Black As Death by Lilja Sigurðardóttir t. Lorenza Garcia BLOG TOUR @LiljaWriter @OrendaBooks @liljawriter.bsky.social #Iceland #BookReview @orendabooks.bsky.social

 

A final reckoning…

With the fate of her missing sister, Ísafold, finally uncovered, Áróra feels a fragile relief as the search that consumed her life draws to a close. But when Ísafold’s boyfriend – the prime suspect in her disappearance – is found dead at the same site where Ísafold’s body was discovered, Áróra’s grip on reality starts to unravel … and the mystery remains far from solved.

To distract herself, she dives headfirst into a money-laundering case that her friend Daníel is investigating. But she soon finds that there is more than meets the eye and, once again, all leads point towards Engihjalli, the street where Ísafold lived and died, and a series of shocking secrets that could both explain and endanger everything…

Atmospheric, dark and chilling, Black as Death is the breathtaking finale to the twisty, immersive An Áróra Investigation series, as Áróra and her friends search for answers that may take them to places even darker than death…

Perfect for readers of Camilla Läckberg, Karin Slaughter, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and Jo Nesbø.

Black As Death by Lilja Sigurdardóttir was published by Orenda Books on 23 October 2025 and is the fifth and final instalment in the Áróra Investigation series. It is translated by Lorenza Garcia. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this blog tour.

The Áróra Investigation series has been wonderful, each book has been something to look forward to over the past five years and whilst I was eager to read the latest, it has been quite a sad experience too. It's always difficult to say goodbye to characters that one loves. 

Lilja Sigurðardóttir’s Black as Death delivers a powerful and emotionally charged conclusion to the Áróra Investigation series; five books that have explored the murky underbelly of Icelandic crime, but also obsession and loss. Atmospheric and taut, this final story combines classic Nordic noir with a very clever character-driven mystery.

At the heart of the novel is Áróra, still reeling from the devastating truth about her missing sister Ísafold. The discovery of what really happened should bring closure, but instead it leaves Áróra devastated.

Áróra throws herself into a financial crime case with her partner, Daníel, a money-laundering scheme that proves to be anything but straightforward. As the threads of corruption, betrayal, and violence begin to intertwine, the novel takes the reader back to Engihjalli, the street in Reykjavík that has seen so many secrets. The setting is described excellently and almost becomes a character in its own right. 

The author's prose is tight and so well developed, every detail is needed, nothing is gratuitous. Iceland’s landscape; all dark waters, brittle ice, and little light. Yet amid the bleakness, there are glimmers of connection and hope. 

Black as Death balances two intertwined mysteries: one deeply personal, the other procedural and financial. The pacing is deliberate, building tension throughout. The use of flashbacks, told in the voice of Ísafold is brilliant, giving the reader the opportunity to feel that they know her more personally. 

While it can be read as a standalone, the novel’s full emotional impact comes from having followed Áróra’s journey across the series. 

Black as Death is an elegant, haunting, and deeply satisfying conclusion to Lilja Sigurðardóttir’s series. It’s a crime novel that understands grief as intimately as it understands deception — and it leaves you with the uneasy sense that some mysteries, especially those of the heart, can never be fully solved.

Icelandic 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 eleven 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. 

Snare was longlisted for the CWA International Dagger, Cage won Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year and was a Guardian Book of the Year, and Betrayal was shortlisted for the prestigious Glass Key Award and won Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year. 

The film rights for the Reykjavík Noir trilogy have been bought by Glassriver. 

Cold as Hell, the first book in the An Áróra Investigation series, was published in the UK in 2021 and was followed by Red as Blood, White as Snow and Dark as Night. 

TV rights to the series have been bought by Studio Zentral in Germany. 

Lilja lives in Reykjavík with her partner and a brood of chickens.

Lorenza Garcia spent her early adulthood living and working in Iceland, Spain and
France. She has been a full-time literary translator since 2008 and has translated and co-translated over forty novels and works of non-fiction from French, Spanish and Icelandic. 

She currently lives in South London with her Tibetan Terrier.

