Jorn Lier Horst on tracking down the serial killer

Jorn Lier Horst is one of Norway’s most experienced police investigators, but also one of Scandinavia’s most successful crime writers. His enthralling, intelligent crime novels give an unusually detailed and realistic insight into how serious crimes are investigated as well as the workings of both the police and the press.

Among a host of literary prizes, the Norwegian Booksellers’ Prize, the Riverton Prize (Golden Revolver), the Glass Key for best crime novel in the Nordic countries, and the prestigious Martin Beck Award, have all been conferred on Jorn Lier Horst for his literary output.

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TRACKING DOWN THE SERIAL KILLER

One person has rampaged through the crime literature of the past thirty years, more than anyone else. The serial killer. However, his – and statistics show that the serial killer is much more likely to be male - traces go much further back than you might think.

As for me, I belong to the group that prefers to give these psychopaths a wide berth, both as a reader and a writer, and I produced ten previous novels before deciding to set William Wisting on the pursuit of a serial killer. The groundwork for The Caveman became a fascinating journey into some of the sickest human psyches the world has ever known.

The actual concept of serial killing was first used in American police reports in the 1960s. At the beginning of the 1970s, the FBI introduced the term in cases where one perpetrator was responsible for more than two murders committed in various locations at different times.

The rest of this fascinating and thought provoking article can be found on the Shots website. A review of The Caveman can be found here as well.

You can also find more information about the author on his website. You can follow him on Twitter @LierHorst and on Facebook.