Looking for the perfect summer read? Scandinavia has inspired some of the world’s most memorable books, from gripping Nordic Noir thrillers to thoughtful classics and modern bestsellers.
Set among remote islands, dramatic coastlines, stylish cities and vast northern landscapes, these stories offer an easy way to travel without leaving your sun lounger. Whether you’re planning a trip north or simply want to escape into a great book, there’s plenty of inspiration here.
Here’s our pick of the best books about Scandinavia and the Nordic countries. Happy reading!
Looking for something specific? Use the guide below to jump straight to the section that suits your mood.
Nordic Noir crime thrillers
Fiction and literary classics
Modern Scandinavian fiction
Scandinavian culture, history and lifestyle
Nordic Noir crime thrillers
The Millennium Trilogy | Stieg Larsson
Probably the best known of the Nordic Noir crime thrillers is the Millennium Trilogy, a hugely popular series of books by Swedish author Stieg Larsson. Its damaged heroine, genius computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (aka the girl with the dragon tattoo) wages war against right-wing extremists, corrupt politicians, sex traffickers and rapists, who respond with ever more violent and extreme methods.
The books are set mainly in the trendy Södermalm district of Stockholm, where author Stieg Larsson himself lived. You can follow in the protagonists’ footsteps on this guided walking tour of Södermalm, which points out locations from the books.
The Wallander detective series | Henning Mankell
Troubled police officer Kurt Wallander is the protagonist of a series of books by Swedish author Henning Mankell. Exploring racism, misogyny and the dark side of Swedish society, the murder mysteries are set in the pretty town of Ystad and the surrounding countryside of Skane in southern Sweden.
From Ystad, fans of the books can join a self-guided audio walking tour through Kurt Wallander’s hometown, following clues through the streets while solving a murder mystery inspired by Henning Mankell’s stories.
The Chestnut Man | Søren Sveistrup
This gripping Danish thriller begins with the murder of a young woman on the outskirts of Copenhagen, where police discover a small figure made of chestnuts hanging nearby. Detectives soon uncover links to an old missing-person case, leading them deep into the darker side of Danish society.
Set between suburban neighbourhoods, forests and grey city streets, the novel creates a tense and atmospheric portrait of modern Denmark. Written by Søren Sveistrup, creator of The Killing, it’s an ideal pick for fans of dark Scandinavian crime fiction.
The Harry Hole thrillers | Jo Nesbø
Set in Oslo, Jo Nesbø’s series of stories about troubled Norwegian detective Harry Hole are among the world’s best-selling crime fiction. A brilliant detective with a chaotic private life, Hole rarely toes the line but manages to solve a series of grisly crimes. There are 12 books in the series, of which the best-known, The Snowman, has been made into a popular film.
The city of Oslo plays an important role with real locations featuring regularly and atmospheric descriptions of the city, including its seamier side. We recommend this guided walking tour through Oslo to explore some of the city locations and atmosphere that feature throughout the Harry Hole books.
Fiction and literary classics
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
Set on a small island in the Pellinge archipelago in the Gulf of Finland, this beautiful novel follows the relationship between prickly grandmother and six-year-old Sophia during a summer together after her mother’s death.
Written by Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins, it’s a moving story in which the island’s landscapes and rhythms are as memorable as its characters.
Smilla’s Sense of Snow | Peter Høeg
Set in snowy Copenhagen, this atmospheric mystery follows Smilla, who investigates the death of a neglected six-year-old boy after noticing clues in the snow that suggest murder rather than accident.
Her difficult childhood in Greenland contrasts with affluent urban Denmark, and the novel explores identity, inequality and the darker side of society. Often seen as an early influence on Nordic Noir, it remains a thoughtful and distinctive read.
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared | Jonas Jonasson
This quirky tale follows the adventures of Allan Karlsson, who decides on his hundredth birthday that he’s had enough of being in a care home and wants more from life. As we follow his hapless journey, we discover that there’s more to this feisty old man’s history than first meets the eye.
Set in remote small-town Sweden, it mixes atmospheric descriptions of the landscape with laugh-out-loud moments and encounters with some of the twentieth-century’s less savoury leaders.
Modern Scandinavian favourites
A Man Called Ove | Fredrik Backman
Set in a quiet suburban neighbourhood in Sweden, this bestselling Swedish novel follows Ove, a grumpy and stubborn widower whose orderly life is unexpectedly disrupted by lively new neighbours next door.
What begins as a humorous story gradually becomes a moving tale about loneliness, friendship and second chances. Warm, funny and full of heart, it helped make Fredrik Backman one of Scandinavia’s most popular modern authors.
The Rabbit Factor | Antti Tuomainen
This witty and offbeat Finnish novel is set in Helsinki, where an orderly mathematician unexpectedly inherits a struggling adventure park and soon finds himself dragged into a world of debt, criminals and chaos.
Blending dry humour, suspense and sharp observations, Antti Tuomainen’s novel offers a fresh and darkly funny take on modern Nordic fiction.
The Details | Ia Genberg
Set in Stockholm, this acclaimed Swedish novel explores memory, friendship and the people who shape our lives. Told through the reflections of a woman recovering with a fever, it gradually reveals vivid portraits of four important figures from her past.
Elegant and thoughtful, it became an international success and represents the more literary side of modern Scandinavian writing.
Scandinavian culture, history and lifestyle
Pippi Longstocking | Astrid Lindgren
One of Sweden’s most beloved literary exports, Astrid Lindgren’s classic follows the fearless and wonderfully unconventional Pippi Longstocking. Set in a colourful small-town Swedish world, the stories have charmed generations of readers and helped shape Sweden’s image of independence and imagination.
Peer Gynt | Henrik Ibsen
Written by Norway’s most famous playwright, Henrik Ibsen, Peer Gynt follows the adventures of a dreamer and wanderer through mountains, forests and dramatic Norwegian landscapes. Blending folklore, fantasy and satire, it remains one of Norway’s most celebrated literary works.
The Little Book of Hygge | Meik Wiking
If you’ve ever wondered why the Danes are often ranked among the happiest people in the world, this bestselling book offers some clues. Written by Danish happiness researcher Meik Wiking, it explores the cosy concept of hygge through food, interiors, traditions and everyday life in Copenhagen and beyond.
The Vikings | Else Roesdahl
Written by Danish historian Else Roesdahl, this accessible introduction explores how the Vikings really lived, travelled and traded across Europe. Moving beyond clichés of raiders and warriors, it offers a fascinating look at everyday life in the Viking Age across Scandinavia.
Which Scandinavian book will you read first?
Whether you prefer dark Nordic thrillers, thoughtful literary classics or cosy books about Scandinavian culture, there’s no shortage of great reads to choose from.
Have a favourite Scandinavian book we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.
See also:
Film locations from The Snowman in Oslo
The best Swedish books ever
