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Maria Kallio #9
Rivo satakieli
Jorvin sairaalaan tuodaan pahasti viillelty vähäpukeinen nainen. Maria Kallion epäilykset kytköksestä maksullisen seksin maailmaan heräävät kunnolla seuraavana päivänä, kun tunnettu prostituoitu murhataan suorassa televisiolähetyksessä.
Julkkisprostituoitu Lulu Nightingale on tarjonnut seksipalveluja Rivo Satakieli -studiossaan, jonka asiakkaisiin lukeutuu myös yhteiskunnan nokkahenkilöitä. Murhatun prostituoidun ovat tavanneet hämärissä merkeissä myös vaikutusvaltainen televisiojuontaja Ilari Länsimies ja KRP:n komisario Lasse Nordström.
Maria Kallion ja hänen alaistensa tutkimuksia haittaa reviiritaistelu keskusrikospoliisin alamaailmaoperaation kanssa. Kaiken lisäksi henkirikoksia tulee lisää. Maria Kallion elämää ei tee helpommaksi myöskään se että hänen aviomiehensä Antti viihtyy niin hyvin työpaikallaan Vaasassa.
“Seuraava kaappi oli täynnä kenkiä, joukossa myös Nokian kumisaappaat ja keltaiset puukengät. Kolmannessa kaapissa oli peruukkeja ja naamioita sekä aikuisten vaippoja ja litran vetoinen, isotuttinen muovipullo. Neljäs kaappi oli järjestetty kuin purjehdus- ja rautakaupan hyllyt: köysiä, kettinkejä, lukkoja, viidet erilaiset käsiraudat ja yhdet jalkaraudat. Piiskat ja nipistimet olivat päätykaapissa, kuten myös ulosvedettävä vaunu, jossa oli cd-soitin ja pieni televisio videoineen. Kaikki oli hyvässä järjestyksessä, tavarat oli helppo löytää. Silti huoneessa oli omituinen tunnelma, aivan kuin siellä jaetut lyönnit ja suudelmat olisivat jääneet kaikumaan seiniin, kuin eri ruumiiden eritteet olisivat edelleen tuoksuneet.”
Rivo Satakieli on Leena Lehtolaisen yhdeksäs Maria Kallio -dekkari ja samalla vastustamattomasti mukaansa imaiseva jännityskertomus ajankohtaisista ja poliittisesti arkaluonteisista kysymyksistä.
Cover Image Artist/Päällys: Markko Taina
Photographer/Valokuva: Ondrea Barbe/Corbis/SKOY
Julkkisprostituoitu Lulu Nightingale on tarjonnut seksipalveluja Rivo Satakieli -studiossaan, jonka asiakkaisiin lukeutuu myös yhteiskunnan nokkahenkilöitä. Murhatun prostituoidun ovat tavanneet hämärissä merkeissä myös vaikutusvaltainen televisiojuontaja Ilari Länsimies ja KRP:n komisario Lasse Nordström.
Maria Kallion ja hänen alaistensa tutkimuksia haittaa reviiritaistelu keskusrikospoliisin alamaailmaoperaation kanssa. Kaiken lisäksi henkirikoksia tulee lisää. Maria Kallion elämää ei tee helpommaksi myöskään se että hänen aviomiehensä Antti viihtyy niin hyvin työpaikallaan Vaasassa.
“Seuraava kaappi oli täynnä kenkiä, joukossa myös Nokian kumisaappaat ja keltaiset puukengät. Kolmannessa kaapissa oli peruukkeja ja naamioita sekä aikuisten vaippoja ja litran vetoinen, isotuttinen muovipullo. Neljäs kaappi oli järjestetty kuin purjehdus- ja rautakaupan hyllyt: köysiä, kettinkejä, lukkoja, viidet erilaiset käsiraudat ja yhdet jalkaraudat. Piiskat ja nipistimet olivat päätykaapissa, kuten myös ulosvedettävä vaunu, jossa oli cd-soitin ja pieni televisio videoineen. Kaikki oli hyvässä järjestyksessä, tavarat oli helppo löytää. Silti huoneessa oli omituinen tunnelma, aivan kuin siellä jaetut lyönnit ja suudelmat olisivat jääneet kaikumaan seiniin, kuin eri ruumiiden eritteet olisivat edelleen tuoksuneet.”
