Free - Elina Ahlback Literary Agency – One of the leading Nordic literary agencies

Original title: Poissa

Author: Martta Kaukonen

Published: 2025

Publisher: WSOY

Genre: Crime & Suspense

Part of a series: Follow the Butterfly

Reading material:

English synopsis

Is it worth it to dig up the truth? The internationally bestselling psychological crime series continues…

The year is 1995. Detective Chief Inspector Kerttu Leppänen and her husband Inspector Esko Koivuvyö are investigating the murder of a middle-aged woman. However, a mystery at the murder scene confounds the investigation: a bloody knife is lying on a pillow next to the body, even though it cannot possibly be the murder weapon.

Thirty years later, Ira wants to know the truth about her parents' marriage. Why was her mother Marja afraid of her father Arto? And why does Arto refuse to answer Ira's questions?

In different decades, Kerttu and Ira discover something very similar: if you unearth the truth, you must be prepared to face the consequences.

Download reading materials

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
ICELAND: Storytel (audio & e-book)

Martta Kaukonen

Martta Kaukonen (1976) lives in Helsinki. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a film critic, whose reviews have been published in both Finland’s biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and a popular women’s weekly magazine Me Naiset. Martta has a master’s degree in arts. She has interviewed the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Justin Bieber. Martta met her husband at his second hand bookshop and fell in love. Alongside writing, Martta loves psychological thrillers, film noir, flea markets, abandoned houses and travelling.

About author

Bibliography