Interest in historical crime novels has increased in Sweden over the last ten years, among both authors and readers, according to major media reports. This surge has been described as a historical crime wave in Sweden, reflecting a growing appetite for narratives set in the past. The genre's evolution is evident in its changing terminology.
There used to be a specific term for the genre, namely 'kostymdeckare' (costume crime novels), which reflected the view that historical crime novels should be set far back in time. Today, 'kostymdeckare' can be set in any historical period, broadening its scope and appeal. Examples of successful historical crime novels include Katarina Wennstam's series 'Sekelskiftesmorden', which has been awarded crime prizes and become a sales and listening success.
Other notable works span various eras, such as Christina Wahlén's Gotland crime novels set during World War II, Carina Burman's 'Döden tar semester' set in the 1950s, Per Hellberg's novels set in the 1960s, and works by Anders H Blomström and Niklas Natt och Dag set in the 1300s and 1700s respectively. Historically, the genre faced challenges, as seen with the magazine Jury's prize for historical crime novels, 'Flintyxan', established in 2001. It had difficulty finding Swedish crime authors and instead awarded translated crime novels, and the prize was discontinued after seven years.
The specific factors driving the increased interest in historical crime novels in Sweden over the last decade remain unclear. It is unknown how their current sales and popularity compare to other genres in Sweden. Additionally, the impact of this wave on the broader Swedish literary market and publishing industry has not been detailed.