Vaara, Snow Angels, was called a "must for fans of the international crime novel" (Booklist). The follow-up finds Vaara dealing with personal demons and banishment to the graveyard shift in Helsinki's homicide unit. Thrust into the investigation of a World War II hero and the murder of a Russian businessman's wife, Vaara is about to find that the past has a deadly reach indeed.
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"One can see that Nordic history related to the WWII is still alive: Henning Mankel's Return of the Dancing Master, Camilla Lackberg's Hidden Child, Jo Nesbo's Redbreast and now James Thompson's Lucifer's Tears. It was my second book by Thompson and I must say I liked it better than the first one although I had some doubts that elaborating the topic I know from other good books he may slip into cliches. He did not. It was an interesting combination of quite a few storylines complementing one another well. There are only two things/opinions expressed in the book I cannot agree with: if Arvid killed "only" a few people during the war (and not as a soldier in a fight or in self-defence) it doesn't make him better than any other killer as every person has only one life and the second thing are the parts when the Finnish character or customs are explained - they really sound as if from an encyclopaedia. These are only two minor things that do not spoil the book." — Eva (5 out of 5 stars)
"One can see that Nordic history related to the WWII is still alive: Henning Mankel's Return of the Dancing Master, Camilla Lackberg's Hidden Child, Jo Nesbo's Redbreast and now James Thompson's Lucifer's Tears. It was my second book by Thompson and I must say I liked it better than the first one although I had some doubts that elaborating the topic I know from other good books he may slip into cliches. He did not. It was an interesting combination of quite a few storylines complementing one another well. There are only two things/opinions expressed in the book I cannot agree with: if Arvid killed "only" a few people during the war (and not as a soldier in a fight or in self-defence) it doesn't make him better than any other killer as every person has only one life and the second thing are the parts when the Finnish character or customs are explained - they really sound as if from an encyclopaedia. These are only two minor things that do not spoil the book."
“This book is wonderful. It took me right in, dropped me into a strange new world, and kept me captivated from first to last page. James Thompson has done a masterful job!”
“Taut and mesmerizing.”
“Fast, brutal, yet told with a sort of laid-back calm.”
“Thompson’s narrative skill keeps things moving at a lively pace.”
“Some of the best crime fiction you are liable to encounter.”
“Stellar...Thompson elegantly threads Finland’s compelling national history with Vaara’s own demons in this taut, emotionally wrought novel.”
“Impossible to put down...Essential reading.”
“Nazi collaboration, government cover-ups, kinky sex, a baby daughter waiting impatiently to be born, and a vigilante-minded hero who talks back to his boss more irreverently than Dirty Harry. What more could you want?”
" Follow up to Snow Angels. Kari and his wife Kate now live in Helsinki where the Homicide squad has never left a murder unsolved. Will the murder of the wife of a connected Russian be the first not to be solved? Will Kari be pressured to charge and innocent man? "
" This is the follow-up to Snow Angels and centers around Inspector Kari Vaara. There was quite of bit of history given about the relationships among the Finns, the Russians, and the Germans. That was interesting. "
" Had to change the start date ... just got to it yesterday and already having trouble putting it down!! So good. "
" Second in the series and an ARC from Shelf Awareness. Dark, gritty and seriously hardcore. Thompson is not for the faint of heart! "
" James Thompson does it again! Gritty,gripping...and all the while the landscape and people of Finland are illustrated beautifully....you can feel the cold wind blow across Finland in the midst of a great story! "
" Awesome book ! I really love the Inspector Vaara Series! "
" I really enjoy the Finnish culture and daily life perspectives; the story is not as great as I'd like. A little macho and repetitive, but not bad. "
" Many Twists and turns. Very good read. "
" Another excellent suspense read from James Thompson. Can't wait for the next in the series. "
" Can't wait for the third in the series. I'm addicted. "
" Wish I could give it a 3.5. Similar to his first book I read - intriguing, brutal and somewhat sad. Strong characters and situations. Not for everyone, a bit graphic but compelling. Quick, easy read. "
" Move over Stieg Larsson....James Thompson is here!! "
" This book sounds great! Murder mystery and international at that! I had a pen pal for Finland as a child so I'm thrilled to read a book set in that location. Looks like this is going to be a great read! "
" If you like Scandinavian mysteries, pick this one up. It takes place in Helsinki and is a great read. "
" You can read my thoughts here. (3.75/5) "
" The characters and the sense of place are awesome. "
" This wasn't really my kind of reading. But Thank You! "
" Another winner by Thompson. Enjoyed the twists and turns and the take on Finnish World War II history. Included more interesting insight into Finnish culture. Actually liked this one more than his first...hope to see more from this author. "
Eric Conger is a stage actor, voice artist, and award-winning audiobook narrator. He has narrated more than 125 fiction and nonfiction audiobooks and was a four-time finalist for the Audie Award, both as a sole narrator in 2007 and 2008 and as part of a multicast reading in 2001 and 2012. He has earned numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards. His extensive voice-over work includes more than 5,000 narrations for commercial ventures. A graduate of Wesleyan University and the University of Paris, he also works as a writer and playwright. He has appeared in over fifty plays and has also translated plays of Molière and Feydeau for regional theaters.
T. Ryder Smith is an American actor. A native of New York state and long-time resident of New York City, he has appeared frequently on stage, particularly in avant-garde theater works, and in film, sometimes as a voice actor.
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