We are happy to announce that Suhrkamp, publisher of J.K Johansson’s Palokaski crime trilogy in Germany, has acquired rights to Book III in the trilogy, Venla (Tammi 2015)! Suhrkamp will publish Book I, Laura, in German in July of 2015, Book II, Noora, in September and Venla in November.

The page-turning and pulse-pounding trilogy, firmly rooted in the social media era, follows a former police officer, Miia, who becomes entangled in the disappearance of three young women in an ordinary Finnish suburb.

Venla, the anticipated conclusion to the popular mystery, is due for a May, 2015 publication in Finland. In the Netherlands, Laura was published to a strong critical reception in summer of 2014, while Noora hit bookstores on February 15th. Rights to the trilogy have been sold in 7 territories, most recently in Estonia to Pegasus!

Praise for the Palokaski trilogy:

“Even after the last page, my thoughts kept wandering back to this intriguing story…Laura is like a big surprise packed in a gift box. As each layer of paper and packaging is peeled off, one discovers new clues and events that result in sudden turns of events.”
–Patiopea literature blog, Poland

“The authors introduce a range of potential suspects, and a reader is likely to be wrong about who the culprit might be. The writing style is strong, making this a pleasant read.”
–Banger Sisters literature blog, the Netherlands

“Don’t expect an old-school detective story. [The protagonist], Miia, has to gradually, and often unsuccessfully, get to the truth…Laura is an interesting novel that entangles the reader into a world in which nothing is as it seems.”
–Noir Café culture blog, Poland

“Laura feels realistic and disturbingly rooted in everyday life…it is an allegory for the ambiguity and deception present in our virtual lives in the 21st century.”
–Krytycznym okiem (“A Critical Eye“) culture blog, Poland

“Noora is a book in which almost every character has a secret; this amps up the tension in the story. The crimes and murders simply provide an extra garnish to the narrative.”
–Ruumiin kulttuuri, The Finnish Whodunnit Society’s quarterly magazine

“Like its predecessor Laura, Noora is constructed from the building blocks of guaranteed literary entertainment. A slick plot has been packed full with surprises and a sense of danger and dread. The chapters are short and snappy and almost always end in a hook that a reader can’t resist.”
–Kouvolan sanomat newspaper, Finland

ABOUT THE PALOKASKI TRILOGY:

LAURA (Tammi 2013): Former internet cop Miia Pohjavirta begins a new career as a special needs teacher at her former high school. On her first day at work, she hears that student Laura Anderson has disappeared from a party held on the Palokaski beach to celebrate the end of summer. When Laura’s parents create a Facebook page in order to locate their daughter, a Pandora’s Box is opened.

NOORA (Tammi 2014): Noora, Laura’s former classmate, is a lonely girl with no friends. When Laura’s body is found near the Palokaski beach, Noora cannot help but feel annoyed by the fact that even in death Laura is getting so much attention. Noora has created a glamorous fake identity online, and becomes further sucked into this fabricated persona.

VENLA (Tammi 2015): Venla‘s case is the undercurrent in all the parts of the series. The sudden disappearance of Miia and Nikke’s sister Venla in the 1980s left its mark on the whole family, and was never solved. As Miia finds herself being pulled back into Venla’s mystery, she begins to see connections between the stories of Laura, Noora and Venla.

RIGHTS SOLD: THE PALOKASKI TRILOGY
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
BELGIUM, The House of Books
CZECH REPUBLIC, Albatros Media/XYZ
ESTONIA, Pegasus
GERMANY, Suhrkamp
GREECE, Kedros
NETHERLANDS, The House of Books
POLAND, Literackie
Film & TV Rights, Eyeworks/Warner Bros.

Reading materials: The Palokaski Trilogy
English sample of Laura
English synopses of Laura, Noora, Venla
Polish edition of Laura
Dutch edition of Laura
Finnish editions of Laura and Noora

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com

The end of 2014 brought with it several exciting deals for our authors.We are excited to announce that Pegasus has acquired Estonian rights to J.K Johansson’s Palokaski Trilogy (Tammi).

