Helsinki Noir (Akashic Noir)

"Readers should be prepared to keep the lights on at night after finishing this unnerving collection." — Publishers Weekly Launched with the summer '04 award-winning best seller Brooklyn Noir , Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies. Each book is comprised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book. Featuring brand-new stories by: Leena Lehtolainen, Johanna Holmström, James Thompson, Antti Tuomainen, Jesse Itkonen, Joe L. Murr, Jukka Petäjä, Tapani Bagge, Pekka Hiltunen, Teemu Käskinen, Tuomas Lius, Riikka Ala-Harja, Karo Hämäläinen, and Jarkko Sipila. From the introduction by James Thompson: "Finland, the myths and truths. Internationally, it has a reputation as perhaps the best place in the world to live. A great economy. A low crime rate. Good and nearly cost-free health care. The needy are provided... Launched with the summer '04 award-winning best seller Brooklyn Noir , Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies. Each book is comprised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book. Featuring brand-new stories by: Leena Lehtolainen, Johanna Holmstrm, James Thompson, Antti Tuomainen, Jesse Itkonen, Joe L. Murr, Jukka Petj, Tapani Bagge, Pekka Hiltunen, Teemu Kskinen, Tuomas Lius, Riikka Ala-Harja, Karo Hmlinen, and Jarkko Sipila. From the introduction by James Thompson: "Finland, the myths and truths. Internationally, it has a reputation as perhaps the best place in the world to live. A great economy. A low crime rate. Good and nearly cost-free health care. The needy are provided for by the state and live in reasonable comfort. Finns: peaceful and quiet people, living in the perfect example of a social democracy functioning as it should. A tourist, or even a person who has lived here for a length of time, might well view Finland as such. There is some truth to this, but like every country, Finland has many truths... Finland is, like the theme so often explored in Star Trek , a parallel universe in which, on the surface, all seems normal, but under that shell lie vast differences...As this book demonstrates, Finland is a noir nation [and] this anthology is, I believe, the best representation of Finnish noir ever offered to the international community. Every word rings true. It holds Finland up in a way that not only exposes this wonderful and fascinating country to the world, but acts as a mirror that reflects its people and culture in a way every Finn will recognize, vocalizing those truths that are so seldom spoken here amongst ourselves." " The 14 stories in this Akashic noir anthology provide a bizarre and gruesome window into this outwardly tranquil and snow-covered city of Helsinki. "#8212; Publishers Weekly In Akashic Books's acclaimed series of original noir anthologies, each book comprises all new stories set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective city. Now, the spotlight is on Finland and its southern capital of Helsinki, a city "synonymous with noir. There is a darkness in the Finnish soul, perhaps echoing the country's long winter nights, that lends itself to tales of horror and degenerate behavior" ( Reviewing the Evidence ). This anthology features brand-new stories by Leena Lehtolainen, Johanna Holmstrm, James Thompson, Antti Tuomainen, Jesse Itkonen, Joe L. Murr, Jukka Petj, Tapani Bagge, Pekka Hiltunen, Teemu Kskinen, Tuomas Lius, Riikka Ala-Harja, Karo Hmlinen, and Jarkko Sipila. "True fans of the macabre will enjoy some of the more disturbing tales, such as Jukka Petj's 'Snowy Sarcophagus,' in which the bodies of two women are discovered preserved in life-size snowmen, and Antti Tuomainen's 'The Script,' which is told from the point of view of a Finnish film and television producer who also happens to be a serial rapist . . . Readers should be prepared to keep the lights on at night after finishing this unnerving collection."#8212; Publishers Weekly "Every story is atmospheric . . . and every one has a neat sting at the end . . . The best and blackest in the noir series yet, and a treat for short story fans. Highly recommended."#8212;promotingcrime.blogspot.com “the 14 Stories In This Akashic Noir Anthology Provide A Bizarre And Gruesome Window Into This Outwardly Tranquil And Snow-covered City Of Helsinki.”—publishers Weekly In Akashic Books’s Acclaimed Series Of Original Noir Anthologies, Each Book Comprises All New Stories Set In A Distinct Neighborhood Or Location Within The Respective City. Now, The Spotlight Is On Finland And Its Southern Capital Of Helsinki, A City “synonymous With Noir. There Is A Darkness In The Finnish Soul, Perhaps Echoing The Country’s Long Winter Nights, That Lends Itself To Tales Of Horror And Degenerate Behavior” (reviewing The Evidence). This Anthology Features Brand-new Stories By Leena Lehtolainen, Johanna Holmström, James Thompson, Antti Tuomainen, Jesse Itkonen, Joe L. Murr, Jukka Petäjä, Tapani Bagge, Pekka Hiltunen, Teemu Käskinen, Tuomas Lius, Riikka Ala-harja, Karo Hämäläinen, And Jarkko Sipila. “true Fans Of The Macabre Will Enjoy Some Of The More Disturbing Tales, Such As Jukka Petäjä’s ‘snowy Sarcophagus,’ In Which The Bodies Of Two Women Are Discovered Preserved In Life-size Snowmen, And Antti Tuomainen’s ‘the Script,’ Which Is Told From The Point Of View Of A Finnish Film And Television Producer Who Also Happens To Be A Serial Rapist . . . Readers Should Be Prepared To Keep The Lights On At Night After Finishing This Unnerving Collection.”—publishers Weekly “every Story Is Atmospheric . . . And Every One Has A Neat Sting At The End . . . The Best And Blackest In The Noir Series Yet, And A Treat For Short Story Fans. Highly Recommended.”—promotingcrime.blogspot.com Jenkem -- Pekka Hiltunen Kiss of Santa -- Leena Lehtolainen The hand of Ai -- James Thompson St. Peter's Street -- Riikka Ala-Harja Hard rain -- Tipani Bagge The silent woman -- Joe L. Murr Little black -- Teemu Kaskinen Silent night -- Jarkko Sipila Snowy sarcophagus -- Jukka Petäjä Dead cinch -- Tuomas Lius Good intentions -- Jesse Itkonen The broker -- Karo Hämäläinen The script -- Antti Tuomainen Stolen lives / Johanna Holmström.