Hildur (novel series)

Hildur is a detective novel series, written in Finnish and set in Iceland, by Finnish-Icelandic author Satu Rämö

Plot

Hildur Rúnarsdóttir is an Icelandic police officer haunted by the unexplained disappearance of her sisters twenty-five years ago. Her colleague, Finnish police officer Jakob Johanson, is fighting for custody of his son.[1] As Hildur tries to investigate her family's murky past, the pair must battle their demons while solving murders on the isolated west coast of Iceland.[2]

Reception

As of September 2024, the publishing rights to the Hildur series had been sold to 17 countries, including Germany, France, the UK, the Nordics, and the Baltic countries.[3][4][5]

In 2025 The Clues in the Fjord, an English translation of Hildur (the first book in the series), won the Petrona Award 2025 for the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. It was translated into English by Kristian London.[6]

Adaptations

The first three books in the series were adapted for the stage by Satu Rasila. The resulting play, titled Hildur, premiered in autumn 2024 at Turku City Theatre, directed by Anne Rautiainen.[7] 

Work is currently underway to adapt Hildur for television.[8]

Novels

  1. Hildur. Helsinki: WSOY, 2022. ISBN 978-951-0-47920-9
    (English translation by Kristian London: The Clues in the Fjord. Zaffre, 2024. ISBN 978-1-804-18840-8)
  2. Rósa & Björk. Helsinki: WSOY, 2023. ISBN 978-951-0-48127-1
    (English translation by Kristian London: The Grave in the Ice. Zaffre, 2025. ISBN 978-1-804-18847-7)
  3. Jakob. Helsinki: WSOY, 2023. ISBN 978-951-0-48124-0
    (English translation by Kristian London: The Shadow of the Northern Lights. Zaffre, 2025. ISBN 978-1-804-18843-9)
  4. Rakel. Helsinki: WSOY, 2024. ISBN 978-951-0-50733-9 
    (English translation by Kristian London: The Secrets from the Deep. Zaffre, 2026. ISBN 978-1-806-17274-0)
  5. Tinna, Helsinki: WSOY, 2025. ISBN 978-951-0-50852-7 
    (English translation by Kristian London: The Stranger from the Mountains. Zaffre, 2026. ISBN 978-1-806-17276-4)

References

  1. ^ "The Grave in the Ice: The international bestselling, award-winning thriller (Hildur)". Amazon. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Hildur-dekkari on saanut aikaan suoranaisen Islanti-buumin – Ylen lukupiirissä kehuttiin Satu Rämön esikoiskirjan tunnelmaa ja miljöötä". yle.fi (in Finnish). 7 October 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Satu Rämön supersuosittu Hildur-dekkarisarja jatkuu syksyllä 2024 – Sarjan käännösoikeudet myyty Isoon-Britanniaan". WSOY (in Finnish). 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Hello!". Satu Rämö. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Satu Rämö". Bonnier Rights Finland. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  6. ^ Brown, Lauren (23 October 2025). "Satu Rämö wins Petrona Award 2025 for 'sophisticated' crime novel". The Bookseller. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Hildur". Turun Kaupunginteatteri (in Finnish). Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  8. ^ Layton, Mark (25 November 2022). "Finland's Take Two Studios strikes financing deal, plans 'Hildur' adaptation". Television Business International. Retrieved 23 August 2024.