The Priest of Evil, by Matti Joensuu

Priest of Evil is a wonderful crime book, a police procedural with a twist really, that has been nominated for the prestigious Glass Key award. Matti Joensuu is Finland's most distinguished and popular crime writer. He is still working as a policeman after more than thirty years. This book marks the return of Joensuu to writing after a ten-year gap. And, of, course, the return of Detective Sergeant Timo Harjunpaa of the Helsinki police Violent Crimes unit, the main character in Joensuu’s books, as well.

The center stage in the book is occupied by a fantastical priest - the Priest of Evil - who brainwashes teenagers into carrying bomb-filled backpacks. While investigating a young man's apparent suicide in a Helsinki subway station, Detective Sergeant Timo Harjunpää of the Helsinki Violent Crimes Unit is baffled by the apparent lack of witnesses or evidence. And after several bizarre deaths at Helsinki tube stations, there are very few clues. Yet a pattern is discernable. Detective Sergeant Timo Harjunpaa of the Helsinki Violent Crimes Unit has to admit to himself that there is a serial killer at work, and that his opponent is a very dangerous and devious person.

And, as we as readers learn, right in the middle of Helsinki, in the invisible mountain called the Brocken, in the bowels of the underground train system, a man who calls himself an Earth Spirit lives. He has a vision to destroy the world. He has, in his own eyes, the right to watch, pass judgment, and execute as well.

Matti Joensuu is a grand master of crime fiction. He writes and weaves it like dark fairytales, with rich atmospheric and psychologically penetrating mysteries. And Priest of Evil is a book that really shows his skill and ingenuity. But be warned – this is an emotionally tough book to read. The ending especially is very tough. But Priest of Evil is exciting, somewhat exotic, rich, deep and, as well, a book that will touch you and linger with you for a while.

Link to amazon US: Joensuu at amazon US.
You can also order Matti Joensuu's Priest of Evil and To Steal Her Love from Amazon UK.