Rivo Satakieli on Leena Lehtolaisen yhdeksäs Maria Kallio -dekkari ja samalla vastustamattomasti mukaansa imaiseva jännityskertomus ajankohtaisista ja poliittisesti arkaluonteisista kysymyksistä.
Cover Image Artist/Päällys: Markko Taina
Photographer/Valokuva: Ondrea Barbe/Corbis/SKOY
346 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
246 people are currently reading
697 people want to read
About the author
Leena Lehtolainen
94 books271 followersLeena Katriina Lehtolainen is a Finnish crime novelist, best known for her series of novels about the policewoman Maria Kallio.
Lehtolainen was born in Vesanto, Northern Savonia. Her first novel was released when she was only 12 years old. She studied literature in Helsinki until 1995 and wrote crime novels from 1993 on. Since about 2007 she has written other genres of books. Her works have been translated into various languages: Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Lithuanian, Polish, French, Swedish, German, Estonian, Czech.
Lehtolainen was born in Vesanto, Northern Savonia. Her first novel was released when she was only 12 years old. She studied literature in Helsinki until 1995 and wrote crime novels from 1993 on. Since about 2007 she has written other genres of books. Her works have been translated into various languages: Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Lithuanian, Polish, French, Swedish, German, Estonian, Czech.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 12, 2018
4 stars
I enjoyed reading this book, translated from Finnish. It is set in Espoo, Finland and is book 9 in the series, but worked fine for me even though I haven't read any of the other books in the series.
The book opens when a young woman is found badly cut up in her genital area. Maria Kallio, head of the VCU(Violent Crime Unit), is called to the scene and then goes to the hospital to interview the victim, who is evidently a Russian prostitute who speaks very little Finnish or English, Maria's 2 languages. Maria realizes the woman is very afraid. The woman disappears from the hospital the next day and then a celebrity call girl, Lulu Nightingale is found dead from poison. Maria believes that there is a connection between the 2 and starts to investigate, putting her family life on hold.
The plot line shows that much of police work is tedious and boring, endless hours of viewing videotapes from various video cams connected to the crime scenes and interviewing every possible witness, and canvassing the neighborhood for more information.
Maria and her team do narrow the suspect list down to 1 person after some false leads. I liked the way the plot developed and the way the various police officers are portrayed, balancing personal lives against a demanding investigation.
There is some violence, and 1 graphic scene of rape, if that disturbs you.
Some quotes: Lulu's apartment: "The light was dim, the tiles black and red, as was the toilet, the sink, and the bidet. Somewhere Lulu had even managed to find black toilet paper."
Meeting a possible suspect: "He shook my hand, but his smile didn't reach his eyes."
Maria's boss: "Kaartomo was talking like George W. Bush trying to convince the rest of the western world to support his bombing campaign in Iraq. I believed him just as little as I believed George double-idiot."
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for sending me this ARC ebook.
I enjoyed reading this book, translated from Finnish. It is set in Espoo, Finland and is book 9 in the series, but worked fine for me even though I haven't read any of the other books in the series.
The book opens when a young woman is found badly cut up in her genital area. Maria Kallio, head of the VCU(Violent Crime Unit), is called to the scene and then goes to the hospital to interview the victim, who is evidently a Russian prostitute who speaks very little Finnish or English, Maria's 2 languages. Maria realizes the woman is very afraid. The woman disappears from the hospital the next day and then a celebrity call girl, Lulu Nightingale is found dead from poison. Maria believes that there is a connection between the 2 and starts to investigate, putting her family life on hold.
The plot line shows that much of police work is tedious and boring, endless hours of viewing videotapes from various video cams connected to the crime scenes and interviewing every possible witness, and canvassing the neighborhood for more information.
Maria and her team do narrow the suspect list down to 1 person after some false leads. I liked the way the plot developed and the way the various police officers are portrayed, balancing personal lives against a demanding investigation.
There is some violence, and 1 graphic scene of rape, if that disturbs you.
Some quotes: Lulu's apartment: "The light was dim, the tiles black and red, as was the toilet, the sink, and the bidet. Somewhere Lulu had even managed to find black toilet paper."