Comprising Laura, Noora and Venla, the page-turning series is firmly rooted in the social media age and centres on the disappearance of three young women in a Finnish suburb. Venla, the final entry in the Palokaski Trilogy, will be published this year in Finland. Pegasus is also the Estonian publisher of another thriller hit, Salla Simukka’s YA sensation the Snow White Trilogy (Tammi).

In addition, Nakladatelství Brána has acquired Czech rights to Miina Supinen’s genre-bending love story Ray Girl (WSOY 2013), published in German by Suhrkamp in fall 2014. Supinen, a critical darling, was also recently included in two German anthologies and a special English-language edition the Finnish Granta that featured 20 outstanding young Finnish writers.

Finally, Elf has acquired Georgian rights to Katri Lipson’s critically acclaimed The Ice Cream Man (Tammi 2012), which won the 2013 EU Prize for Literature. Lipson’s novel explores themes of guilt, humanity and the fuzzy lines between fact and fiction in a narrative spanning several generations and cultures. Rights are now sold in nine territories!

RIGHTS SOLD: THE PALOKASKI TRILOGY
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
BELGIUM, The House of Books
CZECH REPUBLIC, Albatros Media/XYZ
ESTONIA, Pegasus
GERMANY, Suhrkamp
GREECE, Kedros
NETHERLANDS, The House of Books
POLAND, Literackie
Film & TV Rights, Eyeworks/Warner Bros.

Reading materials: The Palokaski Trilogy
English sample of Laura
English synopses of Laura, Noora, Venla
Polish edition of Laura
Dutch edition of Laura
Finnish editions of Laura and Noora

RIGHTS SOLD: RAY GIRL
Original publisher: FINLAND, WSOY
CZECH REPUBLIC, Nakladatelství Brána
DENMARK, Turbine
GERMANY, Suhrkamp

Reading materials: Ray Girl
English sample
English synopsis
German edition
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD: THE ICE CREAM MAN
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
ALBANIA, Fan Noli
BULGARIA, Perseus
CZECH, Argo
DENMARK, Jensen & Dalgaard
ESTONIA, Varrak
GEORGIA, Elf
HUNGARY, Typotex
TURKEY, Nemesis
WORLD ENGLISH, AmazonCrossing

Reading materials: The Ice Cream Man
English edition
Czech edition
German sample
Finnish edition

Please contact the agency for reading materials: info@ahlbackagency.com

After its Dutch publication by The House of Books and Polish release by Literackie this June, Laura (Tammi 2013), the first entry in J.K Johansson’s Palokaski Trilogy, has attracted plenty of positive attention from critics and bloggers in both territories.

A hybrid of Twin Peaks, Gone Girl and Nordic crime, the Palokaski Trilogy centres on the disappearance of three girls in an ordinary Finnish suburb. The delightfully sinister and page-turning series dives deeply into the online-dominated lives of modern teenagers. Book 2 Noora appeared in Finland this March to a strong critical reception, while the final part, Venla, is due to be published in Spring 2015.

Critical highlights from the Netherlands and Poland for Laura:

“Even after the last page, my thoughts kept wandering back to this intriguing story…Laura is like a big surprise packed in a gift box. As each layer of paper and packaging is peeled off, one discovers new clues and events that result in sudden turns of events….J.K Johansson has only recently started the [Palokaski] adventure, but having read Laura, I can only say that I want more.”
–Patiopea literature blog, Poland

“The authors introduce a range of potential suspects, and a reader is likely to be wrong about who the culprit might be. The writing style is strong, making this a pleasant read.”
–Banger Sisters literature blog, the Netherlands

“The authors don’t guide the reader by the hand or suggest solutions. Don’t expect an old-school detective story. [The protagonist], Miia, has to gradually, and often unsuccessfully, get to the truth…Laura is an interesting novel that entangles the reader into a world in which nothing is as it seems.”
–Noir Café culture blog, Poland

“This book feels realistic and disturbingly rooted in everyday life…it is an allegory for the ambiguity and deception present in our virtual lives in the 21st century.”
–Krytycznym okiem (“A Critical Eye“) culture blog, Poland

ABOUT THE PALOKASKI TRILOGY:

LAURA (Tammi 2013): Former internet cop Miia Pohjavirta begins a new career as a special needs teacher at her former high school. On her first day at work, she hears that student Laura Anderson has disappeared from a party held on the Palokaski beach to celebrate the end of summer. When Laura’s parents create a Facebook page in order to locate their daughter, a Pandora’s Box is opened.

