Published in paperback 14th August 2025 by Orenda Books.
From the cover of the book:
Love, murder, middle age, and a sauna to die for…A cold-blooded killer strikes at the hottest moment: the new head of a sauna-stove company is murdered … in the sauna. Who has turned up the temperature and burned him to death?
The evidence points in the direction of Anni Korpinen – top salesperson and the victim’s successor at Steam Devil.
And as if hitting middle-age, being in a marriage that has lost its purpose, and struggling with work weren’t enough, Anni realizes that she must be quicker than both the police and the murderer to uncover who is behind it all – before it’s too late…
From the international bestselling author of Little Siberia and The Rabbit Factor, comes a darkly funny, delightfully tense new thriller that showcases humanity at its most bare – in middle age, suspected of murder and, of course, in a sauna…
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An Antti Tuomainen novel is always a breath of fresh Finnish air, beautifully combining a cracking crime story with dark humour and heart-felt emotion - and this is no exception. The story unfurls from the point of view of fifty-something Anni, who has spent the last twenty years working her way to the top by selling quality steam-stoves for the world's best saunas. And her job is a welcome respite from the cares of a marriage to a Formula One obsessed husband that is long past its sell-by date.
Finding herself in the spotlight as number one suspect in a very odd murder, as the likely successor to her boss, Erkki 'Stove King' Ruusula, Anni is up against it - but she is more of a Sherlock Holmes than she thinks herself to be. Digging into the shenanigans of her fellow employees at Stove Devil, she comes across some intriguing clues that might put her on the trail of the real killer... if she can stay alive long enough, of course.
All the delightfully absurd situations and characters I have come to expect in one of Tuomainen's books are here, cleverly sprinkled throughout the story to provide Anni with perplexing trials to overcome - cringe-worthy conversations; ridiculous planted evidence (I give you enchantingly named 'bumlets', and sauna ladles in places they were never intended to be); a steam-stove client fixated on true crime; awkwardly amorous, mambo-loving Erkki; and a police detective unable to let an old grudge about an enormous elk go... such fun!
There is so much poignancy in many of these situations and relationships, that Tuomainen touches on with tenderness in that gentle way he has - particularly around marital troubles, dementia, and second-chance love. And, as always, there is a delicious, quirky mystery that keeps you guessing right until the end. Excellent translation work from David Hackston once again too!
The way Anni transforms herself in this story is so heart-warming, reigniting the fire in her belly to forge her way out of the middle-aged rut she has fallen into. It was lovely to be at her side as she battled the odds to banish her ghosts, and found the happiness she deserved.
The way Anni transforms herself in this story is so heart-warming, reigniting the fire in her belly to forge her way out of the middle-aged rut she has fallen into. It was lovely to be at her side as she battled the odds to banish her ghosts, and found the happiness she deserved.
Nordic noir the Antti Tuomainen way is an absolute joy, and I am already looking forward to his next book!
*A version of this review was previously published in Ocotber 2024 for the hardback release.
Thank you to Orenda Books for previously sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review, and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
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Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author.
In 2011, Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for Best Finnish Crime Novel and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. In 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published.
With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime-genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller and has been released as a TV series, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach Finland (2018) was an immense success, with The Times calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’, and Little Siberia (2019) was shortlisted for the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA International Dagger, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The Rabbit Factor, the prequel to The Moose Paradox and The Beaver Theory, will soon be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell for Amazon Studios.
About the translator:
David Hackston is a British Translator of Finnish and Swedish literature and drama. Notable publications include The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy, Maria Peura’s coming-of-age novel At the Edge of Light, Johanna Sinisalo’s eco-thriller Birdbrain, two crime novels by Matti Joensuu and Kati Hiekkapelto’s Anna Fekete series (which currently includes The Hummingbird, The Defenceless and The Exiled, all published by Orenda Books). He also translates Antti Tuomainen’s stories.
In 2007 he was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Translation. David is also a professional countertenor and a founding member of the English Vocal Consort of Helsinki.
The Burning Stones is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audio formats. Toy can support indie publishing by buying direct from Orenda Books HERE.
About the author:
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In 2011, Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for Best Finnish Crime Novel and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. In 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published.
With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime-genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller and has been released as a TV series, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach Finland (2018) was an immense success, with The Times calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’, and Little Siberia (2019) was shortlisted for the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA International Dagger, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The Rabbit Factor, the prequel to The Moose Paradox and The Beaver Theory, will soon be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell for Amazon Studios.
About the translator:
David Hackston is a British Translator of Finnish and Swedish literature and drama. Notable publications include The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy, Maria Peura’s coming-of-age novel At the Edge of Light, Johanna Sinisalo’s eco-thriller Birdbrain, two crime novels by Matti Joensuu and Kati Hiekkapelto’s Anna Fekete series (which currently includes The Hummingbird, The Defenceless and The Exiled, all published by Orenda Books). He also translates Antti Tuomainen’s stories.
In 2007 he was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Translation. David is also a professional countertenor and a founding member of the English Vocal Consort of Helsinki.
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