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Ane Riel 2019 / Photo: Thomas A.
Biography / overview
ANE RIEL (b. 1971)
Riel is a Danish author.
Since 2013 she’s written 4 fiction novels, 1 short story collection, received 7 literary awards and been nominated 13 times.
She’s published in 31 languages.
Before writing novels Riel published various children’s books including books on art and architecture.
See also: ABOUT ANE RIEL
Release day for RESIN. London, August 2019
CUTS AND BRUISES (Små stød, 2023)
– the short story collection!
The fith book by Ane Riel is her first short story collection. It came out in Denmark on April 20th 2023 and were met with these words:
“What a pleasure! Ane Riel’s short stories are magnificent. They are like sharp, acidic hard candies, pricking the tongue long after the last suck.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Jyllands-Posten
CLOCKWORK (Urværk, 2021)
– the latest novel!
The fourth and latest novel by Ane Riel is also her shortest novel so far. It’s a poetic story about 90-year-old Alma who’s living alone with an antique grandfather’s clock and the memories of a marriage that didn’t end quite as it was supposed to. She’s afraid of other people and getting ready to die along with her old clock, but a little boy makes her think twice.
CLOKWORK has been sold to five countries so far. In 2022 it was published in Dutch to great press reviews in The Netherlands and Belgium. It’s being released in France on May 12 2023.
BEAST (Bæst, 2019)
– the biggest!
Ane Riel’s third (literary) novel is a mystical tale of a boy born with unusual muscle strength in a rural setting somewhere in the Balkans. As it is described in the epilogue the story was initially inspired by a true case of a extraordinary strong baby from Germany. However, one will also find references to the works of John Steinbeck in it.
In Denmark BEAST was nominated for The Martha Award / The Readers’ Favourite Author Award 2020. And in The Netherlands it’s been nominated for The ThrillZone Award 2020.
The novel has been sold to six countries including Germany, Sweden and Norway. In the summer of 2020 the Dutch version was no. 3 on the Belgian newspaper De Standaard’s top 5 of best books.
RESIN (Harpiks, 2015)
– the literary breakthrough!
Ane Riel got her breakthrough with her second novel RESIN. Like her debut novel this one was presented as a work of literary fiction and as such, it was nominated and shortlisted for two literary awards in Denmark. Also, it was longlisted for the ‘The International Dublin Literary Award 2020″. – Nevertheless, RESIN won the four biggest crime/suspense novel awards in Scandinavia, among these the prestigious ‘Glass Key Award’ for best Scandinavian suspense novel.
RESIN tells the story of a little girl who grows up in a very loving but also very troubled family. Her father is a hoarder who becomes more and more paranoid and frightened of losing his loved ones. As a result, he chooses to report the death of his 7-year-old daughter and keep her hidden from the rest of the world. Meanwhile, his silently mourning wife has grown so big that she’s unable to leave the bedroom.
RESIN has been sold to 30 countries so far including Spain, Germany, Poland, China and France (Résine). The English edition was released in the UK in 2018 to overwhelming positive reviews in the national papers. It was picked as one of the standout thrillers by The Guardian and The Observer. Also, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Express gave it five-star reviews.
The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Daily Express had Resin on their Best Books of 2018 list. The latter called it a close runner-up to the best thriller of the year.
THE BUCTHER OF LISELEJE (Slagteren i Liseleje, 2013)
– the first!
In 2013, on Ane Riel’s 42nd birthday, her debut novel came out. Despite being presented as a fiction novel, it was awarded the ‘Best Debut Crime Novel of the Year’ by The Danish Crime Academy. The story is about a woman who, at first glance, seems to be the epitome of a nice, charming old lady. It turns out, however, that she is anything but lovely. She has sinister plans in store for the local drunkards. Hilarious and grim, THE BUTCHER OF LISELEJE is full of deception and surprises.
Ane Riel’s debut novel has been translated to German and Norwegian. In 2014 the author represented Denmark with it at The First Novel Festival in Budapest.
Check the menu (English and Danish) to find further info.
More about Ane Riel
Reviews and additional info on RESIN
Blurbs
BEAST
No one knows where little Leon got his muscles from. His mother knows, worst of all, just how hard it is for him to control his strength. Especially when he wants to cuddle. And Leon loves to cuddle.
While Danica struggles to keep a handle on her son, Mirko struggles with his forbidden feelings for the woman on the farm next door. It is a love doomed from the start, not only because Mirko is still a boy when they first meet and Danica is a grown woman and mother, but also because she is married to Karl, a giant of a man.
Love and lust drive Mirko from his godly home into the secret hell that is Danica’s life. One fateful night, the price he pays will prove fatal to all those he holds dear and bind him to Leon until death them do part.
Read more about BEAST
Beast is available in Danish, Dutch, German, Norwegian and Swedish. Also, it will be released in Russian and Italian. More to come.
RESIN
Liv died when she was just six years old. At least, that’s what the authorities think.
Her father knew he was the only one who could keep her safe in this world. So one evening he left the isolated house his little family called home, he pushed their boat out to sea and watched it ruin on the rocks. Then he walked the long way into town to report his only child missing.
But behind the boxes and the baskets crowding her Dad’s workshop, Liv was hiding. This way her Dad had said, she’d never have to go to school; this way, she’d never have to leave her parents. This way, Liv would be safe.
Suspenseful and heart-breaking, Resin is the story of what can happen when you love someone too much – when your desire to keep them safe becomes the thing that could irrevocably harm them.
Read more about RESIN
Resin is being published in 31 languages including English, French, Spanish and Chinese.
THE BUTCHER OF LISELEJE
At first glance, Judith Abild Behring seems to be the quintessence of a nice and charming old lady: Meticulous and excellent in a kitchen. She is very caring, apparently, with a fondness for animals. And … uh … she flirts a little too, doesn’t she? With the postman, for example.
Appearances can be deceptive, and this old lady has both skeletons in the cupboard and a hidden agenda.
The Butcher of Liseleje tells a both hilarious and grim story, full of surprises. The reader is presented with a number of human destinies – and sent on a journey full of contrasts where truth is fighting against deception and horror is lurking behind the idyllic countryside.
Read more about THE BUTCHER OF LISELEJE
The Butcher of Liseleje is avaliable in Danish, German and Norwegian.