Helsinki White
Author: James Thompson
Two days after their daughter is born, Kari Vaara drops a bombshell on his American wife, Kate: He has a brain tumor ... and he’s been handpicked to run a rogue black-ops unit, using crime to fight crime.
After recovering from surgery, he gets to work. The black-ops unit is small, and reports directly to Finland’s National Chief of Police. They have secrecy, autonomy, and the cash to buy all the high-tech gear. Soon the unit is cleaning house, robbing Helsinki’s mobsters blind of their cash, dope, and illegal firearms. But Kari’s team is too good, and their actions have unintended consequences...
Meanwhile, Finland roils with hatred as its most extreme right political party gains popularity despite no agenda besides xenophobia. When the country’s leading immigrants’ rights advocate is assassinated and her head sent by mail to the Finnish Somalia Network, the president assigns Kari to the murder. Cracking this case will involve the unsolved kidnapping of a billionaire’s children, a Faustian bargain with a former French legionnaire—and Kate.
Putnam 2012
Finland: WSOY/Johnny Kniga
Poland: Wydawnictwo Amber
Turkey: Ephesus Yayinlari
Film: Jesse Itkonen
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Reviews
Readers should be prepared to keep the lights on at night after finishing this unnerving collection.
A gripping collection. James Thompson died this past summer and this fine compendium reminds us of the skill and talent we have lost. Whether you are already a fan of the gloomy Finns or are new to the uniquely sinister aspect of Scandinavian literature, this book will provide steady entertainment.
Mystery and true crime readers will appreciate the styles from all over the world, and embrace the darkness that every culture shares – no matter how hard they try to hide it.