PIMEÄN RISTEYS
Tammi, July 2023

Reading material:
English sample & synopsis available in April

A Crossing in the Darkness

Leena Lehtolainen

The newest, standalone crime novel in the ever-popular Maria Kallio series! German and Finnish publication in Fall 2023!

✓  Leena Lehtolainen has sold over 2,5 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 30 languages! In the US, only Jo Nesbø has been translated more!

✓  Maria Kallio turned into an international TV series, sold to 10 territories and counting, second season coming in 2023 (MTV3 / C More)

✓  The New York Times Nordic Noir Guide recommends Maria Kallio series

✓  Finland’s bestselling female crime writer!

✓  English editions available for Maria Kallio books #1-11, published in the US by Amazon

The City of Espoo is being menaced by the “Biris” gang that steals designer clothing, phones, and jewelry from other youth. One night, one of the members is stabbed to death, in a case which seems clear. Maria’s unit is investigating while being threatened by a cut in funding.

Maria’s home feels empty as her children have left the nest. An acquaintance contacts Maria regarding sexual harassment, and Maria tries to help – but her intervention seems to make things worse. And as a boy goes missing from a children’s home and Biris threatens with revenge, Maria has her hands full.

KÄÄRMEIDEN MAA
Otava, January 2023, 364 pp.

Reading material:
English sample and synopsis

Land of Serpents

Eeva Louko

Ronja Vaara #2

The second title in the Ronja Vaara crime series from the rising star of Finnish crime literature takes the reader to the shadows of a pulsing summer night.

✓  Eeva Louko’s debut sold over 15,000 copies and received glowing reviews!

✓  Land of Serpents sold over 1,500 copies in less than two weeks!

✓  A crime series for millennials: surprising twists and relationship drama!

✓  Rights sold in Estonia!

A late spring heat wave caresses the people of Lauttasaari, and Ronja Vaara is pleasantly busy with her new job at the local newspaper. When the body of a young woman is found on Käärmesaari (Serpent Island) near Helsinki, Ronja’s new boss senses an opportunity to make the newspaper the prime source for any information on the case. Reluctantly, Ronja contacts the chief investigator Anton Koivu, who is surprisingly willing to leak confidential information to Ronja – if she does him a favor in return.

Soon, another death shocks the people of Lauttasaari. Koivu and his team pick up the pace to solve the cases, but a surprising guest from the past throws them off balance.

ONNELLISTEN SAARI
Otava, January 2022, 396 pp.

Reading material:
English sample & synopsis

Murder on the Isle of Bliss

Eeva Louko

Ronja Vaara #1

A crime-solving journalist investigates her father’s murder and the secrets of the tight community

✓  Eeva Louko’s debut sold over 15,000 copies and received glowing reviews!

✓  Rights sold in 5 territories and counting!

✓  A crime series for millennials: surprising twists and relationship drama!

After living abroad for many years, thirty-something Ronja returns to her childhood home in Lauttasaari, Helsinki after her father is found murdered by the seaside. Welcoming her back are a group of old friends whom it’s both comforting and painful to see again, and the young police officer assigned to the case who does not seem to be doing his work properly. Using the skills she’s learned from working as a journalist, Ronja starts investigating the background of her distant father, uncovering the old secrets of the community that have been kept under wraps until now. When everyone knows everyone, each person becomes a suspect.

SIRKUSNAISEN ARVOITUS
Otava, April 2023, 360 pp.

Reading material:
English synopsis

The Mystery of the Wrestling Woman

Laura Andersson

Lili Flame Investigates #2

Unlikely investigator Lili Flame who’s charmed readers faces a new tricky puzzle!

✓  An atmospheric mystery series reminiscent of old-time detective novels but with a contemporary twist in form of its suprising detective duo!

In early 1947, Helsinki gets to see something exciting when an unusual troupe of female wrestlers from America performs in the city.

Lili and Riku Loimola, together with their friends, enjoy the performance, but, after the show, chaos erupts in the area. One of the star performers has been shot – and struck with a knife. Why two methods of killing? Could there be two murderers, too?

The Helsinki police are not particularly interested in investigating the foreign woman’s murder, but Lili and Riku won’t give up – the victim deserves justice. A terrific journey begins into the colorful and circus-filled past of Joy Johnson!

Reading material:
English sample & synopsis

Murder at the Mansion

Laura Andersson

Lili Flame Investigates #1

The beginning of this feel-good crime series is filled with the glory of old-time detective novels and charms with its wit!

✓  A strong female lead, societal bling, and mysteries! Everything good in one book!

Post-war Helsinki is full of people looking to build a new life, and Lili Flame, who spent the war years in the US as a housemaid, is among them. However, the housekeeping gets swept aside when Lili breaks away from the traditional womanly roles of her time and begins a career as a private eye solving crimes which are too sensitive for the police.

