Russian rights sold for the bestselling Nordic Noir CARGO and SWING!

We are really happy to announce that both CARGO and SWING  by Nordic Noir supercouple A.M. Ollikainen have been now been acquired by Gorodets in Russia!

The series now has 15 publishers around the world, but rights are still available in the United States, United Kingdom, Romania, Albania, France, Korea, Iceland, Bulgaria, Italy etc.

Download English materials for the series here


See below the cinematic video of the authors explaining their creative process and beckground on this very successful Paula Pihlaja series.

A.M. Ollikainen “I’m not very fond of cruel crime fiction”


PRAISE:

“Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. Do you need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.”

This is what the publishing director of German Bastei Lübbe – Marco Schneiders –  said about CARGO and its authors Aki and Milla Ollikainen.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

#1 Paula Pihlaja series

The first installment in a fast-paced and addictive series.

A cargo container is found in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Namibia.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

Download English materials for the series here


SWING
by A.M. Ollikainen

#2 Paula Pihlaja seriesA famous mountain climber is found hanging above a seesaw in a playground. The other end of the seesaw bears a sandbag that has spilled its contents.

Paula Pihlaja has barely had time to start the investigation when another body turns up – at another playground, hanging above a seesaw in the same way. A serial killer is on the loose, but his or her victims seem to have nothing in common.

In the first novel of the series, Paula develops strange symptoms. In this second instalment of the series, Paula is forced to hide her escalating symptoms from her colleagues, trying to avoid police fitness tests. At the same time, she continues investigating the life of her son, whom she gave up for adoption when he was a baby, in order to understand why he ended up a criminal, and eventually in prison for manslaughter. The drama intensifies when Paula finally shares her secret with her son about the slowly advancing ALS.

Download English materials for the series here

CARGO (Paula Pihlaja #1)
Otava, 2021
by A.M. Ollikainen

SWING (Paula Pihlaja #2)
Otava, 2023
by A.M. Ollikainen

Rights sold for the series:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
DENMARK: Svane & Bilgrav
ESTONIA: Varrak
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
HUNGARY: Animus
LATVIA: Zvaigzne
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
NORWAY: Aschehoug
POLAND: Czarna Owca
RUSSIA: Gorodets
SLOVENIA: Didakta
SWEDEN: Bokfabriken
TURKEY: April

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

AUTHORS’ AUGUST: How did the new Nordic Noir power couple Aki and Milla Ollikainen start to write together?

Authors’ August continues!

How did the new Nordic Noir power couple Aki and Milla Ollikainen start to write together and which are the challenges in writing as a married couple?

Elina Ahlback Literary Agency has produced in collaboration with Kintsugi Agency five cinematic Author Videos.
In Authors’ August,
 we are extremely proud to launch these unique author videos one by one.In previous weeks we have launched Laura LindstedtMax Seeck and Salla Simukka and this week we are happy to present A.M. Ollikainen!

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE:

A.M. Ollikainen “I’m not very fond of cruel crime fiction”

We thank the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture for their financial support of the video project.


“Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. Do you need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.”

This is what the publishing director of German Bastei Lübbe – Marco Schneiders –  said about CARGO and its authors Aki and Milla Ollikainen.

The Paula Pihlaja series has already sold to 14 countries worldwide and the second title SWING will be published in Finland in Spring 2022.

 

CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

#1 Paula Pihlaja series

The first installment in a fast-paced and addictive series.

A cargo container is found in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Namibia.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

Download English materials for the series here


SWING
by A.M. Ollikainen

#2 Paula Pihlaja series

A famous mountain climber is found hanging above a seesaw in a playground. The other end of the seesaw bears a sandbag that has spilled its contents.

Paula Pihlaja has barely had time to start the investigation when another body turns up – at another playground, hanging above a seesaw in the same way. A serial killer is on the loose, but his or her victims seem to have nothing in common.

In the first novel of the series, Paula develops strange symptoms. In this second instalment of the series, Paula is forced to hide her escalating symptoms from her colleagues, trying to avoid police fitness tests. At the same time, she continues investigating the life of her son, whom she gave up for adoption when he was a baby, in order to understand why he ended up a criminal, and eventually in prison for manslaughter. The drama intensifies when Paula finally shares her secret with her son about the slowly advancing ALS.

Download English materials for the series here

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

Today Elina Ahlback Literary Agency celebrates its 12th anniversary!

The story of the Elina Ahlback Literary Agency began in Manhattan, New York, in February 2009. While Elina’s son was skating in the skate park under the Brooklyn Bridge, the courageous decision to establish the agency was made — with its mission to build bridges between authors and publishers worldwide and with its passion to internationalize Finnish literature.

Elina Ahlback Literary Agency is Finland’s leading and first independent, international literary agency representing Finnish and Nordic authors’ and illustrators’ book, film & TV rights in international markets. The Agency also represents U.S. publishers and their authors exclusively in the Nordic countries.

We are enormously proud of the authors we have the honor to represent and  are celebrating with some of the best praises for our excellent authors and titles this Spring:

A New York Times Bestseller

Translated with icy precision, by Kristian London, is written in short, sharp, present-tense chapters, a technique which adds to its relentless tension.

– The Wall Street Journal on
The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck

 

 

 

 

 

Best Book of the Month

This provocative Finnish author enters the fray of American literature (thanks to translation from David Hackston) with a racy, wonderfully weird novel about a therapist’s sessions with a sex-obsessed woman.

– Entertainment Weekly on
My Friend Natalia by Laura Lindstedt

 

 

 

Best Travel Book of Year 2021

Packed with emotions, this book is like reading a travelogue, feminist’s manifesto and a self-help guide in one.

– The Independent on
The Women I Think About at Night by Mia Kankimäki

 

 

 

 

Best Debut Novel of the Year

By pushing her character into a crisis, a writer can sometimes observe the abyss of the mind. How eloquently we are led from the drama of a crisis into facing the questions of domination and subjugation. The intense mood is amplified by the close-knit style of expression. The general impression of this dense novel follows along the same lines as the communication between the characters: it surely is cold but it does emit some heat.

– Parnasso on
Arctic Mirage by Terhi Kokkonen

 

 

Winner of a National Crime competition 2019

Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.

– Marco Schneiders, Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe on
Cargo by A.M.Ollikainen

 

 

 

Winner of The Best Crime Fiction Novel in 2020

This art detective thriller that is constructed around the masterpiece by Michaelangelo Caravaggio moves fluidly forward like an Italian little criminal on his scooter. The twists and turns are swift and the plot as intricate as the Sicilian courtly etiquette; yet the tranquil pace of the narration allows the reader to stay on board.

– KMV Magazine on
Lead White by Jyrki Erra

 

 

 

A national bestseller

Miika Nousiainen’s FACELIFT is first and foremost a fantastic humorous novel full of wit and charming characters. Moreover the author does not shy away from more serious issues and offers a refreshing perspective on many clichés and stereotypes. Reading Facelift is an experience not to be forgotten.