Little Secrets by Victoria Goldman BLOG TOUR #LittleSecrets @VictoriaGoldma2 @RandomTTours @victoriagoldman.bsky.social #BookReview

 

Welcome to the true-crime controversy that’s divided the media for the last twenty years. To discover the truth, we need to delve back into the past…

THEN: In June 1999, the last five prisoners at HMP Panbrook were killed just before the prison closed its doors for the final time. Anna Kendall, the nurse accused of their murders, died before the case went to court. Her motive and guilt have never been proven.

NOW: The Panbrook Prison Hotel is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Hotel manager Madeleine Batten is determined to discover what happened there twenty years earlier. But as the prison’s dark secrets are gradually exposed, danger lurks in the shadows. And someone is determined to keep the truth locked away.

Little Secrets is a compelling, atmospheric locked-room mystery set in a former prison that's been converted into a luxury hotel. Ideal for fans of Sarah Pearse, Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware and Claire Douglas.

Little Secrets by Victoria Goldman was published on 17 October 2025 by Three Crowns Publishing. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

I've known the author, Victoria via her online presence as a book blogger and reviewer for quite a few years. I knew that she was writing and has published a couple of books previous to Little Secrets. I was so impressed by the blurb for this one, and yes, I admit, also pulled in by that fabulous cover. It's such a thrill of a read. I'm going to go back now and check out her earlier books. 

Little Secrets is a darkly atmospheric and intricately layered mystery that blurs the lines between past and present, guilt and innocence. Set against the chilling backdrop of a former prison turned luxury hotel, the novel featues an unsolved crime that has fascinated and divided the public for over two decades.

The premise of this story is so compelling: in 1999, five prisoners at HMP Panbrook were killed just before the prison’s closure.  Nurse Anna Kendall was accused of the crime but died before the case could ever reach court. 

Twenty years later, the newly refurbished Panbrook Prison Hotel is thriving under the management of Madeleine 'Maddie' Batten, until the ghosts of the past begin to stir. Maddie’s determination to uncover the truth about what really happened in those final days sets off a dangerous chain of revelations, each one peeling back another layer of deceit and long-buried trauma.

The author has created a compelling dual-timeline narrative which seamlessly moves between the terrible events of 1999 and the world of the present-day hotel. The setting itself is a triumph: the claustrophobic corridors, cold stone walls, and feelings of confinement give the story a real sense of menace. 

There is a real emotional depth and moral complexity to this novel.  Instead of relying solely on twists, the author looks at the human cost of secrets—how guilt, fear, and ambition can damage even the most ordinary lives. 

As the novel unfolds, the tension builds. Every chapter is so tense, leading to a finale that’s both shocking and satisfying. Victoria Goldman makes us question how truth itself can be manipulated by time, memory, and perception.

Little Secrets is an atmospheric, haunting, and thought-provoking mystery that I thought about for quite some after after finishing it. With its eerie setting, complex characters, and meticulous plotting, this is a highly recommended read from me. 

VICTORIA GOLDMAN is a freelance journalist, editor and proofreader and the author of the Shanna Regan murder mystery series. The Associate, the second book in the series, was Editor’s Choice Winner of Best Indie Novel of 2023 in the Crime Fiction Lover Awards. The Redeemer, the first book in the series, was shortlisted for Best Debut Crime Novel of 2022 in the Crime Fiction Lover Awards. 

Little Secrets is her first standalone. 

Victoria lives in Hertfordshire, England.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/VictoriaGoldmanBooks 

Twitter/X: @VictoriaGoldma2 

Instagram/Threads: @victoria_goldman_x 

Bluesky: @victoriagoldman.bsky.social 

Website: vgoldmanbooks.com

Snowblind by Ragnar Jónasson BLOG TOUR #Snowblind #Fadeout @ragnarjo @OrendaBooks @orendabooks.bsky.social #AriThor #Giveaway #Prize #Competition

 

Ragnar Jónasson’s iconic, multi-million-copy bestseller, Snowblind, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a glittering new edition, including a never-before- published prequel, Fadeout...

