Horst, Jørn Lier

A Norwegian former police officer who in the 2000s became one of Norway’s most popular crime-fiction writers among adult as well as younger readers. He was born in Porsgrunn in Telemark as Jørn Lier Olsen, and grew up in nearby Bamble. Already in his youth he showed an interest in writing, and was the editor of various school and student magazines, including at Bamble upper secondary school where he studied commercial and office theory 1986-89. He had no intention of becoming an author, but after finishing school chose between being an engineer or a chef. It was, rather, chance that led to him starting at the Norwegian police college in 1992: he spontaneously replied to an advert in which the college encouraged people to apply.