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FASCINATING CRIME NOVEL SET IN COOL FINLAND FOR MY COUPLE OF HOT SUMMER DAYS.

Very leisurely paced, first person narration by our series hero Kari Vaara.

LUCIFER'S TEARS by James Thompson - Second in Inspector Kari Vaara's series, after the SNOW ANGELS.

Inspector Kari vaara got a transfer after a successful job of solving Sufia Elmi murder case.
He has moved to Helsinki with his American wife Kate.
Kate is pregnant with their baby girl.
Already she had a miscarriage with the first pregnancy. Twin boys.
In fact this relocation to Helsinki is her idea, her wishes.
Kari agreed to move for her wishes in spite of his bad memories of his failed first marriage and some incidents in professional front at the city of Helsinki from his earlier stay. Kari Vaara adores his wife Kate.

As a new person in the Homicide department, Helsinki, Kari Vaara works in graveyard shifts along with his young, inexperienced, enthusiastic partner Milo Nieminen.

Kari Vaara is working on couple of cases this time.

Rein Saar called the murder himself.

He claims an unknown attacker struck him behind.

When he wakes up from unconsciousness, he is in his bed beside his lover-Iisa Filippov and finds her beaten to death, covered in her blood.

Iisa is a married woman, having an affair with Rein Saar for couple of years behind her hubby's back.

As Kari and Milo investigate about her hubby Ivan Filippo, they found out he is a good friend of Jyri Ivalo
the national chief of police.

The chief of police and Ivan Filippo suggest that Kari charges the lover Rein Saar and be done with the case.

Kari is annoyed and more determined to find out more about this case.

When they visited Mr.Ivan Flippov at his office, his secretary Linda looks like the dead woman Iisa Flippov.
Couple of places like restaurants, Kari ran into them cozy and too friendly.
Kari is curious and disturbed.

Earlier to these incidents, the chief of police brought another case for Kari to work.

Arvind Lahtinen, age 90 is a Finnish War hero.
Germany is demanding extradition of him, saying that he did war crimes, associated with Nazis in executing the inmates.
There is a personal connection to Kari in this case.
His Ukki(grandpa)served with Arvid Lahtinen.

Now his wife Kate is pregnant, her brother John and sister Mary are visiting from USA .

Kate raised them after their mother's illness, her drunkard father is useless.

Kate is meeting them after some years. Mary dropped out of her college, married a doctor.
John is in academia.
During that time, Kate moved to Finland on job, met Kari Vaara, married him .

anyway...
Now, John & Mary are here to be with their sister during her family's important time.
They plan to stay with them to help with child birth and couple of more months after that.

(in-laws criticism on his city, country, cultural habits...they get under inspector's skin(you are not alone...Inspectorji,
we have all been there and tolerate now and then...
in- laws judging you! anxiety heightened situations due to those ignorant Janta))

Though Kari is not comfortable with the idea of them staying longer , he tries to put a happy face and manages to understand them.

Novel thoroughly talks about Kari's life in professional front, his personal life, Kari-his elder brother Jari relationship, relatives staying with him, their interactions, his migraine headaches, sleep problems, mood swings, therapy sessions , his flaws, his wife Kate's childhood hardships and experiences.

I admire this writer.

Outlandish Finland in his stories is gorgeous.

In Lucifer's tears , the authors' beautiful descriptions on culture of Finland,Food and Drinking habit, life styles of Helsinki, traditional wood fire sauna - a FINNISH tradition, its icy, rainy winter days, Finland's part in World War II and history are captivating.

Exactly I expected after the SNOW ANGELS, his first novel.

LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT.

Vinatha