Kaisu Tuokko

Moments of Darkness

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The year is drawing to a close, and darkness settles thick over the small town.

Moments of Darkness, set during Eevi Manner’s teenage years, is impossible to put down.

November 2001. Tuned-up cars pull into the driveway of a suburban home, where a notorious house party is underway. Among the guests is Eevi Manner—shy, yet hungry for life. At the party she meets Mats, a Swedish-speaking Finnish boy with whom she instantly clicks. But the night takes a tragic turn when one of the guests disappears without a trace.

During the bleakest weeks of winter, the connection between Eevi and Mats deepens into first love, while rumors swirl around the missing person case. For many, protecting their own—or someone else’s—reputation matters more than helping the police uncover what happened to the vanished partygoer.

Prequel to the bestselling crimance series!

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #4: Betrayal

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A tense and atmospheric crime novel that reveals the dark side of a close‑knit small‑town community

The summer market in July in Kristinestad takes a shocking turn when a young man’s body is found inside a market tent. The victim’s identity is shrouded in mystery, but his phone contains an unexpected clue: Eevi Manner’s number.

Eevi is drawn into the investigation led by Detective Inspector Mats Bergholm. Why had the young man tried to contact Eevi of all people? Could she have saved him? The line between work and private life begins to blur as Eevi and Mats grow closer. They know it’s wrong—but why does it feel so right?

The popular crime series delivers once again!

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #3: Lies

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The Eevi Manner series, which has captivated readers by tackling social issues, continues.

An idyllic summer evening in Kristinestad takes a chilling turn when a pool of blood is found on the steps of Ulrika Eleonora’s church. Inspector Mats Bergholm interrupts his Midsummer celebrations to investigate the case and escape his distressing family situation.

Journalist Eevi Manner is adjusting to a new phase of life and time off work, but can’t resist getting involved in the mystery that has gripped the town. At the same time, she worries about her new friend whose relationship is going sour.

Eevi and Mats cross paths again as the past is closing in with fatal consequences.

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #2: Alone

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✓ Kaisu Tuokko’s debut novel REVENGE has sold more than 12,000 copies in Finland!

✓ REVENGE was nominated for the BookBeat Newcomer of the Year award of 2023 and is nominated for the Storytel Award of 2023!

The praised and bestselling crime series continues!

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.

The Kristinestad Murders is a new, atmospheric crime series set in a coastal town in Finland, with intriguing main characters and interpersonal relationships. The author Kaisu Tuokko combines the thrilling crime plots with societal issues, and the result hooks the reader. The first installment in the series, REVENGE, sold over 12,000 copies within the first months, and the series is planned to have six installments.

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #1: Revenge

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The peace of the idyllic seaside town Kristinestad is broken in the first installment of an addictive new crime series.

The body of a healthy 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: he two have a past together – a past which they now need to set aside to solve the case.

Eevi is contacted by the local youth, 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. Perfect for fans of Viveca Sten and Camilla Läckberg, this opening of the new KRISTINESTAD MURDERS crime series follows in the footsteps of strong crime authors, offering gripping crime plots and interpersonal drama.

Kaisu Tuokko

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Kaisu Tuokko’s aim is to create a series where interpersonal relationships and the idyll of a small town are mixed with cruel events – using psychological tension to build stories about how badly we know the families or friends of our neighbors, of our loved ones. Everyone has secrets, but some of them are more dangerous than others.

Tuokko loves the stories of strangers, secrets of small towns, rainy autumn evenings, and the Swedish language. She lives in Helsinki, and has named her main character after her grandparents.