We are thrilled to let you know that the Czech rights for Katja Kettu’s latest novel THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT have been acquired in pre-empt by ARGO! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

“Every new work by Katja Kettu is expected eagerly. In THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT the long-time fans will find some of the familiar motifs, and themes, such as the untold women’s history on the backdrop of major events in the official history of Finland, strong female characters, and also mystery, all that delivered in vivid, imaginative language. However, what seems to be new is the omnipresent theme of intimity, made even more visible when pitched against the cool, detached observation of the cat who „knows a lot and cares about little”.”
– Hana Zahradníková, editor, ARGO

Originally published in Finland on September 27th, THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT was one of the highlights of last week’s Helsinki Book Fair and the novel continues to receive outstanding reviews in the Finnish media:

“Kettu has managed to create an illusion of two timelines coexisting. Despite the years written down, Mahte, Eeva, and the Author all give off an impression of living in different places at the same time – so strong are the echoes of the past throughout the novel even before the connection between their stories is revealed. [–] Kettu’s novel feels like a tornado that pulls one in, leaving one full with wonder on what they just experienced.”
– Outi Hytönen in Suomen Kuvalehti magazine

“Katja Kettu’s language is fine, strong, and rich, and it carries power with the magical realism. [–] The Author’s great-grandparents Eeva and Mahte’s warm and beautiful love story is the connective thread throughout the book. [–] With some books, you get sad about it ending already before the last page. THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT is like that.”
– Leena Reikko in Kulttuuritoimitus.fi

THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT has been previously pre-empted to Lindhardt og Ringhof in Denmark, Humanitas Fiction in Romania, Albert Bonniers in Sweden, Pax Forlag in Norway and Mondadori in Italy.

Rights are still available for France, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Spain, US, UK, etc!

Download materials for THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT here!

The Investigations of a Certain Cat

Katja Kettu

Katja Kettu’s stunning novel spins through ages whilst surrendering to the wilderness of nature and the deep yearning for offspring. 

Can one find solace and meaning in life from the past once the future no longer exists?

An Author has a miscarriage and loses their ability to speak and write. From the Investigative Bureau of Heavens, a Detective is sent to the scene, but something goes awry. Soon, in the corner of the room, there appears Cat who starts examining a mysterious diary that once belonged to the Author’s Great Grandmother.

When a new life has been lost, the Author turns their gaze to the past and to the age-old words of creation in the old Finnish outskirts. The one who knows them, Great Grandmother, has the power of healers. The Great Grandmother’s diary sheds light on birth and death, love towards children, and the strength of heritage in one’s blood.

Combining autofiction and elements of magical realism, Katja Kettu’s latest novel also sheds light on the history of the Finnish frontiers.

Excellent news for our Frankfurt book of the fair: the “Cat Book” travels to Italy! We are thrilled to announce an Italian pre-empt for THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT by Katja Kettu.  The rights were acquired by Mondadori, who will publish Kettu on their list of strong literary voices, with authors such as  Zadie Smith, Monica Ali, Celeste Ng, Pierre Lemaitre etc. The deal was closed by Elsa Lindström at Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency.

Mondadori’s editor Chiara Scaglioni fell in love with the CAT:

“I found myself totally hooked by this enticing and unusual magical story rooted in Finland’s history and natural surroundings. It’s an unforgettable and clever novel with a magical realism setting, “a sea of fermented souls”, where spirits drift. A burgeoning love story, a miscarriage, a deep meditation on womanhood and maternity, told with a great voice by a very talented author.”
– Chiara Scaglioni, foreign fiction editor, Mondadori

THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT has previously sold in pre-empts to Lindhardt og Ringhof in Denmark, Humanitas Fiction in Romania, Albert Bonniers in Sweden and Pax Forlag in Norway.

Rights are still available for France, Germany, Poland, Czechia, Spain, US, UK, etc! 
Download the English materials from below.

Download the materials for INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT here!

THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT was published in Finland on September 27th to great praise from media:

“Katja Kettu has written a wonderful novel in which the power of words brings justice to the world. It isn’t harmless or beautiful, but the novel approaches words as a form of magic. [–] And what about the cat and its investigations? “Let the Cat come, let it take over my novel. I’m the one who’s weak here. Cats know a lot and care about little.” The Cat takes over the novel and is turned into a novel, and now it sticks out, funny and teasing, and difficult in so many ways.”  – Maaria Ylikangas in Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

“The attractiveness of Kettu’s novels smoulders in its multipaced idioms, the rhythm of its words, the mythological material [used in the novels] and historiography… [—] THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT succeeds in being an impressive depiction of the building blocks of being human and intergenerational experiences that shape selfhoods even after long journeys.”  – Sanna Jääskeläinen in Savon Sanomat newspaper

“Katja Kettu superbly commands the verbalization of emotional charges with strong expression. [—] The power of many of Kettu’s works is born from combining historically dramatic and traumatic events with fictional imagination and storytelling. The same is with THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT [—]. THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT alluringly combines different traditions of storytelling, as if underlining how borders and categories can be broken and pierced. The novel doesn’t stay neatly and cutely in a specific box but wanders and sprawls. Its story carries, its sensations change from one extreme to the other and its language oscillates through its wordforms and rhythms. And, amidst everything, the peculiar Cat brings delight.”  – Kaisa Kurikka in Turun Sanomat newspaper

“THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT draws you in, with its varying structure, its [—] bustling language, intriguing characters, and the swish and mood of history as its trump cards. [—] THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT is a novel about writing a book, about fragility and strength, and about the spectrum of life. From brutal experiences, a serious, yet playful and moving whole is born.” – Tuijata. Kulttuuripohdintoja blog

Happy Frankfurt week! We are thrilled to have started the fair with one more pre-empt for THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT by Katja Kettu. Humanitas Fiction have pre-empted the Romanian rights just yesterday! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency.

THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT has previously sold to Albert Bonnier in Sweden and Pax Forlag in Norway:

“Katja Kettu has a unique linguistic power. It’s as if she’s writing with her womb — raw and sensual.. We are looking forward to publishing her newest novel in Norwegian!”
– A. Audhild Solberg, Editor at Pax Forlag, Norway

Rights are still available for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, US, UK, etc! 
Download the materials from below – or swing by our table 10L & 10K and 9L & 9K in the Literary Agents Centre for a chat!

Download the materials for INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT here!

THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT was published in Finland on September 27th to great praise from media:

“Katja Kettu has written a wonderful novel in which the power of words brings justice to the world. It isn’t harmless or beautiful, but the novel approaches words as a form of magic. [–] And what about the cat and its investigations? “Let the Cat come, let it take over my novel. I’m the one who’s weak here. Cats know a lot and care about little.” The Cat takes over the novel and is turned into a novel, and now it sticks out, funny and teasing, and difficult in so many ways.”  – Maaria Ylikangas in Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

“The attractiveness of Kettu’s novels smoulders in its multipaced idioms, the rhythm of its words, the mythological material [used in the novels] and historiography… [—] THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT succeeds in being an impressive depiction of the building blocks of being human and intergenerational experiences that shape selfhoods even after long journeys.”  – Sanna Jääskeläinen in Savon Sanomat newspaper

“Katja Kettu superbly commands the verbalization of emotional charges with strong expression. [—] The power of many of Kettu’s works is born from combining historically dramatic and traumatic events with fictional imagination and storytelling. The same is with THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT [—]. THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT alluringly combines different traditions of storytelling, as if underlining how borders and categories can be broken and pierced. The novel doesn’t stay neatly and cutely in a specific box but wanders and sprawls. Its story carries, its sensations change from one extreme to the other and its language oscillates through its wordforms and rhythms. And, amidst everything, the peculiar Cat brings delight.”  – Kaisa Kurikka in Turun Sanomat newspaper

“THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT draws you in, with its varying structure, its [—] bustling language, intriguing characters, and the swish and mood of history as its trump cards. [—] THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT is a novel about writing a book, about fragility and strength, and about the spectrum of life. From brutal experiences, a serious, yet playful and moving whole is born.” – Tuijata. Kulttuuripohdintoja blog