Crime in a Cold Climate – New Book Promotion

Clare County Library’s latest book promotion for adults is entitled "Crime in a Cold Climate". This book promotion features crime novels by authors from Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Denmark. Although the Nordic crime novel has enjoyed huge popularity in Europe for decades, it has only become something of a sensation in the English-speaking world in recent years. Authors whose books are featured in this promotion include Arnaldur Indridason, Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson – author of the Millennium trilogy which started with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. All of the novels featured in the promotion are prize winning novels - many having won The Glass Key Award for the best Nordic crime novel of the year. The prestigious prize, known across the Nordic countries as Glasnyckeln, is named after Dashiell Hammett’s classic novel and has been awarded every year since 1992. Like all good crime novels, these novels evoke a strong sense of place. The writers have consistently come up with great plotlines that are as cold and bleak as the locations in which they are set. However what sets Nordic crime fiction apart from other crime fiction is the use of the story to tackle social issues and to turn a critical eye on contemporary society. They deal with abuses of power and inequalities in society and the failure of modern society to effectively respond to social ills. It is the policy of Clare County Library to actively promote the reading habit by increasing access to and awareness of material via book promotions. We hope that this collection of Nordic crime writing will appeal to all those devout crime fiction fans out there as well as encouraging those as yet unfamiliar with the genre to try something new.

In these book promotions, readers are provided with reviews of the relevant titles, ensuring a suitable and enjoyable read according to one’s choice. Each promotion has an average of twenty-five carefully selected titles. Multiple copies of these - in paperback generally - are displayed together in prominent position on tables, similar to supermarket policy for ‘special offers’ or bookshop display for lead titles/bargain books. This informal display is undoubtedly part of the success of the venture. Each promotion is circulated in turn - for a period of three months - to our branch library network, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh promotions. Once a promotion has “done the rounds” of our branch libraries, the books are released into the general system, and may then be reserved by library members. Click here for more Book Promotions...