– Lucie Bregantová, Host Publishing on
Facelift by Miika Nousiainen

 

 

 

Winner of the Storytel Audio book Award 2020 for the Best Crime Novel
Winner of Elisa Kirja Book Award, Best Newcomer 2020

Our first impression after reading this wonderful book is ‘It is such a fascinating and engaging read, that your biggest challenge will be putting the book down.’ Scandinavian landscapes, 30-years old mystery, investigation, all the atmosphere – ideal mix. We even felt the True Detective vibes! We liked the masterful parallel storylines, the formed author`s style, and, of course, the perfect ending!

– Sofia Shramko, Mann Ivanov Ferber on
All The King’s Men by Elina Backman

 

A national bestseller

The title of this book immediately caught my eye, but it’s rare that a book delivers beyond its clever name. This book does. It’s an entertaining, thought-provoking read about the world we live in and the companies that, when unchecked, will shape our future.

– Joost van den Ossenblok, A.W. Bruna on
The 50 Most Dangerous Companies by Juha-Pekka Raeste and Hannu Sokala

 

 

 

An immediate national bestseller

Love is not – although abstruse – irrational….These two things, the search for love at the same time as you are escaping from it and the process of observing and describing it, are at the core of Irrational Things. — Little by little, all these irrational things are presented by Turunen to the reader in her endearing way that takes notice of the smallest details. Time flies, the narrator changes and becomes more and more aware. As a cunning writer, Turunen has fooled the reader into fearing how a distant relationship can survive. And suddenly, I as a reader, realize that all the while I’ve been following an artist’s development story.

– Suvi Ahola, Helsingin Sanomat on
Irrational Things by Saara Turunen

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

About author


Elina Backman

Elina Backman is an author and a media & marketing professional living in Helsinki. Elina loves books (all sorts), traveling, cycling and is a host of a Book & Wine Club. She is a creative soul with a commercial mind, and her goal is to find readers globally.

Her debut novel All the King's Men was published in 2020 and immediately gained an enormous amount of attention from the Finnish media, including a praising review by the biggest daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. The Havas series is now a best-selling series in Finland and an international TV series is in development. Elina's books have sold over 100 000 copies in Finland.

Together with Heidi Holmavuo, Elina has also narrated the true crime podcast Ratkaisematon (Unsolved), which turned into a full-length audio book as the two crime writers started investigating the murder of a young girl in 1955. They were able to uncover new evidence and their research led the police to reopen the investigation. This story is narrated in the book Unsolved - The Case of Elli Immo.

About author


Juha-Pekka Raeste & Hannu Sokala

Juha-Pekka Raeste covers international and domestic business for Helsingin Sanomat, the biggest newspaper in Finland. He focuses on the biggest corporations and the IT industry.

Hannu Sokala has worked as a financial journalist for over 30 years, starting at the daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and, lastly, as an investigative reporter for the Finnish National Broadcasting Company YLE. He enjoys digging into the biggest banks and corporations and the most powerful industries.

About author


Laura Lindstedt

Laura Lindstedt (b. 1976) became a critical darling with her adoption-themed debut novel Scissors (Sakset, Teos 2007), which earned her a nomination for the Finlandia Prize, the country’s most prestigious literary honour. Lindstedt’s second novel Oneiron (Teos 2015), a work of speculative fiction that takes place in the mysterious moments that follow one’s death, earned her the coveted Finlandia Prize of 2015 and was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2017. Lindstedt’s success has continued with My Friend Natalia (Teos 2019) which has earned critical acclaim and has been sold to 12 territories. Together with author Sinikka Vuola, she has authored 101 tapaa tappaa aviomies (101 Ways to Kill Your Husband, Siltala 2022) which has been nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize of 2024.

She is currently completing her Ph.D. thesis on French author Nathalie Sarraute.

About author


Max Seeck, New York Times Best Selling Author

Max Seeck - New York Times Bestselling Author of THE WITCH HUNTER.

Winner of the prestigious Glass Key Award 2023 for his novel THE LAST GRUDGE.

Big Hollywood film & TV news coming soon!

“An exceptional combination of hardboiled Scandi-noir and eerie ghost story. [--] Seeck marries breathtaking suspense with an expertly drawn heroine. This is guaranteed to send shivers up even the most unshakable readers’ spines." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review (Ghost island)

"Each new step has been an artistic success. Max Seeck, last year's winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic detective story, has a golden touch for Finnish suspense fiction." - Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

“Another star has been added to the firmament of thriller writers,” announced Iltalehti newspaper, when Max’s debut novel was published in 2016. Four books later, Max Seeck’s novels have been sold to more than 40 countries, including US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries and as far as Korea!

His Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! 2024 will see the release of his independent novel MILO, which is already creating buzz internationally with several rights pre-empts ahead of the Finnish publication!

Max Seeck has a background in sales and marketing, and has lately been able to dedicate his time to his lifelong love of writing. His interests include well-conducted research, reading Nordic Noir and listening to movie soundtracks as he writes.

About author


Mia Kankimäki

Mia Kankimäki is the author of two best-selling books which blend travelogue, memoir, biography, and women’s history. After taking a master’s degree in comparative literature at the University of Helsinki and working diligently in Finnish publishing, in 2010 she left her job and traveled to Japan to write her first book. Her books have received several literary awards, for example the Best Travel Book of the Year 2013, the HelMet Award 2015, and Otava Book Foundation’s Non-Fiction Award 2020. She currently lives in Helsinki, Finland, whenever she’s not traveling for her next book project.

Mia has been enthusiastic about Japanese culture for years and is a qualified ikebana teacher of the Sogetsu school. Her first book Things That Make One’s Hear Beat Faster took her to Kyoto where she has spent long periods of writing and making research ever since. Kankimäki’s second book The Women I Think About at Night has sold over 55,000 copies in Finland and the translation rights have been sold to 21 territories, including USA and China.

Mia's both books have been aqcuired by Japanese publisher Soshisha:

"I am delighted to share that Mia Kankimäki’s debut title, THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER, is embraced and loved by many Japanese readers. A cross between an autobiography and a travelogue, the author finds an emotional connection with a woman geographically far apart and from a different era and tries to discover who she really was. I believe this style is reflected in THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT as well. Though some of the female figures in this second book might not be well-known locally, I am looking forward to seeing how our readers will react to their lifestyles." - Daisuke Watanabe, Editor, Soshisha

About author


Miika Nousiainen

Miika Nousiainen (b. 1973 in Säynätsalo) has worked as a news and current affairs journalist for MTV3's news department. In addition, he has written for several popular TV-shows.

Nousiainen’s debut novel, Raspberry Boat Refugee (2007), tells the story of Mikko Virtanen, a man who desperately wants to become Swedish at any cost. In this tragicomic work, Nousiainen makes sharp observations about our western neighbor and illustrates that we’re all self-proclaimed experts on Sweden.

Roots (2016) follows the search for a missing father, taking readers across continents from Lieksa, Finland, to Australia. The book was also well-received internationally.

In Facelift (2020), Nousiainen gently explores themes of family and the longing for connection.

In addition he has written The Danger of the Long Distance Runner (2009) and Forrest Giant (2011). 

Nousiainen's novels have been adapted countless times and translated into languages such as Swedish, German, Dutch, Italian, and Estonian.

