Spirala Śmierci

Maria Kallio #5

by Leena Lehtolainen, Sebastian Musielak (Translator)

Noora Nieminen, utalentowana szesnastolatka, nadzieja fińskiego łyżwiarstwa figurowego, pada ofiarą brutalnego zabójstwa. Kto jest sprawcą? Może „król karaoke” Vesku Teräsvuori? A może postrach Espoo, pedofil molestujący małe dziewczynki? A może mordercą jest jednak ktoś z najbliższego otoczenia Noory? Nadkomisarz Maria Kallio jest już w siódmym miesiącu ciąży, lecz nie przeszkadza jej to poświęcić się całkowicie rozwiązywaniu tej zagadki. W czasie śledztwa styka się z kolejnymi przypadkami tragedii córek i z desperacją matek, która nakręca spiralę śmierci,,,

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Finnish Literature, Fiction, Thriller, Nordic Noir, Audiobook

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Leena Katriina Lehtolainen is a Finnish crime novelist, best known for her series of novels about the policewoman Maria Kallio.

Lehtolainen was born in Vesanto, Northern Savonia. Her first novel was released when she was only 12 years old. She studied literature in Helsinki until 1995 and wrote crime novels from 1993 on. Since about 2007 she has written other genres of books. Her works have been translated into various languages: Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Lithuanian, Polish, French, Swedish, German, Estonian, Czech.

Reviews

[Ken Fredette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leena kept you in suspense throughout the entire book. Maria Kallio was pregnant through the entire book and had her babe at the end. With several scares in between the action to keep it following. I would recommend this book to everyone who has eyes and empathy.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series more as it goes along. In this one Maria is pregnant, but still solving crimes and competing with other investigators with an eye on promotion. The murder is of a young figure skater and although there are lots of suspects, finding the correct one is a challenge, as always. Some of the things she did seemed overly risky to me for a pregnant woman, but I'm not a Finnish policewoman. In the end the case is solved satisfactorily, and the baby is born. I'm looking forward to reading number 6.

[Outi Mäkinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Maria Kallio -series. Leena Lehtolainen gives a very credible picture of Finnish police work, description of Finnish society and a life of a working woman with a family. She is also very good at foreseeing topics to come, fiction but so much true also.

[Dani · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ikävä kyllä Maria Kallion viides tapaus jää kompuroinniksi, jota piristää lähinnä protagonistin raskauden tuomat haasteet. Murhankin menin ratkaisemaan ennen etsivää, mikä laimensi jännitystä entisestään.

[Minttu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suosittelen Maria Kallio-dekkareita jokaiselle, joka ei ehkä ole aikaisemmin innostunut kys. genrestä ja kaipailisi erityisesti feminististä, epätyypillistä ja ei-tylsää dekkarisarjaa, jossa löytyy muitakin samaistumisen kohteita kuin se perinteinen keski-ikäinen, valkoihoinen pönöukko. Äänikirjat löytyvät mm. Bookbeatista, josta itsekin olen niitä käsitöitten lomassa ja iltasatuina kuunnellut. Osissa 1-4 lukijana Erja Manto, jonka ääni oli omaan korvaan miellyttävämpi, mutta osasta 5 alkaen lukijaksi vaihtunut Krista Putkonen-Örn sopii äänensä puolesta paremmin Maria Kallion rooliin. En osaa sanoa kummasta lukijasta tykkään tässä roolissa enemmän, molemmissa on puolensa.

[Tatiaana]

This one was a bit of a chore to finish, compared to her others I have read. It was 1/3 about an actual murder, 1/3 Lehtolainen showing how much she knows about figure skating, and 1/3 about Kallio’s pregnancy (every single thing she ate, every movement the baby made, every detail about her body’s changes). 🙄

[tilda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ei inhokkini Maria Kallio-sarjasta, mutta ei noussut lemppariksikaan. Rikos itsessään oli kiinnostava, mutta tuntui että tarina junnasi paikoillaan tosi pitkään. Perushyvä dekkari kuitenkin!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a pleasure to get back into Leena Lehtolainen's Maria Kallio series. In this book, Sergeant Kallio and her team are called to investigate the suspicious murder of a teen Finnish figure skating star. Like other books in the series, this one provides commentary on Finnish society and roles of women, with a special emphasis on the ethics of sport, including doping. It was interesting to learn that Lehtolainen is also a well-regarded figure skating journalist in Finland. I truly enjoy this series and Maria's spunkiness. It had been quite a while since I read in this series, but I was able to pick up Book #5 with no confusion. Hope to read the next book soon!

[Kerstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Finnish mystery. Also first mystery novel set in figure skating enviroment.

[Bud Mallar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, although sometimes you just want to slap our heroine up the side of the head and ask her what's she doing.

Not a police procedural, as such, but character studies around solving the whodunit.

Which in this case means a pregnant investigator trying to figure out a murder in the world of skating.

There are some serious negative reviews of this book, claiming it's all about the author expounding on her knowledge of pregnancy and/or ice skating. Which might be true except for the sentence before this paragraph.

this is the continuing story of Maria, our heroine, now married and pg, investigating in the ice skating world. I simply suggest those reviewers go read straight police procedurals if they don't with to 'learn' about life and the choices people make. Me, I'd rather ride along with the characters I've come to enjoy as run the gamut of emotions trying to be human and doing their jobs.

I had a pretty good idea of whodunit, but not the reason why. It was just a lucky hunch, I think.

I enjoy these and am looking forward to the next in the series.

[Evander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't understand why it wasn't portrayed as weird at all that Koivu, a grown man nearing 30, "had a crush" on a teenager (his boss's daughter nonetheless). He tells Maria he's thinking of asking her out and she just think it's adorable? Especially considering the killer in this book ... I'm not saying that's the same scenario but still, yikes. I would have thought it would give Maria some food for thought concerning Koivu and Silja but no. I'm glad at the end nothing came of it, no wonder the "ten-year age gap was a problem for Silja"...

Something that I found very eerie: Anton Grigoriev's death had parallels to the actor Anton Yelchin's: both Russians by birth named Anton, killed by their car after it started rolling when they had got out of it. Grigoriev was a figure skater whose wife is a figure skating coach while Yelchin's parents were both figure skaters and his father a coach.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

and now the investigations of mrs Kallio focus on what she eats, when she goes to bathroom and all the TMI discomforts the growing fetus in her causes. meanwhile there is a death of a figure skater; some effort is put in finding out what happened.
Finland of the 1990s seems to have had no set behavioral standards, whether it comes to harassing and insulting your coworkers, or being rude and harassing the representatives of law. or, hopefully, it is only the Finland of this author.
the reader has good drama in voice acting, but the pronunciation of the names is still constantly wrong like in the first 4 audiobooks (“Saami, “Jaani”, “Pico”, “Raami” - so always the short wovels becoming doubles. Yet she still got the name of the slum where the story was set in, Matinkylä, correct)
1.5* (generously)

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read the Maria Kallio series from the beginning and this is another solid whodunit. The plot is well paced and never sags. The twists are quite unexpected and, even if I had my doubts about the culprit, the reason for the crime surprised me. I don't give this five stars only because Maria falls into one of my biggest pet peeves: making stupid decisions not once but twice, endangering herself and her unborn baby. Oh, yes, BTW, we follow the pregnancy that she discovered at the end of the last book, which gives it a fun twist (it doesn’t seem to be easy to interview uncooperative witnesses when you need to go to the bathroom constantly). Entertaining and fun.

[Nightwitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been bingeing this series and finding it really fun, but there was one thing that stuck out to me here: Maria's co-worker falls for their boss's daughter. She's seventeen; he's ten years older. Maria - generally speaking a firm feminist and someone who's very concerned about young women and their exploitation - thinks this is the cutest thing and is highly encouraging of the two of them potentially dating. Like... I remember the nineties and I get that this wasn't uncommon at the time, but this makes me sad. Particularly given the key revelation at the end of the book regarding who committed the murder and why. Do the extra three years make it okay somehow?

[Susann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

This was the best so far! Great plot, in depth characterization, mystery up to the end, fine, sensitive writing, and more insight into Maria. Antti seems a bit one dimensional these days, just good for a shag and a cuddle. The author has a fine sense of humor, e.g. the cat tax. 😺 I loved the descriptions of Maria's experience with pregnancy and birth which were beautifully written. And I don't normally have much interest in that sort of thing. The art of figure skating was also given a lyrical and appreciative exposition, especially the victim's loving relationship with ice. Glad the translator has 29 fruit trees in addition to a full life. 😋

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate all of these a 3.75 if I could. They take me a little bit longer to read than other similar series because the Finnish names continue to challenge me, but I really enjoy the character development as in this one where Maria is 7 months pregnant and there is a bit of a "Fargo" vibe going on. This one is also especially interesting because it revolves around figure skating, and the author's other gig is as a journalist in that sport!