SNOWBLIND / FADEOUT

RAGNAR JÓNASSON

TRANSLATED BY QUENTIN BATES AND LARISSA KYZER

SNOWBLIND

Siglufjörður: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors – accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thór Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik – with a past that he's unable to leave behind. When a young woman is found lying half- naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life.

An avalanche and unremitting snowstorms close the mountain pass, and the 24- hour darkness threatens to push Ari over the edge, as curtains begin to twitch, and his investigation becomes increasingly complex, chilling and personal. Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness – blinded by snow, and with a killer on the loose...

FADEOUT

When Ari Thór Arason receives a staggeringly high bill for a foreign credit card that was taken out in his name, his life takes a turn he never anticipated. The bill in question belongs to his namesake – his father, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances when Ari was only a child.

Seeking answers, Ari Thór travels to London to investigate, hoping to learn the truth about what happened to his father all those years ago, and discovering far more than he could ever have imagined...

Snowblind / Fadeout by Ragnar Jónasson 10th Anniversary edition was published by Orenda Books on 9 October 2025. As part of this Blog Tour, I am delighted to have one copy to give away. Just fill out the competition widget in this post. UK entries only please.   GOOD LUCK!

I copy of Snowblind by Ragnar Jónasson

Ragnar Jónasson is the award-winning Icelandic author of the international bestselling Hulda series, the Dark Iceland series, and standalone crime fiction, with five million copies sold across 36 territories. 

The Times selected The Darkness as one of the 100 Best Crime Novels and Thrillers since 1945, and Snowblind has been selected as one of Top 100 Crime Fiction of all time. 

The Times has said of his work: ‘Is this the best crime writer in the world?’ 

His books have been on bestseller lists across Europe and the USA, and won multiple prizes. 

He has also won a special jury recognition for his poetry in Iceland. 

Ragnar has translated fourteen of Agatha Christie’s novels into Icelandic. 

Ragnar was also an executive producer of the CBS Studios TV series The Darkness, based on the first novel in his Hulda series. 

His novel Outside is currently being developed for the screen by Ridley Scott. 

Ragnar has a law degree and teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University. 

He also serves as a board member of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, and as the Deputy Chair of the Writers’ Union of Iceland. 

Ragnar is the co-founder and co-chair of the literary festival Iceland Noir, held annually in Reykjavik.

Watch Your Back by Emma Christie #WatchYourBack @MtLeopardPress @theemmachristie @headlinepg #BookReview

 

Your past is right behind you . . .

Jo has always kept her head down and surrounded herself with strangers who know nothing about her mum's murder. But fifteen years after the killing she receives a box of unopened letters addressed to her - sent from the prison.

But before she can read them, they're stolen, and soon Jo realises that someone must have a terrible secret to hide.

Determined to protect her new life from the violence of her past, she embarks on a mission to find out the truth.

But can Jo find the sender, before they find her?

.

Watch Your Back by Emma Christie was published on 23 October 2025 by Mountain Leopard Press. My thanks to the author and the publisher who sent my copy for review.

I have a real fondness for Scottish crime fiction, or Tartan Noir as it is often named, especially at various crime fiction festivals. Emma Christie sets her stories in Edinburgh, with lead characters who always appear to be the man, or woman next door. 

Jo has done her best to keep her past quiet: her mother was murdered when Jo was younger, and she’s built a new life with people who don’t know that history. Then she receives a box of unopened letters from prison addressed to her, and before she can open them they’re stolen. Suddenly Jo realises someone must be hiding a very dark secret. Now the past is rushing back. And rather than let the past define her, Jo resolves to unearth the truth before that someone unearths her.

The novel is set in the historic streets of Edinburgh and uses its setting to amplify the mood of tension and the creeping fear of being watched.

The idea of past trauma resurfacing in an everyday, 'normal' life is used effectively, and that contrast between the calm surface and the under-currents of menace works beautifully.

Jo is a compelling lead character: we sense the weight she carries, her need to keep things safe, and the fear that someone else might upset the quiet life that  she’s created. That emotional tension draws you in.

The sense of place adds so much atmosphere, as is the norm with this author's books. Edinburgh becomes more than backdrop: its historic streets and hidden corners mirror the themes of hidden pasts and things being uncovered.