Miika Nousiainen have been awarded with: Laila Hirvisaari Foundation Grant (2008), Kalevi Jäntti Prize (2009) and Honorable Mention in the Sports Museum Foundation’s Sports Book of the Year Competition (2010)

About author


Terhi Kokkonen

Terhi Kokkonen (1974) is a Helsinki-based musician and pop lyricist. She is known for the band Scandinavian Music Group, as well as being one of the singers of the band Ultra Bra. Kokkonen has studied dramaturgy at the Theater Academy and screenwriting and film editing at the Department of Cinematography and Stage Design at Aalto University. Arctic Mirage is her debut novel, and it was awarded as the best debut novel of 2020.

Swedish rights for CARGO and SWING are now sold to Bokfabriken!

Now the series by A.M. Ollikainen has found 14 perfect publishers this Spring!
We are very excited to let you know that A.M. Ollikainen’s debut Nordic Noir CARGO and its sequel SWING have now been sold to Sweden! The 14th publisher is Bokfabriken!

The Swedish publisher is really happy to publish this exciting series:

Cargo is Scandi crime at its finest! We are really looking forward to introducing Paula Pihlaja to the Swedish readers and listeners.
-Henrik Lindvall, Senior Editor, Bokfabriken

Download the 100pp English sample and synopsis for CARGO here


FIRST EXCELLENT FINNISH REVIEWS for CARGO are in:
The suspense is superbly raised: first by sweating in the heat, then exploding into action during a thunderstorm…./The most positive thing in CARGO is that the purely literal skills are firmly mastered. The mystery is well crafted, the reader is bluffed, and the surprises in the end are rewarding.

– Suvi Ahola, Helsingin Sanomat Newspaper,  Finland 16.5.2021 

CARGO is an international, steaming and tough murder mystery. – Ollikainen writes in a rich, versatile way, the text painting emotional landscapes with depth. The characters form a ragged and edgy crew, the dialogue has strength and is filled with sharp-eyed observations. The pieces of the puzzle interlock unabatingly logically towards the pivotal scenes. – Ollikainen poignantly describes the oddities of the artistic scene. The endgame of the crime is literally dizziying.
– Jussi Wahlgren, Mesta.net, Finland

The perfect choice to pick up while browsing the shelves at the airport book kiosk. You’ll want to read it nonstop.
– Suomen Kuvalehti Magazine, Finland

CARGO stays perfectly strict and clear cut till the very end. — CARGO has all the elements that are required for an entertaining series; it stands out from the mass especially thanks to the fact that you do not have to feel constrained and your thoughts do not stray away. The essential parts are there from the beginning.
– Tero Alanko, Kulttuuritoimitus.fi,, Finland 25.5.2021 


EDITORIAL PRAISE FOR CARGO AND A.M. OLLIKAINEN:

Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series.  CARGO is outstanding.  
– Marco Schneiders, Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe, Germany

„Cargo” is a fast-paced story with suspense until the end and well-drawn main character—an intelligent, empathetic and pragmatic police commissioner, Paula Pihlaja. The other characters also have clear psychological outline and natural dialogues which fuel the reader’s curiosity. All those things make „Cargo” impossible to put down. I am glad that Polish readers will be able to take part in this criminal feast. 
– Dominika Dudarew-Osiecka, Czarna Owca, Poland

Something very exciting is for sure happening within the genre of Nordic noir – our eyes are drawn to Helsinki. A.M. Ollikainen comes in and blow our minds. What a terrific start for a new series! The writing, the atmosphere, the characters, the tension – it’s all there, and we strongly believe this author duo to be the next big thing. Cargo is a book that’s hard to put down and has excellent twists and turns that are sure to delight thriller and Nordic noir fans. In addition to the great entertaining read this novel is, we love how well it takes on political and human themes – that’s rare, and adds to our enthusiasm for this author duo and their promising series.
– Vidar Strøm Fallrø, Development Editor, Aschehoug, Norway

Cargo is like a breath of fresh air among contemporary crime fiction – it is not only a thrilling detective story but also a perfectly written novel pointing out many interesting observations about our current lives. Moreover, the investigator Paula Pihlaja is such a relatable character – a capable, intelligent woman full of wit yet also haunted by her past. But could her seeming weaknesses be a source of strength too? It is a pleasure to see a strong female lead who is not afraid of being vulnerable. 
-Lucie Bregantová, editor, HOST – vydavatelství, s. r. o., Czech Republic

We see a great readership for this thriller series starring Paula Pihlaja: she’s a great detective, but also a person people can relate to as she copes with her past and the challenging times ahead of her. Add to this the themes that every great thriller novel needs: an intriguing murder method, a perfect writing style and a suspenseful plot, and I think you’ve got a winning combination in Cargo! We see A.M. Ollikainen as a very promising crimewriting powercouple, and look forward to introduce them to our Dutch readers.
– Soraya Vink, Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins Holland

When finishing the English sample I felt that it is quite terrible that I can’t speak Finnish – you need to continue the story just from the really beginning! Big things are happening in Finland, authors like A.M. Ollikainen makes us stunned. With Cargo, you felt yourself immediately in the middle of a well-deserved Nordic thriller, and you quickly realize that this won’t be an easy one. The first fine screws, the personality of the main characters, the launch of this story guarantees that this book will have an amazing future.
– Laszlo Marosi, Publishing editor, Animus Kiado, Hungary

A rare crime novel that also masters the literary style. One of the authors – Aki Ollikainen – is an awarded and internationally acclaimed literary fiction author and it really shows. The well-crafted mystery only unfolds in the very end and leaves the reader in awe.
– Piret Saluri, Estonia

CARGO is really masterful at setting up its twists and turns, also adding some hard-hitting societal criticism into the mix. I certainly could not put it down and it kept me guessing the whole time.
– Gintė Pačėsė, Editor, Baltos lankos, Lithuania


JURY praise for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen – Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition (2019)

The jury agrees that the text in Milla and Aki Ollikainen’s book runs splendidly. According to the jury, with its artfully and cleverly spun multifaceted criminal storyline CARGO springs to mind the best Nordic crime series:
The gallery of characters is exceptionally fascinating and well-controlled: they all pertain to the story and propel it again and again towards new unforeseeable twists. You simply cannot put this ace of a suspense book down. Even the first scenes of the manuscript contain an enormous charge.

The Crime 2019 Contest jury consisted of writers Leena Lehtolainen and Antti Tuomainen, producer Riina Hyytiä from Dionysos Films, Editor Aleksi Pöyry and Publisher Antti Kasper from Otava Publishing

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
DENMARK: Svane & Bilgrav
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
HUNGARY: Animus
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
LATVIA: Zvaigzne
(2-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug
(2-book-deal)
POLAND: Czarna Owca
(2-book deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta
(2-book deal)
SWEDEN: Bokfabriken
(2-book deal)
TURKEY: April
(2-book-deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

Danish rights for CARGO and SWING are now sold to Svane & Bilgrav!

Danish rights for CARGO and SWING are now sold to Svane & Bilgrav!

We are very excited to let you know that A.M. Ollikainen’s debut Nordic Noir CARGO and its sequel SWING have now been sold to Denmark! The 13th pre-publication publisher is Svane & Bilgrav!

The Danish publisher couldn’t be more excited to publish the future bestsellers:

CARGO is extremely well-written and has a carefully constructed and very believable plot. There’s a highly dynamic interaction between the characters and the construction of the narrative with several tracks and plenty of cliffhangers makes the story insanely intriguing. It is a genuine page-turner!

