Do You like book Snow Woman (2014)?
"Snow Woman" by Leena Lehtolainen is the fourth in her Maria Kallio series. Although I enjoyed the previous three, I found this one to be the best by far. In each of the books to date, Kallio works at a different job (though all are related to law and law enforcement). "Snow Woman" finds her working in the Violent Crimes Unit of the Espoo (Finland) Police Department. The characters are well developed, especially Kallio who continues to grow both professionally and personally. The story opens as Maria and Antii Sarkela marry. But just as happens in real life, Kallio soon finds herself with more than just thoughts of wedded bliss to fill her hours. When Aline Rosberg, the head of a women's retreat, is reported missing and subsequently found frozen to death on the grounds of the retreat, the investigation bogs down. But with the discovery of her pregnancy, the concerns in Kallio's life speed up. And at about the same time, she gets news that a convicted murderer has escaped and is out to seek revenge against her and a fellow detective. Because Rosberg was the director of a women's retreat, Kallio must interview several of her guests and friends who were present the night Rosberg went missing. These women have varied backgrounds. Johanna Säntii, estranged from her devoutly religious husband after she aborted her baby to save her own life; Milla Martilla, a stripper and suspected prostitute; Tarja Kivimäki, a reporter and mistress of a high government official. It's Kallio's interaction with these women, giving her ample opportunity to examine her own values, beliefs, and desires, that made this a good read for me. Kallio loves her work, and she is basically a loner used to looking only after herself. Fortunately, her husband is as independent as she. But with a baby on the way, can they both make the necessary changes to their lives. These and other thoughts are constantly on her mind as he goes through the routine of her day making this, for me, the best of the Maria Kallio series to date.
—Jim Nolt
I received an advanced copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Amazon Publishing!After three books in the Maria Kallio series that I liked, but didn't completely love, Snow Woman shows that this series has finally come into its own. Maria is growing as a person and a detective. She still has her insecurities but, for once, they are justified. I liked getting to know better some secondary characters from previous novels (who would have thought that Strom has a heart after all?) and it was nice to see the regulars (including Einstein, the cat). Snow Woman is a traditional whodunit, but the resolution of the mystery was not what I had imagined, I am waiting for the next installment in the series.
—Elisa
Excellent police-procedural crime mystery. "Snow Woman" by Leena Lehtolainen, originally published as "Luminainen" in 1996 in the Finnish author's native language, was superbly translated by Owen F. Witesman into English and published in translation in 2014. Snow Woman is the fourth installment in the "Maria Kallio Mystery" series.(Witesman has also translated the previous books in this series.) The characters are believable, well-developed and the Finnish winter landscape - absolutely atmospheric. Maria Kallio is a bright, analytic, energetic and extremely capable detective. She is painfully aware that by being the sole female in her unit, she cannot let the guys see a single crack or scratch in her hard-crust shell. She proves her mettle and becomes well-respected. She also exhibits tenderness and compassion which displays greater depth to her developing character. This story is well-crafted and I eagerly look forward to reading more stories within this series.I am grateful to Goodreads' Firstreads and Leena Lehtolainen for having provided a free copy of this book. Their generosity did not, however, influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
—Kate Baxter
