We are happy to announce that the Estonian rights for LAND OF SERPENTS (Käärmeiden maa), the second title in the Ronja Vaara crime novel series by Eeva Louko, published in Finland in January 2023 by Otava, have been acquired by Hea Lugu! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

In the second book of the series, a woman is found dead on Serpent Isle, just next to Isle of Bliss, poisoned by strychnine. Just a few days later, a similar murder takes place at a wedding on Isle of Bliss, leading the residents of the island to suspect that a serial killer is terrorizing their neighborhood. Police detective Anton Koivu starts to investigate, as does Ronja Vaara, now living on Isle of Bliss and working at a local newspaper.

LAND OF SERPENTS has also received its very first praises, such as the following:
“[—] the resolution of the events remained well-hidden until the very last meters. The reader is shown only small, indefinite puzzle pieces at a time. Sometimes, wrong pieces are flashed and then retracted. [—] The plot was suitably twisty and, in many places, surprising. [—] This was a fine crime novel with a plot that gripped and carried well all the way to the end. The setting was relatable, yet not too detailed. The narration was clear and thrilling. The array of characters was appropriately varied and one could set oneself quite deep in their shoes.“
– Aarne Pohjois-Koivisto, Mesta.net

Eeva Louko’s debut novel MURDER ON THE ISLE OF BLISS, published in Finland in January 2022, has been a critical and commercial success, with more than 15,000 copies sold!
The rights for the title have already been sold to 5 territories (Finland, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Poland) and are available in all other territories.

Download the English materials for MURDER ON THE ISLE OF BLISS and LAND OF SERPENTS here!

Land of Serpents

Eeva Louko

Death by poison and the possibility of a serial killer shake the community and the personal relationships within

A woman’s body is found on a small island near the Isle of Bliss. A few days later, another woman collapses and dies at a high-society wedding on the isle. Anton Koivu begins to investigate the cases with his partner Oona Laine. Is there a serial killer on the loose, or why do these murders resemble each other so much?

Ronja tries to get accustomed to being back in Finland and starts as a journalist at the local newspaper whilst also searching for her secret sibling. Ronja learns of the recent deaths and gets irrevocably mixed up with the police investigations. Ghosts of the past begin to appear… How is Anton’s long-lost sister Aurora related to the investigation? And what happened to her on a heated summer’s night twenty years ago?

Murder on the Isle of Bliss

Eeva Louko

Father found dead by the shore. A community where everyone knows everyone. Secrets of the past. Will the answers be found before it is too late?

After living abroad for many years, thirty-something Ronja returns to her childhood home on Isle of Bliss, Helsinki after her father is found murdered by the seaside. Welcoming her back are a group of old friends whom it’s both comforting and painful to see again, and the young police officer assigned to the case who does not seem to be doing his work properly.

Unsatisfied with the police, Ronja decides to start investigating the background of her distant father. In the process she uncovers the old secrets of the community that have been kept under wraps until now, and puts her own life on the line. When everyone knows everyone, each person becomes a suspect.

We are thrilled to announce that Eeva Louko’s debut thriller MURDER ON THE ISLE OF BLISS has been sold in two auctions!

The Italian rights were acquired by Newton Compton Editori, part of the Mauri Spagnol Publishing Group, who are also the publishers of Ann Cleeves, Stuart MacBride and Elina Backman. The deal was closed by Elsa Lindström at Elina Ahlback Agency.

The Polish rights were sold to the publishing house Czwarta Strona, the crime imprint at Poznańskie also the publisher of Ruth Ware and Ann Cleeves in Poland. The deal was closed by Toomas Aasmäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

“Murder on the Isle of Bliss is an intriguing opening of the series: the island setting, three girlfriends who solve the murder mystery, hidden emotions that simmer just under the surface of everyday life. The characters seem to fall deeper and deeper into the past, at the same time trying to come to terms with the present relationships. Everyone may turn out to be a suspect. A great, very atmospheric book!”
– Paulina Surniak, Rights Manager, Czwarta Strona

Previously, the German rights were to Heyne Verlag in an auction and the Estonian rights pre-empted by Hea Lugu. In Finland, the book has sold over 10,000 copies in 2 months.

Rights are still available in the US & UK, France, Spain, Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, Denmark etc.

Download the English synopsis and sample by clicking here

This is the thriller of the London season!

It’s gray, cold and rainy October in Helsinki, with autumn storms picking up the pace. On a beach on the Island of Lauttasaari a dead man’s body is found, starting off this Nordic Crime series by a debut author Eeva Louko.

GERMAN PRAISE:
Eeva Louko’s Island of Bliss offers a highly atmospheric setting and an elaborate web of relationships that we, as readers, need to untangle in order to discover the dark truth behind the blissful façade. I love that everything in this book is personal and I’m convinced that this series has a huge potential to fascinate German readers.
  – Janina Dyballa, Editor, Heyne Verlag, Germany

FINNISH PRAISE:
This debutant has crafted a multifaceted, clever, surprising, and truly entertaining plot, which is evidence of her talent for this genre.
 – Antti Majander, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

MURDER ON THE ISLE OF BLISS 
by Eeva Louko

Father found dead by the shore. A community where everyone knows everyone. Secrets of the past. Will the answers be found before it is too late?

After living abroad for many years, thirty-something Ronja returns to her childhood home in Lauttasaari, Helsinki after her father is found murdered by the seaside. Welcoming her back are a group of old friends whom it’s both comforting and painful to see again, and the young police officer assigned to the case who does not seem to be doing his work properly.

Unsatisfied with the police, Ronja decides to start investigating the background of her distant father. In the process she uncovers the old secrets of the community that have been kept under wraps until now, and puts her own life on the line. When everyone knows everyone, each person becomes a suspect.

We are overjoyed to announce that the Estonian rights for debut author Eeva Louko’s thriller MURDER ON THE ISLE OF BLISS have been pre-empted by Hea Lugu!

German rights were previously sold to Heyne Verlag in an auction. Both deals were closed by Toomas Aasmäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

This is the thriller of the London season!

Hea Lugu is the Estonian publisher to Stephen King, Emelie Schepp, Khaled Hosseini, Bill Bryson, Liane Moriarty, Ray Bradbury, Martta Kaukonen etc.

ESTONIAN PRAISE:
In Eeva Louko’s debut thriller, the murder investigation is closely connected with people’s emotions and daily life and from page one, the life of the victim’s relatives and investigators starts developing before your eyes. Different fates and secrets will engage and make one sink deeper in the book. Characters that seem cruel, may turn out to be kind and vice versa.  Opening this book is like entering a dark room – who is there and what does it want?
– Einar Ellermaa, editor, Hea Lugu publishing, Estonia

It’s gray, cold and rainy October in Helsinki, with autumn storms picking up the pace.
On a beach on the Island of Lauttasaari a dead man’s body is found, which starts off this Nordic Crime series by a debut author Eeva Louko.

Download the English synopsis and sample by clicking here

GERMAN PRAISE:
Eeva Louko’s Island of Bliss offers a highly atmospheric setting and an elaborate web of relationships that we, as readers, need to untangle in order to discover the dark truth behind the blissful façade. I love that everything in this book is personal and I’m convinced that this series has a huge potential to fascinate German readers.
  – Janina Dyballa, Editor, Heyne Verlag, Germany

FINNISH PRAISE:
This debutant has crafted a multifaceted, clever, surprising, and truly entertaining plot, which is evidence of her talent for this genre.
 – Antti Majander, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

MURDER ON THE ISLE OF BLISS 
by Eeva Louko

Father found dead by the shore. A community where everyone knows everyone. Secrets of the past. Will the answers be found before it is too late?

After living abroad for many years, thirty-something Ronja returns to her childhood home in Lauttasaari, Helsinki after her father is found murdered by the seaside. Welcoming her back are a group of old friends whom it’s both comforting and painful to see again, and the young police officer assigned to the case who does not seem to be doing his work properly.

Unsatisfied with the police, Ronja decides to start investigating the background of her distant father. In the process she uncovers the old secrets of the community that have been kept under wraps until now, and puts her own life on the line. When everyone knows everyone, each person becomes a suspect.

We are extremely happy to announce that following an auction, the German rights for debut author Eeva Louko’s thriller MURDER ON THE ISLE OF BLISS have been sold to Heyne Verlag!
The deal was closed by Toomas Aasmäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

This is the thriller of the London season!

Heyne is the German publisher to Stieg Larsson, Stephen King, David Lagercrantz etc.

It’s gray, cold and rainy October in Helsinki, with autumn storms picking up the pace.
On a beach on the Island of Lauttasaari a dead man’s body is found, which starts off this Nordic Crime series by a debut author Eeva Louko.

Download the English synopsis and sample by clicking here

GERMAN PRAISE:
Eeva Louko’s Island of Bliss offers a highly atmospheric setting and an elaborate web of relationships that we, as readers, need to untangle in order to discover the dark truth behind the blissful façade. I love that everything in this book is personal and I’m convinced that this series has a huge potential to fascinate German readers.
  – Janina Dyballa, Editor, Heyne Verlag, Germany

FINNISH PRAISE:
This debutant has crafted a multifaceted, clever, surprising, and truly entertaining plot, which is evidence of her talent for this genre.
 – Antti Majander, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

MURDER ON THE ISLE OF BLISS 
by Eeva Louko

Father found dead by the shore. A community where everyone knows everyone. Secrets of the past. Will the answers be found before it is too late?

After living abroad for many years, thirty-something Ronja returns to her childhood home in Lauttasaari, Helsinki after her father is found murdered by the seaside. Welcoming her back are a group of old friends whom it’s both comforting and painful to see again, and the young police officer assigned to the case who does not seem to be doing his work properly.

Unsatisfied with the police, Ronja decides to start investigating the background of her distant father. In the process she uncovers the old secrets of the community that have been kept under wraps until now, and puts her own life on the line. When everyone knows everyone, each person becomes a suspect.