Fossum, who lives in a small town in southeastern Norway, is taking the world by storm with her "heart-stoppingly suspenseful" writing. The crime writer has gained an enthusiastic following of readers in the U.S., and on Friday evening, April 25, she was awarded the prestigeous LA Times Book Award in the cathegory for best Mystery/Thriller, for her novel "The Indian Bride." The novel is one of several that features Inspector Konrad Sejer. Karin Fossum was nominated together with Benjamin Black, Åke Edwardson, Tana French, and Jan Costin Wagner.
The prize is awarded in connection with the biggest literature festival in the U.S., Los Angeles Times Book Festival. It is usually awarded to English writing authors. "The Indian Bride" ("Elskede Poona") - which is translated by Charlotte Barslund - is Fossum's fourth book on the U.S. market. The novel takes us to the town of Elvestad, where one day the battered body of a woman is found in a meadow. Everyone is shocked by the gruesome crime, but Inspector Konrad Sejer understands that in this town, no one is altogether innocent.
Fossum's crime novels featuring Inspector Sejer have been translated into sixteen languages, and she has received raving reviews in The New York Times, The Washington Post, among others. Other L.A. Times Book Awards winners this year includes Andrew O'Hagan and his "Be Near Me" (Harcourt); and Dinaw Mengestu and his "The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears" (Riverhead Books).