If any crime novels deserve to be called modern classics, it must be the ten police procedure novels about Martin Beck and his colleagues: with them, the Swedish writer's duo Maj Sjöwall (1935-) and Per Wahlöö (1926-1975) virtually created the modern police procedure novel, their imitators count by thousands. The Decalogue of Sjöwall-Wahlöö, written in the sixties and seventies, is nothing less than the Holy Grail of modern Scandinavian crime fiction, a chronicle of the painful creation of modern society.

"Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö kick-started modern Scandinavian crime fiction. Their books established the principle of turning a critical eye on contemporary society."
The Guardian

“Their mysteries don’t just read well; they reread even better. Witness, wife, petty cop or crook — they’re all real characters even if they get just a few sentences. The plots hold, because they’re ingenious but never inhuman. The writing is lean, with mournful undertones.
New York Times

“One of the most authentic, gripping and profound collection of police procedurals ever accomplished.”
Michael Connelly

“The Wahlöös write the best series of police novels I have come across.”
LIFE

“The Decalogue about the Swedish chief inspector Martin Beck created by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö during the 1960-ies and 70-ies are indeed classic police fiction. They changed the genre. Whoever is writing crime fiction after these novels is inspired by them in one way or another.”
Henning Mankell

”I revere the Martin Beck mysteries”
Washington Post

”Wherever their plots take us, Sjöwall and Wahlöö find ways to catch the reader on the back foot, making us reassess our take on the world.”
Val McDermid

”There’s just no question about it: The reigning King and Queen of mystery fiction are Maj Sjöwall and her husband Per Wahlöö.”
National Observer

"The first great series of police thrillers ... they caught the colour of the political times and are above all truly exciting"
Michael Ondaatje

“In the end this became something very remarkable, a great series of novels about Swedish society which draws a picture of contemporary Swedish life with critical acuity and great force. Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö have provided a multitude of brilliant and vividly human portraits of people in all situations: murderers and police officers, drug addicts and lawyers, car salesmen and heads of state. I believe this album of Swedish crime will live a long time.”
P.O. Enquist

For more information about Sjöwall/Wahlöö and the Martin Beck series please contact Salomonsson Agency



Bibliography
Terroristerna  The Terrorrists
1975, Crime Fiction   Read More

Polismördaren  Cop Killer
1974, Crime Fiction   Read More

Det slutna rummet  The Locked Room
1972, Crime Fiction   Read More

Den vedervärdige mannen från Säffle  The Abominable Man
1971, Crime Fiction   Read More

Polis, polis potatismos!  Murder At The Savoy
1970, Crime Fiction   Read More

Brandbilen som försvann  The Fire Engine That Disappeared
1969, Crime Fiction   Read More

Den skrattande polisen  The Laughing Policeman
1968, Crime Fiction   Read More

Mannen på balkongen  The Man On The Balcony
1967, Crime Fiction   Read More

Mannen som gick upp i rök  The Man Who Went Up In Smoke
1966, Crime Fiction   Read More

Roseanna  Roseanna
1965, Crime Fiction   Read More