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kcfromaustcrime's review
5.0
The exploration of consequences is beautifully executed in Antti Tuomainen’s mesmerising DARK AS MY HEART. That he is an award winning author comes as no surprise, but of the five novels to his name in his native Finland, the third “The Healer” and this, his fourth novel, are so far the only ones translated into English. Needless to say THE HEALER is now on the TBR pile.
Aleksi Kivi was thirteen years old when his mother vanished. Now, twenty years on, he’s still haunted by her murder, and his feelings of recognition and utter belief that the millionaire owner of the company his mother worked for is responsible for that death could seem like obsession. That possibility is tempered elegantly by his quiet determination, and his willingness to observe, check and insinuate himself into Saarinen’s life in order to discover the truth.
Working as a live-in caretaker on a remote seaside property belonging to Saarinen that insinuation is planned and precisely executed, getting to know members of Saarinen’s family and staff, in particular, dangerously close to his erratic and disturbed daughter Amanda.
Told in a deceptively simple, understated manner which matches the personality and determination of the central character perfectly, there’s a clarity to the storytelling here that truly is mesmerising. The dialogue is sparse and pitched perfectly, establishing emotion, intent, feelings and motivation without having to resort to long, overblown exposition. That perfect touch is applied to the sense of place as well, creating a remote yet luxurious, underpopulated, beautiful yet sinister environment in which Kivi must try to find the truth, and hence allow himself to move on, and to live.
As close to a single sitting read as can be achieved around here, it’s not until after finishing that I realised that what we have in DARK AS MY HEART is about as perfect a combination of character, place and plot as I’ve read in a long time. Classically understated, in that particularly Scandinavian manner that many readers have come to love, the exploration of the why, and the impact of the act are as important to the author as the identification of who.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-dark-my-heart-antti-tuomainen
Aleksi Kivi was thirteen years old when his mother vanished. Now, twenty years on, he’s still haunted by her murder, and his feelings of recognition and utter belief that the millionaire owner of the company his mother worked for is responsible for that death could seem like obsession. That possibility is tempered elegantly by his quiet determination, and his willingness to observe, check and insinuate himself into Saarinen’s life in order to discover the truth.
Working as a live-in caretaker on a remote seaside property belonging to Saarinen that insinuation is planned and precisely executed, getting to know members of Saarinen’s family and staff, in particular, dangerously close to his erratic and disturbed daughter Amanda.
Told in a deceptively simple, understated manner which matches the personality and determination of the central character perfectly, there’s a clarity to the storytelling here that truly is mesmerising. The dialogue is sparse and pitched perfectly, establishing emotion, intent, feelings and motivation without having to resort to long, overblown exposition. That perfect touch is applied to the sense of place as well, creating a remote yet luxurious, underpopulated, beautiful yet sinister environment in which Kivi must try to find the truth, and hence allow himself to move on, and to live.
As close to a single sitting read as can be achieved around here, it’s not until after finishing that I realised that what we have in DARK AS MY HEART is about as perfect a combination of character, place and plot as I’ve read in a long time. Classically understated, in that particularly Scandinavian manner that many readers have come to love, the exploration of the why, and the impact of the act are as important to the author as the identification of who.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-dark-my-heart-antti-tuomainen
andrew61's review
4.0
This was a stand alone thriller set in the suburbs of Helsinki. It skips around time frames as a young man in 2013 sets out to discover what happened to his mother in 1993. Aleksi is 13 when his mother simply disappeared without trace , but in 2003 another very similar looking woman is discovered murdered. A suspect is a suitably villainous rich businessman and in 2013 Aleksi goes to work as a caretaker at his luxury coastal home.
The plot twists and turns moving back and forth in time and was very enjoyable on a wet bank holiday weekend although perhaps towards the end there was one to many twists.
The plot twists and turns moving back and forth in time and was very enjoyable on a wet bank holiday weekend although perhaps towards the end there was one to many twists.
markhoh's review
5.0
“Anything can happen to anyone at anytime” p3.