[Christine Ricci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another great read by Leena Lehtolainen. I'm loving this series more and more. Lehtolainen (or maybe the translator, Owen Witesman) matures as a writer throughout the series, and as a result, her characters appear to have more depth, compassion, and interest.

I truly enjoy these novels because they are a fun suspenseful read. They aren't too gory, the plot isn't too heavy, and the "whodunit" keeps me guessing the whole story long. I would say this is a light read, but not quite "cozy mystery" light. I enjoy it as a good break between heavier novels.

One of the main reasons I love this series is the main character, Maria Kallio. She is fantastic. I love how she grapples with being a woman in a male-dominated career, deals with people (even sometimes getting a little too heated or ahead of herself), and balances her family life with her work life. I can relate a lot to her, her relationships with other (my spouse and I are also both very passionate about our work), and her feelings towards motherhood.

It is perhaps that last point about Maria's feeling towards motherhood that made me feel the epilogue is the most beautifully written part of the novel. Lehtolainen writes a fantastic description of Kallio giving birth to her daughter. I absolutely loved it as I balled my eyes out. To me, it perfectly describes the primal act of giving birth in the most beautiful way possible. It's not easy; it's painful. It's not all rainbows and butterflies; there's vomit, fecal matter, blood, and vernix. Yet, it's a wonderful part of nature that does not seem to get the raw beauty it deserves.

Throughout the series, I think Maria's reflections on her relationships, and now her newfound motherhood as a pregnant and soon-to-be mother, are more mature. She reflects more and does see how her actions could affect other people. It is likely because I relate so much to the main character that I enjoy the books, but I also think the plot is interesting. Lehtolainen keeps me guessing throughout the novel no matter the story line. I waiver between characters as much as Maria does, even as I try to outsmart her.

I enjoy the series. I think they're fun. Therefore, I would recommend this series to someone looking to read a light whodunit.

[Janne Paananen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lainvartijat olivat tässäkin asiassa ensimmäisinä rikkomassa vahtimaansa lakia."

Lukemani Maria Kallio -dekkarit ovat tähän asti olleet parhaimmillaankin kelvollisia dekkareita, eivät sen kummoisempia. Mutta Kuolemanspiraali nousi jostain syystä mielestäni selkeästi aikaisempia paremmaksi.

Nuori taitoluistelija, Noora Nieminen, löytyy auton takakontista väkivaltaisesti murhattuna. Hänet tunteneet ihmiset osoittavat syyttävällä sormella perhettä jo pidempään häiriköinyttä miestä. Tällä tuntuu kuitenkin olevan pitävä alibi.

Lehtolainen tuo estradille Nooran pariluistelupartnerin ja muutaman muun luistelijan, hänen perheen, valmentajan ja luisteluseuran johtajan. Lajin ulkopuolisia epäilyksenalaisia on vähän. Mutta miksi kukaan olisi tappanut kansainvälisen läpimurron kynnyksellä olevan nuoren seuratoverin?

Dekkari kulkee varsin normaaleja latuja. Jutun suola oikeastaan onkin Kallion ja hänen poliisityökaverien väliset suhteet ja niiden selvittelyt. Poliisit ja jaoksen sisäiset jännitteet on kuvattu hyvin. Kallion äitiysloma lähenee eli sivuilla valotetaan myös hänen raskausajan tuntojaan.

Sellainen 3,5 puolen tähden kevyt perusdekkarinpläjäys, jonka pyöristän neljään tähteen, koska poliisihahmot ja taitoluisteluskene ovat taiten kirjoitettuja.

[Bill Batkay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colorful But Tangled

Another fascinating read from this Finnish author.
Centered on the world of international competitive junior ice skating, the story embraces rivalry among the young Finnish skaters of both sexes, the sometimes murky backstory of their Russian coach and her family, drug smuggling and, at the center, the brutal murder of a beautiful, talented young skater.

Alongside this story is the ongoing tale of Seargent
Maria Kallio's pregnancy and life with her new husband, Anti-inflammatory. The book's twin climaxes include both the (somewhat forced) unmasking of the killer and the birth of Kallio's daughter.
The translation from Finnish into idiomatic American English is smooth and free of anachronism.
The central tale is rather tangled, but the characters and local background are so engaging that it hardly matters.