If you enjoy a thriller that combines emotional depth with a strong mystery, built on character and setting rather than just things that make you jump, then Watch Your Back is a very good choice. Emma Christie has crafted a story where you feel the weight of the past, the fragility of the present, and the danger of what lies ahead. I found it engaging from beginning to end, and the ending is really satisfying.

It's solid, engrossing, and will leave you looking over your shoulder long after you finish. Recommended by me. 

Emma Christie writes psychological thrillers set in Portobello, Edinburgh's thriving
seaside neighbourhood. 

Her debut novel The Silent Daughter was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2021, shortlisted for the Scottish Crime Debut of the Year 2021 and longlisted for the Crime Writers' Association John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger Award 2021. 

It was followed in 2022 by her highly acclaimed novels Find Her First and In Her Shadow. 

When she's not travelling in her campervan, Emma lives in Barcelona with her partner Mari and far too many plants. 

Find her online at www.emmachristiewriter.com or across social media @theemmachristie.

Always On My Mind by Carys Green #AlwaysOnMyMind @CarysGAuthor @harvillbooks @carysgreenauthor.bsky.social #BookReview

 

You can hear his every thought. But he can hear yours too...

When Elijah suggests going to OneMind to celebrate their ten-year anniversary, Anna is dubious about getting the implant that will allow them to hear each other’s thoughts. However, she’s eager to please him, and to make up for the fact she can’t give him what he really wants, she agrees to take this step towards the ultimate intimacy.

And at first things are great. Anna feels closer to her husband, and the novelty of communicating mind to mind is a thrill. But then she develops a strange side effect and begins having dreams that aren’t dreams, but memories. Memories that aren’t hers. And if Anna is now seeing Elijah’s memories, what if he can see hers? Will he discover what she's kept buried in her past?

Desperate to keep the truth from her husband, Anna's mind becomes a prison she can't escape. How long can she keep the traitorous thoughts at bay before she drives herself mad?

A clever exploration of toxic relationships, power imbalances, and privacy from an exciting new voice in the high-concept thriller space.

Always On My Mind by Carys Green was published by Harvill Secker on 27 February 2025. I bought my copy online. 

My friend Tracy from Compulsive Readers posted her review of this book a few months ago, as soon as I read that review, I knew that I needed to read the book. I purchased a copy and read it whilst on holiday in Corfu last month.  What a roller coaster of a read, I was totally hooked from the first page. 

From the beginnin, this novel pulls you into an intimate domestic situation with an extraordinary twist. Anna and Elijah appear to have a comfortable, modern marriage, they live in a smart, gadget-laden home and they both have career ambitions.  But the author soon introduces a technological surprise: a neural implant designed to let them share thoughts, memories, intimacy. It’s an unusual concept, and I immediately began to think about consent, privacy and what we mean by “knowing” another person.

Carys Green handles this premise with delicacy. At first the implant seems like the ultimate act of love and transparency, a promise of deeper connection. For Anna it offers something she’s longed for: to be closer to Elijah and feel more loved by him.  But beneath the surface she carries a secret, a guilt, a story she has buried. And as the device begins its work, the marriage cracks begin to widen. The technology doesn’t simply bring them closer, it begins to make everything that was unspoken much louder, everything they hoped the other wouldn’t see.

The strength of the book in in the layers of complexity. The domestic details; the way the house hums with sensors, the small gestures between husband and wife enable the author to create a believable world. Then the glitch is introduced: memories not quite Anna’s, thoughts that are not purely Elijah’s, a sense of surveillance, and the fear that what was promised as intimacy might become intrusion. For a good portion of the book I was reading with a sort of cold-sinking feeling in my stomach, waiting for the moment when the control shifts. And it does — the narrative grows tighter, more claustrophobic.  And, you are all going to hate me for saying this but I often let out a breath that I hadn't known that I was holding!! 

The characters are flawed. Anna sometimes act impulsively; she doubts, she hesitates, she wonders whether to trust what she’s hearing in her own head. Elijah is charismatic, ambitious, he appears to be very loving, yet the more you see of him through the implant’s lens, the more ambiguous his motives become.

