The Kristinestad Murders author Kaisu Tuokko named 15th honorary citizen of Kristinestad!

Warmest congratulations to Kaisu Tuokko, author of the bestselling THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS series, who has been named an honorary citizen of Kristinestad, Finland! According to Syd-Österbotten, one of the newspapers reporting on it, “The criteria for being elected as an honorary citizen are that the person has done something good for business, tourism or culture.” With sales over 27,000 for the series, multiple award nominations, and four more titles planned, Kaisu Tuokko is certainly spreading the culture of Kristinestad! She also started a city tour that takes people to places featured in her first book, REVENGE

For anyone unfamiliar with the series, THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS is Kaisu Tuokko’s debut work, earning her the title of “Finland’s Camilla Läckberg”. Each title is a love letter to this old town on the west Finnish coast, diving into complex relationship drama and small town secrets behind the murders.

Kaisu Tuokko’s thought-provoking style is solid and convincing, reaching behind the crimes and into the background. ALONE is the strong next title of the Eevi Manner series.

–Anna-Leena Ekroos, Ilkka-Pohjalainen newspaper

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS began with REVENGE in 2023, followed by Alone in 2024. You can read more about each title below:

Book 1: REVENGE
The body of a young man is discovered in the sea, and the criminal investigator Mats Bergholm is responsible for the case. At the same time, journalist Eevi Manner is sent to dig out a scoop of the event for the local newspaper. Both are surprised to find each other on the grim beach: the two have a past together – a past which they now need to set aside to solve the case.

Eevi is contacted by a young woman, and it becomes clear that the death is just one link in a chain of events unfitting the picturesque town. The full picture becomes clearer and clearer, although the secrets of the locals are buried deep. Social media and recordings can offer help in solving the case, but the lies and muddy memories of the people involved cast doubts in every direction.

Book 2: ALONE
An elderly woman is found dead in Kristinestad, malnourished, dirty, and abused. She’s wearing the socks of the local nursing home, but the people there don’t recognise her. No one knows who she is.

Mats, the local police officer, starts investigating the case with his team, but establishing the identity of the murder victim proves tricky. Mats also has issues in his personal life, and same goes for the journalist Eevi, who struggles to get pregnant. While Eevi uncovers harsh truths about the treatment of the elderly in Kristinestad, Mats and his team find another body – and it seems Mats’ brother is also involved in the crime.