– Søren Bilgrav-Nielsen, Publisher, Svane & Bilgrav, Denmark

Download the 100pp English sample and synopsis for CARGO here


CARGO will be officially published tomorrow, the 12th of May!


PRAISE FOR CARGO AND A.M. OLLIKAINEN:

Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series.  CARGO is outstanding.  
– Marco Schneiders, Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe, Germany

„Cargo” is a fast-paced story with suspense until the end and well-drawn main character—an intelligent, empathetic and pragmatic police commissioner, Paula Pihlaja. The other characters also have clear psychological outline and natural dialogues which fuel the reader’s curiosity. All those things make „Cargo” impossible to put down. I am glad that Polish readers will be able to take part in this criminal feast. 
– Dominika Dudarew-Osiecka, Czarna Owca, Poland

Something very exciting is for sure happening within the genre of Nordic noir – our eyes are drawn to Helsinki. A.M. Ollikainen comes in and blow our minds. What a terrific start for a new series! The writing, the atmosphere, the characters, the tension – it’s all there, and we strongly believe this author duo to be the next big thing. Cargo is a book that’s hard to put down and has excellent twists and turns that are sure to delight thriller and Nordic noir fans. In addition to the great entertaining read this novel is, we love how well it takes on political and human themes – that’s rare, and adds to our enthusiasm for this author duo and their promising series.
– Vidar Strøm Fallrø, Development Editor, Aschehoug, Norway

Cargo is like a breath of fresh air among contemporary crime fiction – it is not only a thrilling detective story but also a perfectly written novel pointing out many interesting observations about our current lives. Moreover, the investigator Paula Pihlaja is such a relatable character – a capable, intelligent woman full of wit yet also haunted by her past. But could her seeming weaknesses be a source of strength too? It is a pleasure to see a strong female lead who is not afraid of being vulnerable. 
-Lucie Bregantová, editor, HOST – vydavatelství, s. r. o., Czech Republic

We see a great readership for this thriller series starring Paula Pihlaja: she’s a great detective, but also a person people can relate to as she copes with her past and the challenging times ahead of her. Add to this the themes that every great thriller novel needs: an intriguing murder method, a perfect writing style and a suspenseful plot, and I think you’ve got a winning combination in Cargo! We see A.M. Ollikainen as a very promising crimewriting powercouple, and look forward to introduce them to our Dutch readers.
– Soraya Vink, Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins Holland

When finishing the English sample I felt that it is quite terrible that I can’t speak Finnish – you need to continue the story just from the really beginning! Big things are happening in Finland, authors like A.M. Ollikainen makes us stunned. With Cargo, you felt yourself immediately in the middle of a well-deserved Nordic thriller, and you quickly realize that this won’t be an easy one. The first fine screws, the personality of the main characters, the launch of this story guarantees that this book will have an amazing future.
– Laszlo Marosi, Publishing editor, Animus Kiado, Hungary

A rare crime novel that also masters the literary style. One of the authors – Aki Ollikainen – is an awarded and internationally acclaimed literary fiction author and it really shows. The well-crafted mystery only unfolds in the very end and leaves the reader in awe.
– Piret Saluri, Estonia

CARGO is really masterful at setting up its twists and turns, also adding some hard-hitting societal criticism into the mix. I certainly could not put it down and it kept me guessing the whole time.
– Gintė Pačėsė, Editor, Baltos lankos, Lithuania


JURY praise for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen – Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition (2019)

The jury agrees that the text in Milla and Aki Ollikainen’s book runs splendidly. According to the jury, with its artfully and cleverly spun multifaceted criminal storyline CARGO springs to mind the best Nordic crime series:
The gallery of characters is exceptionally fascinating and well-controlled: they all pertain to the story and propel it again and again towards new unforeseeable twists. You simply cannot put this ace of a suspense book down. Even the first scenes of the manuscript contain an enormous charge.

The Crime 2019 Contest jury consisted of writers Leena Lehtolainen and Antti Tuomainen, producer Riina Hyytiä from Dionysos Films, Editor Aleksi Pöyry and Publisher Antti Kasper from Otava Publishing.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
DENMARK: Svane & Bilgrav
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
HUNGARY: Animus
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
LATVIA: Zvaigzne
(2-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug
(2-book-deal)
POLAND: Czarna Owca
(2-book deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta
(2-book deal)
TURKEY: April
(2-book-deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction – CARGO publishers predict the future bestseller!

Join the happy family of A.M. Ollikainen’s CARGO Publishers!

The book is now printed and on its way to bookstores!

We are excited to share amazing endorsements by CARGO’s foreign publishers and passionate about growing the family of A.M. Ollikainen’s publishers around the world.

Who can resist this supercouple and their unique combination of the best Finnish crime fiction that also masters the literary style?

CARGO is the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition with rights sold in 12 languages and the publication date in Finland is May 12th. 

The book has already left the printers and is on the way to bookstores as we speak!


Download the 100pp English sample and full Finnish manuscript for your reader here.

Find a Finnish reader here.



PRAISE FOR CARGO AND A.M. OLLIKAINEN:

Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series.  CARGO is outstanding.  
– Marco Schneiders, Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe, Germany

„Cargo” is a fast-paced story with suspense until the end and well-drawn main character—an intelligent, empathetic and pragmatic police commissioner, Paula Pihlaja. The other characters also have clear psychological outline and natural dialogues which fuel the reader’s curiosity. All those things make „Cargo” impossible to put down. I am glad that Polish readers will be able to take part in this criminal feast. 
– Dominika Dudarew-Osiecka, Czarna Owca, Poland

Something very exciting is for sure happening within the genre of Nordic noir – our eyes are drawn to Helsinki. A.M. Ollikainen comes in and blow our minds. What a terrific start for a new series! The writing, the atmosphere, the characters, the tension – it’s all there, and we strongly believe this author duo to be the next big thing. Cargo is a book that’s hard to put down and has excellent twists and turns that are sure to delight thriller and Nordic noir fans. In addition to the great entertaining read this novel is, we love how well it takes on political and human themes – that’s rare, and adds to our enthusiasm for this author duo and their promising series.
– Vidar Strøm Fallrø, Development Editor, Aschehoug, Norway

Cargo is like a breath of fresh air among contemporary crime fiction – it is not only a thrilling detective story but also a perfectly written novel pointing out many interesting observations about our current lives. Moreover, the investigator Paula Pihlaja is such a relatable character – a capable, intelligent woman full of wit yet also haunted by her past. But could her seeming weaknesses be a source of strength too? It is a pleasure to see a strong female lead who is not afraid of being vulnerable. 
-Lucie Bregantová, editor, HOST – vydavatelství, s. r. o., Czech Republic

We see a great readership for this thriller series starring Paula Pihlaja: she’s a great detective, but also a person people can relate to as she copes with her past and the challenging times ahead of her. Add to this the themes that every great thriller novel needs: an intriguing murder method, a perfect writing style and a suspenseful plot, and I think you’ve got a winning combination in Cargo! We see A.M. Ollikainen as a very promising crimewriting powercouple, and look forward to introduce them to our Dutch readers.
– Soraya Vink, Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins Holland