Aleksi Kivi was thirteen years old when his mother disappeared. Twenty years on and questions remain unanswered, the mystery of her disappearance is unresolved and Aleksi is unrelenting in his obsession to understand. His unshakeable feelings that Henrik Saarinen, millionaire business tycoon, is central to the resolution he is seeking, witness his assimilation into Saarinen’s life as caretaker of one of his properties. Enveloped in Saarinen’s world, he eventually finds the answers he is seeking, not exactly as he suspected but in some way allowing him to detach from the mire of unknowingness.
Finnish author Antti Tuomainen composes his words in a way that is mesmerising and poetic. Dialogue is simple, sparse, direct and feelings are descriptive and authentic. The entire book is written in an understated yet eloquent manner. The atmosphere is true Scandinavian Noir, not gruesome and gory but dark nevertheless. The darkness of the human condition is evident - Saarinen and his daughter, Amanda are witness to this. The characters have an understated depth to them - a darkness that lies underneath the facade of the exterior. “...the greatest honesty doesn’t always mean revealing your every darkest thought” p32. Darkest thoughts underpin darkness in the heart.
4.5 stars - round up to 5.
Aleksi Kivi was thirteen years old when his mother disappeared. Twenty years on and questions remain unanswered, the mystery of her disappearance is unresolved and Aleksi is unrelenting in his obsession to understand. His unshakeable feelings that Henrik Saarinen, millionaire business tycoon, is central to the resolution he is seeking, witness his assimilation into Saarinen’s life as caretaker of one of his properties. Enveloped in Saarinen’s world, he eventually finds the answers he is seeking, not exactly as he suspected but in some way allowing him to detach from the mire of unknowingness.
Finnish author Antti Tuomainen composes his words in a way that is mesmerising and poetic. Dialogue is simple, sparse, direct and feelings are descriptive and authentic. The entire book is written in an understated yet eloquent manner. The atmosphere is true Scandinavian Noir, not gruesome and gory but dark nevertheless. The darkness of the human condition is evident - Saarinen and his daughter, Amanda are witness to this. The characters have an understated depth to them - a darkness that lies underneath the facade of the exterior. “...the greatest honesty doesn’t always mean revealing your every darkest thought” p32. Darkest thoughts underpin darkness in the heart.
4.5 stars - round up to 5.
juniperusxx's review against another edition
4.0
Pidin tästä kovasti. Kirja ylitti odotukseni, sillä parista aiemmin lukemastani Tuomaisen kirjasta en muista erityisesti innostuneeni. Selkeä ja kikkailematon kerronta viehätti minua ja juonikin oli sopivan yllätyksellinen. Täytyypä nostaa noita muitakin Tuomaisen kirjoja esille tbr-vuoren uumenista.
booking_along's review
2.0
This was sadly not a book for me, i could not connect to it and did not have good time reading it.
I prefer my books to be descriptive and knowing details. I enjoy hearing about what characters are doing and while i don't need to know what they are thinking, i still enjoy knowing what is happening. This book sadly did not have those details.
To that came that the writing style was not something that i enjoyed, since the sentences where very short and choppy, which i personally just do not enjoy.
Still the crime itself is interesting, and if you are someone that prefers short sentences, little detail and not to descriptive writing, you should give this a try and see if it is to your liking.
I prefer my books to be descriptive and knowing details. I enjoy hearing about what characters are doing and while i don't need to know what they are thinking, i still enjoy knowing what is happening. This book sadly did not have those details.
To that came that the writing style was not something that i enjoyed, since the sentences where very short and choppy, which i personally just do not enjoy.
Still the crime itself is interesting, and if you are someone that prefers short sentences, little detail and not to descriptive writing, you should give this a try and see if it is to your liking.
raven88's review
5.0
I must confess that aside from Matti Joensuu and Kati Hiekkapelto my knowledge of Finnish crime fiction is a little underdeveloped, so was intrigued to discover a new-to me-writer in this sub-genre of the Scandinavian stable. So how did Dark As My Heart fare? Will I be seeking out Tuomainen’s The Healer as well?