Meeting a possible suspect: "He shook my hand, but his smile didn't reach his eyes."
Maria's boss: "Kaartomo was talking like George W. Bush trying to convince the rest of the western world to support his bombing campaign in Iraq. I believed him just as little as I believed George double-idiot."
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for sending me this ARC ebook.
April 12, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The murder mystery and investigation were complex and had a ring of realism to them.. I am tired of American police novels where everything is pulled together perfectly and it is more about drama and less about solid police work. The characters in Nightingale are realistic; they have their flaws and make their mistakes, but they are dedicated and diligent and it eventually pays off. Just like real life. I especially related to the main character Maria Kallio. Maria is the Lt. Detective in charge of the investigation but she is also a wife and mother and she struggles at times to juggle all her priorities. It exhausts her to keep up with everything and she must also face sexism and harassment, just like important women always seem to face. One reviewer noted that they were turned off by the political references but I was fascinated by the glimpses into Finnish politics and culture throughout the book. And the case definitely spun on political themes.
When you first open the book and find the list of character names and roles, it is a bit daunting. The names are very unfamiliar and long to Americans, but surprisingly I had no trouble keeping the large cast of characters straight. And the translations was flawless. It never read like a translated book and the writing was excellent. The book is number nine is a series and it does refer to earlier cases but that does not detract from the plot. The book does stand alone although it made me interested in reading the earlier book too. It is so much fun to read about life in other countries and the challenges that Finland faces against its Eastern European neighbors, especially with the Russian Mafia and sex trafficking so prevalent. And it was interesting to read about a country with limited power and resources compared to the U.S. I highly recommend this book.
When you first open the book and find the list of character names and roles, it is a bit daunting. The names are very unfamiliar and long to Americans, but surprisingly I had no trouble keeping the large cast of characters straight. And the translations was flawless. It never read like a translated book and the writing was excellent. The book is number nine is a series and it does refer to earlier cases but that does not detract from the plot. The book does stand alone although it made me interested in reading the earlier book too. It is so much fun to read about life in other countries and the challenges that Finland faces against its Eastern European neighbors, especially with the Russian Mafia and sex trafficking so prevalent. And it was interesting to read about a country with limited power and resources compared to the U.S. I highly recommend this book.
February 16, 2018
This was a very involved murder mystery that Leena took the time to figure out how to proceed. She also took the time to figure out how Maria and Antti would stay together with their children. It took one of the most extreme acts to get Maria disturbed enough to possibly change jobs. Life changing struggles. If you want to have a well deserved read, read this book.
April 1, 2018
Maria's involved in an intense police department investigation--murder, prostitution, human trafficking, rape, and the Russian mob. With many potential suspects and little concrete information, she must use her judgement and intuition to solve the case, all the time feeling guilty about spending so much time away from her family.
April 14, 2018
Scary stuff just a little too real. Excellent portrayal of the life of cops anywhere with the problems of departmental budget and inadequate staff as well as the overflow into home life. As a procedural it is very good in that it clearly depicts the frustrations of due diligence in trying to track down a particularly disgusting murderer before it happens again. Well done. I can only assume that the translation is just as well done.
I won the ebook in a Goodreads Giveaway and started a few chapters when I realized that I could get the Whispersync audio for less! So I did, and I enjoyed the audio interpretation by Amy Rubinate.
I won the ebook in a Goodreads Giveaway and started a few chapters when I realized that I could get the Whispersync audio for less! So I did, and I enjoyed the audio interpretation by Amy Rubinate.
March 25, 2018
For fans of Finnish noir. This was actually published in Finland in 2005, which makes me wonder how or if it would be different had Lehtolainen written it in 2018 as it focuses on the highly topical issue of human trafficking and sex workers. Maria is one tough cop but she's also a wife and mother, making her balancing act one of the most appealing aspects of the novel. Thanks to Amazon for bringing world literature in translation to us and to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a well done procedural with a lot of atmospherics (love the details of life in Finland.).
January 21, 2018
4 stars
A young woman who is badly mutilated is found at a roadside. She is possibly of Eastern European or Russian descent. She barely responds to police questions in any language. Lieutenant Maria Kallio suspects that she might be a member of the sex trade. As the police set about to learn the woman’s identity, they receive a telephone call from the hospital. The woman has disappeared.
