As of April 2020, Sweden is the seventh-happiest country in the world. And it's no wonder! Its residents enjoy one of the highest standards of living on the planet with low unemployment, one of the world's longest life expectancies (80.6 for men; 84.1 for women), a commitment to caring for the environment, and a strong sense of community. Ninety-one percent of Swedes agreed that they know 'someone they could rely on in a time of need.' Plus, there's ABBA. Which is all very sweet and life-affirming. But also raises the question: Why are Swedish novels so murdery?! In this episode, we discuss everything that makes Sweden one of the happiest and most liberal places on Earth. Then we share the books that transported us there: a historical novel steeped in royal intrigue, a coming-of-age story rich with atmosphere (and food), and examples of excellent Scandi noir, including a classic of the genre set in Stockholm, a twisty whodunnit in an isolated village, and a missing-persons case set in the forest during Midsommar. For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes at https://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2020-04-13-sweden You can follow us at: Our web site at Strong Sense of Place Twitter Instagram Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.