It wasn’t our intention to plan a summer holiday which takes in the locations of popular Scandi-thrillers but we do seem to have created a fly-drive itinerary which may well require me to adopt a mean and moody attitude, a few distinctive tats and the odd piercing just to get into the spirit of the trip.
It all started with our visit to Copenhagen last Easter when I was oblivious to the fact that The Killing was soon to grip the nation and we’d all be coveting Sarah Lund’s sweater. Steve, from Bloggertropolis, can’t get enough of  ‘supercool, supersexy actress..Sofie Grabol’ and would dearly love her woolly jumper which she seems to be giving away to uber-fans (Camilla Parker-Bowles for one) but unfortunately, not Steve. Take heart, my friend: it’s probably a bit scratchy anyway.
All fired up with the trendy, chic, gorgeousness of the Scandinavia we got a sniff of last year, our unintentional crime trail will be taking us first to Stockholm, where Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy is largely based. We have booked the Nobis Hotel, our splurge choice for four nights, on account of its central location, inter-connecting rooms and because of the interesting history of the hotel: it used to be the bank where a hostage situation coined the term ‘Stockholm Syndrome’. It was only when the booking had been made I discovered the hotel had been used by the cast and crew of the US movie version of ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’. Is Daniel Craig’s room available? I want that one.
Another stop on our trip is Ystad, home to Kurt Wallander, another Swedish detective. I’ve been encouraged by Kate from The Five Fs Blog, to read the original books by Henning Mankell which place the action in the bleak winter months in Southern Sweden. I shall certainly do this, Kate, but I’m hoping the weather will be more like that seen in the sunny BBC adaptation with Kenneth Branagh sauntering around this pretty seaside town. Fingers crossed.
This weekend I learned that there is a yet another Scandinavian thriller about to hit our screens, in the shape of The Bridge. A collaboration between Danish and Swedish TV companies, the plot centres on the body of a woman found in the centre of the Oresund Bridge which connects Denmark to Sweden. I caught sight of this magnificent bridge last year from the air and had already planned to see it a little closer from the Swedish side when we visit Malmo in July.  But now I have one more Scandinavian cop to emulate. This one is a strong, slightly awkward loner; the blonde, booted and leather-clad Saga Noren. Am I never going to get a chance to wear a floaty dress and flip-flops?
Of course, this Scandinavian detective fervour has been fuelled further by Norwegian author, Jo Nesbo: my husband is currently devouring his books at a rate of knots. I’m now wondering, as we will be travelling along the west coast of Sweden during our holiday, shall we take a quick diversion north to Oslo, pop in on Harry Hole and then we’ll have done the lot?
Do you remember Magnum PI?
Hawaii.
That's all I'm sayin'…
Excellent idea! Actually, that's got me thinking of a whole new way of choosing holiday locations. Morse for Oxford, Spender for when I go back to Newcastle. And where's the Montalbano chap from? Sicily. That'll do.
I have been hearing so much about The Killing that I will have to have to download. If its good, you won't see me for days…am a bit obsessive like that. Have just done loads of Midsomer Murders lately and am dying to re-visit that most dangerous part of the world.
We've come late to The Killing too- just working our way through the box set of Series one. I can highly recommend it. The subtitles don't affect the enjoyment either, you don't notice them after a while. Brilliant acting. Do have a watch and let me know.
Oh gosh, yes, I loved the Killing. The first series was gut-wrenching – the actress who played Pernille played that role perfectly and the last few episodes are heartbreaking. I didn't like series 2 so much but I did get into it towards the end.
Before you go to Copenhagen, I also recommend you watch Borgen, which was on BBC Four in January and early February. It's kind of like The West Wing meets The Killing and once again, a strong female lead character. I do however play a lot of what I called Forbrydelsen bingo as a LOT of characters from both series crop up in Borgen.
I am so, so jealous of you! Scandinavia is uncharted territory for me and yet, I so want to go. Have a fab time, I will live my life vicariously through you for a couple of weeks, if that's OK. 😀
PS My hubby just said to me (when I told him your itinerary) "She's going to diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie!" I think he's joking. I hope so, anyway.
Do you know, I keep worrying that someone's going to give away the ending to The Killing in these comments. As I'm only half way through the first series, I'll have to read them with my hand covering the words as I go along.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and suggest Borgen – right that's another one on the list. I like a bit of bingo!!
Tell your husband I'm one of the good guys so I'm chasing the baddies all around Sweden in a Volvo!
Killing was fantastic, Borgen was fantastic, loved both Wallanders and my husband has been asking me to buy him some Jo Nesbo books for weeks…does Dougie recommend them? I too will be loving your holiday reviews…and being very very jealous!
Yes, Dougie does recommend them – he loves the main character and believes he is Harry Hole now!