When finishing the English sample I felt that it is quite terrible that I can’t speak Finnish – you need to continue the story just from the really beginning! Big things are happening in Finland, authors like A.M. Ollikainen makes us stunned. With Cargo, you felt yourself immediately in the middle of a well-deserved Nordic thriller, and you quickly realize that this won’t be an easy one. The first fine screws, the personality of the main characters, the launch of this story guarantees that this book will have an amazing future.
– Laszlo Marosi, Publishing editor, Animus Kiado, Hungary

A rare crime novel that also masters the literary style. One of the authors – Aki Ollikainen – is an awarded and internationally acclaimed literary fiction author and it really shows. The well-crafted mystery only unfolds in the very end and leaves the reader in awe.
– Piret Saluri, Estonia

CARGO is really masterful at setting up its twists and turns, also adding some hard-hitting societal criticism into the mix. I certainly could not put it down and it kept me guessing the whole time.
– Gintė Pačėsė, Editor, Baltos lankos, Lithuania


JURY’S praise for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen – Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition (2019)

The jury agrees that the text in Milla and Aki Ollikainen’s book runs splendidly. According to the jury, with its artfully and cleverly spun multifaceted criminal storyline CARGO springs to mind the best Nordic crime series:

The gallery of characters is exceptionally fascinating and well-controlled: they all pertain to the story and propel it again and again towards new unforeseeable twists. You simply cannot put this ace of a suspense book down. Even the first scenes of the manuscript contain an enormous charge.

The Crime 2019 Contest jury consisted of writers Leena Lehtolainen and Antti Tuomainen, producer Riina Hyytiä from Dionysos Films, Editor Aleksi Pöyry and Publisher Antti Kasper from Otava Publishing

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
HUNGARY: Animus
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
LATVIA: Zvaigzne
(2-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug
(2-book-deal)
POLAND: Czarna Owca
(2-book deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta
(2-book deal)
TURKEY: April
(2-book-deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

Three new deals! CARGO and SWING now sold in 11 territories!

We are excited to announce that our spring crime highlight “Cargo“, and its sequel “Swing” by new Nordic Noir supercouple A.M. Ollikainen have now been acquired by publishers from 11 countries in three weeks!

The first title of the Paula Pihlaja series – CARGO – will be published in Finland by Otava as their lead title in May 2021.

The latest publisher to join A.M. Ollikainen publishers’ family is Czarna Owca in Poland that won a very exciting auction (Czarna Owca is Polish publisher for Stieg Larsson, Camilla Läckberg, Elina Backman etc)

That is not all, The Turkish rights for both of the titles were acquired by April and Latvian rights were acquired by Zvaigzne (Latvian Jo Nesbø, Stieg Larsson publisher)

Cargo is the first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Paula Pihlaja series, which has previously been acquired by excellent Nordic Crime publishers: Host in Czechia, Varrak in Estonia, Bastei Lübbe in Germany, Animus in Hungary, Baltos lankos in Lithuania, HarperCollins Holland in the Netherlands, Aschehoug in Norway, and Didakta in Slovenia.

Download the English sample and long synopsis for CARGO here.

The rights for this very exciting award-winning title and series are still available in Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Russia, Sweden, France, US, UK, Bulgaria, Spain, China, Korea etc.

„Cargo” is a fast-paced story with suspense until the end and well-drawn main character—an intelligent, empathetic and pragmatic police commissioner, Paula Pihlaja. The other characters also have clear psychological outline and natural dialogues which fuel the reader’s curiosity. All those things make „Cargo” impossible to put down. I am glad that Polish readers will be able to take part in this criminal feast.– Dominika Dudarew-Osiecka, Czarna Owca, Poland

Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.
– Marco Schneiders,  Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
HUNGARY: Animus
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
LATVIA: Zvaigzne
(2-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug
(2-book-deal)
POLAND: Czarna Owca
(2-book deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta
(2-book deal)
TURKEY: April
(2-book-deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

CARGO and SWING pre-empted by Animus in Hungary!

We are excited to announce that our spring crime highlight “Cargo“, and its sequel “Swing” by new Nordic Noir supercouple A.M. Ollikainen are now sold to 8 countries in two weeks!

The latest publisher to join A.M. Ollikainen publishers’ family is Animus (Hungarian publisher for Jo Nesbø, Lars Kepler, Stieg Larsson, Max Seeck etc)

Cargo is the first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Paula Pihlaja series, which has previously been acquired by excellent Nordic Crime publishers: Host in Czechia, Varrak in Estonia, Bastei Lübbe in Germany, Baltos lankos in Lithuania, HarperCollins Holland in the Netherlands, Aschehoug in Norway, and Didakta in Slovenia.

Download the English sample and long synopsis for CARGO here.

The rights for this very exciting award-winning title and series are still available in: Denmark, Russia, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Turkey, France, US, UK, Latvia, Bulgaria, Spain, China, Korea etc.

When finishing the English sample I felt that it is quite terrible that I can’t speak Finnish – you need to continue the story just from the really beginning! Big things are happening in Finland, authors like A.M. Ollikainen makes us stunned. With Cargo, you felt yourself immediately in the middle of a well-deserved Nordic thriller, and you quickly realize that this won’t be an easy one. The first fine screws, the personality of the main characters, the launch of this story guarantees that this book will have an amazing future.

– Laszlo Marosi, Publishing editor, Animus Kiado, Hungary

 


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

CARGO
Kontti
Otava, May 2021, 360 pp.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
HUNGARY: Animus
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug (2-book-deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta (2-book deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

CARGO sold to Norway and Slovenia

We are excited to announce that our spring crime highlight “Cargo“, and its sequel “Swing” by A.M. Ollikainen is now sold to 7 countries in two weeks! In NorwayAschehoug won the auction, and in SloveniaDidakta acquired the rights.  Both publishers acquired two books. Excitement is growing, more deals expected soon! Join the happy family of A.M. Ollikainen’s publishers!

Cargo is the first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Paula Pihlaja series, which has previously been pre-empted by Varrak in Estonia, Bastei Lübbe in Germany and HarperCollins Holland in the Netherlands and Baltos Lankos in Lithuania won an auction with a 5-book deal!

“Something very exciting is for sure happening within the genre of Nordic noir – our eyes are drawn to Helsinki. A.M. Ollikainen comes in and blow our minds. What a terrific start for a new series! The writing, the atmosphere, the characters, the tension – it’s all there, and we strongly believe this author duo to be the next big thing. Cargo is a book that’s hard to put down and has excellent twists and turns that are sure to delight thriller and Nordic noir fans. In addition to the great entertaining read this novel is, we love how well it takes on political and human themes – that’s rare, and adds to our enthusiasm for this author duo and their promising series.” – Vidar Strøm Fallrø, Development Editor, Aschehoug, Norway

Download the English sample and long synopsis for CARGO here.

 


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug (2-book-deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta (2-book deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

Pre-empt for CARGO and SWING in Czech Republic!

We could not be happier to announce another amazing news about the winner of the National Crime Competition – CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen, due to be published in Finland in May 2021 by Otava Publishers.

Cargo is the first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir Paula Pihlaja series.