NOORA (Tammi 2014): Noora is a lonely girl with no friends. When Laura Andersson’s body is found near the Palokaski beach, Laura’s former classmate Noora is confused. She cannot help but feel annoyed about the fact that even in death Laura is getting so much attention. On the day following the discovery of Laura’s body, Noora visits Miia Pohjavirta’s office and says that she is fearing for her life.

VENLA (Tammi 2015, full English synopsis now available!): Venla‘s case is the undercurrent in all the parts of the series. The sudden disappearance of Miia and Nikke’s sister Venla in the 1980s left its mark on the whole family. As Miia finds herself being pulled back into Venla’s mystery, she begins to see connections between the stories of Laura, Noora and Venla.

RIGHTS SOLD: THE PALOKASKI TRILOGY
BELGIUM, The House of Books
GERMANY, Suhrkamp
GREECE, Kedros
NETHERLANDS, The House of Books
POLAND, Literackie
Film & TV Rights, Eyeworks/Warner Bros.

Reading materials:
English sample of Laura
English synopses of Laura, Noora, Venla
German sample of Laura
Italian sample of Laura
Polish edition of Laura
Dutch edition of Laura
Finnish editions of Laura and Noora

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com

J. K. Johansson’s Palokaski Trilogy (Tammi), a hybrid of Twin Peaks, Gone Girl and Nordic crime, launches in the Netherlands by The House of Books and in Poland by Literackie this summer.

Behind the pen name J.K. Johansson is a team of seasoned professional storytellers who have not publicly revealed their identities. Johansson loves HBO’s television series, Jo Nesbø’s thrillers, Tove Jansson’s Moomin books and well-written erotic scenes. Johansson’s hobbies include yoga, crossword puzzles, big mountain snowboarding and the endless stalking of innocent (and not so innocent) people in the internet.

J. K. Johansson recently gave a Polish-language interview to Literackie:

“It is simultaneously easier and more difficult to disappear in the global digital world of today. Everybody leaves all sorts of tracks, and one can be found more easily. On the other hand, creating a false identity and decoy is easier than ever,” the authors wrote.

“The film rights of the Palokaski Trilogy have been acquired by Eyeworks, which is part of Warner Bros. We are working on the complete story of all three books, but the format and the schedule are still open. In Finland, readers have loved the entertaining story and told that this is the best kind of reading you can take with you on a holiday trip,” Johansson continued.

PRAISE FROM INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHERS:

“J.K. Johansson has written an intriguing novel. The plot and the psychology behind the disappearance of Laura is so very cleverly put together that reading this first book in a series of three will definitely raise your appetite for the following two books. We are thrilled to publish this series.”
-Ilonka Reintjens, The House of Books, The Netherlands

“We are very glad it is us who will be the publishers of this intriguing series. A crime novel in the spirit of Twin Peaks? Readers have been waiting for such a book for years.”
–Paweł Ciemniewski, Wydawnictwo Literackie

“A small town. A missing girl. A secret that grows deeper the more is unveiled. Laura is electrifying, and we are thrilled to publish this wonderful book as first part of a series that will be a treat for fans of Nordic crime fiction.”
-Susanne Gretter, Suhrkamp, Germany

PRAISE IN FINNISH MEDIA:

“Noora is a book in which almost every character has a secret; this amps up the tension in the story. The crimes and murders simply provide an extra garnish to the narrative.”
–Ruumiin kulttuuri, The Finnish Whodunnit Society’s quarterly magazine

“Like its predecessor Laura, Noora is constructed from the building blocks of guaranteed literary entertainment. A slick plot has been packed full with surprises and a sense of danger and dread. The chapters are short and snappy and almost always end in a hook that a reader can’t resist.”
–Kouvolan sanomat newspaper, Finland

ABOUT THE PALOKASKI TRILOGY:

LAURA (Tammi 2013): Former internet cop Miia Pohjavirta begins a new career as a special needs teacher at her former high school. On her first day at work, she hears that student Laura Anderson has disappeared from a party held on the Palokaski beach to celebrate the end of summer. When Laura’s parents create a Facebook page in order to locate their daughter, a Pandora’s Box is opened.

