Arne Dahl: 'I Wanted to Illuminate the Dark Side of the Moon'

Crime writer Arne Dahl seeks to explore the hidden, darker facets of the human psyche within his novels. He believes that a compelling mystery must be present from the very beginning of a story, setting the stage for suspense and intrigue.

“

There must be – actually from the very first second – a mystery.

Dahl explained his creative process often begins with a vivid image or concept. For his novel "Kaltes Fieber" (Cold Fever), he was struck by the picture of a "huge, chalk-white statue suddenly appearing on a hill." This striking visual served as a foundational element for the narrative.

“

A huge, chalk-white statue that suddenly appears on this hill.

When asked about his first encounter with a dead body in his writing career, Dahl recounted an unusual experience from years ago. While in Germany to receive the Radio Bremen Crime Prize, he was taken to a morgue by a television crew for an interview. The crew then placed him in a room where a corpse lay behind him, its legs peeking out from a white sheet, while the camera rolled. Dahl humorously recalled thinking, "Hopefully, he's just sleeping!"

“

I only thought: Hopefully, he's just sleeping!