The Burning Stones by Antti Tuomainen (translated by David Hackston)

Anyone who has been following my blog for a while will know I'm a fan of Finnish writer Antti Tuomainen - search under his name on the blog and you will see my previous reviews. So I was delighted to have the opportunity to read his new book, The Burning Stones, translated into English by David Hackston. Big thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invite and to the publisher for my review copy. I will be buying a paperback copy of my own in due course. 

The Blurb

Saunas, love and a ladleful of murder…

A cold-blooded killer strikes at the hottest moment: the new head of a sauna-stove company is murdered … in the sauna. Who has turned up the temperature and burned him to death?

The evidence points in the direction of Anni Korpinen – top salesperson and the victim’s successor at Steam Devil.

And as if hitting middle-age, being in a marriage that has lost its purpose, and struggling with work weren’t enough, Anni realizes that she must be quicker than both the police and the murderer to uncover who is behind it all – before it’s too late…

My Review

As I mentioned earlier I'm a big fan of Antti's work and absolutely loved The Rabbit Factor trilogy. Here we have a very different setting and completely different characters, but the quirkiness of the individuals is still there, and I love that. And his trademark humour is there but I do feel The Burning Stones has a darker feel than his recent books. 

Steam Devil is a successful company selling sauna stoves. It's a small company with just a few staff and it's just been announced that Ilmo Räty will take over the running of the company as founder Erkki 'The Stove King' Ruusula stands down. Until Ilmo is murdered, quite creatively, I might add. Suspicions fall in the rest of the cast but particularly saleswoman Anni Korpinen, who is now most likely to succeed Erkki. The evidence too, is pointing towards Anni, and she needs to find out who the real killer is... It's potentially dangerous stuff. And Anni's carrying a secret of her own and some shared history with someone else involved in the enquiry which kinda complicates things a little bit. 

I liked Anni, although she perhaps doesn't come across as the warmest character. Maybe I was drawn to her because she's a similar age to me and I like the whole idea of middle aged women having adventures! Although I'm sure Anni isn't enjoying the particular adventure she finds herself in. She's Steam Devil's top salesperson and there is not much she doesn't know about sauna stoves and saunas in general. She's very focused and driven in her work, and that's maybe because her home life is a bit of a mess. Husband Santeri is uncommonly obsessed with Formula One motor racing. I mean, obsessively so, pretty much to the expense of all else. I was not a Santeri fan, and spent much of the book wanting to shake some sense into him! 

All the staff at Steam Devil are quirky and interesting, as Tuomainen's characters often are, eccentric, maybe, and it was fun trying to imagine them in my head. But I think my favourite character was Steam Devil customer, Lauri Kahavouri, with whom Anni is trying to complete a big sales deal. Kahavouri becomes very interested in the murder case and subsequent investigation, maybe even a little bit obsessed and decides to undertake his own under into Ilmo Räty's death. 

As more evidence comes to light (someone please tell me that bumlets are a thing!) which puts suspicion firmly on Anni, she comes into contact with policeman Janne Piirto with whom she hasn't spoken in many years and clearly has some history so that's an interesting addition to the story and fleshes Anni out a bit more. As I mentioned in the first paragraph, there is plenty of dry humour to be found here, the tone of the whole thing felt darker. Maybe it's the setting.

So let's talk about that for a moment. The Finnish countryside sounds beautiful, full of forests and lakes. But this little community does feel quite isolated, with the houses situated in woodlands, overlooking lakes. It's prime country for someone to creep about and Antti uses the setting to help increase the tension, emphasising the dark and denseness of the forest, the expanse of the lake. It works. 

The storyline is great - creepy and tense in places, a little comical in others, full of interesting, eccentric characters. And Antti Tuomainen does what he does so well - taken a very ordinary person and put them in an extraordinary situation. Recently I heard him speaking at a book festival where he said The Burning Stones walkabout 'saunas and middle age'. He's right, of course, it is, but as the blurb says there's also a little bit of love. And death. And a whole lot of suspicion and mistrust. A cracking story which is well worth checking out. 

The Author

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. In 2011, his third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for Best Finnish Crime Novel and shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime-genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards and is now a Finnish TV series. Palm Beach, Finland (2018) and Little Siberia (2019) have both been adapted for the screen, airing shortly, and also shortlisted for the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA

International Dagger, and winning the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The international bestselling Rabbit Factor trilogy is filming now for Amazon Studios, starring Steve Carrell. Antti lives in Helsinki with his wife.

Sleeping Dogs by Russ Thomas #blogathon

So we've reached the end of our Russ Thomas #blogathon. And that's because the brand new shiny Adam Tyler book, Sleeping Dogs, is out today! I've been lucky enough to get a sneak peak at it and my review is below. Many thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me on the tour and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

THE LIES OF THE PAST . . .

When an anonymous tip lands on his desk, DS Adam Tyler is intrigued in spite of himself. The disappearance of a young mother twenty-four years ago was big news, but the case was never solved – this tantalizing new lead is something he simply can’t ignore. But the letter has set in motion a dangerous chain of events, and Tyler’s search for the truth soon leaves him fighting for his life.

