran a huge marketing campaign for Borderline in the Stockholm subway. Please click the thumbnails below to see some pictures from the campaign.
10 JANUARY — NOBEL'S LAST WILL movie trailer
Please click the link below to watch the movie trailer for the Swedish film adaptation of Liza Marklund's Nobel's Last Will. The movie will premier in Sweden next month.
9 JANUARY — BORDERLINE No. 2 in Norway
Borderline is No. 2 on the Norwegian Bestseller list. In this novel Annika Bengtzon is dragged into a violent hostage situation that shakes both Europe and East Africa at the same times as a murder spree in Stockholm's suburbs continues and speculations of a serial killer arises.
7 DECEMBER — BORDERLINE No. 1 in Finland
Borderline is No. 1 on the Finnish Bestseller list.
28 NOVEMBER — BORDERLINE on Scandinavian Bestseller Lists
Liza Marklund's latest novel Borderline, the ninth book about crime reporter Annika Bengtzon, is currently No. 3 on the Norwegian bestseller list and No. 2 on the Danish bestseller list.
16 NOVEMBER — Distribution rights to NOBEL'S LAST WILL sold to U.S.
Feature film Nobel's Last Will, based on the novel by Liza Marklund, will be shown at the cinemas in the United States. Malabar Entertainment bought the distribution rights during the recently conducted American Film Market in Los Angeles. A total of 30 countries has now bought the film rights to the movie where Malin Crepin stars as crime reporter Annika Bengtzon, this happened even before the film had its theatrical release. Nobel's Last Will is the first in a series of six films based on Liza Marklund's successful books about Annika Bengtzon. Danish star director Peter Flinth is the director of the movie and starring are Bjorn Kjellman, Leif Andree, Kajsa Ernst and Erik Johansson along side Malin Crepin. The movie will premier in the cinemas in Scandinavia in Spring 2012.
7 NOVEMBER — Annika Bengtzon on the front-page of The Hollywood Reporter
The movie adaption of Liza Marklund's Nobel's Last Will had its first screening abroad yesterday at the AFM, American Film Market, in Los Angeles. There will be a screening of the movie today as well. Below is the front-page of The Hollywood Reporter's AFM issue.
1 NOVEMBER — Pictures and videos from the LITQUAKE FESTIVAL
Please click the links below to see pictures and videos from Liza's event at the Litquake Festival in San Francisco:
Litseen
Nordic Noir Selection
27 SEPTEMBER — Liza at the LITQUAKE FESTIVAL in October
Liza will travel to San Francisco in October to attend the Nordic Noir: A Dark and Stormy Night of Scandinavian Crime Fiction event at the Litquake Festival. The event will take place at 8pm on Friday 14th. Please check out their website to find out more: Litquake Festival
Liza's attendance at the festival was mentioned in The New York Times, please click the link to read more.
13 JUNE — THE ANNA LINDH MEMORIAL FUND
Liza was a close friend of Anna Lindh's, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs who was murdered in 2003. Today, she hands out a scholarship on behalf of the Anna Lindh Memorial Fund. The laureate is Anna Thunes, a driving spirit in the struggle against domestic violence.
12 MAY — LIZA goes to Cannes
Liza will be in Cannes this weekend for the promo of Nobel's Last Will. The movie, which is currently in post-production, is directed by Peter Flinth and produced by YellowBird and Nordisk Film.
26 APRIL — Research in Nairobi
I'm off on a research trip to Nairobi, which (hopefully) is the last one I'll need to do for my new novel. When I get back I'll just wrap it up!
19 APRIL — FOR EVERY KID
Unicef Sweden is launching its big campaign "For Every Kid" and Liza, as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, is taking part. She has held a speech at Sergel Square in Stockholm and written a large piece about children in Colombia in the daily Expressen.
6 APRIL — Reviews of NEW VOICES SING OLD SONGS
Liza's new essay collection has been receiving great reviews in Sweden. Here are a couple of the latest ones:
"Liza Marklund's New Voices Sing Old Songs is an important and very urgent book. She is not silent. She screams in anger and righteous rage. Listen to her."
Helsingborgs Dagblad (Sweden)
"Fearless debater, skilled columnist and extraordinarily successful author - there is only one person who can measure up to Liza Marklund in contemporary Sweden: her colleague Jan Guillou."
