Per Wahlöö

Per Fredrik Wahlöö was a Swedish author, born in 1926 in Kungsbacka Municipality, Halland. He is sometimes referred to as "Peter" in English. Wahlöö is best known for his work as one half of the writing team of Sjowall and Wahloo, along with his common law partner and fellow Marxist Maj Sjowall. Before becoming an author, Wahlöö worked as a crime reporter, which provided him with valuable insights and experiences for his crime fiction novels.

Wahlöö made his debut as a novelist in 1962 with his first novel, "The Lorry," which is also known by the title "A Necessary Action." His writing career was marked by his collaboration with Maj Sjowall, with whom he wrote the Martin Beck series. This series of ten novels about the exploits of a police detective in Stockholm was published between 1965 and 1975. In 1971, "The Laughing Policeman" won the Edgar Award for Best Novel, a significant achievement in the mystery genre. Wahlöö and Sjowall also wrote novels separately, showcasing their individual writing styles and talents.

Despite his accomplishments, Wahlöö's life was marked by personal losses. He had a 13-year relationship with his colleague Maj Sjöwall but never married. He was married to Inger Wahlöö, née Andersson, and had a brother named Claes Wahlöö. Wahlöo died in 1975 at the age of 48 due to cancer in Malmo, Sweden, leaving behind a legacy of influential crime fiction novels that continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day.