15 BEST Books set in Sweden
Looking for books that take place in Sweden?
As an avid reader (I read 5-6 books every month) and a half-Swede, I love to find books that take place in the country where my family roots are from.
A good chunk of books set in Sweden are in the crime/mystery genre, but I’ve found a few of them that are not.
Nordic Noir is very popular in Sweden, and the majority of these books fall into that category – but don’t worry, there are some excellent great works of fiction (and non-fiction) set in Sweden that aren’t crime-based.
So, let’s jump in – here are some great books that take place in Sweden!
Best Fiction Books That Take Place in Sweden
1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
By: Stieg Larsson
Publication date: 2009
Genre: Mystery, crime, thriller, suspense
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the most obvious choice of a book set in Sweden. It takes place in Stockholm, and other parts of the country
The book was extremely popular when it came out, both in Sweden and worldwide.
I only read it a few years ago. It’s title in Swedish is called Män som Hatar Kvinnor (“men who hate women”) and it definitely has a feminist message to it. However, there is a lot of violence against women described in the book that could be a bit of a trigger. I also didn’t particularly like the main character.
That being said, it was an exciting read that I couldn’t put down – and I wasn’t sure what took me so long to read it.
2. A Man Called Ove
By: Fredrik Backman
Publication date: 2012
Genre: novel, humour, fiction
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
A Man Called Ove is the most popular non-fiction Swedish book on this list. It’s about a grumpy older man who basically hates everyone he sees, including cats.
The story is supposed to be heartwarming, as he softens his attitude after a boisterous family moves in next door.
Frederick Backman has written several other best sellers, and it was hard for me to choose which one to feature. If the plot of this one doesn’t grab you, then check out Anxious People or Beartown – both of which are almost as popular as A Man Called Ove.
3. Faceless Killers
By: Henning Mankell
Publication date: 2003
Genre: mystery, novel, crime fiction
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.1)
Faceless Killers falls into the Nordic Noir category; it takes place following the gruesome discovery of a violent crime against a farmer and his family and the mysteries it leaves.
The main character isn’t particularly likable, and he also has a bit of an anti-immigrant sentiment (Sweden’s anti-refugee sentiment is a small theme in the book, as one of the deceased uttered the word “foreign” as one of her last words before dying.)
It’s a great mystrty, and one that existed before the Stig Larsson books came out.
4. Roseanna
By: Maj Sowell
Publication date: 1965
Genre: mystery, novel, crime, fiction
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0)
Roseanna takes place in Sweden in the 1960s and 70s, and is believed to be one of the original Swedish crimes books.
A woman’s body is found in Lake Vattern (the second largest lake in Sweden), and there are 80+ possible suspects on a lake cruise that she was on.
This book is the first in a series written by a husband and wife team, and it speaks a lot to what Sweden was like at the time.
It’s a well-done mystery, but you’d also learn some political information about Sweden in the 60s and 70s.
5. The Hypnotist: A Novel
By: Lars Keppler
Publication date: 2009
Genre: mystery, crime, fiction
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.0)
The Hypnotist is another Swedish crime mystery novel that has made best-seller lists in every language that it’s been translated into.
It takes place in Tumba, Sweden (southwest of Stockholm) in the aftermath of the brutal murder of a family. The detective in charge of the case hires a doctor to hypnotize a young boy (the only survivor in the attack) to try to get clues.
The book is told from different viewpoints, so sometimes you see the same scene but from different points of view. There are many peels to uncover, but it’s quite interesting – especially if you tend to like mysteries.
6. An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good
By: Helene Tursten
Publication date: 2018
Genre: mystery, humour, crime, fiction
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2)
An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good is a small collection of short stories about a lonely, 86-year-old woman living in Gothenburg (Sweden’s second largest city) suspected of murder.
She is basically like a female Dexter Morgan – she’s a murderer, but only of bad people. And yes, she’s in her late 80s.
This is a teeny tiny book, and if you like dark comedy or spend a lot of time with the elderly – you should enjoy it.
The author, Gothenburg-native Helen Tursten, was very popular for her Irene Huss Investigator series which she wrote prior. There are several books in it; the first one being Inspector Huss written in 1998. (You may prefer this over the An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good if you want to read a novel rather than short stories.)
7. Let the Right One In
By: John Ajvide Lindqvist
Publication date: 2004
Genre: horror, fiction, thriller, vampire
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
Let the Right One In is another classic Swedish crime novel; except this time, it isn’t just human murderers – there are vampires.
Let the Right One In was written at a time (2004) when vampire books and movies were very popular.
If you enjoyed these types of books, then I recommend giving this book a try. It takes place in Blackenburg – a suburb of Stockholm – in the 1980s.
8. Tillbacka till Henne
By: Sara Lovestam
Publication date: 2012
Genre: historical fiction, LGBT, feminism, romance
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.1)
*You may want to scroll past this book if you don’t read Swedish, as I cannot find a translation for this book.*
Tillbaka till Henne (meaning “Back to Her” in English) is a feminst novel that has two parallel storylines – Signe from the early 1900s during the suffrage movement in Sweden, and Hanna from the 1960s.
Signe in the early 1900s is in love with another woman at a time when that was accepted in Sweden.
Hanna is a relatively unhappy woman in the 60s, with a critical mother and a boyfriend she’s not in love with. She comes across some objects that she has to figure out who they belong to.
