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From hand painted eggs to religious ceremonies, there are a lot of traditions that spring to mind for the Easter holiday. But there is one Norwegian tradition that probably hasn’t made its way to your house yet: Easter thrillers.
Easter thrillers, known as “paskekrim,” have been a major tradition in Norway for nearly a century.
Though no one can pinpoint exactly why it started, the Easter season sees the highest sales of crime stories and detective novels in the Scandinavian country.
According to The Nordic Page, it is a widely held belief that the tradition of paskekrim began with an ad placed during the Easter of 1923. The ad appeared on the front page of a Norwegian daily and looked like a regular news article with its title, “Bergen train looted in the night.” However, it was actually clever advertising by a publishing house for a new crime book by Nor dahl Grieg and Nils Lie. The book was a success and the trend took off from there.
In the spirit of paskekrim, which has now begun to spread across Europe, here are five thrillers that should be at the top of your reading list this Easter season.
“The Short Drop”
by Matthew Fitzsimmons
With a dash of mystery, a massive political conspiracy and a nationwide manhunt, cyber-thriller “The Short Drop” will quickly become one book that you just can’t put down. Ten years ago, 14-year-old Suzanne Lombard, the daughter of a senator turned vice president, disappeared without a trace. As the anniversary of her disappearance approaches, new evidence emerges and Suzanne’s childhood friend, legendary hacker Gibson Vaughn, isn’t letting it go. “The Short Drop” exploded online after its December release, and for good reason. With twists and turns in every chapter, author Matthew Fitzsimmons will have you audibly gasping by the final reveal.
“Follow You Home”
by Mark Edwards
If your idea of a perfect thriller novel is one that creeps you out for weeks after reading, then look no further than “Follow You Home.” What started out as a trip across Europe for one couple quickly turned into a nightmare when the two are thrown off a night train in the middle of Romania without their passports or money. While trying to find their way back to civilization, they see an unspeakable horror. If only the evil had stayed there. Mark Edwards masterfully builds tension and suspense throughout the entire book. It is a psychological thriller that is not to be missed.
“The Prettiest One”
by James Hankins
The beginning of this novel will pique your curiosity, and the ending will leave the hairs on the back of your neck standing on edge. After disappearing for seven months, Caitlin Sommers woke up alone in a deserted parking lot with blood on her clothes and no memory of her disappearance. Caitlin is determined to find out where she has been and what she has been doing, but it’s not just those missing months that haunt her.
“The Girl on The Train”
by Paula Hawkins
If you haven’t read “The Girl on The Train” by now, this Easter is the perfect time to catch up. There is a reason that this well-crafted novel has been at the top of the charts since it debuted last year. Rachel rides the train each day and takes her mind off her own life by imagining the lives of others. But when her imaginary world and the actual world collide, Rachel, along with the reader, is transported on a gripping thrill ride. Three female narrators, each with their own secrets and flaws, take the reader on a fast-paced journey that will leave you wondering who you can really trust.
“Liars, Inc.”
by Paula Stokes
Thrillers aren’t just for adults. The young adult market is chock-full of juicy mysteries, and “Liars, Inc.” is among the best. High school senior Max Cantrell decided to make some money and liven up his last year of school by selling forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates. Along with his friends Preston and Parvati, Liars, Inc. is born. Business is booming, so when Preston requests his own cover story to visit a girl he met online, Max happily accepts. But Preston never comes home, and now Max is caught in a web of lies. For both young adults and the young at heart, this book is a refreshing page turner.
