His first novel, snow angels, was nominated for the edgar, the anthony, and the strand magazine critics award. James thompson inspector kari vaara investigates the raciallycharged murder of a somali immigrant during a bitterly cold and dark christmas season in finland, a case that takes its toll on his marriage to his. The first book of james thompsons inspector vaara series won immediate critical acclaim for a sterling tale set in the brutal cold and soultesting isolation of kaamos, finlands two weeks of utter. Snow angels preloaded digital audio player unabridged, december 1, 2010.
James thompson, eastern kentucky born and raised, has lived in finland for the past dozen years. He applied the page 69 test to snow angels, his debut novel, and reported the. His novel snow angels, the first book in his acclaimed kari vaara series. James thompsons snow angels is filled with bad language, horrific. Inspector vaara solves the murder of sufia elmi, an actressmodel from somolia. Snow angels is the first in a new series by james thompson, an american author who has been living in finland for many years. Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and videos from thousands of public libraries worldwide. I really enjoyed the book and the characters and it is sad to know that there will only ever be four books in the inspector vaara series. James thompson was an american born writer october 16, 1964 with finnish ancestry, so that makes him americanfinnish.
It is a series that ive recently picked up as well, starting with snow angels. Snow angels is a chilling and resonant debut from author james thompson. He is known to be one of the most famous scandinavian crime writers in the history of finland. James thompson books in order for his inspector kari vaara crime mystery series. It took me right in, dropped me into a strange new world, and kept me captivated from first to last page. Even as the unrelenting winter conditions tighten their grip on the residents of the. He published four crime novels with the finnish inspector kari vaara as the protagonist. I must confess to having a strong desire to visit lapland, the northernmost part of finland, where this mystery is set. Just before christmas, the bleakest time of the year in lapland. Snow angels by james thompson somerset county library. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint.
The first book of james thompsons inspector vaara series won immediate critical acclaim for a sterling tale set in the brutal. Called masterful by bestselling author, michael connelly. James thompson, finlands bestselling international crime writer, returns with another highstakes inspector vaara mystery, helsinki blood. James thompson was an american author enjoying great popularity with his inspector kari vaara crime mystery series. A beautiful somali immigrant is found dead in a snowfield, her body gruesomely mutilated, a racial slur carved into her chest. Mar 02, 2012 james thompsons snow angels is filled with bad language, horrific details about mutilation, brutal murders, characters who are victims of their geography, and a culture about which most of us know very little. The third book in the series featuring finnish police officer kari vaara is helsinki white. List of books by james thompson stored on this site. The unrelenting darkness and extreme cold above the arctic circle drive everyone just a little insane. Snow angels the tone evokes michael chabons the yiddish policemens union, but the plot takes off fast, the themes are universal and james thompson tells a nighttime tale as only a bartender can. James thompson, eastern kentucky born and raised, has lived in finland for more than a dozen years. Snow angels is a chilling and resonant debut from author james. A kentucky native, thompson has lived in finland for many years and has had three crime novels published previously in finnish translation, including snow angels and two political thrillers.
The first book of james thompson s inspector vaara series won immediate critical acclaim for a sterling tale set in the brutal cold and soultesting isolation of kaamos, finlands two weeks of utter darkness. Snow angels inspector kari vaara 1 james thompson despite a plot that stretches the bounds of credulity, snow angels by james thompson fields a solid first entry for a new police procedural series starring inspector kari vaara. Below is a list of james thompsons books in order of when they were originally released. Snow angels by james thompson overdrive rakuten overdrive. James thompsons snow angels is filled with bad language, horrific details about mutilation, brutal murders, characters who are victims of their geography, and a culture about which most of us know very little. The final novel he was able to finish was helsinki blood in 20. In places, blood has spattered and sprayed two yards away from her. The first book of james thompsons inspector vaara series won immediate critical acclaim for a sterling tale set in the brutal cold and soultesting isolation of kaamos, finlands two weeks of utter darkness. There is repeated use of a term that most americans shun. The first book, snow angels, was released in the u. James thompson books list of books by author james thompson.
James thompson 19642014 lived in finland for over fifteen years and was one of the most popular representatives of nordic noir, with his work being published in a dozen countries. Vaara was an easy character to create, as i conceived him for snow angels the first book in the series. Died, 2 august 201420140802 aged 49 lahti, finland. James thompson when a beautiful and high profile somali immigrant is found dead her body gruesomely mutilated smalltown detective kari vaara fears that exposure to the media will send shockwaves through. Snow angels inspector vaara, book 1 by james thompson book cover, description, publication history. Interview with james thompson, the author of helsinki white. Jan 12, 2010 called masterful by bestselling author, michael connelly. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The snow is about three feet deep and shes sunk about half that distance into it. Vaara, who is but a shadow of his former self, views the case of a missing girl as an opportunity for redemption. My life just isnt anybody elses business by james thompson. Thompson bring us a new to me detective, inspector kari vaara, a fin with an american wife she has a skiing background. You will easily to buy this kind of book in the book shop or you can order it by using online.
