Behind the pseudonym Lars Kepler stand the husband and wife writing team Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril. Both experienced authors in their own right, they have each published several highly acclaimed novels. They have now chosen to devote all their energy and creativity to the books about Joona Linna, a fearless and doggedly determined Chief Inspector from Stockholm.
The name Lars Kepler pays homage to two people. The first name, Lars, is in honour of the bestselling crime writer Stieg Larsson, while the surname Kepler comes from the German scientist Johannes Kepler who made a series of landmark discoveries in astronomy and other fields in the late 16th and early 17th Centuries.
When The Hypnotist was published in 2009, the identity of the writer behind the pseudonym Lars Kepler was still unknown and the intention was for this to remain the case. However, certain journalists did not agree. After a number of authors were posited but denied any involvement in the pen name, the Swedish evening newspaper Aftonbladet managed to produce sufficient evidence to be confident of its case, and revealed the Ahndorils as being behind the books.
The Lars Kepler books have now been published in 40 countries worldwide. The entire series is available in 22 countries and the sales figures show that each new Kepler ti<x>tle attracts new readers as the series continues to grow in popularity. To date, the Kepler books have sold six million copies worldwide, including 3 million in Sweden alone. The Sandman, the fourth book in the Lars Kepler series, topped bestseller lists in nine countries, and Stalker, book five, was the best selling book of the year in Sweden 2014.
The couple live in Stockholm with their three daughters, just a stone's throw from the Swedish 'Scotland Yard'.