Meanwhile, on a televised talk show, one of the guests is murdered. It is Lulu Nightingale who was a vocal representative for the sex trade industry and call girl. Detective Lieutenant Maria Kallio and her team respond to the call. Maria and her team begin interviewing Lulu’s bodyguard and the other guests on the show.
As the investigation continues, Maria speculates about who would want the woman dead. Is it organized crime? Was it someone on the show on which she was to guest?
How Maria balances being a wife, a mother and her career is frustrating at times, but works out beautifully. She is very intelligent and driven to be the best at all of her “jobs.” The descriptions of life in Finland are observant and particularly astute.
This book is well written and plotted as are all of Leena Lehtolainen’s novels. The tension begins immediately in the story with the cutting of the woman and continues throughout the story. I tip my hat to the translator as well. They did a beautiful job that made the book easily readable in English. I’ve read Ms. Lehtolainen’s novels before and have enjoyed them as well. This is a great addition to the series.
I want to thank NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read and enjoy.
A young woman who is badly mutilated is found at a roadside. She is possibly of Eastern European or Russian descent. She barely responds to police questions in any language. Lieutenant Maria Kallio suspects that she might be a member of the sex trade. As the police set about to learn the woman’s identity, they receive a telephone call from the hospital. The woman has disappeared.
Meanwhile, on a televised talk show, one of the guests is murdered. It is Lulu Nightingale who was a vocal representative for the sex trade industry and call girl. Detective Lieutenant Maria Kallio and her team respond to the call. Maria and her team begin interviewing Lulu’s bodyguard and the other guests on the show.
As the investigation continues, Maria speculates about who would want the woman dead. Is it organized crime? Was it someone on the show on which she was to guest?
How Maria balances being a wife, a mother and her career is frustrating at times, but works out beautifully. She is very intelligent and driven to be the best at all of her “jobs.” The descriptions of life in Finland are observant and particularly astute.
This book is well written and plotted as are all of Leena Lehtolainen’s novels. The tension begins immediately in the story with the cutting of the woman and continues throughout the story. I tip my hat to the translator as well. They did a beautiful job that made the book easily readable in English. I’ve read Ms. Lehtolainen’s novels before and have enjoyed them as well. This is a great addition to the series.
I want to thank NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read and enjoy.
November 30, 2012
Tämä on klassinen Maria Kallio kertomus. Niinkuin muissakin Lehtolaisen tarinoissa, Marian työ ja kotielämä heijastavat toisiaan. Kun nuori venäläistyttö löytyy viilleltynä, ja vähäpukeisena lumihankeen jätettynä, Kallion epäilykset heräävät että kyseessä on maksullisen seksin uhri. Kotona hänen tyttärensä kertoo koulussa häneen kohtuneista houra-herjauksista, ja tunnettu julkkis-ilotyttö löydetään murhattuna suoran TV-ohjelman aikana.
Minulle kuitenkin tämä romaani on koti-ikävän parannusta: on kiva lukea kirjaa joka kertoo tämän päivän Espoosta, paikasta josta itse lähdin jo kolmekymmnetä vuotta sitten, kun muutin Englantiin. Aihe on siis minulle melkein samantekevää, vaikka Maria Kallio onkin erittän hyvin kuvailtu nykyajan suomalainen nainen, jonka seikkauluja mielellään seuraan.
Ainoa pieni ongelm minulla Leena Lehtolaisen kirjoissa on se, että ne ovat liian hitaasti eteenmeneviä. Useissa kohdissa tässäkin kertomuksessa olisi ihan hyvin voinut jättää muutaman kahvitaon tai automatkan lyhyemmäksi. Lukijan ei tarvitse tietää ihan kaikkia jokapäiväisiä yksityiskohtia auton oven lukkimisesta tai kännykän taskuulaittamisesta - elleivät ne tietysti ole olennaisia juonelle!
PS. Tämä onkin minun ensimmäinen suomeksi kirjoitettu arvostelu n 25 vuoteen. Toivottavasti osaan vielä kirjoittaa selvää suomen kieltä!