Host – the Czech publishers for Stieg Larsson, David Lagercrantz, Lars Kepler, Henning Mankell, Jussi Adler-Olsen – has just pre-empted the Czech rights for CARGO and SWING (#2 in the series) by A.M. Ollikainen.

The Paula Pihlaja series has previously been pre-empted by Varrak in Estonia, Bastei Lübbe in Germany and HarperCollins Holland in the Netherlands and Baltos Lankos in Lithuania won an auction with a 5-book deal!


Download the English sample and long synopsis for CARGO here.


The Host team is very happy about this, and the editor Lucie Bregantová had this to say:

CZECH PRAISE:
Cargo is like a breath of fresh air among contemporary crime fiction – it is not only a thrilling detective story but also a perfectly written novel pointing out many interesting observations about our current lives. Moreover, the investigator Paula Pihlaja is such a relatable character – a capable, intelligent woman full of wit yet also haunted by her past. But could her seeming weaknesses be a source of strength too? It is a pleasure to see a strong female lead who is not afraid of being vulnerable. 
-Lucie Bregantová, editor, HOST – vydavatelství, s. r. o., Czech Republic


GERMAN PRAISE:
Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.
– Marco Schneiders,  Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe

DUTCH PRAISE:
We see a great readership for this thriller series starring Paula Pihlaja: she’s a great detective, but also a person people can relate to as she copes with her past and the challenging times ahead of her. Add to this the themes that every great thriller novel needs: an intriguing murder method, a perfect writing style and a suspenseful plot, and I think you’ve got a winning combination in Cargo! We see A.M. Ollikainen as a very promising crimewriting powercouple, and look forward to introduce them to our Dutch readers.
– Soraya Vink, Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins Holland

ESTONIAN PRAISE:
“A rare crime novel that also masters the literary style. One of the authors – Aki Ollikainen – is an awarded and internationally acclaimed literary fiction author and it really shows. The well-crafted mystery only unfolds in the very end, and leaves the reader in awe.”
– Piret Saluri, translator for Varrak, Estonia


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

Five-book deal for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen in Lithuania! Auction in Norway!

We are overwhelmingly happy to announce another amazing news about the winner of the National Crime Competition – CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen, due to be published in Finland in May 2021 by Otava Publishers.

Baltos lankos – Lithuanian publisher for Jo Nesbø, Max Seeck, Jane Harper, Daniel Cole, Stefan Anhem and Sarah Pinborough has won the Lithuanian auction with an amazing 5-book deal for the Paula Pihlaja series!

Cargo (Otava, May 2021) is the first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir Paula Pihlaja series.

Download the English sample and synopsis for CARGO here.

The Baltos lankos team is absolutely thrilled, and editor Gintė Pačėsė shares their enthusiasm:

CARGO is really masterful at setting up its twists and turns,also adding some hard-hitting societal criticism into the mix. I certainly could not put it down and it kept me guessing the whole time.
– Gintė Pačėsė, Editor, Baltos lankos, Lithuania

That is not all – now we have an auction for the series in Norway!

The first two books in the series have previously been pre-empted by Varrak in Estonia, Bastei Lübbe in Germany and HarperCollins Holland in the Netherlands!

GERMAN PRAISE:
Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.
– Marco Schneiders,  Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe

DUTCH PRAISE:
We see a great readership for this thriller series starring Paula Pihlaja: she’s a great detective, but also a person people can relate to as she copes with her past and the challenging times ahead of her. Add to this the themes that every great thriller novel needs: an intriguing murder method, a perfect writing style and a suspenseful plot, and I think you’ve got a winning combination in Cargo! We see A.M. Ollikainen as a very promising crimewriting powercouple, and look forward to introduce them to our Dutch readers.
– Soraya Vink, Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins Holland

ESTONIAN PRAISE:
“A rare crime novel that also masters the literary style. One of the authors – Aki Ollikainen – is an awarded and internationally acclaimed literary fiction author and it really shows. The well-crafted mystery only unfolds in the very end, and leaves the reader in awe.”
– Piret Saluri, translator for Varrak, Estonia


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

CARGO
Kontti
Otava, May 2021, 360 pp.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland (2-book deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

German and Dutch pre-empts for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen!

We are beyond excited to announce an amazing start for the winner of the National Crime Competition – CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen, due to be published in Finland in May 2021 by Otava Publishers.

Bastei Lübbe – German publisher for Lars Kepler and Dan Brown pre-empted Cargo and its upcoming sequel.

The Bastei Lübbe team is absolutely thrilled, and Publisher Marco Schneiders shares their enthusiasm:

GERMAN PRAISE:
Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.
– Marco Schneiders,  Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe

That is not all – also the Dutch publisher HarperCollins Holland pre-empted both titles!

Download the English sample and synopsis here.

DUTCH PRAISE:
We see a great readership for this thriller series starring Paula Pihlaja: she’s a great detective, but also a person people can relate to as she copes with her past and the challenging times ahead of her. Add to this the themes that every great thriller novel needs: an intriguing murder method, a perfect writing style and a suspenseful plot, and I think you’ve got a winning combination in Cargo! We see A.M. Ollikainen as a very promising crimewriting powercouple, and look forward to introduce them to our Dutch readers.
– Soraya Vink, Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins Holland

Jo Nesbø publisher Varrak in Estonia last week pre-empted the book after one night of reading the Finnish manuscript.

Varrak is the largest publisher in Estonia, and a publisher of Jo Nesbø, Lee Child, Liza Marklund, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Stieg Larsson, David Lagerkrantz, Jens Lapidus and John Grisham.

ESTONIAN PRAISE:
“A rare crime novel that also masters the literary style. One of the authors – Aki Ollikainen – is an awarded and internationally acclaimed literary fiction author and it really shows. The well-crafted mystery only unfolds in the very end, and leaves the reader in awe.”
– Piret Saluri, translator for Varrak, Estonia



 

A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to over 10 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


 

CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

CARGO
Kontti
Otava, May 2021, 360 pp.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

First sale for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen!

We are extremely excited to announce the first foreign deal in Estonia for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen, due to be published in Finland in May 2021 by Otava.

Jo Nesbø publisher Varrak in Estonia immediately pre-empted the book after one night of reading the Finnish manuscript.

They are very happy to be the first foreign publisher to secure the rights for this soon-to-be international bestseller.
Varrak is the largest publisher in Estonia, and a publisher of Jo Nesbø, Lee Child, Liza Marklund, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Stieg Larsson, David Lagerkrantz, Jens Lapidus and John Grisham.
Click here to request:

  • Finnish manuscript
  • Info sheet

English sample and synopsis coming in March!


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found, washed up on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
ESTONIA: Varrak

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

EALA Spring 2021 Fiction Rights Guide

We are happy and proud to share our spring 2021 Fiction Rights Guide and announce amazing new titles from bestselling crime to award-winning literary fiction and heartwarming feel-good!

Browse our full Spring 2021 Fiction Rights Guide here.