[Novel Destination · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Death Spiral" by Finnish author Leena Lehtolainen is the 5th in her series that
feature policewoman Maria Kallio. The beginning of the book includes several
pages of character names along with their titles or positions. I think that
many readers would have worried and not attempted to read the book. I
ignored it all and had no difficulty keeping the people straight. If you
know anyone who is intrigued by champion figure skating, you might recommend
this mystery to them. I would read another by this author if I found one.
Not all of them have been translated into English so I am sure finding them
will be a bit haphazard also.

[Taija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ensimmäinen Leena Lehtolainen / Maria Kallio, jonka luin. Yllätyin positiivisesti. Ehkä minulla on vähän jotain ennakkoluuloja suomalaisia dekkareita kohtaan, mutta tämähän oli oikein toimiva. Kiinnostava, sujuva ja hieman jännitystäkin tarjoava poliisiromaani, jossa raskaana oleva päähenkilö ratkoo taitoluistelumaailmaan liittyvää murhatapausta. Kirja on 90-luvulta, se käy kyllä ilmi monessa yksityiskohdassa.

Heti alussa tuli mieleen, että onkohan tarinaa inspiroinut Nancy Kerriganin ja Tonya Hardlngin tapaus, ja myöhemmin kirjassa heidät todellakin mainittiin.

Kyllä voin lukea toisenkin Maria Kallio -dekkarin!

[Delphine Tran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comment a t on envie de lire un livre? Ben en fait sur la couverture française il y a un patin à glace. Alors quand tous les jours on accompagne sa fille à la patinoire, forcément cette couverture accroche le regard... et finalement on se retrouve à lire un polar, un bon polar où l on cherche qui a assassiné la future championne de patinage artistique. Le suspense est entier jusqu au dernier chapitre. L'enquêtrice très sympathique...
Et finalement quand on commence à connaître un peu le monde du patinage, on se dit que tous ces mensonges, manipulations... sont plutôt plausibles...

[Chris Aylott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kallio grapples with impending motherhood and the murder of a talented young skater. Surefooted and thoughtful until the end, the novel nearly collapses when Maria figures out the killer and charges into an unnecessary confrontation without backup. Lehtolainen sacrifices a lot of suspension of disbelief for a couple of pages of suspense, and a quieter ending would have worked just fine. The rest of the book is well worth the read, though.

[Bloggbohemen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mord i konståkningsmiljö - kan det va’ nåt? Jo, men faktiskt! Det här var mitt andra möte med Lehtolainens polis Maria Kallio och nu tycker jag både deckarintrigen och poliskåren tog sig. Att serien har ett antal år på nacken märks bara ibland (främst gällande avsaknaden av smartphones) och det är inget som stör mig. Mitt enda problem är egentligen att boken är lite för lång och det är det som gör att betyget blir en trea istället för en fyra. Jag gillar lite tajtare berättelser.

[Tuatara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarjan meininki ei muutu mihinkään, eli ihan jeessiä perusdekkaria. Kyllä näitä kuuntelee silloin, kun migreeni lyö sänkyyn eikä jaksaisi oikein keskittyä muuhunkaan. Päähenkilön taipumukset typeriin lopputempauksiin saavat kyllä tässä kohtaa sarjaa jo vähän pudistelemaan päätä, kun sitä kuvittelisi henkilön oppivan kokemuksistaan edes jotain.

[Frankie Winchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Best So Far

This book moved along slowly, back and forth, from suspect to suspect, as all the books in the Maria Kallio series have. I very much enjoyed all the books in this series, but Death Spiral sustained my interest more than the earlier entries in this series. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[John Stotesbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easily Leena Lehtolainen's best novel up to that date of first publication in Finnish, in 1997. The plotting is coherent and intricate, well integrated with the protagonist detective's pregnancy. Although I had deduced the prime culprit well before the end, there were still plenty of distracting alternatives. Worth more than ***, approaching four.

[Bill Mock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure why I stuck with this one. I couldn't get invested in the characters and a pregnant woman continually referring to her unborn child as the creature really put me off. The story was ok, but what was meant to be twists just turned into distractions. The author has done so much better, this made me sad.

[Kay Kinsler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Mystery in Finland

Enjoyable quick read. Nice to be in cold Finland when actually experiencing 110 degree heat! I’m also enjoying seeing the main character develop over the series.

[Kaija Karlsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kirja on viides Maria Kallio dekkari. Huipputaitoluistelija Noora Nieminen löytyy kuolleena. Omassa elämässä Maria on melkein viimeisillä raskaana. Hän kilpailee Pertti Strömin kanssa rikosylikomisario paikasta. Matinkylän jäähalli on yhtenä tapahtumapaikkana.