Dead Men Dancing wins Best Scandinavian Crime Novel
The crime novel Dead Men Dancing by Jógvan Isaksen was announced as the winner of the 2024 Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian winner of the 2024 Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel Novel on Thursday 14 November. Isaksen will receive a trophy, and both the author and the translator, Marita Thomsen, will receive a cash prize. The novel, titled Deydningar dansa á sandi in Faroese, was published in English in November of 2023 by Norvik Press.
The story follows journalist and amateur detective Hannis Martinsson, as he investigates the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a corpse on a beach. His investigation leads to evidence of more, similar deaths, all of which are linked to a local revolt decades earlier. The judges stated, amongst other things, that Isaksen “places his characters in the wild, beautiful, and unforgiving environment and allows them to search for truth.” They also praised the character of Martinsson, Thomsen’s “accomplished and a little unusual” translation and the novel’s overall balance between location, plot and characterisation.
In his reaction to the announcement, Isaksen stated: “I feel it is a great honour to win this award, especially when I see that the competition includes several of my favourite Scandinavian authors.” He also said that he is “proud to represent [his] country, the Faroe Islands.” Thomsen and Janet Garton of Norvik Press also commented on the win. The full statements are on Petrona’s website.
