If you’re craving Nordic noir that hits like a Scandinavian winter—chilling, relentless, and impossible to put down—then Emelie Schepp’s books are your next obsession. This Swedish powerhouse burst onto the crime fiction scene with self-published grit, selling over a million copies worldwide and earning rave reviews from outlets like Publishers Weekly and The New York Times Book Review. Her signature? Razor-sharp plots tangled with dark secrets, human trafficking horrors, and a protagonist who’s equal parts ice queen and haunted survivor.
At the heart of it all is Jana Berzelius, the brilliant but broken prosecutor whose own traumatic past lurks like a shadow in every case. Schepp’s series isn’t just thrillers; it’s a psychological deep dive into justice, revenge, and the scars that never quite heal. But with eight books (and counting) in the Jana Berzelius saga, plus a tantalizing standalone, where do you start? We’ve got you covered with Emelie Schepp books in order—chronological, publication dates, and all the juicy details to hook you from page one.
Whether you’re a die-hard Scandi crime fan or dipping your toes into Swedish suspense, this guide will help you binge without spoilers. Ready to unravel the mysteries of Norrköping? Let’s dive in.
Who Is Emelie Schepp? A Quick Bio on Sweden’s Thriller Queen
Born in 1979 in the sleepy town of Motala, Sweden, Emelie Schepp ditched a career in advertising project management to chase her storytelling dreams. It paid off big time: Her 2013 debut, Marked for Life, started as a self-published gem that flew off virtual shelves (40,000 copies in six months!). By 2014, she inked a deal with major publisher Wahlström & Widstrand, and the rest is bestseller history.
Schepp’s style? Think Jo Nesbø meets Stieg Larsson—fast-paced procedural with emotional gut-punches. Her books have sold to 30 countries, translated into a dozen languages, and snagged the Specsavers Reader’s Choice Award for Best Crime Writer three years running (2016–2018). Fun fact: All her stories unfold in and around Norrköping, turning the industrial city into a character as brooding as Jana herself. Now, onto the good stuff: the books.
Emelie Schepp Books In Order Of Release
If you love fast-paced Nordic crime thrillers filled with mystery and emotional depth, exploring Emelie Schepp Books In Order Of Release is the perfect way to experience her gripping storytelling journey. From her debut introducing prosecutor Jana Berzelius to the latest heart-stopping installment, each book unfolds dark secrets, intense investigations, and powerful character development in true Scandinavian noir style.
| Series Name | Author | Books in Order |
|---|---|---|
| A Song of Ice and Fire | George R.R. Martin | 1. A Game of Thrones 2. A Clash of Kings 3. A Storm of Swords 4. A Feast for Crows 5. A Dance with Dragons (Upcoming: 6. The Winds of Winter 7. A Dream of Spring) |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | 1. Dune 2. Dune Messiah 3. Children of Dune 4. God Emperor of Dune 5. Heretics of Dune 6. Chapterhouse: Dune |
| Discworld | Terry Pratchett | (Subseries: Witches) 1. Equal Rites 2. Wyrd Sisters 3. Witches Abroad 4. Lords and Ladies 5. Carpe Jugulum (Subseries: Rincewind) 1. The Colour of Magic 2. The Light Fantastic 3. Sourcery 4. Eric 5. Interesting Times 6. The Last Continent 7. The Last Hero 8. Unseen Academicals (Subseries: Death) 1. Mort 2. Reaper Man 3. Soul Music 4. Hogfather 5. Thief of Time (Subseries: Watch) 1. Guards! Guards! 2. Men at Arms 3. Feet of Clay 4. Jingo 5. The Fifth Elephant 6. Night Watch 7. Thud! 8. Snuff (And more standalone or other subseries; full list exceeds 40 books) |
| Amos Decker (Memory Man) | David Baldacci | 1. Memory Man 2. The Last Mile 3. The Fix 4. The Forgotten 5. The Width of a Line 6. Walk the Wire 7. Long Shadows 8. The 6:20 Man (crossover) |
| Atlee Pine | David Baldacci | 1. Long Road to Mercy 2. A Minute to Midnight 3. Daylight 4. Dead Eye |
| Harry Bosch | Michael Connelly | 1. The Black Echo 2. The Black Ice 3. The Concrete Blonde 4. The Last Coyote 5. Trunk Music 6. Angels Flight 7. A Darkness More Than Night 8. City of Bones 9. Lost Light 10. The Narrows 11. The Closers 12. Echo Park 13. The Overlook 14. The Brass Verdict (crossover) 15. The Black Box 16. The Burning Room 17. The Crossing 18. The Wrong Side of Goodbye 19. Two Kinds of Truth 20. Dark Sacred Night (crossover) 21. The Night Fire (crossover) 22. The Dark Hours (crossover) 23. Desert Star (crossover) |
| Jack Reacher | Lee Child / Andrew Child | 1. Killing Floor 2. Die Trying 3. Tripwire 4. Running Blind 5. Echo Burning 6. Without Fail 7. Persuader 8. The Enemy 9. One Shot 10. The Hard Way 11. Bad Luck and Trouble 12. Nothing to Lose 13. Gone Tomorrow 14. 61 Hours 15. Worth Dying For 16. A Wanted Man 17. Never Go Back 18. Personal 19. Make Me 20. Night School 21. The Midnight Line 22. Past Tense 23. Blue Moon 24. The Sentinel 25. Better Off Dead 26. No Plan B 27. The Secret 28. In the Matter of Alan Reacher (short story collection) |
| Lincoln Lawyer | Michael Connelly | 1. The Lincoln Lawyer 2. The Brass Verdict 3. The Reversal 4. The Fifth Witness 5. The Gods of Guilt 6. The Law of Innocence 7. Resurrection Walk 8. The Proving Ground (2025) |
| Renée Ballard | Michael Connelly | 1. The Late Show 2. Dark Sacred Night 3. The Night Fire 4. The Dark Hours 5. Desert Star 6. The Waiting |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | 0. The Assassin’s Blade (prequel novellas) 1. Throne of Glass 2. Crown of Midnight 3. Heir of Fire 4. Queen of Shadows 5. Empire of Storms 6. Tower of Dawn 7. Kingdom of Ash |
| A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas | 1. A Court of Thorns and Roses 2. A Court of Mist and Fury 3. A Court of Wings and Ruin 4. A Court of Frost and Starlight (novella) 5. A Court of Silver Flames |
| Crescent City | Sarah J. Maas | 1. House of Earth and Blood 2. House of Sky and Breath 3. House of Flame and Shadow |
Emelie Schepp Books in Order: The Jana Berzelius Series
The crown jewel of Schepp’s bibliography is the Jana Berzelius series—a trilogy that ballooned into an eight-book epic of escalating stakes. Each installment peels back layers of Jana’s psyche while tackling ripped-from-the-headlines crimes like asylum fraud, drug rings, and serial vengeance. Read them in publication order for maximum impact; the twists build like a house of cards.
