Kaja Nygaard Awarded the Maurits Hansen Debut Prize

Kaja Nygaard has been awarded the 2025 Maurits Hansen Debut Prize for her acclaimed suspense novel A Darker Water.

The jury’s motivation reads as follows:

“The author paints a vivid picture of the oil city, for better or for worse. Everything happens at a rapid pace, with effective scene changes, snappy dialogue and layered characters, revealing an author who has fully mastered their craft. Throughout the entire novel, Nygaard highlights the contrast between the urban Stavanger and the harsh nature of western Norway, which further enhances the book.”

Nygaard accepted the award during the Kongsberg Krim literature festival on October 24th. The Maurits Hansen Debut Prize was established in 2009 and is awarded to the best crime debut of the previous year.

A Darker Water was published in Norway by Bonnier Norsk on January 4th, 2024.