Åremorden - Gli omicidi di Åre

Åremorden (The Åre Murders) is a TV series based on Viveca Sten's books. The series' leading character is a police officer Hanna Ahlander (Carla Sehn), who has been suspended from her job in Stockholm and dumped by her partner when she moves to her sister's vacation home in Åre. The first, second, and third episodes are based on the "Offermakaren -Hidden in Snow" book. The fourth and fifth episodes are based on the "Dalskuggan - Hidden in Shadows" book. I really liked the fourth and fifth episodes because they were filmed according to the book. I believe that there should be a second season which consists of the other three books. I give seven over ten for the first season because of the episodes four and five.

There are times when you come across a show that feels like a hidden gem-a real gold mine. Unfortunately, The Åre Murders isn't one of them.

While the series boasts a fine cast, strong direction, and breathtaking cinematography that enhances the overall experience, it somehow lacks the warmth of your typical Netflix and chill session. And I don't blame the visuals-the real issue lies with the story itself, which never feels truly resolute.

Viveca Sten is undoubtedly a fantastic crime thriller writer, with nearly 20 books to her credit and an international bestseller reputation. However, The Åre Murders leaves gaps that can't easily be ignored. At times, it feels like just another stretched-out episode of CSI-a simple story where characters are grieving, and that's about it. Nothing more, nothing less.

I am going to with a decent 6/10 for this one, you can skip this if you want to.

Not that the series truly deserves a "7" but it has elements of good Scandi Noir quality just in a diluted version. First of all, the detectives / officers are not bright, a little unlikable and bland. Second of all, the storyline plots are better than the acting, but never get the attention they deserve. The plots are a little hastily wrapped up and the good acting of the supporting cast don't save the episodes.

Series like that need to have more than 10-12 episodes for the viewers to get accustomed to the flow, to the more number of crimes and a grasp in quality.

2010s Nordic crime series were much better aside the one and only stellar 2007 'Forbrydelsen'.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 6.5
• Production value/impact: 7
• Development: 7.5
• Realism: 7
• Entertainment: 6.5
• Acting: 7.5
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 7.5
• VFX: 7.5
• Music/score/sound: 7
• Depth: 6.5
• Logic: 5.5
• Flow: 6
• Police procedural/suspense mystery/thriller/crime/drama: 6.5
• Ending: 6.

I have watched all five episodes and enjoyed them.

They are based on a series of books by a very well known author, Viveca Sten.

There are two distinct stories here... so the first three eps are a complete "story" and then they are followed by two more which extend the characters a bit more.

These are good. I am a huge Scandi Noir fan and love series like this. I find the ones filmed in winter particularly interesting and enjoyable. The conditions are often awful and I just love how the characters move thru the weather like it is nothing special (which it isn't in Scandinavia).

The first story takes a bit of time to get started. By the point we get to the second story, we're familiar if not comfortable with the characters and can sit back and appreciate the plot.

BTW if you're wondering "why two stories?" this is not unusual for series like this. Go with it.

There's nothing super special here. It isn't Beck or Wallander or etc. But it is solid acting and good, engaging plots.

The two main characters (Carla and Kardo) have charisma and a certain *something* between them. And alas, in part this is the reason I'm giving this an 8 instead of a 9 or 10... I don't want to spoil anything but there are hints of something that I'd rather just be left out.

Alternatively, I liked the Charlie plot line in eps 4 and 5.

The other criticism, is, of course, that we see one of the characters doing stupid stuff that in reality I'm guessing the police would never do. But this is common throughout the genre in order to add danger to the plot. So I'm not going to criticize it too much.

So if you're a Scandi Noir fan, or even just a fan of a good detective series, I recommend this.

And as always I recommend watching it in the original language with subtitles. Seriously.

The plots are clever enough to keep you guessing, and yet this is fairly straightforward and dare I say simple storytelling. There's humor. There's drama. There's some intense stuff that gets scary.

Recommended.

As Episode 1 of "The Are Murders' (2025 release from Swe3den; 5 episodes ranging from 35 to 57 min) opens, 17 yo Amanda is at a house party in the remote town of Are, Sweden, and then leaves the party. In a parallel story that same evening, we are introduced to Hanna, of the Stockholm PD. Hanna has taken a two months' leave of absence and is driving towards the cabin of her sister's, in Are. Next morning, Amanda is missing... At this point we are less than 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this TV mini-series is based on the Swedish book series "Hidden in Snow" (which covers the first 3 episodes) and "Hidden in Shadows" (which covers the last 2 episodes) by Viveva Sten. The connection between the two separate stories is Hanna, the Stockholm cop who shows up in Are looking to get away of whatever troubled her in the Swedish capital. The two stories are plot-heavy, so the less said of that, the better. I will simply say that I quite liked the first story "Hidden in Snow", and rate it 7/10. It does not prepare you for the second story "Hidden in Shadows", which absolutely blew me away, and which I rate 9/10, hence my overall rating of this mini-series of 8/10. The (for me no-names) cast is terrific throughout. "The Are Murders" is no-nonsense and gritty, and quite dark (in particular in the second story). I was hooked from start to finish. Now we hopefully await the further adventures of Hanna in the next book(s) from Ms. Sten...

"The Are Murders" started streaming on Netflix about a week ago, and I watched the 5 episodes over 2 evenings. The is currently rated 81% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and there is ample reason for that. If you love a top-notch crime series set in Sweden, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.