Fact vs. fiction in The Åre Murders: How much of Netflix’s Nordic noir is real?

Netflix dropped a new crime drama, The Åre Murders, this year, and it is turning heads everywhere. The series premiered on February 6, 2025, and is being praised for its chilling storyline. It is a Swedish show based on a book series of the same name by Viveca Sten, which includes novels such as Hidden in Snow and Hidden in Shadows.

The story follows Hanna Ahlander, a detective from Stockholm, who, after facing difficulties in her personal and professional life, decides to retreat to her sister's vacation home in a ski resort town. What was supposed to be a relaxing time quickly turns sour when a teenage girl, Amanda, disappears after a party in Lucia, a traditional Swedish celebration.

One of the interesting things about The Åre Murders is that it blurs the line between fact and fiction. It compels the viewers to question what's real and what's dramatized. And that's what this article is here to help you with.

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How much of The Åre Murders is real?: Fact vs. Fiction

The Åre Murders is a Nordic Noir show presented with realism using a documentary-style tone and realistic characters. The audience is instantly drawn to The Åre Murders thanks to the chilling visuals and disturbing atmosphere.

It is inspired by true events, myths, and societal hierarchies, but is completely fictional. Although fictional, the show uses fiction to draw light on real issues like class division, moral decay, and the cons of success. So, what exactly are the factual and fictional aspects of the series? Let's get right into them.

Fiction:

1) Not based on a real incident

Do you guys read the disclaimer that appears before movies and TV shows? That is well here too. All characters in the series are purely fictional and created by the primary writer, Viveca Sten. Any relation to people, places, or incidents is purely coincidental.

Although the series feels too real to be fictional, The Åre Murders is not based on any real murders. The creators have not claimed that Amanda Halvorson, Johan Andersson, or any other murders are based on any real persons or incidents. They are simply staged to make it look morally impactful and visually monstrous.

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2) Contrasting murders and dramatizations

For those who are doubting that The Åre Murders are based on real murders, here are some words of reassurance. The series hasn't even followed the actual book, let alone real incidents. The murders depicted on shows and in dramatizations are all fictional and differ significantly from the actual source material, the book.

The way in which Johan Andersson was murdered on the show (Spoiler Alert!), his body being dismembered after being run over by the train, is not how he dies in the book. In the novel, he dies by a blow to the head with his hands tied behind his back. So, what does this tell you? There has been an adaptation between the book and the series.

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3) The creative process

The story's process is written in such a way that it creates drama. The connected murders, the pacing, and even the eventual reveal are tailor-made for drama. It is not suited for a documentary-style content. If you notice the plot, how many murders occur when the main officer in charge is vulnerable or away somewhere? These types of plots aren't meant for real life; they are crafted for fiction.

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4) The plot is inspired by the author's life

Now, the heading of this point might raise some eyebrows, but keep reading before you gasp. There were some rumors that the series is based on Viveca Sten's personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is partly true. But it goes as far as her being locked out of her house in Åre, and not any actual murders she witnessed or was a part of at any point.

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Fact:

1) Åre: The Town

Åre is a real town in Sweden; in fact, it is known as the country's largest ski resort and a popular tourist destination for mountain and winter activities. The details of the town, the winter season, the known local festivals, and the relationship of the community are all real.

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2) Characteristics of the characters

What makes The Åre Murders relatable is the characteristics given to the characters. The personal elements included in the show make it relatable and help make the story more grounded, and add a personal touch. The protagonist's personal turmoils, her fall from grace, and her retreat to Åre are things that many viewers will relate to a lot.

Just like there are no perfect heroes or evil villains in real life, the show also tilts towards moral ambiguity, but frames it in a gripping and entertaining way to keep the audience's sympathy and attention intact.

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3) The twists and turns

As it is mentioned above, The Åre Murders is inspired by many real incidents and happenings. The makers of the shows used many details from those cases to make it seem as authentic as possible. The masked history, family secrets, intermingled relationships, and many layers of the case that unfold one by one are shown exactly like many real cases.

Many real cases have dragged on for years due to dead ends, political pressures, and investigation mishaps, but TV shows try to streamline clues and crunch investigation time for entertainment purposes. They focus more on drama, revelations, suspense, tension, emotional side of the cases.

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4) Shedding light on real issues

The Åre Murders may be a fictional show, but it does its due diligence. Along with providing wholesome entertainment, it sheds light on some gruesome crimes that have destroyed society. Disappearance, human trafficking, betrayal, and complicated relationships are the backbone of the entire show.

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In conclusion, The Åre Murders is a fictional show. The story, the characters, and the murders are all the figments of Viveca Sten's brilliant imagination that were good enough to be portrayed on screen. It is heavily inspired by real elements, but there are no confirmed real cases that match the show in any way.

Besides the realistic elements, what makes The Åre Murders immersive is the contrast between the gruesome crimes and the serene landscapes.