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…
From the international bestselling author of The Man Who Died and The Rabbit Factor, comes a darkly funny, delightfully tense new thriller that showcases humanity at its most bare – in middle age, suspected of murder and, of course, in a sauna…
The Burning Stones by Antti Tuomainen is published on 24 October 2024 by Orenda Books. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. The book is translated by David Hackston.
Being Finnish, this author knows a lot about saunas, and in The Burning Stones we are treated to an opening chapter that shows just how dangerous sitting amongst red hot coals can be. Ilmo Räty has recently been made head of Steam Devil; a long standing company that supplies sauna stoves throughout the country. Sitting back to enjoy a sauna, Ilmo has no idea what is in store. He doesn't leave the sauna. An intruder makes sure of that, and Ilmo is welded to the bench as the temperatures rise. Dead.
We follow Anni as she tries her best to prove her innocence and also does her own investigation into what really took place that day. Anni is a complex character, she loves a sauna, she's married to a man who is far more interested in Formula One racing and she often looks back on her past, with regret.
This is a laugh out loud hilarious story at times. Tuomainen's characters are wonderfully formed, each and every one of them are totally unique, and their interactions with each other are so fabulous to follow.
Once more, this talented, original, funny and very fine author has delivered a story to savour. One to chuckle at, one to discover the world of the sauna business and one to experience the wonders of the Finnish landscape. Recommended by me.
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