 


Cargo by A.M. Ollikainen
Winner of National Crime Novel Competition

The first in a fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

A cargo container is found in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The container and the property where it’s found belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Reading materials coming in April

 

Bad Blood (Jessica Niemi #3) by Max Seeck
New York Times Bestselling Author
A prominent business executive Eliel Rosenström is found brutally murdered in his home in Helsinki. The murder motive become less clear, when the police finds out that the murderer had other targets as well. The only clue the police has is a photo of Rosenström with three other men, whose faces are all scratched off. Who are the faceless men, and why can’t the police identify them? Are they other victims? Or something more sinister?

Full English coming in September

 

Still Waters Run Deep by Elina Backman
A standalone sequel to All the King’s Men
Is evil lurking beneath the calm waters? Three young men are making a documentary film about a mystical hermit, living in the Isle of Sheep in Helsinki. First one of them disappears, then another one. When one of them is found dead in the nearby nature reserve, the police becomes involved.

Download the English synopsis from here

 

 Bechi by Koko Hubara

A groundbreaking debut novel from one of the most interesting authors of the generation. This is the story of a simultaneously close and destructive relationship between a mother and a daughter, and of a desire to belong somewhere while also wanting to break free.

Bechi is in her thirties, and lives in Helsinki, where she is trying to finish her master’s thesis. Her mother Shoshana is a writer of Yemeni Jewish heritage. Her autobiographical novel shocked readers in Finland, but she has also burned all the bridges between her family in Israel.

When Bechi tells her mother about her pregnancy, many years of tension come to a head. How can two people remember everything so differently? More importantly, what are the things that they would rather forget?

English sample coming soon!

 

Irrational Things by Saara Turunen

Autofictive story of love, death and life between two countries. Turunen’s funny, witty and melancholic voice examines the contradiction of sense and sensibility.

What if you are in love with a good man – a man you have always wanted to fall in love with? But what if this man lives in one country and you in another? Should you be sensible and leave the man to be free and independent? Or should you follow your heart, burn the bridges behind, and go after him?

Download 100-page English sample & synopsis from here

 

Homestead by Ann-Luise Bertell
Finlandia Prize and Runeberg Award Nominee 2020
When Elof is ten years old, his father dies, leaving him and his little brother Ivar alone at the mercy of their relatives. Elof learns that he must never show fear, especially not in front of others and never to his wife Olga, whom he never really gets close to. Pride is the most important thing to Elof, as is their homestead, Heiman, which is all the family has ever truly owned.

Download English sample and synopsis from here or request the Swedish ms

Arctic Mirage by Terhi Kokkonen
Winner of the Debut Novel competition 2020

Literary mystery with a “Twin Peaks” vibe set in Finnish Lapland.

Karo and Risto go on holiday in Lapland to give themselves time to fix their stressful marriage. However, on their way back home, they’re involved in a car accident and are subsequently forced to stay at the only accommodation in the area; Hotel Arctic Mirage. Once inside, they find that the hotel has a rather strange atmosphere and it starts to have a peculiar effect on them. Karo begins to doubt her own memories and tries her best to escape the snowbound hotel holiday village whereas Risto starts to feel strange and refuses to leave.

Download English sample and synopsis from here

 

My Friend Natalia by Laura Lindstedt
US Debut in March 23rd, 2021 by W.W. Norton/Liveright

A bold, and brave novel about young woman’s sexuality, the power of narration, and identity.

Natalia starts to see a therapist to help solve the problems in her sex life. It is clear from the beginning that she is not going to play by the rules of the therapy. The weekly sessions combine art, philosophy, literature, childhood memories, and erotic experiences as a method of treatment, and slowly they make Natalia lose all her inhibitions. She starts to enjoy the therapy – maybe too much?

Download the full English pdf from here

 

Charming Duke by Sara Medberg

Bridgerton meets Jane Austen in 19th century Sweden

The lady of Blackthorn Castle, beautiful Arabella, has been widowed and fallen into poverty. In the midst of all adversity, she is encouraged by Jane Austen’s literary heroines. However, the shadows of the past won’t leave Arabella alone: she encounters a dazzling English duke who claims to know a fatal secret about Arabella’s late spouse.

Download the English synopsis from here – sample coming soon

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

About author


Ann-Luise Bertell

Ann-Luise Bertell is an author and a theater director, born 1971 in Oravais, Finland. She has graduated from the Finnish Theater Academy, and debuted as a writer in 1997 with the collection of poems, 'Rus av gul', and has since written poems, short stories, a children's book, plays and two novels. Longing (Vänd om min längtan, 2016), was awarded the Yle Prize and the Choreus Prize. Her second novel Homestead (Heiman) was published in 2020 and was nominated for the Finlandia Prize, and her third novel Yearning (Glöm Bort Din Saknad) was published 2022.

Ann-Luise has been Wasa Theatre's director since 2020, but is also a mother of three, dog owner, hiker, seeker, spy and bookworm.

About author


Elina Backman

Elina Backman is an author and a media & marketing professional living in Helsinki. Elina loves books (all sorts), traveling, cycling and is a host of a Book & Wine Club. She is a creative soul with a commercial mind, and her goal is to find readers globally.

Her debut novel All the King's Men was published in 2020 and immediately gained an enormous amount of attention from the Finnish media, including a praising review by the biggest daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. The Havas series is now a best-selling series in Finland and an international TV series is in development. Elina's books have sold over 100 000 copies in Finland.

Together with Heidi Holmavuo, Elina has also narrated the true crime podcast Ratkaisematon (Unsolved), which turned into a full-length audio book as the two crime writers started investigating the murder of a young girl in 1955. They were able to uncover new evidence and their research led the police to reopen the investigation. This story is narrated in the book Unsolved - The Case of Elli Immo.

About author


Koko Hubara

Koko Hubara (MSSc., 1984) is the founder of Brown Girls Media (Ruskeat Tytöt Media), the first for us by us media for people of color in Finland. She is the first editor-in chief of color in the history of Finland. She is also a freelance journalist, essayist, translator and creative writing teacher. Hubara is a native of Vantaa, with origins in Vyborg, Karelia; Kemijärvi, Lapland, Israel and Yemen. Her debut work, the essay collection Brown Girls (Ruskeat Tytöt – Tunne-esseitä), was released in 2017, and has been translated into Swedish. Hubara has won many awards for her antiracist work in the Finnish context. She is working on her PhD on narratives of Brown daughters of White mothers at the University of Turku. Bechi is Hubara’s first novel.

About author


Laura Lindstedt

Laura Lindstedt (b. 1976) became a critical darling with her adoption-themed debut novel Scissors (Sakset, Teos 2007), which earned her a nomination for the Finlandia Prize, the country’s most prestigious literary honour. Lindstedt’s second novel Oneiron (Teos 2015), a work of speculative fiction that takes place in the mysterious moments that follow one’s death, earned her the coveted Finlandia Prize of 2015 and was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2017. Lindstedt’s success has continued with My Friend Natalia (Teos 2019) which has earned critical acclaim and has been sold to 12 territories. Together with author Sinikka Vuola, she has authored 101 tapaa tappaa aviomies (101 Ways to Kill Your Husband, Siltala 2022) which has been nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize of 2024.

She is currently completing her Ph.D. thesis on French author Nathalie Sarraute.

About author


Max Seeck, New York Times Best Selling Author

Max Seeck - New York Times Bestselling Author of THE WITCH HUNTER.

Winner of the prestigious Glass Key Award 2023 for his novel THE LAST GRUDGE.

