Review: As Black As Ebony - Salla Simukka

As Black As Ebony by Salla Simukka, published by Hot Key Books on 6th August 2015

Goodreads synopsis:
Lumikki has a new boyfriend - easygoing, gorgeous Sampsa - but she is unfaithful in her dreams, longing for the electrifying touch of her ex, Blaze.

Then the threats start arriving, from someone who seems to know Lumikki intimately. Sharing her fears risks deadly consequences; now she is more alone than ever.

When Blaze suddenly reappears, Lumikki is torn. She can't deny the chemistry between them, but can she trust him? To stop the killer, Lumikki must uncover a dark secret that has haunted her family for years.

Review:
The third and final part of this series definitely reached the heady heights of the first book.  It was a spell-binding conclusion to the trilogy and had me utterly gripped.  There is something so refreshingly different and original about these books which I can't quite put my finger on but which makes them impossible to put down. 

Lumikki is such a fantastic protagonist - one of my all-time favourites.  She does not conform to the usual traits of female characters but that does not make her any less of a heroine.  In fact quite the opposite is true.  She is somewhat of a loner, she lets few people into her life and she is introverted but she is also incredibly brave, determined and will never back down from a fight. 

I thought that the series had a little dip with book two but 'As Black As Ebony' reeled it back in and was totally entrancing.  Lumikki is back on home soil with a new boyfriend, but is still convinced that her parents are hiding a big family secret from her.  She also has a new threat to face from someone who seemed to know about all of her own secrets but she has no idea who is behind the threatening letters she starts to receive.  The elusive Blaze, her ex-boyfriend, is also back on the scene, causing her romantic complications. 

This story was brilliant.  So many questions were finally answered and threads that had been planted earlier in the trilogy were unravelled, spilling secrets left, right and centre.  It's a little bit of a shame however that everything was wrapped up so quickly at the end, because I think that after a big build-up, more could have been made of the final end scene.  That aside, this was a compulsive and thrilling read which was a real nail-biter.  I wish everyone would read these books.  They are terrific!

Review: As White As Snow - Salla Simukka

As White As Snow by Salla Simukka, published by Hot Key Books on 5th March 2015

Goodreads synopsis:
Three and a half months have passed since Lumikki Andersson was left for dead in a snowdrift - a bullet wound in her thigh and frostbite creeping into her skin. But the scorchingly hot streets of Prague in summer provide a welcome contrast to that terrifying time, and now Lumikki just wants to move on - forget the events of the past year, forget about the Polar Bear's crime ring - and escape her parent's oppressive concern... She's alone again, which is just how she likes it.

But Lumikki's peaceful solitude is about to be shattered. She is approached on the street by a nervous young woman, who, unbelievably, thinks she might be Lumikki's long-lost sister. Lumikki is unconvinced - although Zelenka's story seems to ring horrifyingly true - but there's something weird about her. Something jumpy, and suspicious.

Review:
'As White As Snow' has been translated from the Finnish by Owen F. Witesman.  It is the second book in the series about Lumikki Anderson and is set in Prague during the summer.  After the events of the previous book, Lumikki is trying to find freedom and solitude, but she finds her plans interrupted when she is drawn into a dangerous situation involving a woman claiming to be her long-lost sister. 

This was a fabulously thrilling read!  I'm a huge fan of these books and although I didn't think this instalment quite reached the heady heights of 'As Red As Blood', it was still brilliant and full of suspense.  A lot more is revealed about Lumikki herself and some of the secrets to do with her personal life, which were only hinted at before, were gradually revealed.  If possible, these made me like her even more.  She is what makes this series so darn good.  I love the fact that she's very resourceful and genuinely likes her own company and spending time on her own.  It's refreshing to see a character who is more of an introvert and doesn't crave the company of a crowd of people.  There's something very appealing about her which draws the reader in and makes you want to discover more about her.

The plot wasn't particularly complex and I grasped what was going on quite quickly but there was one twist which I didn't guess until the very end.  I like seeing how she gets out of some frankly quite dangerous situations and how her wits and intelligence are the things which help her save the day. 

Tense and exciting, I loved the climax of the book which was brilliantly executed.  It's left me with more questions which I hope will get answered in the third book in the series which will be called 'As Black As Ebony'.  Fingers crossed, the truth about Lumikki's family will finally be revealed.     

Review: As Red As Blood - Salla Simukka

As Red As Blood by Salla Simukka, published by Hot Keys Books on 7th August 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Lumikki Andersson is hardly your average teenager. She lives by herself in the city of Tampere, Finland, and has a firm rule to mind nobody's business but her own. But that rule is put to the test when she happens upon five hundred washed euro notes hanging up to dry in her school's darkroom, and it is shattered once Lumikki realises who owns them.

Caught in an increasingly tangled web of deception, corruption and danger, Lumikki finds herself navigating the Tampere's dark underbelly in the search to expose its shocking connection to the international drugs trade. Lumikki is smart, but is she smarter than a master criminal? Can she bring down the infamous 'Polar Bear' - or will she become another one of his victims?

 Review:
'As Red As Blood' is translated from the original Finnish by Owen F. Witesman and is the first book in a brand new thriller series by Salla Simukka.  It is a dark and sinister read which really impressed me and which I will be highly recommending. 

The main character, teenager Lukikki Andersson, reminded me of female heroine Lisbeth Salander, from the books by Stieg Larsson.  She is a loner and is extremely independent, living on her own away from her parents.  She is very resourceful and clever but is also hiding secrets about her past which I was definitely intrigued to know more about.  We are given glimpses of a relationship she was previously involved in but nothing is explicitly revealed and you are left to make your own deductions about this. 

The story really kicks into gear when Lukikki unexpectedly stumbles across dirty money hanging in her school darkroom.  From this moment on, she becomes embroiled in a dangerous criminal underworld where murder and deception dog her every step.  I loved the narrative and I was drawn in by the extremely puzzling plot which had me utterly gripped.  I couldn't put it down for even a second and finished this title in one sitting.  It's not a particularly long book but every chapter is brilliantly written, combining intrigue, deceit, danger and fear.     

An enticing blend of crime thriller and mystery, this was a fantastic read which unravelled gradually revealing hidden secrets but which still left me with plenty of questions which will hopefully be answered in the next book in the series.  I was swept away by the fantastic plot and the kick-ass heroine and I can't wait to read more by this very talented author.