NOORA (Tammi 2014): Noora is a lonely girl with no friends. When Laura Andersson’s body is found near the Palokaski beach, Laura’s former classmate Noora is confused. She cannot help but feel annoyed about the fact that even in death Laura is getting so much attention. On the day following the discovery of Laura’s body, Noora visits Miia Pohjavirta’s office and says that she is fearing for her life.

VENLA (Tammi 2015, full English synopsis now available!): Venla‘s case is the undercurrent in all the parts of the series. The sudden disappearance of Miia and Nikke’s sister Venla in the 1980s left its mark on the whole family. As Miia finds herself being pulled back into Venla’s mystery, she begins to see connections between the stories of Laura, Noora and Venla.

RIGHTS SOLD: THE PALOKASKI TRILOGY
BELGIUM, The House of Books
GERMANY, Suhrkamp
GREECE, Kedros
NETHERLANDS, The House of Books
POLAND, Literackie
Film & TV Rights, Eyeworks/Warner Bros.

Reading materials:
English sample of Laura
English synopses of Laura, Noora, Venla
German sample of Laura
Italian sample of Laura
Polish edition of Laura
Dutch edition of Laura
Finnish editions of Laura and Noora

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com

J.K. Johansson’s Palokaski Trilogy, exploring the disappearance of three young women, has been coined a hybrid of Twin Peaks, Gone Girl and Nordic crime. Set in an ordinary Finnish suburb, the mystery builds from one book to the next. Both the Finnish media and international publishers are praising the series.

Praise from international publishers:

“J.K. Johansson has written an intriguing novel. The plot and the psychology behind the disappearance of Laura is so very cleverly put together that reading this first book in a series of three will definitely raise your appetite for the two following books. We are thrilled to publish this series.” 
-Ilonka Reintjens, The House of Books, The Netherlands

“A small town. A missing girl. A secret that grows deeper the more is unveiled. Laura is electrifying, and we are thrilled to publish this wonderful book as first part of a series that will be a treat for fans of Nordic crime fiction.”
-Susanne Gretter, Suhrkamp, Germany

Critical praise for Noora (Tammi, April 2014):

“Laura was one of last year’s best Finnish novels, and its sequel Noora is just as strong. This thriller, set in a high school, is addictive, fast-paced and skillfully written. It is also full of delicious references to popular culture. One cannot compliment this book enough; in its genre it’s the cream of the crop.”
–Ilona magazine, Finland

“The second entry in the Palokaski series manages to be even more entertaining than the first. The appeal of these books stems from their ability to steal a reader away from everyday routines, lull him or her in their embrace and offer pleasure that feels like candy – without the subsequent gross feeling.”
–Rakkaudesta kirjoihin (For the Love of Books) literary blog, Finland

“The online world and young people’s behaviour in it is incorporated into the story in a believable way…the language flows nicely and keeps a reader in its grasp. Character relationships and moments of tension make this book difficult to put down.”
–KP24 news site, Finland

“Like its predecessor Laura, Noora is constructed from the building blocks of guaranteed literary entertainment. A slick plot has been packed full with surprises and a sense of danger and dread. The chapters are short and snappy and almost always end in a hook that a reader can’t resist.”
–Kouvolan sanomat newspaper, Finland

About the Palokaski Trilogy:

Laura (Tammi 2013)

Miia Pohjavirta, a former internet cop, begins a new career as a special needs teacher at her former high school. Right before the start of the school year, student Laura Anderson, the client of Miia’s brother, school psychologist Nikke, goes missing. When Laura’s parents create a Facebook page in order to locate their daughter, a Pandora’s Box is opened.

