I was pleasantly surprised by the results of this poll. I would have liked more voters, but I think that the quality of the voters is more important than sheer quantity.
Your favourite male SWEDISH* crime writer is Hakan Nesser, ahead of Johan Theorin and veteran Henning Mankell.
Hakan Nesser’s formula of cleverly plotted police procedurals containing social comment and sprinkled liberally with dry humour is a winner. He doesn’t get the volume of publicity that other writers such as Stieg Larsson, or Norwegian Jo Nesbo receive, but his enlightened readers can’t wait for more of his books to be published.
*The other category included one vote for Mons Kallentoft, and two for Jo Nesbo who is Norwegian. I did not make the poll Nordic or Scandinavian because the list of names would have been too lengthy. Thanks to all those who voted.
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CRIME SCRAPS REVIEW 
Good result – I’m a bit surprised but I like Nesser’s books, which are solid mysteries as well as being very drolly funny. Personally, I’m still with Johan Theorin, though. (Like the 2 votes for Nesbo 😉 )
Norman – Thanks for sharing these results. I have to admit I’m happy that Nesser won :-0, ‘though like you, a little surprised.
Maxine-I haven’t read The Quarry yet, but Theorin would be my number two although he is so much darker and I need humour at the moment.
I only mentioned the Nesbo votes because in the past I have constantly drummed into my children to answer the correct question in exams.
Margot- With all the hype and ballyhoo about Stieg Larsson I thought he might make a better showing.
Good poll. I’m with Maxine too that I would have chosen Johan Theorin but I like Hakan Nesser too.
I like Nesser a lot and S. Larsson for his characters and story, not writing style per se, and I’ve only read The Man from Beijing by Mankell, also a good read. Theorin isn’t my preference, and I like Eriksson, but wasn’t crazy about The Hand that Trembles, though it has merit.
Nesbo is a fantastic thriller writer, a fast-paced thinking person’s kind of book. Blink once and you lose the train of thought, but it stirs up the gray matter. He keeps the reader on full alert.
These quizzes are tough because I don’t have A FAVORITE, but several writers I like. (Now this reminds me to put Nesser’s last few books on my library reserve.)
Kathy I think it is a matter of mood, and Mankell’s last couple of books have been very dark and depressing. Hakan Nesser includes humour alongside brutal crimes and reminds me a lot of of Sjowall and Wahloo.
I am so far behind with my reading because of watching the Rugby World Cup that if I did not buy or borrow another book I would have enough Nordic books to read until next September!
Sorry Norman that I missed this poll! I would have voted for Johan Theorin though.
I definitely like Nesser’s sense of humor. I’ll be zooming along read, and then Van Veeteren will say something or have a thought so outrageous, but right on target, that I have to put the book down and laugh. I often am a bit shocked at the out-of-the-blue humor, but appreciate it, as it’s so biting.
I’m reading a U.S. author now, but I have Carofiglio, Mina and Indridason stacked up, as well as several writers from Oz.
And I’m juggling the budget to get more books which I really want to read.
I think Nesser deserves to win, especially as I know his new series is every bit as good for readers who prever intriguing characters over fast-paced drama.
It will be interesting to see what happens when English readers have read a couple of Arne Dahl´s books. They were immensely popular in Denmark some years ago.
Can anyone here stand Camilla Lackberg? I read her (to me) egregious The Ice Princess and had a hard time believing this witless, badly-written, clumsily plotted thing actually one any kind of award. I like Nesser best of the people in this list – and I also love the Norwegian Jo Nesbo.
Sorry, that’s “won.”