. . . LIVE IN THE PRESENT

With Tyler out of action, DC Mina Rabbani must step up to lead the Cold Case Review Unit in his absence, retracing Tyler’s steps and uncovering his secrets to figure out what he was working on. But as she begins to put the pieces together, the case starts to hit frighteningly close to home. Without DS Tyler to protect her, Mina realises that now she’s the one with hard choices to make.

And this time she’s on her own.

My Review

This is the fourth, and latest, outing for DS Tyler and I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. In case you missed them, you can read my reviews of the previous three - Firewatching, Nighthawking and Cold Reckoning on the blog. You could enjoy Sleeping Dogs perfectly well as a standalone but,as with any series, you will get a richer, rounder reading experience starting at he beginning.

An unusual letter lands on the desk of DS Adam Tyler, head of the Cold Case Review Unit. It seems to reference an unsolved kidnapping 24 years previously, and mentions an old criminal. Adam follows the obvious leads, gets nowhere, and puts the file to one side to focus on the next case. Except he can't. Something keeps pulling him back to the letter. He tells nobody but begins to look into things more deeply, and heads down a rabbit hole, closing himself off from colleagues and his new partner, Scott. When he's put out of action, Mina must step into his shoes to run the CCRU, but she can't resist investigating what happened to Adam. What she finds is shocking and uncomfortable for her...

I think this one is probably my favourite of the series so far. It's told over three timelines - there are a few chapters set twenty four years ago, some leading up to now from six months ago, and the main timeline set in the present. It's a great story, starting with an unsolved kidnapping which Adam becomes pretty obsessed with. He's not the most open, friendly guy at the best of times but when he gets obsessed like this he pushes people away. Which is particularly not great when you're embarking on a new relationship! Scott is very patient and understanding but even he has his limits...

It's great to see a couple of returning characters from previous books, whose storylines I had thought to be over, but it's lovely to see Diane and Susan back. I don't think I've mentioned Jim Doggett in my previous reviews but he's a constant in all four books. He strikes me as an old school copper, and he's not the most PC guy around, but beneath his gruff exterior he's a decent guy and always has Adam and Mina's backs. I have a real fondness for him. But this story belongs to Mina. She's been my favourite character since the first book and in Sleeping Dogs we really see how much she's come on. She has to confront some really difficult stuff and she handles things really well. We also see what she really thinks of Adam. I loved that she featured so strongly in this storyline. 

I haven't said much about the actual plot because I don't want to give anything away. But it's enjoyable and satisfyingly complex. Thomas has weaved everything together brilliantly, the timelines come together and it all works. Sleeping Dogs is a well written, character based (my favourite type) of thriller. Plenty of mystery, tension and jeopardy. Another great addition to the series and I'm already looking forward to the next one! 

The Author

Russ Thomas grew up in the 80s reading anything he could get his hands on, writing stories, watching television, and playing videogames: in short, anything that avoided the Great Outdoors. After a few 'proper' jobs, he discovered the joys of bookselling, where he could talk to people about books all day. Now a full-time writer, he also teaches creative writing classes and mentors new authors.

Dark as Night by Lilja Sigurðadóttir (translated by Lorenza Garcia)

Today I'm sharing my review of Dark as Night by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, translated into English by Lorenza Garcia, as part of the blog tour. I love this series! Big thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

When Áróra receives a call telling her that a child she’s never met is claiming to be her missing sister reincarnated, she is devastated … as ridiculous as the allegations might seem.

For three years she has been searching for her sister without finding a single clue, and now this strange child seems to have new information.

On the same day, Icelandic detective Daníel returns home to find a note from his tenant, drag queen Lady Gúgúlú, giving notice on her flat and explaining that she has to leave the country. Daníel is immediately suspicious, and when three threatening men appear, looking for Lady, it’s clear to him that something is very wrong…

And as Iceland’s long dark nights continue into springtime, that is just the very beginning…

My Review

Dark as Night is the fourth in the five book series, An Áróra Investigation following Cold as Hell, Red as Blood and White as Snow. It can easily be read as a standalone, as can all the books in the collection, but as with any series, you'll find a richer reading experience by starting at the beginning. 

A couple come forward claiming that their three year old daughter believes she's Áróra's missing sister, Ísafold, reincarnated. Áróra doesn't know what to think when she meets the little girl herself as it's a subject that causes her pain. Could this little girl really know what happened to Ísafold? Her boyfriend, policeman Daniel, is not so sure. He has his own worries anyway as his tenant, and friend, has disappeared without notice and Daniel is confused as to why. Especially after receiving some sinister visitors... Áróra and Daniel team up to try to solve both mysteries, whilst trying to keep themselves out of danger...

I love Áróra. She's strong minded and determined, and will keep searching to find the truth. Especially about Ísafold. She's also very fit and physically strong, putting her time in at the gym, although this book finds her taking a few risks with her health, and quicker to anger than usual. Here, she struggles with the whole reincarnation story because it's so close to home and so painful. Helping Daniel find Lady Gúgúlù distracts her and gives her something to focus on. 