The build up of the plot is fairly slow, and the sceptics amongst us may question the technology behind the implant, and wonder who on earth would sign up for it.  I'm very happily married but there's noway I want to be in husband's head, or for him to be in mine. However, if you love thoughtful, psychological domestic suspense with a speculative edge, then this is for you! 

Always On My Mind is a gripping, unsettling book that asks “How much of your mind can you share — and survive?” It weaves together marriage, memory, technology and the hidden places in ourselves we prefer to keep locked away. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers with a reflective heart, where the device is as much a character as the people.

Carys Green is a thriller writer based in Shropshire, where she lives with her husband and daughter. 

When she’s not writing she can often be found indulging two of her greatest passions - either walking round the local woodland or catching up on all things Disney related.

X @CarysGAuthor

IG @carysgreenauthor

Let The Bells Ring Out by Milly Johnson BLOG TOUR #LetTheBellsRingOut @millyjohnson @TeamBATC @simonschusterUK @themillyjohnson.bsky.social

 

Seven people, four days and a snowy Christmas on board a luxury sleeper train. This festive season getting away from it all takes on a new meaning…

The Yorkshire Belle is a glamorous steam train all decked out for an escapist festive getaway. It is not supposed to be where a group of people, all trying to get to their destinations for the holidays, will spend their Christmas. 

Seven people, each with their own hopes and dreams, secrets and sorrows, board the train as strangers, but as the snow keeps falling and they realise they are going nowhere fast, they are forced to slow down and embrace the present.

This Christmas on board the Yorkshire Belle, will the friendships they make change their lives forever?

Let The Bells Ring Out by Milly Johnson is published today; 23 October 2025 by Simon and Schuster. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour 

Milly Johnson is celebrating 20 years since her first book deal this year, I think I've been with since book one, and that warm feeling of anticipation when her latest book arrives never goes away. She's an author who writes with warmth and wit and who deals with the issues faced by ordinary people. I've been lucky enough to meet Milly many times, and I always read her books in her voice! 

In Let The Bells Ring Out the story revolves around seven strangers who board a luxury sleeper train called the Yorkshire Belle, each travelling for their own reasons during the run-up to Christmas. But when a snowstorm hits, they become stranded together on the train for four days — unable to reach their destinations, forced to share space and time and slowly open up to one another. 

As the snow builds and the journey stalls, the characters are cut off from the usual distractions (phones don’t work, they are reliant on one radio station) and so the novel leans into the relationships that develop, the secrets that surface, the friendships forged in unusual circumstances.

The author uses this confined setting to explore themes of community, second chances, change and renewal in the spirit of a Christmas story, but with more emotional weight than a purely cosy read.

Setting this story on a glamorous vintage train, decked out for Christmas and then stuck in a snowstorm makes for a strong story. The physical constraint of the actual train creates and enhances the  natural intimacy, tension and reflections of the passengers on board.  And it is the variety and the relatability of those passenger characters that add such depth to this tale. Each one has their own back story. They carry sorrows and secrets and hope and feel as though they could be your own family, or friends. 

This isn't your usual Christmas novel, it is so much more than that. The author shows how extraordinary circumstances can force people to slow down a little, to look at themselves and each other in different ways, and to finally make choices that they have put off. 

Let the Bells Ring Out is a warm, comforting novel that delivers on its promise of festive escape while also offering genuine emotional substance. If you enjoy books that make you feel cosy and hopeful but also allow for reflection, this is one for you. 

Recommended by me. 

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the
author of 23 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella ('The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe') and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poet, a professional joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020, the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2021 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Her 23rd Novel 'Let the Bells Ring Out' will be available from October 23rd. Seven strangers going to various places for Christmas are forced together when the train they are travelling on breaks down in a severe snowstorm. They have to spend the whole of Christmas together in the lap of luxury and life will never be the same for any of them again. Because with nothing to do but talk and share their stories, they find that they can give to each other - and take from each other. Never did anyone travel so far without actually going anywhere. The sister book to 'I Wish If Could be Christmas Every Day' - you don't need to read one to enjoy the other, but if you have... you'll spot some cheeky little crossovers.