Big Hollywood film & TV news coming soon!

“An exceptional combination of hardboiled Scandi-noir and eerie ghost story. [--] Seeck marries breathtaking suspense with an expertly drawn heroine. This is guaranteed to send shivers up even the most unshakable readers’ spines." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review (Ghost island)

"Each new step has been an artistic success. Max Seeck, last year's winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic detective story, has a golden touch for Finnish suspense fiction." - Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

“Another star has been added to the firmament of thriller writers,” announced Iltalehti newspaper, when Max’s debut novel was published in 2016. Four books later, Max Seeck’s novels have been sold to more than 40 countries, including US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries and as far as Korea!

His Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! 2024 will see the release of his independent novel MILO, which is already creating buzz internationally with several rights pre-empts ahead of the Finnish publication!

Max Seeck has a background in sales and marketing, and has lately been able to dedicate his time to his lifelong love of writing. His interests include well-conducted research, reading Nordic Noir and listening to movie soundtracks as he writes.

About author


Saara Turunen

Saara Turunen is an internationally acclaimed award-winning author, playwright and director. Much of her work examines the themes of art, identity and social norms. Turunen is known for her four highly acclaimed novels -Hyena Days (2024) - Irrational Things (2021), The Bystander (2018) and Love/Monster (2015), but also for her work in theatre. Her works have been translated into 16 languages and performed all around the world. Turunen has received the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2015, the Finland Prize in 2016, the City of Helsinki’s The Artist of the Year Award in 2018 and the Lea-Prize in 2020, all high-profile awards given in Finland.

About author


Sara Medberg

Sara Medberg is a historian currently writing her doctoral dissertation about the education of highborn girls in the 18th century. The ideas for her novels come from her research. In her thesis she studies young womens' conduct manuals in Sweden in the 18th century from the perspective of the modernising ideals for women and the upbringing of girls.

Sara has received academic scholarships from the Swedish Cultural Foundation, Waldemar von Frenckell's Foundation and the Swedish Literature Society. Including others, her literary work is sponsored by the Finnish Author Association and Otava's Book Foundation.

Medberg enjoys costume dramas, fashion from the past, castles, mansions, shopping and running. Her novels have sold over 90,000 copies across all territories.

About author


Terhi Kokkonen

Terhi Kokkonen (1974) is a Helsinki-based musician and pop lyricist. She is known for the band Scandinavian Music Group, as well as being one of the singers of the band Ultra Bra. Kokkonen has studied dramaturgy at the Theater Academy and screenwriting and film editing at the Department of Cinematography and Stage Design at Aalto University. Arctic Mirage is her debut novel, and it was awarded as the best debut novel of 2020.

Welcoming New Authors

We are excited to introduce our new award-winning and Finlandia nominated authors: Terhi Kokkonen, Ann-Luise Bertell, Meri Luttinen and A.M. Ollikainen. Welcome to the Elina Ahlback Literary Agency!

 

Arctic Mirage by Terhi Kokkonen (August 2020 by Otava)

Winner of the 2020 Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize – Prestigious award for the best debut novel of the year

Arctic Mirage is a strong-spirited, psychological novel about people in exceptional circumstances. It keeps the reader in its grip and gives you chills page after page.

Terhi Kokkonen (1974) is a Helsinki-based musician and pop lyricist. She is known as the vocalist of Scandinavian Music Group, as well as being one of the singers of the band Ultra Bra. Kokkonen has studied dramaturgy at the Theater Academy and screenwriting and film editing at the Department of Cinematography and Stage Design at Aalto University. Arctic Mirage is her debut novel, and it was awarded as the best debut novel of 2020.

 

Homestead  by Ann-Luise Bertell (February 2020 by Förlaget)

Nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2020

Homestead is a story about four generations on the Ostrobothnian plain. It is a dizzying, sharp story about what it is like to be human. About carrying grief and loss, about feeling inadequate, and about how we support each other through life. This concentrated family chronicle that asks itself what price you have to pay if you never get to be yourself. Ann-Luise Bertell writes epic with a great drive, crystallized in scenes and strong sensual sensations and emotions.

Ann-Luise Bertell in an author and a theater director, born 1971 in Oravais, Finland. She has gratuated from Finnish Theater Academy, and debuted as a writer in 1997 with the collection of poems, ‘Rus av gul’, and has since written poems, short stories, a children’s book, plays and two novels. Turn around my longing (Vänd om min längtan, 2016), was awarded the Yle Prize and the Choreus Prize. Her second novel Homestead (Heiman) was published in 2020 and was nominated for the Finlandia Prize. Bertell has been Wasa Theatre’s director since 2020, but also a mother of three, dog owner, hiker, seeker, spy and bookworm.

 

 

Stormseye by Meri Luttinen (September 2020 by WSOY)

Nominated for the Finlandia Prize for Children’s & YA Literature 2020

Stormseye is an adventure set in the ancient Finnish fantasy world is also a touching story about a young adult finding her own place in the society.

Meri Luttinen (1987) is a Tampere-based debut writer. She has a Master’s degree in Finnish language and literature and has worked with Finnish teaching and study materials. She has studied writing at the Viita Academy Writing School. Luttinen is interested in people’s everyday lives in different eras and wants to take readers to other worlds with her texts.

 

Cargo by A.M. Ollikainen (March 2021 by Otava)

Winner of a national Crime writing competition 2019

Cargo begins a fast-paced and addictive Nordic noir series. A cargo container with a drowned body inside is found on the lands of a notorious business man in Helsinki. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the family’s suspicious business affairs in Africa over the decades.

A.M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for a husband-and-wife author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also beenA longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. The couple lives in Lohja with their two children.

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

About author


Ann-Luise Bertell

Ann-Luise Bertell is an author and a theater director, born 1971 in Oravais, Finland. She has graduated from the Finnish Theater Academy, and debuted as a writer in 1997 with the collection of poems, 'Rus av gul', and has since written poems, short stories, a children's book, plays and two novels. Longing (Vänd om min längtan, 2016), was awarded the Yle Prize and the Choreus Prize. Her second novel Homestead (Heiman) was published in 2020 and was nominated for the Finlandia Prize, and her third novel Yearning (Glöm Bort Din Saknad) was published 2022.

Ann-Luise has been Wasa Theatre's director since 2020, but is also a mother of three, dog owner, hiker, seeker, spy and bookworm.

About author


Meri Luttinen

Meri Luttinen is an award-winning Finnish debut writer from Tampere. Her debut Stormseye won the Topelius prize and was nominated for both Kuvastaja Award and Finlandia Prize for Children's & YA literature in 2020.

She has a Master's degree in Finnish language and literature and has worked teaching Finnish and creating study materials. Luttinen is fascinated by everyday life in different eras and wants to transport readers to other worlds with her texts.

About author


Terhi Kokkonen

Terhi Kokkonen (1974) is a Helsinki-based musician and pop lyricist. She is known for the band Scandinavian Music Group, as well as being one of the singers of the band Ultra Bra. Kokkonen has studied dramaturgy at the Theater Academy and screenwriting and film editing at the Department of Cinematography and Stage Design at Aalto University. Arctic Mirage is her debut novel, and it was awarded as the best debut novel of 2020.