Name: Jógvan Isaksen
Born: 1950, Tórshavn
Selected work: Altartalvan
Awards and recognitions: Two-time winner of Mentanarvirðisløn M.A. Jacobsens (1994, 2011). Faroese Culture Prize Honorary Award (2006). Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel (2024).
Jógvan Isaksen is best known for his crime novels set in the Faroe Islands. He holds a master’s degree in Nordic Literature and has taught Faroese literature and language at the University of Copenhagen since 1986. Jógvan has published a range of books about Faroese literature, but he became a household name when his first crime novel of many was published in 1990. The television series TROM, based on four of the crime novels about investigative journalist Hannis Martinsson, was filmed in the Faroe Islands and is available on streaming services, such as AppleTV+ and Prime Video. The crime novel Dead Men Dancing, as translated into English by Marita Thomsen, was awarded the 2024 Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The new novel Altartalvan follows detective Hannis Martinsson. Jógvan Isaksen’s works have been translated into Danish, German, Icelandic, Norwegian, English and Azerbaijani.
Crime novels:
2024 Altartalvan
2023 Hvíldarheimið
2022 Halgigripaskrínið
2021 Nivlheimur
2020 Paranoia (Hannis Martinsson & William Hammer)
2019 Arktis
2018 Anathema
2017 Heljarportur
2016 Drotningaringurin
2015 Hitt blinda liðið
2014 Vølundarhús
2013 Prædikarin
2012 Tann fimti maðurin
2011 Deydningar dansa á sandi
2010 Norska Løva
2009 Norðlýsi
2008 Metusalem
2007 Adventus Domini
2005 Krossmessa
1996 Á Ólavsøku
1994 Gráur oktober
1990 Blíð er summarnátt á Føroyalandi
Children’s books:
1999 Barbara og horvna bamsan
1996 Horvnu kirkjubøstólarnir
1991 Brennivargurin
Translations:
2025 Hvilehjemmet (Marselius)
2025 Sweet is a Summer Night in the Faroe Islands (CasaGretto)
2024 Adventus domini (CasaGretto)
2023 Dead Men Dancing (Norvik Press)
2023 Vølunds hus (Marselius)
2021 Grå oktober (Marselius)
2020 Norske løve (Marselius)
2020 Dødninge danser på sandet (Marselius)
2018 Den blinde skare (Marselius)
2018 Blid er sommarnatta (Bokbyen Forlag)
2017 Prædikeren (Marselius)
2016 Den femte mand (Marselius)
2016 Walpurgis Tide (Norvik Press)
2013 Nordlys (Torgard)
2011 Metusalem (Torgard)
2009 Korsmesse (Torgard)
2007 Option Färöer (Grafit)
2006 Krossmessa (Grámann bókaútgáfa)
2005 Leynigöngin (Grámann bókaútgáfa)
2004 Brennivarurinn (Grámann bókaútgáfa)
2001 “Das St. Olavsfest” in Morde in hellen Nächten. Die besten Kriminalgeschicten aus Skandinavien. Translated into German by Christel Hildebrandt.
1998 Brandstifteren (Vindrose)
1995 Grå oktober (Vindrose), re-published by Torgard, 2011
1995 Grár október. Translated into Icelandic by Ásgeir Ásgeirsson. (Uglan)
1995 Mild ist die färöische Sommernacht (Pettersson, Münster) – re-published as Endstation Färöer, Grafit 2006
1994 Ljúf er sumarnótt í Færeyjum. Translated into Icelandic by Ásgeir Ásgeirsson. (Uglan)
1991 Blid er den færøske sommernat (Vindrose) re-published by Torgard, 2011