MONS KALLENTOFT (1968) is an acclaimed author from Linköping, Sweden, who now resides in Palma, Mallorca. He made his literary debut in 2000 with Pesetas which earned him the prestigious Catapult Prize, awarded annually by the Swedish Writers’ Association for Best Debut Novel.

In 2007, Kallentoft published Midwinter Sacrifice, the first installment of his groundbreaking series featuring the brilliant yet deeply flawed police officer Malin Fors, set in his hometown of Linköping. This novel marked an explosive milestone in Scandinavian crime fiction, introducing a beloved character who has appeared in 15 books to date. The Malin Fors series has been sold to 28 territories, topped international bestseller lists and sold over 3 million copies worldwide, as well as earning praise from readers and critics alike. In June 2024, it was announced that the Malin Fors series is being adapted for the screen by Netflix, with French director Xavier Gems at the helm of the production.

In 2014, Kallentoft introduced a new crime series centered around police detective Zack Herry. The Zack series, which consists of nine books so far and is loosely inspired by the twelve labors of Hercules, began as a collaborative effort with various co-authors before Kallentoft took over sole authorship for the most recent installments. With this series, Kallentoft further solidified his reputation as a versatile and internationally recognized writer of suspense.

Kallentoft’s portfolio expanded in 2019 with a duology set in Palma, following private detective Tim Blanck as he searches for his missing daughter Emme.

In 2022, Kallentoft launched the Underdog series, revolving around a number of distinct characters navigating a shadowy world where love stands as the last beacon of hope. The series has since expanded to three books, with the latest installment published in October 2024.

In May 2025, Kallentoft’s highly anticipated new suspense series will be published by Norstedts. Set against the backdrop of Småland’s dark woods, this marks the first collaboration between Kallentoft and his ex-wife Karolina Kallentoft.

Renowned for his distinctive prose, Kallentoft masterfully combines realism and supernatural elements, weaving intricate plots with profound psychological depth. His works have established him as one of Scandinavia’s most prominent crime authors and a defining voice of his generation.

©Magnus Ragnvid

Reviews

“Mons Kallentoft describes people living on the fringes of society, but also the richest of rich, who will stop at nothing to acquire more wealth. Mons Kallentoft knows the art of writing a suspenseful story, and The Algorithm of Love is just that.”
– Ölandsbladet (SE)

“Kallentoft has an entirely special ability to create a sort of feverish intensity with his words, which is a pleasure to read. […] Growing societal divides, inhuman greed and grotesque gluttony are main themes [which] works very well.”
– Kapprakt (SE)

“With Love You Long Time, Kallentoft gives us a strong continuation of the Underdogs series. The story is told with a distinctive tone and a suggestive contemporary feel, with palpably dark undercurrents.”
– BTJ, 4/5 Stars (SE)

“Mons Kallentoft is undoubtedly the right man to play with style with his new Underdogs series. […] The prose is unique to Kallentoft, but the themes and settings are straight out of a classic noir novel: the darkness of the big city, characters who live on the fringes  of society and a dialogue that aches with loneliness. [It’s] even better than the first book in the series, The Algorithm of Love.”
– Östgöta Correspondenten (SE)

“Mons Kallentoft is a skillful writer who knows how to build up suspense.”
– Ölandsbladet (SE)

“In our time, with growing chasms and societies at their breaking points; there are those who have and those who don’t, centre and periphery, greed and lack of resources, visibility and invisibility, and it’s the people at the fringes that Kallentoft is interested by. […] There’s a lot to like in this book; aside from the brilliant prose, there are the unique and complex characters, as well as the strong commitment for people at the edge of society. With the Underdogs series, Kallentoft has created his own special, unique and original world that readers long to return to.”
– Kapprakt (SE)

“Kallentoft’s language is elegant and engaging, and he has an excellent ability to write propulsive dialogue. He has written a book that is both suspenseful and linguistically well-crafted. It also manages to bring life to various groups in society that are otherwise rarely portrayed in literature. With My Little Darling, You, Kallentoft consolidates his position as one of our strongest and most interesting crime authors.”
– BTJ (SE)

“My Little Darling, You is a story about hate, but equally as much about love. […] It is a world of its own that Kallentoft has built in his Underdogs series and he creates a thrilling story in which the fates of this odd gallery of characters are tied together.”
– Ölandsbladet (SE)

Books

Series

The Underdogs Series Learn More

Awards

2010 – Awarded the Swedish Publisher’s Association’s List’s Paperback Prize in the Platinum Category for Summertime Death och Autumn Killing
2009 – Awarded the Premio España Prize
2008 – Awarded the Hagdahl Prize
2005 – Awarded the Gourmand World Cookbook Award
2001 – Awarded the Catapult Prize for Pesetas

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