Minulle kuitenkin tämä romaani on koti-ikävän parannusta: on kiva lukea kirjaa joka kertoo tämän päivän Espoosta, paikasta josta itse lähdin jo kolmekymmnetä vuotta sitten, kun muutin Englantiin. Aihe on siis minulle melkein samantekevää, vaikka Maria Kallio onkin erittän hyvin kuvailtu nykyajan suomalainen nainen, jonka seikkauluja mielellään seuraan.
Ainoa pieni ongelm minulla Leena Lehtolaisen kirjoissa on se, että ne ovat liian hitaasti eteenmeneviä. Useissa kohdissa tässäkin kertomuksessa olisi ihan hyvin voinut jättää muutaman kahvitaon tai automatkan lyhyemmäksi. Lukijan ei tarvitse tietää ihan kaikkia jokapäiväisiä yksityiskohtia auton oven lukkimisesta tai kännykän taskuulaittamisesta - elleivät ne tietysti ole olennaisia juonelle!
PS. Tämä onkin minun ensimmäinen suomeksi kirjoitettu arvostelu n 25 vuoteen. Toivottavasti osaan vielä kirjoittaa selvää suomen kieltä!
October 15, 2015
Loistava kirja, mutta en tämän jälkeen vuoteen pystynyt lukemaan kyseistä dekkarisarjaa.
Spoiler & TW: raiskaus
Spoiler & TW: raiskaus
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2018
Well, what a read. Enthralling from the get-go. A brutal murder takes place almost live on national tv. Ilari Länsimie's show Surprise Guests is doing a show on prostitution 'Should it be legal?'. A pastor - Terhi Pihlaja, Lasse Norström from the National Bureau of Investigation, Anna-Maija Mustajoki recente retiree from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Then a 'john' was called out Mauri Hytönen. As the debate heated up Länsimies called out his final guest Lulu Nightingale a prostitute. Except a woman runs screaming onto the stage. Shouting 'she's dead' Lasse wants to know who is dead. They get it out of her. Lulu is dead. Maria had been watching so was at the scene fairly quickly. It's surmised that Lulu had died in agony. Cyanide. Thus kicks off an investigation that will test Maria like no other case has done before.
A young Russian woman is found dumped in the snow. She's been cut up badly. She finds out that her name is Oksana. Then she disappears from the hospital. Had her pimp sent enforcers round to grab her? To make matters worse for Maria she has to deal with the man Arto 'Hatchetman' Saarnio, the man who had laid off people from Copperwood. Her sister's husband had worked there. The suspect list grows fairly quickly, the prime suspect being Tero Sulonen Lulu's bodyguard.
In Maria's personal life it's looking like it might be unraveling. She suspects that her husband - Antti - might be cheating on her. He is also being stubborn about taking some money from his mother, which she wants him to take and do something to improve his life with. As Maria, Koivu and Ursula dig deeper they suspect that the killing of Lulu is something more than just the death of a sex worker. To complicate matters Arto's wife disappears, only to be found a short time later, dead. She had been killed the same way as Lulu. But why? She had no real links to the sex industry. Then an overheard conversation takes Maria head on into the wind. Straight to the heart of why Lulu was murdered.
This made for a breakneck finish to the book, as murders where found out why. A couple of other crimes committed - not saying what, for you to find out - that changed the direction of the case entirely. The finish was amazing. I am really looking forward to book ten. It is going to be very interesting indeed.
As usual with Leena's books and her writing top notch. Great characters. Believable actions and reactions to situations.
A young Russian woman is found dumped in the snow. She's been cut up badly. She finds out that her name is Oksana. Then she disappears from the hospital. Had her pimp sent enforcers round to grab her? To make matters worse for Maria she has to deal with the man Arto 'Hatchetman' Saarnio, the man who had laid off people from Copperwood. Her sister's husband had worked there. The suspect list grows fairly quickly, the prime suspect being Tero Sulonen Lulu's bodyguard.
