The Fjällbacka Murders: Set 1

Often referred to as the “Swedish Agatha Christie,” Camilla Läckburg is one of Sweden's bestselling crime novelists. Läckburg's formulaic, character-heavy thrillers set in her birthplace—the small town of Fjällbacka situated on Sweden's Atlantic coast—are extremely popular, having been translated into 33 languages worldwide. Swedish television brought Läckburg's world to the small screen with The Fjällbacka Murders, a 12-episode series that follows Läckburg's famous protagonists—crime writer Erica Falck (Claudia Galli) and her policeman husband Patrik Hedström (Richard Ulfsäter)—as they investigate a series of murders disrupting the seemingly peaceful seaside town. This first set contains three feature-length entries: “The Hidden Child,” “The Eye of the Beholder,” and “Friends for Life.” Like Läckburg's novels, the series is character-driven with familiar crime procedural tropes and tricks. What sets the show apart from many TV crime dramas is its cinematic sheen, incorporating muted tones, deep shadows, and stark mise-en-scène to bring a menacing air to the town of Fjällbacka and the surrounding environment—transforming a quaint place into the perfect location for murder. A strong optional purchase. (P. Morehart)