Nousiainen and Lehtolainen bestsellers of 2016!

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We are very happy to report that Roots (Otava, 2016), Miika Nousiainen’s humorous novel about family and dentistry, continues its domination at the top of Finland’s bestseller list, with a massive 44,700 copies in circulation since its fall 2016 publication! Foreign rights started being snapped up pre-publication, with a total of six territories sold to date.

Recent praise for Roots:

“Roots’ undoubtable trump card is its incisive and genuine yet stylized cast of characters that create a microcosm: in essence, a portrayal of humanity and mankind.” – Keskisuomalainen newspaper, Finland

“A comedian’s devices in full use.” – Aamulehti newspaper, Finland

“Roots is both psychologically and philosophically well thought-out literature and, best of all, it’s very funny.” – Turun Sanomat newspaper, Finland

“Nousiainen weaves human life and the dental glossary together so well that I laughed out loud many times. Sometimes, the best thing in life is a well-timed anaesthetic.” – Eeva magazine, Finland

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In crime and thrillers, Finland’s top crime author, Leena Lehtolainen’s newest addition to her ‘Bodyguard’ trilogy, The Eye of the Tiger (Tammi, 2016) entered the bestseller list in 2016 with an impressive 17,300 copies sold.  The Eye of the Tiger is the fourth title in the ‘Bodyguard’ series, which follows the adventures of New York-trained bodyguard, Hilja Ilverkero.

Praise for Leena Lehtolainen:

“Lehtolainen’s pen flows swiftly.” – Savon Sanomat newspaper, Finland

“Finland’s answer to Henning Mankell” – Brigitte magazine, Germany

“Lehtolainen’s crime series has reached cult status already.” – Bunte magazine

Contact info@ahlbackagency.com for reading materials

Roots by Miika Nousiainen
Rights sold:
FINLAND, Otava (Original publisher)
CZECH REPUBLIC, XYZ
GERMANY, Nagel & Kimche
ITALY, Iperborea
LITHUANIA, Alma Littera
NETHERLANDS, Prometheus
SWEDEN, Brombergs

The Bodyguard trilogy by Leena Lehtolainen
Rights sold:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
ARMENIA, Guitank
CZECH, Argo
FRANCE, Hachette (Book 1-2)
GERMANY, Rowohlt
HOLLAND, Unieboek (Book 1)
RUSSIA, Azbooka-Atticus
SPAIN, Destino
TAIWAN, Linking
TURKEY, Nemesis
WORLD ENGLISH, Amazon Crossing

About author


Leena Lehtolainen

Leena Lehtolainen is the top female crime author in Finland: her new titles always head straight to #1 on the Finnish bestseller lists.

Lehtolainen created her successful protagonist, detective Maria Kallio, in 1993. Having already featured in 16 novels and a complete TV series, a new Maria Kallio TV reboot series was launched in Fall 2021 on C More. Lehtolainen’s novels have been translated into 30 languages and have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.

And just like the events in Bodyguard, a that takes the heroine Hilja Ilveskero all around Europe, Lehtolainen’s own work takes her to book festivals, exhibitions and other events across the globe.

Leena Lehtolainen has also published outside the crime genre; her book The Charm of Figure Skating was voted sports book of the year 2010 in Finland, and A Life in Six Scenes showed her return to literary fiction.

The Crossing of the Green Dragon is her first title for YA audiences.

In her free time, Lehtolainen enjoys all kinds of music and follows lynx trails in the forests – just like Maria Kallio.

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About author


Miika Nousiainen

Miika Nousiainen (b. 1973 in Säynätsalo) has worked as a news and current affairs journalist for MTV3's news department. In addition, he has written for several popular TV-shows.

Nousiainen’s debut novel, Raspberry Boat Refugee (2007), tells the story of Mikko Virtanen, a man who desperately wants to become Swedish at any cost. In this tragicomic work, Nousiainen makes sharp observations about our western neighbor and illustrates that we’re all self-proclaimed experts on Sweden.

Roots (2016) follows the search for a missing father, taking readers across continents from Lieksa, Finland, to Australia. The book was also well-received internationally.

In Facelift (2020), Nousiainen gently explores themes of family and the longing for connection.

In addition he has written The Danger of the Long Distance Runner (2009) and Forrest Giant (2011). 

Nousiainen's novels have been adapted countless times and translated into languages such as Swedish, German, Dutch, Italian, and Estonian.

Miika Nousiainen have been awarded with: Laila Hirvisaari Foundation Grant (2008), Kalevi Jäntti Prize (2009) and Honorable Mention in the Sports Museum Foundation’s Sports Book of the Year Competition (2010)

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