In Maria's personal life it's looking like it might be unraveling. She suspects that her husband - Antti - might be cheating on her. He is also being stubborn about taking some money from his mother, which she wants him to take and do something to improve his life with. As Maria, Koivu and Ursula dig deeper they suspect that the killing of Lulu is something more than just the death of a sex worker. To complicate matters Arto's wife disappears, only to be found a short time later, dead. She had been killed the same way as Lulu. But why? She had no real links to the sex industry. Then an overheard conversation takes Maria head on into the wind. Straight to the heart of why Lulu was murdered.
This made for a breakneck finish to the book, as murders where found out why. A couple of other crimes committed - not saying what, for you to find out - that changed the direction of the case entirely. The finish was amazing. I am really looking forward to book ten. It is going to be very interesting indeed.
As usual with Leena's books and her writing top notch. Great characters. Believable actions and reactions to situations.
January 20, 2018
Thank you Netgalley and AmazonCrossing for the eARC.
This is such a good series, I love it. Not only because it's set in Finland, but also because of the protagonist, Detective Lieutenant Maria Kallio. She's a strong, very likeable and relatable wife and mother, who has to juggle her private and work lives...there are hardly enough hours in the day, but somehow she makes it work. It puts the occasional strain on her marriage, but even at those times she is smart enough to smooth things out.
Her first case this time is the severely slashed young Russian woman, probably a prostitute, who after being rushed to hospital, cannot or will not talk. Soon thereafter she disappears and with no identification, she's impossible to find.
At the same time another prostitute, the famous, successful and independent Lulu Nightingale is scheduled to appear on a popular talk show. But before coming on stage, she's found dead, probably poisoned. The tabloids are going crazy and the pressure on Maria and her team to solve the case is intense. Who would want to kill Lulu? Her clients were from the highest echelons in society and she was an astute business woman who'd never unmask them or their proclivities. Was it the Mafia or other organizations who were threatened by her independence and her growing admirers amongst working girls? It's proving a tough and frustrating case.
The glimpses of life and politics in Finland are fascinating; thanks to this series and Google I'm learning a lot about Finland. Even getting used to the Finnish names, whilst tricky, is fun and definitely worthwhile. Kudos to the translator, the words flow beautifully. May we soon see more translations of Leena Lehtolainen's books. Since this one was published in Finland in 2005, I'm assuming (keeping my fingers crossed) we will dive into Maria's life very soon again!
This is such a good series, I love it. Not only because it's set in Finland, but also because of the protagonist, Detective Lieutenant Maria Kallio. She's a strong, very likeable and relatable wife and mother, who has to juggle her private and work lives...there are hardly enough hours in the day, but somehow she makes it work. It puts the occasional strain on her marriage, but even at those times she is smart enough to smooth things out.
Her first case this time is the severely slashed young Russian woman, probably a prostitute, who after being rushed to hospital, cannot or will not talk. Soon thereafter she disappears and with no identification, she's impossible to find.
At the same time another prostitute, the famous, successful and independent Lulu Nightingale is scheduled to appear on a popular talk show. But before coming on stage, she's found dead, probably poisoned. The tabloids are going crazy and the pressure on Maria and her team to solve the case is intense. Who would want to kill Lulu? Her clients were from the highest echelons in society and she was an astute business woman who'd never unmask them or their proclivities. Was it the Mafia or other organizations who were threatened by her independence and her growing admirers amongst working girls? It's proving a tough and frustrating case.
The glimpses of life and politics in Finland are fascinating; thanks to this series and Google I'm learning a lot about Finland. Even getting used to the Finnish names, whilst tricky, is fun and definitely worthwhile. Kudos to the translator, the words flow beautifully. May we soon see more translations of Leena Lehtolainen's books. Since this one was published in Finland in 2005, I'm assuming (keeping my fingers crossed) we will dive into Maria's life very soon again!
June 24, 2018
9th in the Series set in Finland and featuring Police Detective maria Kallio. In this entry, a girl is found knifed and mutilated, but not dead. She's presumed to be a prostitute and undocumented. Before Maria can really get a handle on the case, though, she leave the hospital and disappears. Meanwhile, on a popular talk show, the final guest fails to show up and is found dead in the dressing room -- the topic of discussion is whether prostitution should be legalized and the guest is a high level 'escort'. Maria is convinced the two events are connected but there are a lot of other connections complicating the investigation.