Noora (Tammi 2014)

Noora is a lonely girl with no friends. Once having desperately sought Laura’s friendship, Noora has followed the case and is prepared to do almost anything for a fraction of the attention Laura received. Miia Pohjavirta is trying to move on from Laura’s case, but is plagued by new suspicions.

Venla (Tammi 2015, full English synopsis now available!)

Venla‘s case is the undercurrent in all the parts of the series. The sudden disappearance of Miia and Nikke’s sister Venla in the 1980s left its mark on the whole family. As Miia finds herself being pulled back into Venla’s mystery, she begins to see connections between the stories of Laura, Noora and Venla. 

J. K. Johansson is the pen name of a group of professional storytellers. Johansson loves Nordic crime novels, HBO series, well-written sex scenes, and reading the book before seeing the movie. 

RIGHTS SOLD:
NETHERLANDS & BELGIUM:  The House of Books
GERMANY: Suhrkamp
GREECE: Kedros
POLAND: Literackie
FILM & TV RIGHTS: Nordisk Film & TV

Reading materials
English sample of book 1
German sample of book 1
Italian sample of book 1
Finnish editions of books 1-2
English synopses of books 1-3

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com

We are thrilled to announce that the Polish rights of J.K. Johansson’s thrillers Laura, Noora and Venla have been sold to Literackie for publication in 2014-16. Translation rights have previously been sold in German (Suhrkamp), Dutch (The House of Books) and Greek (Kedros). TV and film rights were acquired by Nordisk Film TV Finland / Matila Röhr Nordisk.

“J.K. Johansson has written an intriguing novel. The plot and the psychology behind the disappearance of Laura is so very cleverly put together that reading this first book in a series of three will definitely raise your appetite for the two following books. We are thrilled to publish this series.” – Ilonka Reintjens, The House of Books

“A small town. A missing girl. A secret that grows deeper the more is unveiled. LAURA is electrifying, and we are thrilled to publish this wonderful book as first part of a series that will be a treat for fans of Nordic crime fiction.”
– Susanne Gretter, Suhrkamp

What happened to Laura Anderson?
Twin Peaks meets Nordic Crime! A tense psychological thriller and an amusing relationship drama in an internet-dominated society.

Book 1 Laura was published in Finland by Tammi Publishers in March 2013 to great reviews and excellent sales. Laura Anderson is a high school student and is very much missing. Mia is a not-quite-forty former internet cop trying to break her Facebook addiction. Nikke is her brother, a broad-minded school psychologist. When Laura’s parents start a Facebook page to try and find her daughter, they open up a Pandora’s box. Laura is an intelligent and entertaining book. A reader feels fondness for its characters like one does for friends or family members – lovable and infuriating, impossible to put aside.

Book 2 Noora is lonely: she has no friends at school, on Facebook, or anywhere else for that matter. She has intently followed the case and is prepared to do just about anything for a fraction of the attention Laura received. Before long Noora comes up with a plan, and to the town’s horror and the tabloids’ delight, she disappears. Has tragedy struck again?

Book 3 Venla‘s case is the undercurrent in all the parts of the series. The disappearance of Venla, Mia and Nikke’s sister, left its mark on the whole family. Their father died a couple of years later in a car crash and the mother looked for refuge in religion, which alienated Mia and Nikke from her and turned the two of them into a close-knit family unit. Will Venla’s mystery be finally revealed?

Book 2 Noora in the Palokaski series will be published in Finland in March 2014 and Book 3 Venla in March 2015. Please request synopses and other reading material in English, German, Italian and Finnish!

About the author:
J. K. Johansson is the pen name of a group of professional storytellers. Johansson loves Nordic crime novels, HBO series, well-written sex scenes, and reading the book before seeing the movie.

World rights and enquiries:
Elina Ahlbäck, Literary Agent – Elina@ahlbackagency.com – tel. +358 400 548 402

We are thrilled to announce that the Dutch rights of J.K. Johansson’s thrillers Laura, Noora and Venla have been sold to The House of Books for publication in 2014-2015. Previously, Suhrkamp bought the German rights to Laura and Noora. The TV and film rights were acquired by Nordisk Film TV Finland / Matila Röhr Nordisk.