Daniel, too, is a great character. He's calm, caring and kind, just what Áróra needs, and a good policeman who works hard to get at the truth. And Lady, what can I say? Such a brilliant character. I'm so glad she's getting her moment in the spotlight in this book. 

The two storylines are super interesting, both going in unexpected directions. I'm generally a sceptic when it comes to reincarnation etc but I know there are well documented stores of children claiming to have lived previous lives. It's an intriguing idea, full of 'What if...?'s. The main story about Lady, and all the details of her own previous life, of Áróra's investigations into Lady's disappearance, the shady men in suits, is fabulous, with a mounting sense of dread and jeopardy. And it's great to see chickens featuring in a story, knowing the author's love of them. All in all, Dark as Night is a very satisfying read, really enjoyed it. Already looking forward to the final book in the series but also sad it'll be the end and I'll be saying goodbye to these characters. 

The Author

Bestselling crime-writer Lilja Sigurðardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written ten crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavík Noir trilogy, and her standalone thriller Betrayal, all of which have hit bestseller lists worldwide and been long- and shortlisted for multiple awards. The film rights for the Reykjavík Noir trilogy have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California, and the An Áróra Investigation series is now in production for a major TV series. Cold as Hell was published in the UK in 2021 and reprinted twice, followed by Red as Blood and White as Snow, both number-one digital bestsellers. Lilja lives outside of Reykjavík with her partner and a brood of chickens.

Cold Reckoning by Russ Thomas #Blogathon

We're up to the third book in our Russ Thomas blogathon, in the run up to publication day for  the fourth book, Sleeping Dogs, on 24th October. So welcome to my review of the third book in the DS Adam Tyler series from Russ Thomas, Cold Reckoning. Many thanks to Tracy Fenton for my invitation and to the publisher for my review copy. I also bought my own paperback copy.

The Blurb

THE DARKNESS FROM HIS PAST WILL FINALLY COME TO LIGHT

The death of DS Tyler’s father irrevocably changed his life. As a child, he believed Richard had killed himself but, as the years have passed, Tyler has grown convinced he was murdered.

When a cold case lands on Tyler’s desk, there’s nothing immediately notable about it, apart from the link it has to his father. Richard was investigating the same case shortly before he died.

Finally, Tyler has a tangible link to the past, one that could give him the answers he has been looking for. And while there are dangerous people who will do anything to keep him quiet, he knows he has to keep digging.

Because you’d risk anything for your family – even your life.

My Review

I'm really enjoying this series and if you click through you can read my thoughts on the first two books, Firewatching and Nighthawking. Cold Reckoning finds DS Adam Tyler and colleagues in very wintery, cold conditions with an even colder case to solve. How, if at all, does it link back to the death of Adam's father? There's a current case to trouble the police too, and Tyler's boss, and godmother, has suddenly disappeared. Meanwhile, 13 year old Edith, who is bullied at school and caring for her sick mother at home, finds solace walking in the countryside near her home, even in the cold weather, until the  morning she sees the man with the scary eyes...

There is plenty going on in this book and Adam and his colleagues are certainly challenged, none of them really knowing who they can trust. A new boss has arrived with the absence of DCI Diane Jordan, and that, together with rumours of corruption, has unsettled everyone. 

I'll come back to the action in a moment, but what I love in these books are the people, the interactions, the relationships. Adam Tyler is not an easy man to like (or love, it would seem) - he's quite closed, can be quite blunt and abrupt, doesn't really have relaxed relationships with his colleagues - in short, he's not easy to get close to. But I've enjoyed his changing relationship with Jim Doggett as they look into the circumstances surrounding Adam's father's death, and also in this book we see more of Adam's complicated relationship with his brother Jude. But I think my favourite character is probably DC Amina (Mina) Rabbani. She has really blossomed across the three books and this one, I feel we really see her coming into her own. She's much more confident, and able to respond assertively to her predominantly male colleagues. She's really grown as a police officer and Adam sees that in her and is much more willing to trust her and her instincts. And the story is all the richer for it. 

The storyline is satisfyingly complex, as Adam and Mina investigate a cold case, literally, and Doggett has an interesting current case to deal with. Adam and Jude are trying to build bridges but the past keeps getting in the way. And there's the missing DCI. Slowly things start coming together and interesting links and 'coincidences' come to light. And there is some really interesting information from Adam's nemesis McKenna. It's a lot to tie together but Thomas does it beautifully. And even though this mainly focuses on a cold case, the tension really increases in the run up to the denouement. Cold Reckoning is another strong book in this great series, and I'm looking forward to the release of Sleeping Dogs later this month. 

The Author

Russ Thomas was born in Essex, raised in Berkshire and now lives in Sheffield. After a few 'proper' jobs (among them: pot-washer, optician's receptionist, supermarket warehouse operative, call-centre telephonist, and storage salesman) he discovered the joys of bookselling, where he could talk to people about books all day. Now a full-time writer, he also teaches creative writing classes and mentors new authors.