Jussi Adler-Olsen made his debut as a non-fiction writer in 1984, and as a fiction writer in 1997.
An interview with jussi adler olsen by penguin books
Early life
Born in Copenhagen, he was the youngest of four children and the only boy. Son of the successful sexologist and psychiatrist Henry Olsen, he spent his childhood with his family in doctors' official residences at several mental hospitals across Denmark. In his late teens, he played in a couple of pop groups as lead guitarist. He graduated from high school in Rødovre (1970), and studied medicine, sociology (passed History of Modern Politics) and film making (exam.art.) until 1978.
After a manager career, he began to write full-time in 1995.
Adler-Olsen's novels have been sold in more than 40 languages. Outside of Denmark he has enjoyed particular success in Norway, Germany and the Netherlands being a frequent visitor on the top of the bestseller lists e.g. on the New York Times Paperback bestseller list. Adler-Olsen's books have been on the bestseller lists in numerous other countries including Austria, Iceland, France, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Film adaptations
Kvinden i buret was adapted into a Danish film by Zentropa in 2012, titled The Keeper of Lost Causes in English. It was the top box office film in Denmark in 2013. A sequel, a film adaptation of Fasandræberne (The Absent One in English), was released in 2014. Flaskepost fra P, (A Conspiracy of Faith in English), came out in 2016, also by Zentropa. All three films star Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Fares Fares.
Theater
Spidsrod a theater play in acts – finalist in a major drama competition DramaRama in April 2005. Århus Teater, the Katapult stage. Westfälisches Landestheater . in cooperation with Sabrina Ullrich has created a theater play based on ''Kvinden i Buret''. It premiered in Castrop-Rauxel on 19 October 2013.
Awards and nominations
2010 - Harald Mogensen prize for Flaskepost fra P. Awarded by The Danish Academy of Crime for Best Danish Crime Fiction.
2010 - Glass Key award 2010 for Flaskepost fra P. Awarded by the Scandinavian Crime Society (Skandinaviska Kriminalsällskapet).
2010 - De beste thriller van het jaar 2010 for Vrouw in de Kooi in The Netherlands.
2010 - Læsernes Bogpris, Berlingske Tidende for Flaskepost fra P. Very prestigious Danish national newspaper. The award is given for all books, not for a sub category.
2011 - De Gyldne Laurbær 2011 for Journal 64. Awarded by the Society of Booksellers in Denmark.
2011 - Won 3rd place Der Leserpreis – die besten Buecher 2011 for Erlösung in Germany. It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favourite books for the annual Leserpreis.
2011 - Nominated Buchliebling 2011 for Schändung in Austria. (became no. 4)
2012 - Krimi Blitz Award 2011 for Flaskepost fra P. in Germany. Awarded by Krimi-couch.de on the basis of reader's votes.
2012 - Prix du Livre Robinsonnais, catégorie Policiers in France.
2012 - Danskernes Yndlingsforfatter (Bog & Ide) in Denmark. The favourite author of the year in Denmark 2011 as a result of a vote among readers carried out by the bookseller chain Bog & Ide.
2012 - The Sealed Room Award 2012 for Kvinden i Buret (The Keeper of Lost Causes) in Japan. Given by The Sealed Room Club.
2012 - Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in the category Policier 2012 awarded in France Kvinden i Buret - in French Misericorde.
2012 - The Barry Award Best Novel of 2012 for Kvinden i Buret - in the US The Keeper of Lost Causes.
2012 - Shortlisted to Der Leserpreis – die besten Buecher 2012 for Verachtung in Germany (The Purity of Vengeance) became no. 7. It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favourite books for the annual Leserpreis.
2013 - Danskernes Yndlingsforfatter (Bog & Ide) 2012 in Denmark. The favourite author of the year in Denmark 2013 as a result of a vote among readers carried out by the bookseller chain Bog & Ide.
2013 - Årets Lydbog for Flaskepost for P in Sweden. Swedish award for best audio book of the year for Q3.
2013 - Prix Plume du Thriller international for Miséricorde (The Keeper of Lost Causes) – first place, which is called Plume d’or in France
2013 - Shortlisted to Der Leserpreis – die besten Buecher 2013 for Erwartung. (became no. 7). It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favourite books for the annual Leserpreis.
2013 - Nominated to the 2013 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
2013 - Prix des Lecteurs catégorie Polar' (France) - awarded by Le Livre de Poche.
2013 - Martha Prisen 2013 (Bog & Ide - Denmark) - the favourite author of the year in Denmark 2013 as a result of a vote among readers carried out by the bookseller chain Bog & Ide.
2014 - Coup de cœur de La Griffe Noire (France) awarded during the pocketbook festival Saint-Maur en Poche 21 June 2014.
2014 - Nominated to The Barry Award Best Novel of 2014 for Flaskepost fra P - in US A Conspiracy of Faith.
2014 - Le Prix d'honneur Boréales/Région Basse-Normandie du polar nordique for Journal 64 in France. Awarded on 29 November 2014 in Caen, France.
2014/2015 - European Crime Fiction Star Award (Ripper Award) 2014/2015. Awarded on 17 March 2015 in Unna, Germany.
2015 - MIMI, dem Krimi-Publikumspreis des deutschen Buchhandels 2015 (Germany) for Erwartung - Marco Effekten.
2015 - Nominated to The Barry Award Best Novel of 2015 for Marco Effekten - in US the Marco Effect.
2015 - Nominated to Der Leserpreis Die Besten Bücher 2015 for "Verheissung" in the category "Krimi und Thriller". It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favourite books for the annual Leserpreis.
2016 - Mystery Lover's Book of the Year - CRIME Award 2015 for The Keeper of Lost Causes (US) - awarded by the Carondelet Branch Library (part of the St. Louis Public Library) St. Louis, Missouri, US.
2017 - Honorary Craftsman 2017 awarded by the Association of Craftsmen in Copenhagen.
