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Shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2025


The most moving book of the year about the power of human connection. A book to love, and share.

Bo lives a quiet existence in his small rural village in the north of Sweden. He is elderly and his days are punctuated by visits from his care team and his son.

Fortunately, he still has his rich memories, phone calls with his best friend Ture, and his beloved dog Sixten for company.

Only now his son is insisting the dog must be taken away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions and makes Bo determined to resist and find his voice.

An instant number one bestseller in Sweden and winner of the Swedish Book of the Year, When the Cranes Fly South is a profoundly moving and life-affirming novel about one man’s desire to preserve his autonomy, the multitude of stories contained within a life, and the big things for which we have no words.

'The kind of book you give to someone when you’re really trying to say “I’ve been thinking about you” but don’t know how.' Fredrik Backman, bestselling author of A Man Called Ove

'A magical reading experience; among the most moving things I’ve ever read' No.1 internationally bestselling author Camilla Läckberg

'A book that will echo in your soul' Garth Stein, bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

NUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE SWEDISH BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

© Lisa Ridzén 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2025