Maj Sjöwall published 10 novels and 1 other book, beginning with The Man Who Went Up in Smoke (1966). The series is Martin Beck (10 books, starting with Roseanna). The best-known is Roseanna (1967).
Updated September 2026
Martin Beck books in order (10)Series page
Reading order: 1 Roseanna (1967) · 2 The Man Who Went Up in Smoke (1966) · 3 The Man on the Balcony; the Story of a Crime (1968) · 4 The Laughing Policeman (1968) · 5 The Fire Engine That Disappeared (1969) · 6 Murder at the Savoy (1970) · 7 The Abominable Man (1971) · 8 The Locked Room (1972) · 9 Cop Killer (1974) · 10 The Terrorists (1975)
- 1.
Roseanna (1967)
- 2.
The Man Who Went Up in Smoke (1966)
- 3.
The Man on the Balcony; the Story of a Crime (1968)
- 4.
The Laughing Policeman (1968)
- 5.
The Fire Engine That Disappeared (1969)
- 6.
Murder at the Savoy (1970)
- 7.
The Abominable Man (1971)
- 8.
The Locked Room (1972)
- 9.
Cop Killer (1974)
- 10.
The Terrorists (1975)
Where to start with Maj Sjöwall
Start here
Roseanna
Maj Sjöwall's most-read book and the first of the 10 Martin Beck books.
Other books in order
Martin Beck Series (2012)
About Maj Sjöwall
Maj Sjöwall was a Swedish author and translator. She is best known for her novels about the police detective Martin Beck. She wrote these novels in collaborative work with her partner Per Wahlöö.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Maj Sjöwall FAQ
- How many books has Maj Sjöwall written?
- Maj Sjöwall published 10 novels and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Maj Sjöwall's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Martin Beck with Roseanna. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Maj Sjöwall's last book?
- The Terrorists (1975).
- What is Maj Sjöwall's most famous book?
- Roseanna (1967) is Maj Sjöwall's most widely read book.
- Are Maj Sjöwall's books connected?
- 10 books belong to 1 series (Martin Beck); the other 1 book stands alone.
Authors like Maj Sjöwall
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.