Snow angels first book in the series james thompson. Michael connelly it is called kaamostwo weeks of unrelenting darkness and soulnumbing cold that falls upon finnish lapland, a hundred miles into the arctic circle, just before christmas. Snow angels is an enjoyable read, and does incourage you to proceed to the next page, and indeed the next book, as a good page turner should. James thompson 16 october 1964 2 august 2014 was an americanfinnish crime writer.
I started reading and didnt stop until i finished the book. Snow angels inspector vaara, book 1 by james thompson. Author james thompson talks about his thriller, snow angels. Jan 12, 2011 the second book in the series, lucifers tears, will be published march 17. James thompson has lived in finland for over fifteen years and is one of the most popular representatives of nordic noir, with his work being published in a dozen countries. The unrelenting darkness and extreme cold cause everyone to go just a little bit insane, whether or not theyve just killed someone. His novel snow angels, the first book in his acclaimed kari vaara series, was one of booklist s best crime novel debuts of the year and was nominated for.
It is the story of a finnish police inspector, kari vaara, who solves the myteries that happen in his town. Snow angels is the first of a series of books that i will definitely be sticking with. James thompson books in order mystery series, book lists. Sufia elmi, a somali refugee and minor film star, is found brutally murdered on a remote finnish reindeer farm north of the arctic circle. It was selected as one of booklist s best crime novel debuts of the year and nominated for an edgar award, an anthony award, and a strand critics award. James thompson 16 october 1964 2 august 2014 was an americanfinnish crime writer based in helsinki. Jan 19, 2016 on the plane down to my parents house for a visit, on the way out of the house i grab a random book for the plane out of my gargantuan tbr pile. James thompson, eastern kentuckyborn and raised, has lived in finland well over a decade and currently makes his home in helsinki with his wife. James thompson audio books, best sellers, author bio.
James thompson, an american who has lived in finland, has written another gripping novel about helsinki homicide inspector kari vaara. James thompson s snow angels is filled with bad language, horrific details about mutilation, brutal murders, characters who are victims of their geography, and a culture about which most of us know very little. Before becoming a fulltime writer, he studied swedish and finnish and worked as a bartender, bouncer, construction worker, photographer, rare coin dealer, and soldier. Fictiondb is committed to providing the best possible fiction reference information. With his first internationally published novel, snow angels, james thompson proved himself finlands best and most popular representative in the rise of nordic noir. Well, that is what happened in the first book, anyway. Her black body is ensconced in white snow stained with red blood. He had a masters degree in english philology from the university of helsinki, where he also studied finnish, in which he was fluent.
In a small town in the lapland part of finland, near the arctic circle in late december, when the night is 24 hours long and temperatures are minus 40 degrees, it is the bitterest cold imaginable and people are drinking very strong vodka just to anaesthetize themselves from it. Listen to author james thompson talks about snow angels, his u. Author interview james thompson, author of helsinki. Snow angels, by kentuckyborn but finlandresident james thompson, is billed as an inspector vaara novel, implying that kari vaara, the leading character and the focus of almost all of the narrative, will be featured in a crime series. Lucifers tears, the second book in the series, will be released on march 17, 2011. This book untitled snow angels an inspector vaara novel book 1 to be one of several books that best seller in this year, this is because when you read this publication you can get a lot of benefit onto it. Snow angels, by james thompson the hawaii project medium.
Though this is james thompson s first english language publication, its not his debut. Aug 01, 2014 with his first internationally published novel, snow angels, james thompson proved himself finlands best and most popular representative in the rise of nordic noir. A thriller inspector vaara by james thompson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Thompson, american by birth, has lived in finland for over a decade and currently resides in helsinki with his wife. This book is set in rural finland, although kari has a big city background. James thompson is the author of the inspector kari vaara series. Just before christmas, the darkest time of the year in lapland, above the arctic circle. Browse james thompsons bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. If you have any issues with the site, please dont hesitate to contact us. See all books authored by james thompson, including snow angels, and lucifers tears, and more on. It is a series that ive recently picked up as well, starting with snow angels, which is incidentally also the debut novel by this author. A fifth novel, helsinki dead, went incomplete at the time of his death. I really enjoyed the book and the characters and it is sad to know that there will only ever be four books in the inspector vaara. On the plane down to my parents house for a visit, on the way out of the house i grab a random book for the plane out of my gargantuan tbr pile.
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