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Maria Kallio #4
Snow Woman
When the well-known director of a women’s retreat center goes missing, Espoo Police Detective Maria Kallio is called to investigate. As the missing woman’s friends and family quickly become the pool of suspects, Maria must soften her tough interrogation style to uncover the information she needs to solve the crime. Meanwhile, a killer Maria put in prison escapes and sets out to take revenge. As the missing persons case—and Maria’s personal life—become increasingly complicated, the Espoo Police work to track down the escaped killer before it’s too late.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1996
290 people are currently reading
815 people want to read
About the author
Leena Lehtolainen
94 books270 followersLeena 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
January 15, 2015
3.5 This is the fourth book in the series and unfortunately I have not read the first three, so I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this one. There safe several different strands to this story and one is the finish to a case that must be from one of the other books, but I still found it interesting and the result was a heartbreaking one of loss. The other story involves the death of a woman who ran a retreat and counseling service for woman. One of the woman there was from a religious group called the Laestadians, which I had never heard of and of which I would never be a part.
The cases were interesting, the characters were good, the atmosphere was Nordic and the writing clear and concise. A series of which I will try to find the rest.
ARC from NetGalley.
The cases were interesting, the characters were good, the atmosphere was Nordic and the writing clear and concise. A series of which I will try to find the rest.
ARC from NetGalley.
November 11, 2018
This is the first book written by Leena Lehtolainen I've read and so far is a not a great Scandinavian thriller, on the contrary.
January 12, 2015
*NetGalley book review*
This was a good mystery crime novel. I hadn't read any other's in this series. As a matter of fact, I had no idea this book was part of a series. I should have researched it more, but it seemed interesting and peeked my curiosity. Good book and I am looking forward to starting this series from the beginning, not sure if that will help or not, but none the less I will give them a try.
This was a good mystery crime novel. I hadn't read any other's in this series. As a matter of fact, I had no idea this book was part of a series. I should have researched it more, but it seemed interesting and peeked my curiosity. Good book and I am looking forward to starting this series from the beginning, not sure if that will help or not, but none the less I will give them a try.
April 24, 2018
imagine Stephanie Plum, put her in Finland, remove all glamour and humor and there you go for this series.
the dialogs are clumsy, the plot seems to drag, and there is often too much focus in her pregnancy scare and what she is eating than investigating things. the reader (as enjoyed as audio version) had inconsistant pronunciation for many names (“Kusinen” is different from Kuusinen, the wrong length o u changes the name to Pissy, and add the same type problem to 50-80% of the names), but was good in acting the dialogs. yet i cannot imagine finnish people having such emotional outbursts when talking to police and everyone having such behavioral issues.
the dialogs are clumsy, the plot seems to drag, and there is often too much focus in her pregnancy scare and what she is eating than investigating things. the reader (as enjoyed as audio version) had inconsistant pronunciation for many names (“Kusinen” is different from Kuusinen, the wrong length o u changes the name to Pissy, and add the same type problem to 50-80% of the names), but was good in acting the dialogs. yet i cannot imagine finnish people having such emotional outbursts when talking to police and everyone having such behavioral issues.
April 26, 2016
Three and a half stars actually--a really enjoyable series.
September 21, 2020
Getting better!
January 17, 2018
Engrossing murder mystery set in the cold Finnish winter, with newly married Sergeant Kallio hunting the killer.
January 16, 2020
Perinteinen, dekkarikliseitä täynnä oleva teos ja nauraa itsekin niille. Valloittava, tuttu miljöö ja kiinnostavat henkilöt pitävät otteessa.
August 29, 2021
Hyvä perusdekkari, nopeasti kuunneltu. Vähän oli ehkä omaan makuun liikaa sivujuonia ja turhia hahmoja, mutta ihan selkeä ja koukuttava kokonaisuus silti.
July 30, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
When the well-known director of a women’s retreat center goes missing, Espoo Police Detective Maria Kallio is called to investigate. As the missing woman’s friends and family quickly become the pool of suspects, Maria must soften her tough interrogation style to uncover the information she needs to solve the crime. Meanwhile, a killer Maria put in prison escapes and sets out to take revenge. As the missing persons case—and Maria’s personal life—become increasingly complicated, the Espoo Police work to track down the escaped killer before it’s too late.
