Joona Linna is a fictional Swedish police detective and the central investigator in the crime-thriller series published under the name Lars Kepler. His cases can be read individually, but reading the books in order reveals the longer story of Joona and fellow investigator Saga Bauer.
Who is Joona Linna?
Joona Linna is a Detective Superintendent in the Swedish police’s National Operations Department, according to his official character profile. He is an unconventional investigator whose persistence and empathy are shaped by a concealed past. He is a fictional character, not a real police officer.
The novels pair Joona with recurring investigator Saga Bauer. Each installment brings them a new case, while their personal histories continue across the series.
Who are Lars Kepler?
Lars Kepler is the shared pen name of Swedish writing team Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril, a husband and wife who live in Stockholm, according to Penguin Random House. The authors say “Lars” pays homage to crime writer Stieg Larsson and “Kepler” refers to Johannes Kepler.
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The authors describe writing collaboratively, exchanging and revising text rather than assigning separate chapters or characters to each writer. They also say they research forensic science, forensic medicine, interrogation psychology and operational tactics; those are the authors’ descriptions of their process, not independent confirmation of the novels’ technical accuracy.
What order should you read the Joona Linna books in?
For English-language titles, follow this order. The titles and release availability can differ by market; this list reflects the English-language publisher catalogs.
- The Hypnotist
- The Nightmare
- The Fire Witness
- The Sandman
- Stalker
- The Rabbit Hunter
- Lazarus
- The Mirror Man
- The Spider
- The Sleepwalker
The official author archive lists the first nine titles, while the Penguin Random House catalog also lists The Sleepwalker. Cargo’s Dutch series page numbers ten localized installments, though translated titles differ.
Can you read the series out of order?
Yes. Lars Kepler’s official FAQ says every book can be read as a stand-alone: each introduces a new case and explains its mystery by the end. Reading in sequence, however, lets you follow the full story of Joona and Saga Bauer.
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Start with the first book for the longer arc
The Hypnotist is the first English-language title in the publisher catalogs. Start there if you want the clearest path through the characters’ continuing histories.
Choose a later case for a self-contained mystery
If you mainly want a single crime thriller, the authors say you can choose an individual book without reading the earlier installments. You may miss developments in the recurring characters’ personal stories, but the new case is designed to reach its own explanation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How many copies has the series sold?
Penguin Random House reports more than 20 million copies sold in 40 languages on its author page, which does not specify a reporting year. HarperReach reports a different figure—more than 12 million copies in 40 languages—on its Lars Kepler page. These are publisher claims, and the pages do not reconcile the difference, so neither figure should be treated as an independently audited total.
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