This book has a hint of mystery, some politics, family and romantic relationships – a bit of everything.
9. The Hidden Beach
By: Karen Swan
Publication date: 2020
Genre: romance, comedy, novel
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
The Hidden Beach is one of the few books set in Sweden that is not a murder mystery – but it is a mystery.
It’s about a woman working as a nanny for a wealthy family in Stockholm – and it involves the juicy and mysterious past of the family matriarch.
The Hidden Beach is also not written by a Swede, like many of the other recommendations here (Karen Swan is from the UK) but it captures summer in Sweden in Stockholm and on an idyllic Swedish island- where the “hidden beach” is located.
I ordered this book to read before my trip to Sweden, and I recommend if if you’re looking for something lighter. It was a good mystery, chick-lit, that gave me those Swedish summer vibes.
Best Non-Fiction Set in Sweden
If you’re open to memoirs, and interesting non-fiction to learn a bit about life in Sweden, its history, then these books may be worth considering
10. There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather
By: Linda Åkeson McGurk
Publication: 2017
Genre: Nonfiction, parenting
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather is written by a Swede married to an American. Her daughters are born and raised in the US, and she discusses the big difference in parenting attitudes and culture shock she experiences as a Swedish mom in America.
One of the biggest themes surrounding her culture shock in the US is the Scandinavian tendency to spend lots of time outside, and focus on play-based learning in a child’s early years.
Things are quite different in Indiana, where she’s raising her kids. In the book, she talks quite a bit about her childhood, but she also brings her daughters back to Sweden for 6 months (due to a family illness) but it gives her kids a chance to live in Sweden as well, and she talks about the differences.
This book will tell you a lot about how childhood is seen in Sweden, what Swedish parents, doctors and government tend to prioritize and how kids are raised as a result. I’ll give you a hint: Swedish child-rearing is (sadly) a lot more child-centred and healthier overall for child development than our North American tendencies.
11. The Almost Nearly Perfect People: The Truth About the Nordic Miracle
By: Michael Booth
Publication date: 2014
Genre: nonfiction, travel, history, politics
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3)
I just had to pick up a copy of The Almost Nearly Perfect People when I saw it.
Having grown up with a Swedish family, I was curious to read more about the history and current society of Sweden and other Scandinavian countries.
The author travels to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and uncovers a lot of the myths about their perfection.
My only criticism was that his assessment of the Swedes didn’t ring true to me. They are painted as cold and distant, whereas my grandparents and their wider circle of friends and family had been some of the kindest people I’d ever met.
That being said, the book is also very interesting to look at the Scandinavian countries.
12. Home and Away
By: Mats Sundin
Publication date: 2024
Genre: Memoir, nonfiction, biography, sports
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
As a Toronto-native and half Swedish, it was obvious that I was going to pick up Home and Away by Mats Sundin (even though I’m not particularly the biggest hockey fan.)
And I was glad I read it, even though I’m not into hockey. Mats Sundin is a humble, dedicated person who shares his story growing up in Sweden, and playing
Although he was born and raised in Solentunna, just outside Stockholm, he also spent time in the northern tip of Sweden, where his grandparents live. His stories from childhood with his brothers and family were interesting and endearing, as was his rise to fame as an NHL hockey player and life in Canada.
I recommend this book to anyone, especially if you’re into a sport.
Children’s Books Set in Sweden
These children’s books range from early childhood to Young Adult (YA)
13. Christmas at the Tomten’s Farm
By: Harold Wilberg
Publication date: 1968
Amazon Rating: (5.0)
Christmas at the Tomten’s Farm is a hard book to track down – but if you do, I highly recommend it as a Christmas book to read to your kids.
It’s set in Sweden with many Swedish traditions, but many of the preparations and celebrations will be relatable to others as well.
It’s out of print, so it’s very expensive to get hold of. On Amazon, it’s currently (at the time of writing) selling for $70 USD. I’m so glad I still have my copy from childhood that I used to read with my mormor.
14. Pippi Longstocking
By: Astrid Lindgren
Publication date: 1945
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
Pippi Longstocking is a classic Swedish children’s book – and entertaining for both children and adults.
Pippi is iconic in Sweden – there’s a whole theme park dedicated to her in Vimmerby, and so many Swedish souvenirs of Pippi.
There are many different Pippi Longstocking books – some very simple picture books for younger kids, and a small novel for school-age kids (or even adults.)
15. The Other Side of the Mountain
By: Billi Rosen
Publication date: 1990
Genre: Fiction, YA
Good Reads Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
The Other Side of the Mountain is about a Greek girl named Andi who flees to Sweden with her father, during civil war in Greece.
The author, Billi Rosen, was a Green immigrant to Sweden herself and this book is a part of a young-adult trilogy, all of which star Andi.
These books are hard to track down and find many reviews on. But they are available in English, as (I believe) the author originally wrote them in, as she eventually settled in the UK during her teenage years.
Final Thoughts on Books Set in Sweden
I hope that this list of books set in Sweden has given you some ideas of books to add to your shelf. I know that the vast majority are crime/Nordic Noir based, so if that’s not your think, you may have limited choices (if you’re specifically looking for adult fiction books.)
However, any of these books that take place in Sweden will transport you to Sweden and give you a different, refreshing take on mystery and crime novels in a place where not many novels in the grand scheme, really take place.