Do check out Milly's website - it's easy to find if you search for her name. She has a monthly newsletter with insider info, competitions and even birthday celebrations.

The Winter Job by Antti Tuomainen BLOG TOUR #TheWinterJob T. @countertenorist @OrendaBooks #Finland #DarkComedy #BookReview

 

Sofas, secrets and a snowbound road to trouble…

Helsinki, 1982. Recently divorced postal worker Ilmari Nieminen has promised his daughter a piano for Christmas, but with six days to go – and no money – he’s desperate. 

A last-minute job offers a solution: transport a valuable antique sofa to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost town in Finland. 

With the sofa secured in the back of his van, Ilmari stops at a gas station, and an old friend turns up, offering to fix his faulty wipers, on the condition that he tags along. Soon after, a persistent Saab 96 appears in the rearview mirror. And then a bright-yellow Lada.

That’s when Ilmari realises that he is transporting something truly special. 

And that’s when Ilmari realises he might be in serious trouble…

A darkly funny and unexpectedly moving thriller about friendship, love and death – The Winter Job tears through the frozen landscape of northern Finland in a beat-up van with bad steering, worse timing, and everything to lose…

The Winter Job by Antti Tuomainen is published on 23 October 2025 by Orenda Books and is translated by David Hackston. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy as part of this Blog Tour 

Oh how my heart sings when I begin a new book by Antti Tuomainen. That yearly delight of some Finnish crime, with dark humour and crazy plotting is just the best and once again, he has not let me down. Do take a look at that wonderful cover image too, it is superb and exactly depicts the words inside the book. 

The Winter Job is set in Finland in 1982, and follows Ilmari Nieminen, a recently divorced postal worker who’s made a Christmas promise to his daughter — a piano — but has almost no time and even less money. 

Desperate, he takes a last-minute job transporting a valuable antique sofa all the way to Kilpisjärvi, which is way up north.  Along the way, complications begin: an old friend shows up, repairs are needed, and soon Ilmari realises that someone is tailing him (a Saab 96, a bright-yellow Lada) and what he is transporting may be more than just furniture. 

What starts as a fairly simple job gets tangled with danger, unexpected passengers, secrets, and moral complications. It becomes not just about delivery, but about friendship, love, what a father will do, and how far someone will go when promises are at stake. 

It's a complicated plot, with a cast of characters that arrive on the page to bring joy and laughter, and also anxiety, and some love. 

The wintry Finnish setting is vivid and cold and bleak in just the right way. It amplifies the urgency, the isolation, and the danger. The author does a good job using landscape, weather, and environment not just as backdrop but as part of the tension.

As always, and something that has become something of a trademark for this author; there’s a dark humour throughout. Some moments that are absurd, ironic, or wry and these balance the threat and keep things from becoming unduly grim. It helps the characters feel more real, even sympathetic.

As well as the crime thriller story, The Winter Job looks at responsibility (especially fatherly), morality (does the end justify the means?), trust, friendship, and what sacrifices people make. It’s these deeper human questions that lift the book beyond a mere chase or road trip thriller.

The Winter Job is a highly enjoyable thriller that does more than just deliver thrills. If you like road-trip stories, rugged landscapes, and characters who are flawed but sympathetic, this one is for you. The emotional heart; what a father is willing to do, what friendship means, the cost of promise adds depth. 

Highly recommended by me 

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007
as a suspense author. 

In 2011, Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for Best Finnish Crime Novel and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. 

In 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. 

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. 

Palm Beach, Finland (2018) was an immense success, with The Times calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’, and Little Siberia (2019) was shortlisted for the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA International Dagger, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. It was released as a Netflix film in 2025. 

The Rabbit Factor, the first book in a trilogy that includes The Moose Paradox and The Beaver Theory, is now in production for TV with Amazon Studios, starring Steve Carell. The Moose Paradox was a Literary Review and Guardian Book of the Year and shortlisted for CrimeFest’s Last Laugh Award. The trilogy was followed in 2024 by The Burning Stones.

Antti lives in Helsinki with his wife.

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