A Year of Orenda – Palm Beach Finland by Antti Tuomainen trns by David Hackston

So we are now on the penultimate day of the Antti Tuomainen (mini) week. Ironic really that we should have such a short week for such a tall guy, but what can you do. This book … It is because of Palm Beach Finland by Antti Tuomainen that folk in the blogging world seem to think that I really like flamingos. I would just like to state that whilst I have no objections to the birds, I also have no more interest in them than I do your common House Sparrow. There – myth dispelled. I don’t know – you post one gif … I don’t even really like the colour pink – reminds me too much of getting sunburnt after spending 3.6 seconds outside on a hot day. I do, however, really like this book and if you want to see how much you can find my review right here. If you want to know if Mandie agrees with me, or if she has any views on flamingos, read on. Here’s what the book is all about:

About the Book

Sex, lies and ill-fitting swimwear … Sun Protection Factor 100

Jan Nyman, the ace detective of the covert operations unit of the National Central Police, is sent to a sleepy seaside town to investigate a mysterious death. Nyman arrives in the town dominated by a bizarre holiday village – the ‘hottest beach in Finland’. The suspect: Olivia Koski, who has only recently returned to her old hometown. The mission: find out what happened, by any means necessary.

With a nod to Fargo, and dark noir, Palm Beach Finland is both a page-turning thriller and a black comedy about lust for money, fleeing dreams and people struggling at turning points in their lives – chasing their fantasies regardless of reason.

Mandie’s Thoughts

Now when you think Beach Resort, I am sure that Finland is not the first place that comes to mind right? In fact, it’s something that even some of the characters struggle to get their heads around too. This book is absolutely crazy, but I loved it from start to finish.

When a dead body is found in the house of Olivia Koshi, Detective Jan Nyman goes undercover to determine who is responsible and why. Arriving at this decidedly odd holiday resort run by Jorma Leivo he is certainly going to have his work cut out for him especially as his cover is that of a currently out of work maths teacher.

Jorma Leivo has big plans for his resort and that includes acquiring the plot of land that has Olivia Koshi’s house on it by fair means or foul and much of the action stems from this. He may have plans, but I honestly don’t think that he has the business smarts to carry them off and this belief is backed up by the people he choses to assist in his mission. No matter what Chico and Robin do something always seems to go slightly wrong that has you chuckling even if you really shouldn’t. Throw the shady brother of the murdered man and you know things are probably not going to go to plan.

As much as I enjoyed reading The Mine, I have to say I think that I prefer Antti Tuomainen’s dark humour that comes across brilliantly in Palm Beach Finland. There is something about the way he writes the characters in these books that has you routing possibly for people that you shouldn’t and chuckling when you really know you shouldn’t. None of the characters are perfect and their flaws are heightened but it makes them more human that way. My enjoyment at the tone of the book may say as much about me as anything but that’s fine by me. I even like the idea of a resort where you are not burnt to a crisp as soon as you walk out of the door… not too sure about the large inflatable flamingo’s though nor will I see Bruce Springsteen in quite the same way after the scene on the beach or conversations between Chico and Robin.

With everything that is going on at the moment this is just the kind of whacky and fun book that will take your mind off the chaos and give you hours of enjoyment

About the Author

Finnish Antti Tuomainen (b. 1971) was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. The critically acclaimed My Brother’s Keeper was published two years later. In 2011 Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for ‘Best Finnish Crime Novel of 2011’ and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. The Finnish press labelled The Healer, the story of a writer desperately searching for his missing wife in a post-apocalyptic Helsinki ‘unputdownable’. Two years later in 2013 they crowned Tuomainen ‘The King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen is one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime genre formula. The Man Who Died brought him to his literary best.

Books by Antti Tuomainen: