Snow Angels (Inspector Kari Vaara, #1) in Nordic Noir

Dec 20, 2011 Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo rated it really liked it

Shelves: good-fiction, spring-2012, thriller-mystery

I can see why Snow Angels was short-listed for an Edgar Award and was selected as one of Booklist’s best Crime Novel Debuts! Finnish resident and American, James Thompson’s writing style is lean and sinewy and reflects the “Nordic Noir” atmosphere of the Finnish setting and his characters. I felt the bitter cold and desolation of the kaamos and its effects upon each of characters. The forensics and investigating techniques of Vaara and his small police force are well researched and are strategic I can see why Snow Angels was short-listed for an Edgar Award and was selected as one of Booklist’s best Crime Novel Debuts! Finnish resident and American, James Thompson’s writing style is lean and sinewy and reflects the “Nordic Noir” atmosphere of the Finnish setting and his characters. I felt the bitter cold and desolation of the kaamos and its effects upon each of characters. The forensics and investigating techniques of Vaara and his small police force are well researched and are strategically told. I admit the perpetrator(s) were not who I thought and that is what makes Snow Angels a fantastic read. Thompson offers up many potential suspects as well as a haunting story of racism, religiosity, and relationships as Inspector Kari Vaara seeks the truth behind the brutal murder of a gorgeous Somali starlet.

On the pristine snow in a field of a reindeer farm 100 miles into the Artic Circle lays a beautiful woman. Her arms are above her head at 45 degree angles with signs she made herself an exquisite snow angel in death, except for the brutal mutilation of her body. She is naked. She is black. She is Muslim. She is a rising Finnish starlet. And Police Chief Kari Vaara knows he has a major headache on his hands. The investigation will be of national importance. Sex crime? Racial crime? Religious crime? All of the above, given who she is, wonders Vaara. He doesn’t know yet, but this kaamos will be one of the most difficult and dangerous he has ever experienced when evidence soon points to the common law husband of his first wife. He should recuse himself, but his need to search for the truth is far greater. As Christmas inches closer, fissures deepen within the relationships of his small team, his pregnant American wife, and his father. More dead bodies are discovered and Vaara knows this kaamos will be the most difficult and dangerous season he has ever experienced. Will the new father be able to solve this brutal crime with his integrity intact? Are the other bodies linked to this murder? If so, will his world ever be the same? It is worth the few hours to find out.
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Sep 19, 2011 Elizabeth rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very intense subject matter but tremendous research was done by James Thompson on criminal procedures, autopsies, customs of different cultures, and human emotion. Could not put the book down and look forward to Lucifer's Tears. ...more

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Oct 31, 2010 Dee rated it really liked it

Shelves: world-lit, mystery, read-2010, nordic-noir

One of my goals over the next year is to extend my reading and try to read books set in various locations around the world, aside from the typical United States, England settings which seem to occur quite often. The book was one that I saw recommended on another reader's list, a murder mystery set in the northern part of Finland.

I was pleasantly surprised by the novel, it was the first that I had read set in this part of the world, tightly written, and I didn't identify the killer until it came ...more

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Dec 30, 2011 Steven rated it really liked it

Definite doesn't make me want to set foot in Finland unless I increase my drinking alot but I found the writing of James Thompson to be clear and stimulating. Inspector Vaara is a deep character with lots of demons that tie in very well to the story. I also learned lots of things about Finland and the outer regions(Lapland)that are interesting. I will definitely read the next book in the series ...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Nidia rated it really liked it

Shelves: scandinavian-nordic-noir, read-in-2011

Spellbinding! I just couldn't put it down till I got to the last page!
A mesmerizing and smart story, strong plot, wonderful tridimensional characters and direct-to the point writing.
I loved it, and can't wait to follow Inspector Kari Vaara on his next case! ...more

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Jun 10, 2010 Naomi rated it it was amazing

Just a hands down creepy book. I put James Thompson along the lines of Mark Nykanen, another high caliber author..in regards to his graphic scenes in the book, but nothing to keep one up at night. I am so excited that the next book in this series is ready to come out. This book, although the author is American living in Finland, has that Finnish-Scandanavian feel that I love in mysteries.

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Oct 06, 2011 Art rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-fiction

Snow Angels gave me what I want most from a mystery, it took me somewhere and kept me turning pages until it was over. Easily read and fast paced, it fed me enough ideas to speculate on more than one idea who the killer or killers were and then slowly check off those ideas as I went along. I'm looking forward to more from Mr. Thompson. ...more

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Feb 13, 2011 Tess rated it liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2011

I think this will be a great series. I loved the Finnish Lapland setting and learning about Finns and their culture. It's a country that's always fascinated me, but that I've never managed to visit. I had a few problems with it towards the end, but I'll forgive that as I really enjoyed the main character and the setting. ...more

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