by Antti Tuomainen (Translated by: David Hackston)
SYNOPSIS
Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen has finally restored order both to his life and to YouMeFun, the adventure park he now owns, when a man from the past appears – and turns everything upside down again. More problems arise when the park’s equipment supplier is taken over by a shady trio, with confusing demands. Why won’t Toy of Finland Ltd sell the new Moose Chute to Henri when he needs it as the park’s main attraction? Meanwhile, Henri’s relationship with artist Laura has reached breaking point, and, in order to survive this new chaotic world, he must push every calculation to its limits, before it’s too late.
REVIEW
Almost exactly a year ago, I read an reviewed The Rabbit Factor and was shocked at how involved I became in the very unusual mix of a feel-good romance and a crime novel. https://amandallwyd.wixsite.com/thebutlerdidit/post/the-rabbit-factor
With The Moose Paradox picking up exactly where the first book left off, I wasn't sure if I would remember all of the important elements and characters but it literally took two or three pages before I was transported right back into that adventure park with the gang, ready to take on the challenges facing Henri in this instalment.
For the second story in the trilogy, Henri is shocked when somebody from his past returns and starts making life even more complicated for him. He is already struggling to keep the park on the right track financially and with their main supplier causing problems with outrageous invoices, unpopular equipment and a hint of blackmail, Henri is sure something is not right. It doesn't take long before somebody ends up dead and Henri needs to calculate the best way out of the situation while his life, and the future of the park are at risk.
When I read The Rabbit Factor, it was Henri who captured my heart so I was furious all of the way through The Moose Paradox at the way he was treated by everyone - the person from his past, the park's suppliers and even the members of staff. I am in awe of the author's ability to write such despicable and infuriating characters. It made the story incredibly frustrating to read but it definitely kept my interest piqued. I can't remember the last time I was so angry on behalf of a fictional person!
With such strong and unusual characters and its atypical setting, The Moose Paradox is a book which will cross genres and appeal to so many readers. I can't even begin to imagine what will happen to them all next, but I can't wait to find out!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author in 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach Finland was an immense success, with Marcel Berlins (The Times) calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’. Little Siberia (2020), was shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger, the Amazon Publishing/Capital Crime Awards and the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. The Rabbit Factor (2021), the first book in Antti’s first ever series, is in production by Amazon Studios with Steve Carell starring. The Moose Paradox is book two in the series.
Thanks to Anne Cater - @RandomTTours, Antti Tuomainen - @antti_tuomainen and Orenda Books - @OrendaBooks for the opportunity to read and review.
Fiction: Crime / Hard-boiled Mystery / Black Comedy
Publisher: Orenda Books
ISBN: 978-1-914585-35-7
Pages: 300pp
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