Danish 3-book pre-empt for THE LAST WORD series!

Great news from Denmark!

Cicero / Gyldendal pre-empted a three-book deal of the “Helsinki Noir” trilogy by Anne Hietanen and Michaela von Kügelgen, acquiring book 1: THE LAST WORD and its sequels DEEP WATER (working title) and DEADLY CONTRACT (working title).The print edition will be published by Cicero / Gyldendal in Denmark, while the audio and e-book rights in Denmark are handled by Word Audio Publishing Denmark. The deal was closed by Martti Berner.

Here’s what Mette Bentholm, Commissioning Editor, at Wapi and Cicero/Gyldendal had to say:

We are so happy to add Anne Hietanen and Michaela von Kügelgen’s captivating, well written and intelligent crime novels to our list. The Last Word will definitely appeal to the many readers and fans of Nordic crime novels in Denmark. The writing is sharp with believable characters in an atmospheric setting. We look forward to publishing the series and welcoming Anne Hietanen and Michaela von Kügelgen to the Gyldendal family.

The series attracted lots of buzz after the Gothenburg book fair a couple weeks ago, so we invite you to download all the reading materials for THE LAST WORD and the Helsinki Noir trilogy here.

Here is a little bit about book 1:

THE LAST WORD:
During the Helsinki Book Fair, author David Berglund is found dead in the Helsinki harbour – the same day he was set to receive a literary prize. His wife Aurora is almost due to have their first child, and the family idyll he always dreamed of would finally become a reality.

Philip Koski, a national hockey hero whose career was cut short by an injury, just joined the Helsinki Police Department and is assigned to the case. Philip struggles to cope with his new job, along with the fact people see him as nothing more than a has-been.

At the same time, cultural journalist Tilde Björkqvist digs into David’s story. The last person to interview him, encountering a man whose words of joy and gratitude did not match his desperate revelation. At work, Tilde struggles against antiquated hierarchies – why are they impeding her investigation of the young writer?

Meanwhile, Åsa Stråhle, head of the Bohre Foundation, is beside herself with grief. After years of trying to conceive, she is still childless. David and his twin brother Adam are the closest thing to a family she has, but she lost contact with Adam after he immersed himself in society’s dark underbelly. Åsa tries to keep up her façade while everything around her is falling apart.

 

Publication info:
SISTA ORDET
Swedish original manuscript, 82,000 words.

Rights sold:
DENMARK: Cicero / Gyldendal (print), Word Audio Publishing Denmark (audio & e-book)
All other rights available

Reading material:
Swedish manuscript
English sample & synopsis
Synopses of Book 2 & Book 3

About author


Anne Hietanen

Anne Hietanen (1974) is a well-known journalist with a prominent role at Svenska Yle, a public broadcasting service. Anne has built a diverse career, working as both a host and producer in radio, as well as in television, including on the talk show An Evening with Anne and Hannah. Currently, she hosts the popular podcast Sällskapet. Anne has long been an advocate for raising awareness about eating disorders, speaking extensively in schools and media. Her series Behandlingshemmet (Rehab) is a deeply personal account of her own journey to overcoming binge eating disorder. Throughout her career, Anne has written widely read articles and produced several audio series for Svenska Yle. She holds a master’s degree in literature and has studied philosophy in London. In addition to writing, Anne has a passion for grindcore music, values kindness, and enjoys laughing as much as possible.

About author


Michaela von Kügelgen

Michaela "Kugge" von Kügelgen (1986) has three published titles under her belt. Her debut novel, Vad heter ångest på spanska?, was published in 2017. Her most recent work, Kickstarta ditt skrivande, is a non-fiction guide to writing. Since 2020, Kugge offers highly regarded online writing courses, which have attracted participants from both Sweden and Finland. Kugge has a master’s degree in communication and has been a freelance journalist for over 10 years. Her newsletters on writing and entrepreneurship have over 1,800 subscribers. In the newsletters she shares her journey, offering encouragement to others while candidly discussing her own challenges and triumphs. In addition to her writing career, Kugge plays handball, has recently developed a passion for second-hand fashion, and slow travels to Berlin whenever she can — after having lived there for two years.