BOOK TOUR x RANDOM THINGS TOURS: The Winter Job by Antti Tuomainen

Helsinki, 1982. Recently divorced postal worker Ilmari Nieminen has promised his daughter a piano for Christmas, but with six days to go – and no money – he's desperate.

A last-minute job offers a transport a valuable antique sofa to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost town in Finland.

With the sofa secured in the back of his van, Ilmari stops at a gas station, and an old friend turns up, offering to fix his faulty wipers, on the condition that he tags along. Soon after, a persistent Saab 96 appears in the rearview mirror. And then a bright-yellow Lada.

That's when Ilmari realises that he is transporting something truly special.

And that's when Ilmari realises he might be in serious trouble…

Oh, look, another Antti Tuomainen book that I’m going to rave about. Predictable, right? But that is entirely his fault for being so consistently on the pulse and entertaining.

While on the surface this has all the classic elements that I love about a Tuomainen story — a painfully desperate main character, absurd situations, a dark underside and whip-smart writing, each book still feels fresh and unique which is honestly impressive. He’s found the formula, and I am still eating it UP.

Dive into Helsinki, 1982 - where the setting is so vivid, so visceral you can feel the ice biting in your face, each location perfectly described to be equally beautiful and sinister — and occasionally described as numerous orifices. Ilmari spins us a fast-paced, energetic tale, starting off with a tired voice that really captures where he is before building up to a frantic pace full of misdirections and madness — introducing different threads of the plot quickly but told in short bursts so they’re not too hard to follow.

We track his journey, and some of the other players from a third person perspective, but still feel that we get to know the characters enough to fully get into the swing. There’s a strange, almost formal tone to the narration but with something cheeky, irreverent that takes it from a bit stiff to something coy, playful and mysterious.

Underneath the brilliantly connected plots and highly enjoyable chaos, there’s also a lot of heart with unexpected reflection on people and how different relationships and friendships shape and change us, adding yet another layer to make something really multi-faceted and impactful. And any classic rock fans will love the implied soundtrack written in too.

This book is what happens when Jingle all the way gets the thriller treatment — sounds ridiculous? It is, but that’s part of the charm.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted a reviewers copy of this title. Thank you to Random Things Tours and Orenda Books for inviting me to take part in this tour.

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