This is a strong series, sometimes a bit dark -- definitely not cozy. But I always really enjoy them. You can actually read any one without reference to earlier books if you're a person that doesn't get twitchy reading a series out of order.
This is a strong series, sometimes a bit dark -- definitely not cozy. But I always really enjoy them. You can actually read any one without reference to earlier books if you're a person that doesn't get twitchy reading a series out of order.
April 3, 2018
Powerful next chapter
Maria’s life has fast-forwarded a few years and she has settled well into her position in Espoo’s police force. An attack on a young woman starts a chain of events in her most complex case to date. In the meantime, Maria learns more about herself and her family.
Ms. Lehtolainen dangles hints just out of reach; the clues suggest this way and that, but coalesce into a satisfying final picture. The smells and colors within the text weave an engrossing backdrop - not always pleasant, but deep. I look forward to the next release.
Maria’s life has fast-forwarded a few years and she has settled well into her position in Espoo’s police force. An attack on a young woman starts a chain of events in her most complex case to date. In the meantime, Maria learns more about herself and her family.
Ms. Lehtolainen dangles hints just out of reach; the clues suggest this way and that, but coalesce into a satisfying final picture. The smells and colors within the text weave an engrossing backdrop - not always pleasant, but deep. I look forward to the next release.
March 30, 2018
I entered a drawing for many books as part of my membership in Good Reads. I won this book written by a Finnish author. It is number 9 in a series of books whose main character is a police woman named Maria Kallio. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I do like her exploration of feminism. In this book the topic is the sex trade and misogyny. It was an interesting book and I didn’t figure out who done it until it was revealed in the book.
June 26, 2021
Fantastic Plot!!!
As usual, Lehtolainen's next in the Marie Kalio series is brilliant as is the look at prostitution and the Russian connection in Finland. Well developed characters, great dialogue and twisting webs all come together seamlessly at the end. I really do appreciate the immediacy and insight into Maria's thinking that comes with the first person perspective. Maria is up for some changes...
As usual, Lehtolainen's next in the Marie Kalio series is brilliant as is the look at prostitution and the Russian connection in Finland. Well developed characters, great dialogue and twisting webs all come together seamlessly at the end. I really do appreciate the immediacy and insight into Maria's thinking that comes with the first person perspective. Maria is up for some changes...
September 23, 2023
Another good entry in this series.
Basically a police procedural, with a recurring cast of characters who get more fleshed out with each book.
Again, as so often shows up in these 'Nordic noir' serials, considerable emphasis on social and political issues in the respective countries - although they tend to cross boundaries.
I had guessed whodunit, but not until later did the explanation as to why get revealed.
Again, although you could get away with it, start with #1
Basically a police procedural, with a recurring cast of characters who get more fleshed out with each book.
Again, as so often shows up in these 'Nordic noir' serials, considerable emphasis on social and political issues in the respective countries - although they tend to cross boundaries.
I had guessed whodunit, but not until later did the explanation as to why get revealed.
Again, although you could get away with it, start with #1
July 3, 2024
Hyppäsin muutaman osan Maria Kallio -sarjassa kun sattui osumaan tämä käteen kesälukemiseksi. En tiedä menetinkö mitään? Tämä on ollut aika tasapaksu sarja, johon tämä yhdeksäs osa sopii ihan hyvin joukon jatkoksi. Perushyvää dekkaria, Maria on tietenkin hyvä tyyppi, mutta voisin ottaa vastaan enemmänkin esimerkkejä Marian sisukkuudesta. Ei tämä(kään) osa nyt paljon intohimoja herättänyt, mutta ihan hyvä juu.
May 13, 2025
A shocker
Maria Kallio is still struggling with balancing her career and home life . Antti is feeling pressure from his job and his mother so he is more short tempered with Maria's long hours. Book 9 opens with a graphic sex worker crime. The race to solve it before more people die gives the book a fast pace. I enjoyed seeing the gang work the clues to solve. I was shocked at what one of them endured. A good read.
Maria Kallio is still struggling with balancing her career and home life . Antti is feeling pressure from his job and his mother so he is more short tempered with Maria's long hours. Book 9 opens with a graphic sex worker crime. The race to solve it before more people die gives the book a fast pace. I enjoyed seeing the gang work the clues to solve. I was shocked at what one of them endured. A good read.
