Welcome to the shortlist for the Best Crime Novel in Translation category of the Crime Fiction Lover Awards 2024, where we celebrate some of the finest international crime novels brought to life for English-reading audiences.
This year, our shortlist includes books – all nominated by readers – from Japan, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Iceland and Italy. From dark thrillers to intricate character studies and haunting noirs, these works exemplify the richness and depth found in translated fiction. But the winner is up to you! Click the voting link below.
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Black Wolf by Juan Gómez-Jurado, translated by Nicolas Caistor and Lorenza Garcia
Black Wolf, the follow-up to Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado, translated by Nicolas Caistor and Lorenza Garcia, continues the story of Antonia Scott and her sidekick, Jon Gutiérrez, as they navigate a thrilling case on the Costa del Sol. The series’ hallmark is its character depth: Antonia, a brilliant yet socially awkward operative, relies on medication to manage her complex mind shaped by the experimental Red Queen project, while Jon is a down-to-earth, reluctant hero with a unique personality and comedic edge. Together, they’re tasked with finding Lola Moreno, a diabetic woman fleeing from a ruthless criminal syndicate and the deadly assassin known as the Black Wolf. With sharp wit, fast-paced action, and compelling personal backstories, Black Wolf is both engaging and refreshingly distinct in tone, setting it apart from other crime novels and highlighting Gómez-Jurado’s flair for creating memorable, multifaceted characters.
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The Snow Angel by Anki Edvinsson, translated by Paul Norlen
The Snow Angel by Anki Edvinsson, translated by Paul Norlen, is a gripping police procedural that introduces Detectives Charlotte von Klint and Per Berg as they navigate the escalating drug crisis and violent crime in the seemingly quiet northern town of Umeå, Sweden. After a teenage boy’s apparent suicide reveals a dark undercurrent of drug use among local youth, Charlotte realises that Umeå is far from the tranquil escape she’d anticipated. As the investigation deepens, more sinister crimes surface, including a brutal murder and the disappearance of two teenagers, all while Charlotte’s past with a recently freed crime boss threatens her own safety. Edvinsson skilfully weaves social issues into this Nordic noir narrative, balancing character development with a well-paced and suspenseful plot. With its atmospheric setting and complex characters, The Snow Angel is a great start to a new series, marked by authentic criminological insights and layered storytelling.
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The Lover of No Fixed Abode by Carlo Fruttero and Franco Lucentini, translated by Gregory Dowling
The Lover of No Fixed Abode by Carlo Fruttero and Franco Lucentini, translated by Gregory Dowling, unfolds through an intense romantic tryst set in Venice, where an aristocratic art expert becomes captivated by an enigmatic tour guide, Mr Silvera. Over three days in the mid-1980s, their clandestine affair smoulders amid Venice’s magical, deceptive allure, with the princess slowly unravelling the mystery surrounding Silvera’s true identity, which hints at hidden depths and secrets. Although there’s a secondary crime subplot involving intrigue in the art world, the novel’s true strength lies in its character exploration and atmospheric depiction of Venice. Blending humour, impeccable style and poetic language, it reveals a city that is both enchanting and satirical, capturing readers through vivid, well-crafted prose rather than plot-driven action.
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Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jonasson, translated by Victoria Cribb
Ragnar Jonasson’s Death at the Sanatorium, translated by Victoria Cribb, is a haunting Nordic noir novel set in a chillingly atmospheric former tuberculosis hospital in Iceland, where old secrets resurface to deadly effect. In 1983, nurse Yrsa was found murdered, followed closely by the suspicious death of a physician, which investigators hastily ruled a suicide. Decades later, criminology student Helgi Reykdal reopens the cold case as part of his dissertation, delving into unsettling interviews with former suspects. His probing stirs up dark memories and a new murder. Jonasson’s tightly woven narrative shifts between the original investigation and Helgi’s present-day pursuit of the killer, building suspense around complex, morally ambiguous characters and drawing readers into a claustrophobic setting fraught with tension. With its crisp prose, evocative Icelandic landscape and unexpected twists, Death at the Sanatorium is an engaging read for fans of slow-burning, character-driven mysteries.
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The Kitchen by Simone Buchholz, translated by Rachel Ward
The Kitchen by Simone Buchholz offers hard-hitting and atmospheric insight into the dark side of Hamburg through the eyes of prosecutor Chastity Riley. This second instalment in the Chastity Reloaded series sees Riley investigating body parts found in the River Elbe, which leads her and her colleagues down a winding path as they seek to uncover not just the victims’ identities but also their violent histories concerning women. When her best friend Carla becomes the victim of a brutal attack and police interest in catching the perpetrator wanes, Riley’s sense of justice wavers as she’s drawn into a morally charged dilemma. Buchholz’s raw, almost stream-of-consciousness style captures Riley’s complex character as she wrestles with her personal and professional boundaries, while moments of dark humour offset the story’s heavier themes. With an evocative portrayal of Hamburg and an intricate blend of crime and personal relationships, The Kitchen is a gripping, thought-provoking addition to the Chastity Riley series.
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The Night of Baba Yaga by Akira Otani, translated by Sam Bett
Akira Otani’s The Night of Baba Yaga, translated by Sam Bett, is a powerful female-led revenge thriller set in Tokyo, which centres on Yoriko Shindo, a tough, unconventional character who joins a Yakuza family to protect Shoko, the spoiled daughter of gang boss Genzo Naiki. Through their complex and evolving relationship, Shindo and Shoko develop a deep, non-romantic bond as they share stories from their pasts, including Shindo’s connection to Russian folklore and the fierce independence of Baba Yaga. Despite being surrounded by violence and entrenched gender expectations, the two women’s refusal to conform drives the narrative, delivering a sharp critique of Japanese social roles and an exploration of individuality and friendship. This intense, action-packed novel draws on the aesthetic of graphic novels and classic revenge films like Lady Snowblood, presenting a story that is both poignant and fierce in just 216 pages.
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