If the fact that I read this book in one night can be testament to how much I enjoyed this one is any gauge, I think we can all safely say that this book was a real hit with me. Dark As My Heart, drew me in from the start with the mournful clarity and simplicity of its prose, and the underlying power of the emotion that Tuomainen expresses in deceptively understated prose. Discovering afterwards that Tuomainen is an established poet reinforced my initial impressions of the lyrical and sensual quality of both the dialogue and imagery that Tuomainen employs throughout. From the inherent appreciation of the natural world, to the intensity of expression that the author affords the gradual unveiling of Aleksi’s turbulent and emotional upbringing in the wake of the loss of his mother, the prose style that Tuomainen adopts is mesmerising. I rarely revisit passages of a crime book after reading, but did on this occasion mainly to marvel at the fluid and lyrical style of Tuomainen’s writing style, from the brevity (though no less affecting) use of dialogue, to particular descriptions of the setting of Saarinen’s rural estate. It was just so satisfying to see such a seamless blend of beautiful language, and well-structured plot working in harmony, which is something that European crime writers seem to excel at. What was also clever was how at times the book also assumed the feel of a stage play with many double-handed scenes that again added to the claustrophobic and emotionally intense feel of the book. Hence, what the reader encounters is a well-balanced blend of poetry, prose and drama which was exceptionally engaging from start to finish.
Aleksi is viewed throughout the book with an overriding compunction to uncover the truth behind his mother’s disappearance, fuelled by a long period of gestation formulating a plan to confront the man he believes responsible. In the case of his character, still waters run deep, with the face he displays to the world masking a deep inner life driven by revenge, and it’s fascinating how Tuomainen so beautifully reveals the dark details of Aleksi’s formative years. Equally accomplished is how Tuomainen sustains such a pitch of intigue and secrecy using a comparatively small cast of characters, and Aleksi’s interaction with them. He is a completely empathetic character, and I’m sure like many readers to come I was completely rooting for him throughout the book, in the face of the deception and manipulation at the hands of the Saarinens. In much the same way as Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo or Steffen Jacobsen’s Trophy, Tuomainen uses the character of millionaire businessman Henrik Saarinen, as a foil for his detached authorial view of the impunity with which the rich and powerful ride roughshod over the normal laws of decent behaviour, and Saarinen is the epitomy of this, eemingly untouchable by established means. His daughter assumes the role of the femme fatale of the piece, using her feminine wiles and sensuality to influence and blindside Aleksi, with a particularly unsavoury reveal about her character along the way. The world that Aleksi has infiltrated is morally bankrupt and Tuomainen provides an intriguing study of the base motivations and jealousies that drive human behaviour.
I found Dark As My Heart one of the most compelling, emotionally satisfying and beautifully realised crime thrillers that I have encountered this year. The clarity and deceptively simple style of Tuomainen’s prose is utterly compelling, underlined by his assured use of more than one literary form, and yet with this clever manipulation and lyricism of the language and form of the book, Tuomainen never loses sight of keeping the reader engaged by the central mystery that drives the plot. Wonderful.
If the fact that I read this book in one night can be testament to how much I enjoyed this one is any gauge, I think we can all safely say that this book was a real hit with me. Dark As My Heart, drew me in from the start with the mournful clarity and simplicity of its prose, and the underlying power of the emotion that Tuomainen expresses in deceptively understated prose. Discovering afterwards that Tuomainen is an established poet reinforced my initial impressions of the lyrical and sensual quality of both the dialogue and imagery that Tuomainen employs throughout. From the inherent appreciation of the natural world, to the intensity of expression that the author affords the gradual unveiling of Aleksi’s turbulent and emotional upbringing in the wake of the loss of his mother, the prose style that Tuomainen adopts is mesmerising. I rarely revisit passages of a crime book after reading, but did on this occasion mainly to marvel at the fluid and lyrical style of Tuomainen’s writing style, from the brevity (though no less affecting) use of dialogue, to particular descriptions of the setting of Saarinen’s rural estate. It was just so satisfying to see such a seamless blend of beautiful language, and well-structured plot working in harmony, which is something that European crime writers seem to excel at. What was also clever was how at times the book also assumed the feel of a stage play with many double-handed scenes that again added to the claustrophobic and emotionally intense feel of the book. Hence, what the reader encounters is a well-balanced blend of poetry, prose and drama which was exceptionally engaging from start to finish.
