Sandstone's Norwegian detective bound for TV

Sandstone author Jorn Lier Horst has partnered with Norway's Cinenord and Danish production company Good Company Films to bring the protagonist of his novels, chief inspector William Wisting, to TV.

A series based on the five novels by the Norwegian author (pictured) which Sandstone Press has published - Dregs, Closed for Winter, The Hunting Dogs, The Caveman and Ordeal - will begin recording in autumn 2017. The budget is estimated to be around 100m kronor (£8m).

The finished series will be in Norwegian with English subtitles, and will be sold internationally.

The Wisting series has been sold to 25 countries, and has sold over a million copies in Norway alone, according to the publisher.

Sandstone Press managing director Robert Davidson said: "I am thrilled to hear this news about the William Wisting Series. Not only is Jorn Lier Horst one of the hardest working authors in the business, and one of the most talented, he is also a supremely decent guy. We have been working with Jorn, and his Norwegian publisher Gyldendal, and translator Anne Bruce, for five titles now and all of these will be dramatised. The viewing public has a great treat in store, as has the reading public whose attention is going to be drawn to the amazing writing of Jorn Lier Horst even more strongly."

Sandstone Press holds world English language rights for their five Jorn Lier Horst titles. Ordeal has been sold to St Martin’s Press in North America and agreement has been reached with Affirm Press for all five titles in Australia and New Zealand. Sandstone Press is represented by David Segrue Ltd.