May 6, 2018
Thanks to Goodreads and the publsher for providing me with a free ebook.
This is my first book in the Maria Kallio book series so I didn't know what to anticipate. Pretty good book. A procedural read more than anythng else, I liked the flow. I'd recommend this book to those that like procedural/mystery/thriller.
I rounded up to 3.5 stars
This is my first book in the Maria Kallio book series so I didn't know what to anticipate. Pretty good book. A procedural read more than anythng else, I liked the flow. I'd recommend this book to those that like procedural/mystery/thriller.
I rounded up to 3.5 stars
May 21, 2018
I have read all the books in this series, and enjoy watching the main character develop as she experiences life and the growth and changes that come with it. I also like the way the stories develop and proceed. Much different from a lot of American crime/detective novels. While this hasn't been my favorite in the series (I loved #8!), I liked it a lot and will continue to read the books.
July 30, 2018
Always a good mystery
Ms. Lehtolainen mysteries are always a good read and this was very good. I have come to care about Maria as if she were a real person. She has to juggle family and work with work usually taking first place but that is what happens when you are a top murder investigator and the bodies and clues keep piling up.
Ms. Lehtolainen mysteries are always a good read and this was very good. I have come to care about Maria as if she were a real person. She has to juggle family and work with work usually taking first place but that is what happens when you are a top murder investigator and the bodies and clues keep piling up.
December 18, 2018
This 9th in the series is just as good as the rest. I enjoy both the mysteries and the family dynamics. Unlike most American series, this one skips years periodically in the life of the heroine which I think works well. This one is pretty unsavory since it is primarily about sex trafficking, but not gratuitously so.
November 1, 2020
I tried reading the first few pages of the original Finnish edition, but I was lured away by the arrival of the English translation. As ever, very readable -- I'd give it a 3½-star rating. I can't really rate the novel as crime fiction, but the series is reminding me of a lot about the Finland that I've inhabited since 1970 -- and teaching me details that I've missed about my host society.
November 13, 2020
Original and Clever
This author and her translator make a formidable team to create a gripping narrative which holds your attention throughout. Maybe for me there was a little too much domestic story padding to go to 5 stars, but well worth reading if you like thrillers away from the run of the mill.
This author and her translator make a formidable team to create a gripping narrative which holds your attention throughout. Maybe for me there was a little too much domestic story padding to go to 5 stars, but well worth reading if you like thrillers away from the run of the mill.
March 27, 2025
Intriguing But Tangled
Prostitution, international sex trafficking, overweening political ambition, media excess, and family tension: this entry in the series packs a lot of stuff in one volume. At the end, Maria Kakkio, the police heroine, is on the cusp of major professional and personal changes. Stay tuned.
Prostitution, international sex trafficking, overweening political ambition, media excess, and family tension: this entry in the series packs a lot of stuff in one volume. At the end, Maria Kakkio, the police heroine, is on the cusp of major professional and personal changes. Stay tuned.
April 20, 2018
Mostly procedural crime story
Too much time spent on outline, not enough story. It was formulaic and sophomoric. Bashing the United States didn’t help my reading experience. I will not read another of her books in the future.
Too much time spent on outline, not enough story. It was formulaic and sophomoric. Bashing the United States didn’t help my reading experience. I will not read another of her books in the future.
August 14, 2018
Well Written Police Thriller!
This series is so enjoyable! The plot is always different and detailed! The characters keep growing and the author keeps them interesting. Hoping that there is more in this series!
This series is so enjoyable! The plot is always different and detailed! The characters keep growing and the author keeps them interesting. Hoping that there is more in this series!
February 12, 2021
Excellent heavy Scandinavian crime novel. Lulu Nightingale is a high class madam who is about to appear on talk show. Before she is set to appear on the show, she is found murdered behind the scenes. Whodunit? Direct Maria Kallio is about to find out.
April 2, 2018
Leena Lehtolainen never disappoints. Another excellent book!
July 4, 2018
Very good
Overall a very good book. Maria is a character who always has a lot going on at work and home. I’m looking forward to the next book
Overall a very good book. Maria is a character who always has a lot going on at work and home. I’m looking forward to the next book
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