Aleksi is viewed throughout the book with an overriding compunction to uncover the truth behind his mother’s disappearance, fuelled by a long period of gestation formulating a plan to confront the man he believes responsible. In the case of his character, still waters run deep, with the face he displays to the world masking a deep inner life driven by revenge, and it’s fascinating how Tuomainen so beautifully reveals the dark details of Aleksi’s formative years. Equally accomplished is how Tuomainen sustains such a pitch of intigue and secrecy using a comparatively small cast of characters, and Aleksi’s interaction with them. He is a completely empathetic character, and I’m sure like many readers to come I was completely rooting for him throughout the book, in the face of the deception and manipulation at the hands of the Saarinens. In much the same way as Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo or Steffen Jacobsen’s Trophy, Tuomainen uses the character of millionaire businessman Henrik Saarinen, as a foil for his detached authorial view of the impunity with which the rich and powerful ride roughshod over the normal laws of decent behaviour, and Saarinen is the epitomy of this, eemingly untouchable by established means. His daughter assumes the role of the femme fatale of the piece, using her feminine wiles and sensuality to influence and blindside Aleksi, with a particularly unsavoury reveal about her character along the way. The world that Aleksi has infiltrated is morally bankrupt and Tuomainen provides an intriguing study of the base motivations and jealousies that drive human behaviour.
I found Dark As My Heart one of the most compelling, emotionally satisfying and beautifully realised crime thrillers that I have encountered this year. The clarity and deceptively simple style of Tuomainen’s prose is utterly compelling, underlined by his assured use of more than one literary form, and yet with this clever manipulation and lyricism of the language and form of the book, Tuomainen never loses sight of keeping the reader engaged by the central mystery that drives the plot. Wonderful.
bianca89279's review
4.0
"Dark as My Heart" is a mystery/thriller that reads like a film; all the way through, I had the feeling I was watching one of those Scandinavian police/crime movies/series.
From the very beginning, I was taken with the beautifully descriptive language. Antti Tuomainen is a fantastic writer. Obviously, the translator did a great job, too.
The novel is narrated by our main character, Aleksi Kivi, now thirty-three years old. His mum's disappearance, presumed killed, has defined his past twenty years of life. He's become obsessed with finding what had happened to her. He's suspecting the millionaire, Henrik Saarinen, as the one who's taken his mum from him.
So when the opportunity presents, he takes a job as a caretaker on a big, secluded estate owned by Saarinen.
Aleksi becomes involved with Saarinen's daughter, Amanda, who's strikingly beautiful but seems out of sorts.
This novel is in many ways a classic mystery/thriller novel. I personally loved the descriptive language, it made for an atmospheric novel, which had a distinctly Scandinavian feel to it. While I haven't read Stieg Larsson's novels, I did see three of the movies. The Swedish ones. In many ways, this novel seemed similar, as far as the secrets and twists, but without the torture, rape etc.
At about 240 pages, this is a relatively short novel, but it felt just right.
Dark As My Heart is a classic mystery/thriller novel with a distinctive Scandinavian feel to it, perfectly suited for a movie adaptation.
Highly recommended.
4.5 stars
I've received this novel via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.
Cover: 4 stars
From the very beginning, I was taken with the beautifully descriptive language. Antti Tuomainen is a fantastic writer. Obviously, the translator did a great job, too.
The novel is narrated by our main character, Aleksi Kivi, now thirty-three years old. His mum's disappearance, presumed killed, has defined his past twenty years of life. He's become obsessed with finding what had happened to her. He's suspecting the millionaire, Henrik Saarinen, as the one who's taken his mum from him.
So when the opportunity presents, he takes a job as a caretaker on a big, secluded estate owned by Saarinen.
Aleksi becomes involved with Saarinen's daughter, Amanda, who's strikingly beautiful but seems out of sorts.
This novel is in many ways a classic mystery/thriller novel. I personally loved the descriptive language, it made for an atmospheric novel, which had a distinctly Scandinavian feel to it. While I haven't read Stieg Larsson's novels, I did see three of the movies. The Swedish ones. In many ways, this novel seemed similar, as far as the secrets and twists, but without the torture, rape etc.
At about 240 pages, this is a relatively short novel, but it felt just right.
Dark As My Heart is a classic mystery/thriller novel with a distinctive Scandinavian feel to it, perfectly suited for a movie adaptation.
Highly recommended.
4.5 stars
I've received this novel via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.
Cover: 4 stars
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