I may be going on this trip, but I'm way behind you lot on the reading/watching homework.
DH is utterly obsessed by Scandinavian thrillers and is finding more and more to read. We're currently watching Those Who Kill, and are moving onto Borgen next. We're even going for three weeks to Scandinavia next summer but I have banned DH from watching anything like that in the run-up or I shall never sleep.
Those Who Kill? Another one! Have I got time to cram them all in before we go and frighten the living daylights out of myself?
Would be interested to hear where you're planning to go next year.
The first episode is particularly scary- and the two men who watched it with me were in agreement! Sweden….wherever we get a house-exchange. I think we'll be taking more than one holiday there in the future. Oh, and Norway (in summer, thank goodness!)
That jumper is indeed scratchy looking and also costs over £200! I am sure I would shrink it in the wash. Hadn't heard of The Bridge, will keep an eye out, but can confirm Borgen is also good! You will love Ystad, it's very cute! 🙂
I had heard it was pricey. I always shrink things too so best avoid.
So looking forward to the Ystad part of the trip – you've told me a lot about that part of Sweden. As long as it remains cute and doesn't have killers on the loose 🙂
Still haven't gotten around to seeing The Killing (this has been complicated by the fact that there's an American series of the same name which is similar to the original but set in Oregon (I think) which – in my opinion – is not quite the same thing) but enjoyed 'Girl with the dragon tatoo' as well as Mr. Craig. At the moment we're planning a trip for next December to Australia and New Zealand. The boys are determined to visit all the sites where filming of The Lord of the Rings took place, which is not anything like Scandinavian crime drama. I'll be looking forward to your post-trip reports.
I kept getting confused about the American version too. Had to be very careful when I ordered the box set.
I think we all love visiting places we can relate to through books and the screen. I think that's why I loved Italy because of the Room with a View novel.
Apparently there are now 'Millenium' itineraries for fans, but I think your idea of a self-drive is better — maybe you need to extend the holiday a little to encompass the other thrillers? I have read only one Wallander — it was good. And am resolutely forgetting about the Nesbo books — in English anyway as I HAVE to improve my Greek reading. If you keep up the theme of Detective Travel, consider a visit to Greece following the exploits of Astynomos Christos Haritos in Petros Markaris' series — my chosen method of improving Greek reading. How laborious is it to read a thriller with the aid of two dictionaries??? (But it works, my vocabulary is expanding in ways I had never considered!)…
I do think this is why other nations speak English so well: they are immersed in it via books, music and film/TV. Even watching The Killing we have picked up some Danish words: you hear them speak, read the subtitles and bits of it lodge nicely in the brain.
Millennium itineraries – yes, I'd read about them. You get to visit the pubs in Stockholm but then there is a very long trip North just to see somewhere which may or may not be the fictional Hedeby.
Taken your tip for your Greek detective – it's pencilled in!!
I think I caught bits of The Killing, but more of Wallender which I really liked. If you want less Scandinavian winter and more Mediterranean summer, watch Inspector Montalbano which I love. Italian sexy chic, dodgy local politics and a detective who's got the system sussed, it's great stuff.
I'm sure I read about him over at yours – he's on the list now!
I think your trip sounds like much more fun than an Austen pilgrimage. Oh, and the American version of The Killing is set in Seattle, Washington, for the not-very-flattering reason that it was the closest the producers could get to the damp, dark and rainy climate that for some reason they associate with Scandinavia.
At least I know it will be light for ages in the summer and I think the weather should be quite good. The Swedes all go to their lakeside houses in the summer so it can't be too bad. Denmark looks miserable when I watch The Killing but it was fabulous when we visited last year. Is Seattle that bad then?!!
You've been tagged! Over on mine. 🙂
Oh lord, I don't think I've done the last one yet. I'd better either get cracking on them…or hide!
Oh dear – I'm completely out of the loop because I haven't seen any Scandinavian drama at all. Mind you, I adored The Wire so maybe we should book a holiday in Baltimore….or maybe not…..
Are you behind the times, woman? You could try Belgium…Poirot?
You mean the dark and the rain and the gloom didn't put you off?
It looked too realistic to me…
I'm going in the summer, with visions of blonde happy Swedes romping in the meadows and leaping in the lakes…. ( positive thinking)
and who knows…maybe you'll have the Swedish chef from The Muppet Show working in one of your hotels?
Now that would be entertaining!
Oooh… How exciting! Forget the floaty dress and flip-flops! ;o)
I have read the Stieg Larsson's and some of the Henning Mankell's books, and now Jo Nesbo is on my list too…
You see, you're ahead of me on the reading. Have ordered the first Henning Mankell book so will read that and then get Dougie to give me a synopsis of the Nesbo stories.