Norrbottens-Kuriren (Sweden)
23 MARCH — NEW VOICES SING OLD SONGS
Liza's new book is out in Sweden! Her essay collection New Voices Sing Old Songs is a warm, sharp and intimate portrait of one of Sweden's most successful and controversial authors.
16 MARCH 2011
Update from my cave: I'm deep deep deep into my new novel right now. Part One is finished and I'm trying to find the pace and heart of Part Two. If you try to talk to me, I'll just go: What? Eh? Who me?
4 MARCH 2011 — RED WOLF reviewed in The New York Times!
"You can trust Liza Marklund's description of her hard-nosed heroine, Annika Bengtzon, an investigative reporter on a Stockholm daily with the enviable freedom to write just about anything she well pleases. /.../ Despite her messy personal life, Bengtzon hangs on to the uncompromising ethics and sense of justice that make her a welcome figure in the ranks of Scandinavian sleuths."
28 FEBRUARY 2011
I visited the shooting location of Nobel's Last Will the other week. It's really weird when my characters come up to me to introduce themselves. Is this what God feels like?
Yellowbird, the production company behind The Millenium Trilogy, have now begun to shoot their Annika Bengtzon feature film.
17 FEBRUARY 2011
Red Wolf has just been sold to Bulgaria! Colibri Publishers will publish it in Bulgarian next year.
16 FEBRUARY 2011
As of yesterday, Red Wolf is out in the bookstores in the US. Get your own copy now!
10 FEBRUARY 2011
Red Wolf and two other Annika Bengtzon novels have just been sold to Taiwan, a great addition to the long list of countries that already publish the series.
4 FEBRUARY 2011
I'm back in Europe after my journey through South America. I've met people under hard circumstances in Cuba, Colombia and Argentina, and what always strikes me on these trips is how easily poverty could be erased.
Problem is, the powers that be don't want it eradicated.
For exclusive news and videos, don't forget to visit Liza's Facebook fan page.
25 JANUARY 2011 — On the road in South America
Liza is in Buenos Aires, Argentina, doing research for an upcoming book project.
18 JANUARY 2011 — Liza for UNICEF in Colombia
Liza arrives in Colombia this week for meetings with the UNICEF office in Bogotá. She is going to study various UNICEF projects in the Colombian countryside.
14 JANUARY 2011 — Starred reviews for Red Wolf in the US!
Publisher's Weekly calls Red Wolf a "superb fifth novel featuring Stockholm journalist Annika Bengtzon" and continue that "Marklund imbues Annika with a fierce intensity without sacrificing her vulnerability." Library Journal enjoys how "Marklund blends the sociology and politics of contemporary Sweden with a taut mystery, capturing the Scandinavian chill as she builds suspense to an eminently satisfying conclusion."
13 JANUARY 2011 — Annika Bengtzon to the big screen
Yellow Bird Productions, the company behind the adaptations of Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series will soon begin shooting Nobel's Last Will, the sixth installment in the Annika Bengtzon series. Yellow Bird currently has six Annika Bengtzon novels in different stages of production. For more information, click here.
12 JANUARY 2011 — Liza Marklund's Website Officially Launched!
Welcome to the official website of Scandinavian Queen of Crime. The site will feature regular updates about Liza and her internationally bestselling Annika Bengtzon series. Please remember to sign up for the newsletter to receive the latest news!
15 MAY — Creating a detective
Head on over to the Dead Good website where Liza has written a piece on how she went about researching her first ever police procedural for her latest novel out in the U.K, Lifetime.
8 MAY — POSTCARD KILLERS available in Iran!
Postcard Killers, the novel Liza co-wrote with bestselling American thriller writer James Patterson, is now translated into Persian. Click here to read more.
7 MAY — Annika Bengtzon in the Philippines
Featured this May on CinemaWorld, a new cable channel in the Philippines that brings first-class movie entertainment from around the world, is the six Annika Bengtzon films. Manila Standard Today posted a great article on their website with short summaries of each film as well as air times, click here to read.
6 MAY — BOOKS TO DIE FOR awarded the Agatha Award!
Books to Die For, John Connolly's and Declan Burke's anthology that Liza contributed to, has been awarded the 2013 Agatha Award for 'Best Non-Fiction'. Congratulations to Liza and to everyone else that contributed!
