Loukko by 
Well-known crime writer Harri Nykänen has recently been garnering praise for both his latest novel, To Earth Again (Crime Time 2014), a dark and wryly humorous suspense story set in the Finnish Lapland, and Behind God’s Back (WSOY 2009), part of his Ariel Kafka detective series starring a Helsinki-based Jewish policeman.
Behind God’s Back was published in the UK in January and in the U.S. in February of this year by Bitter Lemon Press. It has been received enthusiastically by critics in both countries.
Praise for Behind God’s Back:
“A mixture of Jo Nesbø’s portraits of Nordic political corruption with Jerome Charyn’s waggish Borscht Belt tales of Isaac Sidel.”
– Kirkus Reviews, USA
“This is Nordic crime fiction at its understated end – there’s none of the gory violence you’ll find elsewhere in the genre. Nykänen is more interested in picking at the intersections of politics, religion and business, and how the lines of power all lead back to the same place…Kristian London’s translation captures Nykänen’s subtle humour well.”
– The Skinny, The UK
“In Nykänen’s intricately plotted second Ariel Kafka novel to be published in English (after 2012’s Nights of Awe), the Helsinki Violent Crimes Unit cop looks into the shooting murder of Jewish businessman Samuel Jacobson, whose daughter he once dated… the sympathetic Kafka manages to perform a delicate balancing act on his way to an unexpected resolution.”
– Publishers Weekly, USA
“Once again I’m smitten. When a detective noir is told in the first person it’s important to be able to engage with the narrator, and Ari is a very engaging chap.”
– Book Bag, the UK
In Finland, critics are calling Nykänen’s newest book his best yet. To Earth Again (Crime Time, fall 2014) is a standalone thriller about a gaming industry millionaire who purchases a large estate in Lapland and begins to gradually uncover a horrific secret.
Praise for To Earth Again:
“Nykänen is a pro…his characters are drawn sparingly but fully, and the end conclusion isn’t unbelievable in spite of being shocking. He also describes Lapland in a lively manner, avoiding needless exoticism.”
– Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, Finland
“The tension builds from one page to the next, at times to the point of chilling. The structure holds together until the very end, and the result is Nykänen’s best work to date.”
– Apu magazine, Finland
RIGHTS SOLD
HARRI NYKÄNEN
Original publisher: FINLAND, Crime Time
CZECH, Euromedia (Raid)
ESTONIA, Koolibri (Raid)
ISRAEL, Steimatsky (Ariel)
ITALY, Atmosphere di Libri (Ariel)
RUSSIA, Text Publishers (Ariel)
UK, Bitter Lemon Press (Ariel)
Reading materials:
English editions of Nights of Awe & Behind God’s Back (Ariel Kafka series)
Finnish edition of To Earth Again
Full English synopsis of To Earth Again
Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com
