Cecilia Sahlström

Cecilia Sahlström is a Swedish author of crime fiction. She is best known for her series about Inspector Sara Vallén, beginning with Vit syren (2017), and her later series introducing Rakel Vrede with Irrvägar (2022). Her books have been published in several languages, including German, English, and Finnish.

Maria Cecilia Sahlström was born on February 24, 1960, and grew up in Täby, near Stockholm. From 1982 to 1985, she studied at Uppsala University, where she completed a degree in literature, the history of ideas, and the history of learning. She then worked in publishing at Carmina AB and as a consultant at Information i Bild.

In autumn 1991, she entered the police training college in Sörentorp. She later studied law at Stockholm University in 1996 and international migration and ethnic relations at Malmö University from 2001 to 2002. Since 1999 she has lived in Skåne, first in Kristianstad and later in Lund.

Sahlström served in the Swedish police for twenty years. She worked in Stockholm at Östermalm, Norrmalm, and the county criminal division. Sahlström specialised in domestic violence, sexual crimes, and offences against children. She held leadership positions, including head of the unit for domestic violence in Malmö.

Cecilia Sahlström also worked in the social services for several years, including as head of individual and family care. At different times, she ran a jazz and book café in Kristianstad and worked as a consultant in leadership and organisational development. Since January 2022, she has been a full-time writer.

The idea of writing crime fiction emerged during a journalism writing course in 2006. Her debut novel Vit syren (2017) introduced Sara Vallén, a Lund-based inspector. It was followed by I egna händer (2018), Pojken som försvann (2019), Hatet vi bär (2019), Under ytan (2020), Pojkarna (2021), and Flickan som dansade (2022). A new series with Rakel Vrede began with Irrvägar (2022).

Later titles included Änglavingen (2023), Mamman (2023, co-authored with Emma Olofsson), and Offerlamm (2024). Her novels are marked by her professional background and use of real investigative detail.

In 2022, her debut was translated into German, English, and Finnish. The second book in the series, I egna händer, has also been published in German. She has since combined her writing career with lectures on topics including leadership, violence in close relationships, integration, online behaviour, and social polarisation.

Cecilia Sahlström continues to live in Lund.

Photo credit: FB @publicceciliasahlstrom