“J.K. Johansson has written an intriguing novel. The plot and the psychology behind the disappearance of Laura is so very cleverly put together that reading this first book in a series of three will definitely raise your appetite for the two following books. We are thrilled to publish this series.” – Ilonka Reintjens, The House of Books

“A small town. A missing girl. A secret that grows deeper the more is unveiled. LAURA is electrifying, and we are thrilled to publish this wonderful book as first part of a series that will be a treat for fans of Nordic crime fiction.”
– Susanne Gretter, Suhrkamp

What happened to Laura Anderson?
Twin Peaks meets Nordic Crime! A tense psychological thriller and an amusing relationship drama in an internet-dominated society.

Book 1 Laura was published in Finland by Tammi Publishers in March 2013 to great reviews and excellent sales. Laura Anderson is a high school student and is very much missing. Mia is a not-quite-forty former internet cop trying to break her Facebook addiction. Nikke is her brother, a broad-minded school psychologist. When Laura’s parents start a Facebook page to try and find her daughter, they open up a Pandora’s box. Laura is an intelligent and entertaining book. A reader feels fondness for its characters like one does for friends or family members – lovable and infuriating, impossible to put aside.

Book 2 Noora is lonely: she has no friends at school, on Facebook, or anywhere else for that matter. She has intently followed the case and is prepared to do just about anything for a fraction of the attention Laura received. Before long Noora comes up with a plan, and to the town’s horror and the tabloids’ delight, she disappears. Has tragedy struck again?

Book 3 Venla‘s case is the undercurrent in all the parts of the series. The disappearance of Venla, Mia and Nikke’s sister, left its mark on the whole family. Their father died a couple of years later in a car crash and the mother looked for refuge in religion, which alienated Mia and Nikke from her and turned the two of them into a close-knit family unit. Will Venla’s mystery be finally revealed?

Book 2 Noora in the Palokaski series will be published in Finland in March 2014 and Book 3 Venla in March 2015. Please request synopses and other reading material in English, German and Finnish!

About the author:
J. K. Johansson is the pen name of a group of professional storytellers. Johansson loves Nordic crime novels, HBO series, well-written sex scenes, and reading the book before seeing the movie.

World rights and enquiries:
Elina Ahlbäck, Literary Agent – Elina@ahlbackagency.com – tel. +358 400 548 402

We are thrilled to announce the first foreign sale of the Palokaski crime series: German rights of J.K. Johansson’s thrillers Laura and Noora have been sold to Suhrkamp for publication in 2014-2015. Previously, TV and film rights to J.K. Johansson’s Palokaski series have been acquired by Nordisk Film TV Finland / Matila Röhr Nordisk.

“A small town. A missing girl. A secret that grows deeper the more is unveiled. LAURA is electrifying, and we are thrilled to publish this wonderful book as first part of a series that will be a treat for fans of Nordic crime fiction.”
– Susanne Gretter, Lektorat, Suhrkamp Verlag

Book 1  Laura:  What happened to Laura Andersson?
Twin Peaks meets Nordic Crime! A tense psychological thriller and an amusing relationship drama in an internet-dominated society.

Laura is the first book in the Palokaski series, and was published in Finland by Tammi Publishers in March 2013 to great reviews and excellent sales. Laura Andersson is a high school student and is very much missing. Mia is a not-quite-forty former internet cop trying to break her Facebook addiction. Nikke is her brother, a broad-minded school psychologist. When Laura’s parents start a Facebook page to try and find her daughter, they open up a Pandora’s box. Laura is an intelligent and entertaining book. A reader feels fondness for its characters like one does for friends or family members – lovable and infuriating, impossible to put aside.

Book 2 Noora in the Palokaski series will be published in Finland in March 2014 and Book 3 Venla in March 2015.

About the author:
J. K. Johansson is the pen name of a group of professional storytellers. Johansson loves Nordic crime novels, HBO series, well-written sex scenes, and reading the book before seeing the movie.

World rights and enquiries:
Elina Ahlbäck, Literary Agent – Elina@ahlbackagency.com – tel. +358 400 548 402

Please ask the Agency for reading material in English, German and Finnish.