30 APRIL — A PLACE IN THE SUN and BORDERLINE sold to Estonia
The eighth and ninth installment in the Annika Bengtzon series, A Place in the Sun and Borderline, are sold to the publishing house Varrak in Estonia.
11 APRIL — THE BOMBER book-trailer from Ikar in Slovakia
4 APRIL — LIFETIME reviewed in Literary Review
"This is a cleverly plotted story which, like so much Swedish crime fiction, features situations and characters one can believe in or sympathize with and is set firmly in contemporary society"
27 MARCH — Annika Bengtzon on German Television
The six Annika Bengtzon films, based on Liza's novels Exposed, Prime Time, Red Wolf, Last Will, Lifetime and A Place in the Sun will be shown on ARD, German television, starting with Last Will tomorrow!
Click here to visit ARD's website dedicated to Annika.
14 MARCH — LIFETIME reviewed in Booklist
"The latest in Marklund's Annika Bengtzon series tells a complex but fascinating story full of misdirection and police obfuscation." Booklist (US)
11 MARCH — LAST WILL shortlisted for The Petrona Award
Last Will is nominated for the 2013 Petrona Award for the 'Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year'. The Petrona Award has been established to celebrate the work of Maxine Clarke, one of the first online crime fiction reviewers and bloggers, who died in December 2012. Maxine, whose online persona and blog was called Petrona, was passionate about translated crime fiction but in particular that from the Scandinavian countries.
The winning title will be announced at the annual international crime fiction event CrimeFest, held 30 May to 2 June 2013.
7 MARCH — BORDERLINE reviewed in Italian Panorama
"Swedish crime fiction strikes again. /.../ Liza Marklund is still a bestseller machine thanks to her Annika Bengtzon. /.../ a novel different from the usual."
To read the full review (in italian), please click here
27 FEBRUARY — A great review For LAST WILL from Crime Pieces
"This is a complexly plotted book that nevertheless grips the reader. The mystery of the shooting is the central story and we get the narrative of both Annika and the shooter, who is a satisfyingly ruthless and compelling character."
To read the full review, please click here
27 FEBRUARY — VANISHED reviewed by Artslink New Zealand
"Liza Marklund has made her name with several crime thrillers and this latest one does not disappoint. /.../ Annika is a rounded, likeable character with a bulldog tenacity for the truth. In this episode she has to cope with family troubles and a tentative, rather endearing romance."
To read the full review, please click here
26 FEBRUARY — POSTCARD KILLERS one of the most borrowed books in Scotland
Scotland's favorite library books have been revealed and Postcard Killers, the novel that Liza co-wrote with James Patterson in 2010, is one of the most borrowed books between July 2011 and June 2012! To see the full top ten list, please click here
25 FEBRUARY — Annika Bengtzon on French and German Television
The six films based on Liza Marklund's Annika Bengtzon series will be shown in Germany and in France as TV films. Last Will is the first to be aired and premieres on March 24 on 13eme Rue in France and a few days later on ARD in Germany. The films are produced by Yellow Bird, the production company behind the Millenium films. Malin Crepin plays Annika Bengtzon.
12 FEBRUARY — LIFETIME Starred Review in Publishers Weekly
"Marklund has created a complex page-turner, complete with gritty realism, a flawed but likable protagonist, and nonstop suspense".
Read the full review here.
11 FEBRUARY — BOOKS TO DIE FOR shortlisted for the Agatha Award
Books To Die For has been nominated for an Agatha Award in the 'Best Nonfiction' category, again as part of an illustrious short list. The Agathas are fan-based awards, voted on by the registrants at Malice Domestic, which happens May 3-5 in Bethesda, MD. The awards will be presented at the annual Agatha banquet, on May 4. Read more and see the full list of nominees here.
1 FEBRUARY — Eurocrime Favourite Read Of 2012 Is LAST WILL
The Euro Crime website review team have voted Last Will by Liza Marklund, translated by Neil Smith and published by Transworld, as their favourite read of 2012. Euro Crime reviewer Lynn Harvey writes: Liza Marklund has [] said that it doesn't matter in which order you read her Annika Bengtzon books as she herself doesn't write them in chronological order, having started with the "fourth" in terms of journalist Annika Bengtzon's life and career. Last Will is the sixth in the series to be translated into English, this time by the sure skills of Neil Smith. And I say too - read them in whatever order you like, but do read them. Not least this nail-biter, Last Will.
