Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forbrydelsen | 2012 | David Hewson | N/A |
| 2 | The Killing | 2012 | David Hewson | Buy |
| 3 | The Killing II | 2013 | David Hewson | Buy |
| 4 | The Killing III | 2014 | David Hewson | Buy |
David Hewson’s The Killing novels adapt the Danish television series Forbrydelsen into book form. The first book, published in 2012, follows detective Sarah Lund through the investigation of a young woman’s murder in Copenhagen, mirroring the first season of the show. The Killing II and The Killing III adapt the subsequent seasons, each presenting a new case while carrying forward the character development.
Hewson’s experience as a crime novelist helped him translate the slow-burn, atmospheric style of the TV series into prose. The books expand on the show’s material, giving readers access to the characters’ thoughts in a way the screen version could not. For viewers of the original series, the novels provide a deeper version of a story they already know.