Jørn Lier Horst


Jørn Lier Horst is a Norwegian author of crime fiction and a former Senior Investigating Officer at Vestfold police district. He made his writing debut in 2004 with Key Witness, based on a true murder story. The detective character in his crime novels is William Wisting, and a television series based on the series was commissioned in 2016. He has also written children books, including a series named Clue and books about Detective agency no. 2.

Personal life

Horst was born in Bamble, Telemark, the younger of two brothers. His parents were Oddvar and Hildur Lier Olsen. In 1995 he married Beate Horst and now uses her surname. They live in Stavern with their two children.

William Wisting series

  1. Key Witness
  2. Disappearance of Felicia
  3. When the Sea Calms
  4. The Only One
  5. Nocturnal Man
  6. Dregs - translated into English by Anne Bruce, 2011
  7. Closed for Winter - translated into English 2013
  8. The Hunting Dogs - translated into English 2014
  9. The Caveman - translated into English 2015
  10. Ordeal - translated into English 2016
  11. When It Grows Dark - translated into English 2016
  12. The Katharina Code - translated into English 2018
  13. The Cabin - translated into English 2019

    Children's books

Detektice Agency no. 2 series
  1. Operasjon Tordensky
  2. Operasjon Mørkemann
  3. Operasjon Solnedgang
  4. Operasjon Påskelilje
  5. Operasjon Sommerøya
  6. Operasjon Vindkast
  7. Operasjon Bronseplass
  8. Jakten på Kaptein Kroghs gull
  9. Operasjon Plastpose
  10. Operasjon Sirkus
  11. Jakten på Jungelens Dronning
  12. Operasjon Spøkelse
  13. Operasjon Sjørøver
  14. Jakten på Tyven-tyven
  15. Operasjon Mumie
  16. Detektivhåndboken
  17. Operasjon Skipsvrak
  18. Jakten på slottets hemmelighet
  19. Operasjon Skrotnisse
  20. Operasjon Svartskog
  21. Jakten på Trollmannens bok
  22. Operasjon Radius
  23. Operasjon Lurifaks
Clue series
  1. Salamandergåten
  2. Maltsergåten
  3. Undervannsgåten
  4. Gravrøvergåten
  5. Libertygåten
  6. Esmeraldgåten
  7. Rivertongåten
  8. Hodeskallegåten
  9. Ulvehundgåten
  10. Sjøormgåten
  11. Einsteingåten
  12. Triangelgåten
  13. Smuglerhuset

    Awards and honours

2010 The Riverton Prize shortlist for Dregs
2011 The Riverton Prize shortlist for Closed for Winter
2011 The Norwegian Booksellers' Prize for Closed for Winter
2011 Vestfold Literature Prize
2012 The Riverton Prize for The Hunting Dogs
2012 Ark’s Children's Book award shortlist for The Salamander mystery
2013 The Norwegian Booksellers' Prize shortlist for The Hunting dogs
2013 The Glass Key award for The Hunting Dogs
2013 The Norwegian Booksellers' Prize shortlist for The Caveman
2016 The Petrona Award for The Caveman
2014 The Martin Beck Award for The Hunting Dogs
2015 Ark’s Book of the Year shortlist for Ordeal
2016 The Bokslukerprisen award shortlist for The Riverton Mystery
2016 Special Award for Excellence in Crime Fiction Writing
2016 The Petrona Award for The Caveman
2017 The Bokslukerprisen award shortlist for The Wolfhound Mystery
2017 BOK365 Book of the Year shortlist for The Katharina code
2017 CWA International Dagger longlist for When it grows dark
2018 Grand Prix de Littérature Policière shortlist for The Hunting dogs
2018 BOK365 Book of the Year shortlist for The Cabin
2018 The Nordic Noir Thriller of the Year Award for Dregs
2019 Grand Prix de Littérature Policière shortlist for The Caveman
2019 CWA International Dagger longlist for The Katharina Code
2019 BOK365 Book of the Year shortlist for The Inner Darkness
2019 The Petrona Award for The Katharina Code
2020 The Edgar Award shortlist for The Wisting tv-series
2020 CWA International Dagger longlist for The Cabin