Read more here.
23 JANUARY — BOOKS TO DIE FOR is shortlisted for an Edgar Award
Books To Die For, John Connolly's and Declan Burke's anthology that Liza contributed to, is nominated for the 2013 Edgar Awards, in the 'Best Critical/Biographical' category. The winners will be announced on Thursday, May 2, 2013. To see the full list of nominees, please click here.
21 JANUARY — LIFETIME reviewed by Kirkus Reviews
Lifetime, the seventh installment in the Annika Bengtzon series, will be published in the US on April 9 and the pre-publication reviews are already starting to roll in. Here's one from Kirkus Reviews:
"The plot is smart and suspenseful. The agreeably flawed Annika's personal story, which avoids cliches even as her husband falls into one in taking up with a beautiful blonde, draws us in. And Marklund knows her journalistic turf: Her rendering of the methods, internal politics and economics of newspapers is spot on. The best of Marklund's books to be published in the U.S., this work sets readers up for the next installment of the Annika Bengtzon series, A Place in the Sun, with a tantalizing last-minute revelation."
24 SEPTEMBER — LAST WILL released in the UK on Thursday
There are three days to go until Last Will, the sixth installment in the Annika Bengtzon series, will be published in the UK. The novel just got a fantastic pre-publication review in Raven Crime Reads:
"Marklund once again proves her credentials amongst the Scandinavian crime posse presenting the reader with not only a perfectly researched and gripping plot line where much can be learnt about a subject not normally addressed in the crime genre, but fuelling the plot with her wonderfully observed characters, intermingling the constraints and challenges for Annika in balancing the demands of her job with her emotional life and the danger that this places her in. An excellent read"
10 SEPTEMBER — THE BOMBER won The Reading Relay Gold Medal
The results are in for The Reading Relay, an Olympic themed Scottish summer reading promotion where readers award bronze, silver and gold medals to the competing books and we are delighted to announce that The Bomber is the winner! Silver medal went to The House of Dust and Dreams by Brenda Reid and there was a dead heat for bronze between The Midas Code by Boyd Morrison and Master of Rome by John Stack. Liza was thrilled to have been chosen by Fife's readers, saying:
I'm so glad and grateful that the Scottish Reading Relay readersenjoyed my novel The Bomber. I know that my heroine can be quite ahandful, but you guys up north on those islands knows how to handle her. You are just as tough as we are up here in Scandinavia...
— 
17 AUGUST — BORDERLINE reviewed in De Volkskrant
Borderline, Annika Bengtzon #9, got a great review in Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant:
"Liza Marklund...has sold more than 13 million thrillers in 30 countries, of which 300.000 in the Netherlands alone. She writes in the same socially conscious tradition as her colleagues Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson. With Larsson, she shares the interest for the dark side of Sweden, and like Mankell she writes about the relationship between the 'heavenly' Sweden and the rest of the world. There is, however, a big difference between Marklund and the two other Swedish crime writers. Marklund's main character is called Bengtzon instead of Wallander or Blomkvist: and she is a woman."
9 AUGUST — Books To Die For
Liza is one of the contributors to John Connolly's and Declan Burke's anthology BOOKS TO DIE FOR. 120 crime and thriller authors around the world have with personal essays come together to create a great guide for crime and mystery lovers and for those of you new to the genre. Other contributors are Dennis Lehane, Minette Walters, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Elmore Leonard and Jo Nesbo among many other great names.
To read more about the book and its contributors, release dates and subjects, please click here
6 AUGUST — Liza interviewed by Barry Forshaw at Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
Liza was one of the guests at the panel discussion 50 Different Words For Murder moderated by Barry Forshaw on the closing day of Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. Please click here to read a post about the event written by The Venetian Vase. Euro Crime posted a great summary of the event, read it here. You can see pictures from the event on Liza's Facebook
27 JUNE — Signed copies of LAST WILL
To get your own first hardcover edition of Last Will personally autographed by Liza, please click here
8 JUNE — Petrona's book of the month
Last Will was book blogger Petrona's book of the month in May! "A brilliant thriller that combines all the elements I love in a book." To read the full post, please click here.
The novel was also reviewed by Reviewing the Evidence: "Marklund knows how to weave an exciting story out of unexpected materials, and she packs a fair amount of dynamite into the conclusion." Click here to read the full review.
