MARKLUND, Liza 1962-

PERSONAL: Born 1962, in Piteå, Sweden; married, husband's name Mikael; children: three. Education: Attended Kalix Folk University.

ADDRESSES: Agent—Bengt Nordin Agency, Triewaldsgränd 2, SE-111 29 Stockholm, Sweden.

CAREER: Journalist and columnist.

AWARDS, HONORS: Poloni Prize, nomination for best Swedish crime novel, both 1998, and Debut Prize, 1999, all for The Bomber; named Citizen of the Year in Piteå, Sweden, 1999; nomination for the best Swedish crime novel, 1999, for Studio Sex. nominated as Citizen of the Millennium (Norrbotten province, Sweden), 1999 and 2000; recipient of the Medal of Saint Erik for Honorable Citizens of Stockholm, 2002.

WRITINGS:

"ANNIKA BENGTZON" SERIES

Sprängaren, Ordupplaget (Stockholm, Sweden), 1998, translation by Kajsa von Hofsten published as The Bomber, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Studio Sex, Ordupplaget (Stockholm, Sweden), 1999, translation by Kajsa von Hofsten, Atria Books (New York, NY), 2002, also published as Studio 69 Pocket Books (London, England), 2003.

Paradiset (title means "Paradise Trust"), Piratförlaget (Stockholm, Sweden), 2000.

Den röda vargen (title means "The Red Wolf"), Piratförlaget (Stockholm, Sweden), 2003.

OTHER

Gömda (nonfiction; title means "On the Run"), A. Bonniers Förlag (Stockholm, Sweden), 1995, revised edition, Piratförlaget (Stockholm, Sweden), 2000.

Contributor of columns to several newspapers in Sweden and abroad. Columnist for the Swedish daily newspaper Aftonbladet.

SIDELIGHTS: Swedish author Liza Marklund drew upon Swedish politics, current headlines, and her own experiences as a reporter to craft her first thriller, The Bomber. The story plunges young crime journalist Annika Bengtzon into a dark swirl of personal and political obsessions as she investigates a deadly bomb set off in the Stockholm Olympic Village prior to the Summer Games. Bengtzon finds that not only does the story lead to sexual secrets and hidden motives, but her pursuit of it forces her to precariously balance her own personal and professional responsibilities. Though it was a bestseller in Europe before making its way to the United States in 2001, The Bomber was given a mixed reception by American critics. Jane Jorgenson of Library Journal praised "Annika's fascinating search, which is artfully interspersed with chapters that delve into the mind of [the bomber]." Booklist's Carrie Bissey felt "the universality of Marklund's themes . . . help make up for a somewhat uneven translation," and Bob Hahn of Book Browser also commented that the language "seems awkward," though "Marklund generates considerable tension." On the other hand, Publishers Weekly found the translation "smooth and precise."

Marklund next published Studio Sex, a prequel to The Bomber that also followed Annika Bengtzon's journalistic adventures, this time as a novice tabloid reporter eight years prior to the events of The Bomber. In this story it's a woman's nude corpse in a park that leads Bengtzon into the dark underbelly of the criminal world and onto the stage of an local sex club. Booklist reviewer, Bissey praised the "realistic newsroom scenes," but found Annika's struggles in her home and office to be "more compelling than the crimes she is investigating."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, May 1, 2001, Carrie Bissey, review of TheBomber, p. 1637; August 2002, Carrie Bissey, review of Studio Sex, p. 1932.

Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2001, review of TheBomber, p. 355.

Library Journal, May 15, 2001, Jane Jorgenson, review of The Bomber, p. 164.

Publishers Weekly, April 30, 2001, review of TheBomber, p. 57; July 29, 2002, review of Studio Sex, p. 56.

ONLINE

Book Browser,http://www.bookbrowser.com/ (May 13, 2001), Bob Hahn, review of The Bomber.

Liza Marklund Web site,http://www.lizamarklund.net/ (March 23, 2004).*