The Light in a Dark House

English translation shortlisted for the Petrona Award (Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year) 2014

“Magical. Better than Mankell.” (The Times)

The murder of an already dying woman puzzles the Finnish police in Turku: who breaks into a hospital to kill a comatose, unidentified patient? And what kind of murderer leaves a single trace on the bed sheet of his victim – a substance that forensics identify as being tear fluid.

Investigator Kimmo Joentaa should actually be devoting all his attention to solving this unusual case, but when Larissa, the woman who unexpectedly brought back light into his dark life, vanishes without a trace, he must divide his attention between the cases.

While the murderer finds more victims in different cities, Kimmo Joentaa’s dogged search finally leads him to a small village in the deepest Finnish province – and into the heart of darkness of a long, bygone summer.