Starting Shot

Leena Lehtolainen

Original title: Lähtölaukaus

Author: Leena Lehtolainen

Published: 2026

Publisher: Tammi

Genre: Crime & Suspense

Pages: 370

Part of a series: Maria Kallio series

Reading material:

Finnish edition, English synopsis

Maria Kallio at a turning point in her life. Book #17 in the famous, bestselling Maria Kallio series!

Maria Kallio’s life is in upheaval. There is a new home—a two‑room apartment in a block building—and a new job as a special investigator with the Kilo Police Department. The impressive‑sounding position actually means cataloguing old cases in the police station’s basement.

A drowning accident that occurred in Kirkkonummi a couple of years earlier catches Maria’s attention, as the case involves an old acquaintance of hers. Did the victim commit suicide, wanting their children to receive the life‑insurance money? Or has an ex‑spouse finally taken revenge for being left behind?

When a similar accident happens again, Maria returns to her work in criminal investigation.

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Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)

About author

Leena Lehtolainen

Leena Lehtolainen is the top female crime author in Finland: her new titles always head straight to #1 on the Finnish bestseller lists.

Lehtolainen created her successful protagonist, detective Maria Kallio, in 1993. Having already featured in 16 novels and a complete TV series, a new Maria Kallio TV reboot series was launched in Fall 2021 on C More. Lehtolainen’s novels have been translated into 30 languages and have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.

And just like the events in Bodyguard, a that takes the heroine Hilja Ilveskero all around Europe, Lehtolainen’s own work takes her to book festivals, exhibitions and other events across the globe.

Leena Lehtolainen has also published outside the crime genre; her book The Charm of Figure Skating was voted sports book of the year 2010 in Finland, and A Life in Six Scenes showed her return to literary fiction.

The Crossing of the Green Dragon is her first title for YA audiences.

In her free time, Lehtolainen enjoys all kinds of music and follows lynx trails in the forests – just like Maria Kallio.

Photo credit: Ville Juurikkala

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Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

Leena Lehtolainen

Starting Shot


2025, Crime & Suspense

Leena Lehtolainen

The Snow Leopard's Heart


2022, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Leena Lehtolainen

The Crossing of the Green Dragon


2016, General Nonfiction, Memories & Biographies

Leena Lehtolainen

The Charm of Ice


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