31 MAY — LAST WILL premieres in New Zealand today!
The movie adaptation of Liza's sixth installment in the Annika Bengtzon series, Last Will, premieres at the movie theaters in New Zealand today. Click here to find out more.
10 MAY — LAST WILL praise keep rolling in
"The ending is great. Stunningly great. It is deadly and explosive, and by the time the dust settles and the smoke clears, everything changes, or has the potential to do so."
Bookreporter.com
To read the full review, please click here
8 MAY — LAST WILL reviewed for Good Reads
"The Annika Bengtzon books are raw and violent, with non-stop tension. ... Last Will is an interesting read for the information of the Nobel Prize, but the characters are the strong part of this series. You'll be hooked."
To read the full review, please click here
3 MAY — TV Host
I'm a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, which on occasion makes me do the strangest things. This Tuesday, I was hosting a fundraising TV show, broadcasted live.
About two minutes into the feature, Bjorn Ulvaeus from Abba starts telling the story of the song "Chiquitita": he and Benny Andersson wrote it in 1979 and decided to donate half of the royalties from the song to UNICEF. Over the years, this has rendered close to 20 million kronors (three million dollars) to UNICEF. And, after that, the feature brings you something Bjorn calls "Chiquitita in a new and fresh version".It was a close-to-death-experience, I have to tell you...But in order to help the children of the world, one has to make sacrifices, right?
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19 APRIL — Atria's Great Mystery Bus Tour video diary
USA Today have been running video diaries of the Mystery Bus Tour on their website:
12 APRIL — Mystery Bus Tour starts today!
The Atria Mystery Bus is officially on the road! The troupe is kicking off in Manhattan, NYC, today, at Mysterious Bookshop. Liza, alongside John Connolly, William Kent Krueger and M.J. Rose will be there from 6:30-7:30 to talk about their work and sign copies of their latest novels.
For tweeters, you can follow the team around 12 cities in 8 days by clicking here
2 APRIL — Ten days to go
The Atria Mystery Bus tour is kicking off in just 10 days with start in New York at the Mysterious Bookshop. On the Mystery Tour website you can download your own free sampler by clicking here.
14 MARCH — Atria Mystery Tour
In just a little less than a month, Liza will board the bus that will take her, John Connolly, William Kent Krueger and M.J. Rose on a tour around the U.S. Atria has made a fantastic web-page for this where you can follow the bus around the country, sign up for newsletters and count down the days until departure. Please click here to visit the website.
29 FEBRUARY — LAST WILL praise
Last Will will be publish din the U.S. on April 10 but has already received a lovely review in Booklist:
"Readers who first encountered Annika Bengtzon in 2010's Red Wolf will cheer the return of the stubborn Swedish reporter ... Although fast paced and packing plenty of thrills, the story unwinds slowly over several months, effectively mixing Annika's personal troubles with work problems and the ongoing investigation. Recommend to readers who enjoy complicated Nordic thrillers with plenty of backstory, like those by Stieg Larsson"
21 FEBRUARY — Nobel's Last Will Gala Premier
Yesterday was the Gala Premier of Nobel's Last Will, the movie adaptation of the sixth installment in Liza's Annika Bengtzon series. The premier was held in Stockholm and Liza's Swedish publisher Piratfšrlaget made a short interview with Liza prior to the opening night:
What do you think of Malin Crepin as the "new" Annika Bengtzon?
I've seen the raw cuttings of all the six film adaptations, and I am absolutely floored by Malin. I knew she was an amazing actress but she is absolutely fantastic in the role of Annika Bengtzon. It is not an easy role to play - and not an easy character to live with for as long as Malin has.
Have you had the chance to influence the production?
A little. Tove Alsterdal (my editor) and I read all script versions and have had the chance give advice and criticism. The production company really listened to what we had to say. We've seen rough versions of the films and have made proposals for changes in the editing and the same applies there; they have listened and embraced what has been good, which was exactly what I hoped for. In general, the cooperation has proceeded beyond all expectations.
Many fans have mixed feelings about seeing their favorite book transferred onto the big screen. How do you feel about that?
I just thinks it's great. I know that I can trust the production company.
Nobel's Last Will will have it's official premier March 2nd.
