About the Author

Jonas Jonasson was born in Sweden in 1961. A former journalist and media consultant, he is now writing his second novel. He speaks fluent English.

Reviews

"[A] laugh-out-loud debut . . . Historical figures like Mao's third wife, Vice President Truman, and Stalin appear, to great comic effect. Other characters-most notably Albert Einstein's hapless half-brother-are cleverly spun into the raucous yarn, and all help drive this gentle lampoon of procedurals and thrillers."--Publishers Weekly, Starred
"[A] silly and wonderful novel. [The scenes] will just keep readers amused almost non-stop, and that's a feat few writers achieve. A great cure for the blues, especially for anyone who might feel bad about growing older."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"[A] witty caper. ***1/2"--People
"A mordantly funny and loopily freewheeling debut novel about ageing disgracefully."--The Sunday Times
"Eccentric, unusual and far-fetched in the best possible way."--The Bookseller
"Imaginative, laugh-out-loud . . . a brilliant satire on the foibles of mankind."--The Telegraph
"Scandi-crime's signature darkness is here dispelled by Allan Karlsson, the eponymous centenarian, who with unlikely sprightliness hops out of the window of his old people's home one afternoon . . . Fast-moving and relentlessly sunny . . . Like Allan, the plot is pleasingly nimble and the book's endearing charm offers a happy alternative to the more familiar Nordic noir."--The Guardian
"The anti Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. . . Jonasson's lighthearted novel shows the softer side of Sweden. . . . hilarious."--Marie Claire
"This quirky novel is a sly, satirical look back at international relations in the 20th century through the eyes of an old man who has seen it all."--Library Journal