Historical fiction set in HAUGESUND, Norway (and London)
Novel set in a fictional beach location in FINLAND
6th October 2025
Palm Beach, Finland by Antii Tuomainen, novel set in a fictional beach location in FINLAND
TR: David Hackston
Palm Beach Finland is a stand-alone novel written by the masterful Antii Tuomainen, who somehow combines a plot that’s centred on a criminal investigation with laugh-out-loud humour. Tuomainen’s style is decidedly quirky and takes a little getting used to, but having read several of his books now, I am a big fan.
In a triumph of hope over expectation, Jorma Lievo has sunk all his money into creating a tropical resort in the chilly climate of Finland. Although it is not yet a success, indeed it seems unlikely that it will ever be, he dreams of expanding his empire. Only one thing stands in the way of the new chalets and marina that he has planned, and that is a property owned by his lifeguard, Olivia Koski. But Lievo thinks he might be able to persuade her to sell. When someone is accidentally killed in Koski’s house, a police undercover agent called Jan Nyman is tasked with discovering who the victim and the murderer might be.
Nyman meets and subtly interviews the locals while staying at the Palm Beach resort in the guise of someone on holiday. However he is not the only one who wants to know who the killer is. The other investigator is a professional hit man and he doesn’t believe in being subtle. Various other characters are motivated to unmask the murderer by the offer of money, but they are effectively in competition with each other and their investigations come at a price.
Palm Beach Finland is described in almost painful detail – painful because it is so obviously not the perfect setting for a holiday resort. The sights, sounds and smells of the location are important to the plot but also perfectly descriptive of what you might find if you spent time on the coast of Finland. It is not, however, a good advertisement for tourism of the kind that Lievo has in mind.
The author’s sense of the ridiculous combines with his enormous empathy for his characters. The book is beautifully paced. The wonder of the written word is exemplified by this novel, in that you can only see what the author chooses to reveal at any given time. Hence you have scenes where an unknown character carries out some deed that might – or might not – affect the plot. As a reader you will be trying to conduct your own investigation and decide who is doing what – though the perpetrators of the main crime(s) are known throughout. Rest assured, there are still surprises in store! If you have yet to discover the novels of Tuomainen you have a treat in store, and he has written lots of other books to look forward to when you finish this one.
Sue for the TripFiction Team
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