2 FEBRUARY — Liza on tour
In April, Liza will go on a bus tour around the U.S. together with authors John Connolly, M.J Rose and William Kent Krueger. The tour is called the Mystery Bus Tour and is arranged by Liza's American publisher, Atria. Atria has a Tumblr blog where you will find lots of information and news about the tour. Please check it out by clicking here.
27 JANUARY — LAST WILL available for pre-order
Last Will, the sixth installment in the Annika Bengtzon series where Annika finds herself caught in the middle of an intricate drama with links to Alfred Nobel, and this time not merely as a reporter but as a key witness, will be published in the US on April 10th. You can already pre-order the book here.
13 JANUARY – Swedish Marketing Campaign
Liza's Swedish publisher Piratförlaget recently ran a huge marketing campaign for Borderline in the Stockholm subway. Please click the thumbnails below to see some pictures from the campaign.
10 JANUARY — NOBEL'S LAST WILL movie trailer
Please click the link below to watch the movie trailer for the Swedish film adaptation of Liza Marklund's Nobel's Last Will. The movie will premier in Sweden next month.
9 JANUARY — BORDERLINE No. 2 in Norway
Borderline is No. 2 on the Norwegian Bestseller list. In this novel Annika Bengtzon is dragged into a violent hostage situation that shakes both Europe and East Africa at the same times as a murder spree in Stockholm's suburbs continues and speculations of a serial killer arises.
7 DECEMBER — BORDERLINE No. 1 in Finland
Borderline is No. 1 on the Finnish Bestseller list.
28 NOVEMBER — BORDERLINE on Scandinavian Bestseller Lists
Liza Marklund's latest novel Borderline, the ninth book about crime reporter Annika Bengtzon, is currently No. 3 on the Norwegian bestseller list and No. 2 on the Danish bestseller list.
16 NOVEMBER — Distribution rights to NOBEL'S LAST WILL sold to U.S.
Feature film Nobel's Last Will, based on the novel by Liza Marklund, will be shown at the cinemas in the United States. Malabar Entertainment bought the distribution rights during the recently conducted American Film Market in Los Angeles. A total of 30 countries has now bought the film rights to the movie where Malin Crepin stars as crime reporter Annika Bengtzon, this happened even before the film had its theatrical release. Nobel's Last Will is the first in a series of six films based on Liza Marklund's successful books about Annika Bengtzon. Danish star director Peter Flinth is the director of the movie and starring are Bjorn Kjellman, Leif Andree, Kajsa Ernst and Erik Johansson along side Malin Crepin. The movie will premier in the cinemas in Scandinavia in Spring 2012.
7 NOVEMBER — Annika Bengtzon on the front-page of The Hollywood Reporter
The movie adaption of Liza Marklund's Nobel's Last Will had its first screening abroad yesterday at the AFM, American Film Market, in Los Angeles. There will be a screening of the movie today as well. Below is the front-page of The Hollywood Reporter's AFM issue.
1 NOVEMBER — Pictures and videos from the LITQUAKE FESTIVAL
Please click the links below to see pictures and videos from Liza's event at the Litquake Festival in San Francisco:
Litseen
Nordic Noir Selection
27 SEPTEMBER — Liza at the LITQUAKE FESTIVAL in October
Liza will travel to San Francisco in October to attend the Nordic Noir: A Dark and Stormy Night of Scandinavian Crime Fiction event at the Litquake Festival. The event will take place at 8pm on Friday 14th. Please check out their website to find out more: Litquake Festival
Liza's attendance at the festival was mentioned in The New York Times, please click the link to read more.
13 JUNE — THE ANNA LINDH MEMORIAL FUND
Liza was a close friend of Anna Lindh's, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs who was murdered in 2003. Today, she hands out a scholarship on behalf of the Anna Lindh Memorial Fund. The laureate is Anna Thunes, a driving spirit in the struggle against domestic violence.
12 MAY — LIZA goes to Cannes
Liza will be in Cannes this weekend for the promo of Nobel's Last Will. The movie, which is currently in post-production, is directed by Peter Flinth and produced by YellowBird and Nordisk Film.
26 APRIL — Research in Nairobi
I'm off on a research trip to Nairobi, which (hopefully) is the last one I'll need to do for my new novel. When I get back I'll just wrap it up!