Lili gets help from her husband, a gay man who’s becoming a companion like no other – even if the true nature of their marriage has to be kept a secret. The first case leads her to the party of a rich corporate family. The glamor and glitz of this segment of society is blinding, until the investigation takes a tragic turn and Lili realizes she has a much bigger mystery on her hands than she thought.

Inspired by Agatha Christie and the screwball comedies of the 30s, Lili and her curiosity will delight anyone looking for a good mystery, humor, and a little escapism!

Don’t forget the sequel coming out in 2023, Lili Flame Investigates #2: Murder of the Wrestling Woman!

LOUKKO
Tammi, September 2022, 358 pp.

Reading material:
Full English manuscript

The Archipelago

Max Seeck

New York Times Bestselling Author

Jessica Niemi #4

The fourth title in the NYT-bestselling Jessica Niemi series! 

✓  Series rights sold to 40 countries and Hollywood!

✓ The Archipelago has sold over 34,000 copies in Finland and is topping the bestseller lists!

✓ Max Seeck’s books have sold over 300,000 copies in Finland!

A month after solving the Zetterborg case, Jessica Niemi is ordered on paid leave after an altercation, and she decides to travel to a small island in the Åland archipelago to escape the attention and find some peace. Meanwhile, a group of old people arrive on the same island, and Jessica learns that they are the remaining members of the Doves, the people who had to flee from Finland to Sweden during World War II and ended up living in an orphanage on the very same island.

One evening, Jessica hears a local legend about a girl who also inhabited the orphanage once, but who was mentally ill. Every night at two o’clock, the girl put on her blue coat and went to stand on the pier, waiting for something that never showed up. One night she disappeared and was never found. That same night, one of the remaining Doves dies.

Jessica soon finds out that two other people have previously faced the same fate on the same island, and all three people seem to have something to do with the girl in the blue coat. A chain of events starts to escalate, and we don’t know whether we’re facing a killer or – just like the legend says – a ghost, the girl in the blue coat.

Jessica Niemi is once again facing a scary mystery where the stakes are considerable. Whilst battling her own demons, uncertain what is real and what is not, she needs to find out the truth.

KAUNA
Tammi, September 2021, 431 pp.

Reading material:
English edition

The Last Grudge

Max Seeck

New York Times Bestselling Author

Jessica Niemi #3

The third installment in the NYT-bestselling series – published in the US on February 7, 2023!

✓  A sequel to The Ice Coven and The Witch Hunter – a New York Times Bestseller!

✓  Seeck’s books have sold over 300,000 copies in Finland!

✓  Series rights sold to 40 countries and Hollywood!

Prominent business executive Eliel Zetterborg is found brutally murdered in his home in Helsinki. The company he led has just announced drastic cutbacks and Zetterborg gained hundreds of enemies and death threats in the process.

But the murder motive becomes less clear, when the police finds out that the murderer had other targets as well. The only clue the police has is a photo of Zetterborg with three other men, whose faces are all scratched off. Who are the faceless men, and why can’t the police identify them? Are they other victims? Or something more sinister?

While Jessica Niemi suffers from a mental breakdown after her encounter with the witch coven, Jusuf gets a chance to lead the investigations and prove his skills as a police officer, while helping Jessica battle her demons that seem to be getting nearer and nearer…

Reading material:
English edition

The Ice Coven

Max Seeck

New York Times Bestselling Author

Jessica Niemi #2

Detective Jessica Niemi is on a hunt to save the life of a missing blogger. But is it already too late? 

✓  A standalone sequel to New York Times Bestseller The Witch Hunter – rights sold to 40 countries and Hollywood!

✓  Max Seeck’s books have sold 300,000 copies in Finland!

Detective Jessica Niemi and her team have a new mystery on the table: a young woman’s corpse has been found on an icy beach, and two famous Instagram influencers have gone missing at the same time. One of the missing bloggers is a manga artist, and the dead woman found on the beach is dressed in a manga outfit – the two cases seem to be strangely connected.

While following the clues that are hidden deeply in Instagram Jessica struggles to keep her head clear. She keeps having repeating nightmares about her mother. And she has a feeling that something really awful is approaching her from the darkness…

Reading material:
English edition

The Witch Hunter

Max Seeck

New York Times Bestselling Author

Jessica Niemi #1

A book-inspired serial killer is on the loose. Jessica Niemi – a detective with a mysterious past – steps up. A chase for the faithful reader has begun.

✓  A New York Times Bestseller!

✓  International sensation! Sold to 40 countries and Hollywood!

✓  Max Seeck’s books have sold over 300,000 copies in Finland!

Detective Jessica Niemi is called to investigate an unordinary murder case. The wife of a famous writer, Roger Koponen, seems to have been killed in a bizarre ritual. As more ritual murders occur, it becomes obvious that Jessica is after a serial killer. But the murders are not random – they follow a pattern taken from Roger’s bestselling trilogy. Has a fan gone mad, or is this case more personal?