Here’s the full lineup, complete with original Swedish titles, English translations (where available), and quick non-spoiler synopses to whet your appetite:
| # | Title (English) | Original Swedish Title | Publication Year | Quick Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marked for Life | Märkta för livet | 2013 | A murdered migration official and a symbol-scarred killer drag Jana into a web of child smuggling that hits way too close to home. Schepp’s explosive debut—pure adrenaline. |
| 2 | Marked for Revenge | Märkta för hämnd | 2015 | As drug cartels and traffickers clash, Jana’s buried memories surface, forcing her to play hero (or villain?) in a race against her own demons. |
| 3 | Slowly We Die | Än sen då? | 2016 | A killer with a grudge targets the police force, and Jana must confront if justice means becoming the monster she hunts. Twisty procedural gold. |
| 4 | Playing with Fire | Slutet på det som aldrig slutade | 2017 | Serial arsons ignite old vendettas, pulling Jana into a firestorm where every flame reveals a piece of her shattered past. |
| 5 | The Devil’s Sanctuary | Djävulens avsked | 2019 | A cult’s dark rituals collide with Jana’s quest for truth, blending cult horror with courtroom drama in Schepp’s most atmospheric yet. |
| 6 | The Dark Heart of Florence | Hennes mörka arv | 2020 | Italian shadows haunt a new case of buried family secrets—Jana’s international showdown is her most personal thriller to date. |
| 7 | The Last Memory | Den sista minnet | 2022 | Amnesia and assassination plots force Jana to rebuild her life (and solve a murder) from fragmented clues. Heart-pounding redemption arc alert. |
| 8 | Alter Ego | Alter ego | 2025 (forthcoming) | Jana faces her ultimate double: a doppelgänger killer mirroring her every move. Slated for late 2025 release—mark your calendars! |
Pro Tip: The first three form a tight trilogy, but the series evolves brilliantly. If you’re stateside, Mira Books has English editions of the early ones; hunt for imports or ebooks for the later Swedish releases.
Beyond the Series: Emelie Schepp’s Standalone Thriller
Schepp isn’t one to rest on her laurels. In 2024, she dropped One Hundred Days in July (Swedish: Hundra dagar i juli), a pulse-racing standalone starring police investigator Maia Bohm. No Jana here—this one’s a fresh fever dream of a sweltering summer siege, political intrigue, and a city on the brink. Critics are calling it her boldest pivot yet, with bestseller status locked in. If you love the series’ intensity but want a quick, standalone hit, start here.
Why Read Emelie Schepp? What Makes Her Thrillers Unputdownable
In a sea of cookie-cutter crime novels, Schepp stands out for her unflinching gaze at real-world evils—think human trafficking and migration crises, handled with empathy and edge. Jana Berzelius isn’t your typical flawed hero; she’s a force of nature, scarred by childhood abduction and fueled by a cold fury that makes her both relatable and terrifying.
Don’t just take our word: “Schepp’s fast-paced thriller… has enough adrenaline to make a good night’s sleep a near impossibility” (Booklist). Or this gem: “Plot complexity worthy of a Nesbø or Kepler” (DAST Magazine). Her books aren’t light beach reads—they’re the kind that linger, sparking late-night debates about morality and memory.
Where to Get Your Hands on Emelie Schepp Books
Binge-ready? Snag the series on Amazon, Book Depository (free worldwide shipping), or your local indie. Audiobooks are stellar for commutes, narrated with that perfect Swedish chill. And if you’re in Sweden, hit up a Norrköping bookstore for that authentic vibe.
Final Thoughts: Start with Book 1 and Don’t Look Back
Emelie Schepp books in order aren’t just a reading list—they’re an invitation to a shadowy world where every scar tells a story. Kick off with Marked for Life tonight, and by book three, you’ll be rooting for Jana like she’s family (the dysfunctional kind). Got a favorite in the series, or dying for Alter Ego theories? Drop a comment below—we’re all ears.
Happy (or should we say suspenseful?) reading, thriller hunters. What’s your next page-turner?