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19 APRIL — FOR EVERY KID
Unicef Sweden is launching its big campaign "For Every Kid" and Liza, as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, is taking part. She has held a speech at Sergel Square in Stockholm and written a large piece about children in Colombia in the daily Expressen.
6 APRIL — Reviews of NEW VOICES SING OLD SONGS
Liza's new essay collection has been receiving great reviews in Sweden. Here are a couple of the latest ones:
"Liza Marklund's New Voices Sing Old Songs is an important and very urgent book. She is not silent. She screams in anger and righteous rage. Listen to her."
Helsingborgs Dagblad (Sweden)
"Fearless debater, skilled columnist and extraordinarily successful author - there is only one person who can measure up to Liza Marklund in contemporary Sweden: her colleague Jan Guillou."
Norrbottens-Kuriren (Sweden)
23 MARCH — NEW VOICES SING OLD SONGS
Liza's new book is out in Sweden! Her essay collection New Voices Sing Old Songs is a warm, sharp and intimate portrait of one of Sweden's most successful and controversial authors.
16 MARCH 2011
Update from my cave: I'm deep deep deep into my new novel right now. Part One is finished and I'm trying to find the pace and heart of Part Two. If you try to talk to me, I'll just go: What? Eh? Who me?
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4 MARCH 2011 — RED WOLF reviewed in The New York Times!
"You can trust Liza Marklund's description of her hard-nosed heroine, Annika Bengtzon, an investigative reporter on a Stockholm daily with the enviable freedom to write just about anything she well pleases. /.../ Despite her messy personal life, Bengtzon hangs on to the uncompromising ethics and sense of justice that make her a welcome figure in the ranks of Scandinavian sleuths."
28 FEBRUARY 2011
I visited the shooting location of Nobel's Last Will the other week. It's really weird when my characters come up to me to introduce themselves. Is this what God feels like?
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23 FEBRUARY 2011
Yellowbird, the production company behind The Millenium Trilogy, have now begun to shoot their Annika Bengtzon feature film.
17 FEBRUARY 2011
Red Wolf has just been sold to Bulgaria! Colibri Publishers will publish it in Bulgarian next year.
16 FEBRUARY 2011
As of yesterday, Red Wolf is out in the bookstores in the US. Get your own copy now!
10 FEBRUARY 2011
Red Wolf and two other Annika Bengtzon novels have just been sold to Taiwan, a great addition to the long list of countries that already publish the series.
4 FEBRUARY 2011
I'm back in Europe after my journey through South America. I've met people under hard circumstances in Cuba, Colombia and Argentina, and what always strikes me on these trips is how easily poverty could be erased.
Problem is, the powers that be don't want it eradicated.
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3 FEBRUARY 2011 — Liza on Facebook
For exclusive news and videos, don't forget to visit Liza's Facebook fan page.
25 JANUARY 2011 — On the road in South America
Liza is in Buenos Aires, Argentina, doing research for an upcoming book project.
18 JANUARY 2011 — Liza for UNICEF in Colombia
Liza arrives in Colombia this week for meetings with the UNICEF office in Bogotá. She is going to study various UNICEF projects in the Colombian countryside.
14 JANUARY 2011 — Starred reviews for Red Wolf in the US!
Publisher's Weekly calls Red Wolf a "superb fifth novel featuring Stockholm journalist Annika Bengtzon" and continue that "Marklund imbues Annika with a fierce intensity without sacrificing her vulnerability." Library Journal enjoys how "Marklund blends the sociology and politics of contemporary Sweden with a taut mystery, capturing the Scandinavian chill as she builds suspense to an eminently satisfying conclusion."
13 JANUARY 2011 — Annika Bengtzon to the big screen
Yellow Bird Productions, the company behind the adaptations of Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series will soon begin shooting Nobel's Last Will, the sixth installment in the Annika Bengtzon series. Yellow Bird currently has six Annika Bengtzon novels in different stages of production. For more information, click here.
12 JANUARY 2011 — Liza Marklund's Website Officially Launched!
Welcome to the official website of Scandinavian Queen of Crime. The site will feature regular updates about Liza and her internationally bestselling Annika Bengtzon series. Please remember to sign up for the newsletter to receive the latest news!
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"It's rare to find such a perfect blending of the tripod of storytelling as we see in Liza's novels: plot, setting and character." —Jeffery Deaver |