*3.5 stars*
This is the fourth book in the internationally best-selling Maria Kallio detective series. However, it is the only one I have read to date.
This was a pretty good mystery/thriller novel. I wish I had read the previous stories as I think I missed quite a bit of backstory to Maria and cases she was involved in. But that is obviously not the authors fault...
What I liked: great atmosphere. The one thing I love about Nordic crime stories are their sense of atmosphere. Dark, brooding, tense stories that always feel like something is about to jump out at you...doesn't always happen but feels good when you are reading. Maria is a great lead character - she is strong and smart but there is no sense of her being an "obligatory female character" - in fact, I found her to be far more compelling as a character than a lot of other detective stories I have read lately.
What I didn't like: The mix of plots going on in this story. I think that a bigger focus on only one or two of these threads would have made for an even tighter story. I just felt like every time the plot changed, it lost any suspense or mystery it had built up, losing me, at times, in the process.
Overall, worthwhile going back to the earlier novels and see how the characters have developed or, indeed, how the writing has developed.
Paul
ARH
When the well-known director of a women’s retreat center goes missing, Espoo Police Detective Maria Kallio is called to investigate. As the missing woman’s friends and family quickly become the pool of suspects, Maria must soften her tough interrogation style to uncover the information she needs to solve the crime. Meanwhile, a killer Maria put in prison escapes and sets out to take revenge. As the missing persons case—and Maria’s personal life—become increasingly complicated, the Espoo Police work to track down the escaped killer before it’s too late.
*3.5 stars*
This is the fourth book in the internationally best-selling Maria Kallio detective series. However, it is the only one I have read to date.
This was a pretty good mystery/thriller novel. I wish I had read the previous stories as I think I missed quite a bit of backstory to Maria and cases she was involved in. But that is obviously not the authors fault...
What I liked: great atmosphere. The one thing I love about Nordic crime stories are their sense of atmosphere. Dark, brooding, tense stories that always feel like something is about to jump out at you...doesn't always happen but feels good when you are reading. Maria is a great lead character - she is strong and smart but there is no sense of her being an "obligatory female character" - in fact, I found her to be far more compelling as a character than a lot of other detective stories I have read lately.
What I didn't like: The mix of plots going on in this story. I think that a bigger focus on only one or two of these threads would have made for an even tighter story. I just felt like every time the plot changed, it lost any suspense or mystery it had built up, losing me, at times, in the process.
Overall, worthwhile going back to the earlier novels and see how the characters have developed or, indeed, how the writing has developed.
Paul
ARH
July 31, 2016
When the fourth installment of the Maria Kallio series begins, Espoo police detective Maria is called to investigate the disappearance of a well-known director of a women's retreat center. Feminist themes are strong throughout the book, both in terms of the case of the missing woman and Maria's life as a detective. As the case unfolds and the pool of suspects widens, Maria must soften her normally tough interrogation tactics to glean the information she needs to solve the mystery. While she is investigating the case, however, a killer that Maria helped put away escapes from prison and is out for revenge. Further complicating matters are developments in Maria's personal life (trying to keep this vague to avoid spoilers).
As was the case with the first three books in the series, a handy cast of characters is included and several characters previously introduced return for this one. While I normally prefer reading a series in order, this one could be read as a stand-alone, but I would recommend reading the first three too, even if they are read afterwards. I've thoroughly enjoyed discovering this Finnish series that has only recently been made available in English. The translations in all four of the books that I've read so far have been excellent, and I look forward to reading more in this series as they become available. The slightly snarky Maria is a smart and strong female lead, and each of the stories have a sprinkling of humor that I wouldn't normally associate with a Scandinavian series.
As was the case with the first three books in the series, a handy cast of characters is included and several characters previously introduced return for this one. While I normally prefer reading a series in order, this one could be read as a stand-alone, but I would recommend reading the first three too, even if they are read afterwards. I've thoroughly enjoyed discovering this Finnish series that has only recently been made available in English. The translations in all four of the books that I've read so far have been excellent, and I look forward to reading more in this series as they become available. The slightly snarky Maria is a smart and strong female lead, and each of the stories have a sprinkling of humor that I wouldn't normally associate with a Scandinavian series.
August 24, 2018
This Maria Kallio mystery is loaded with suspects and lots of snow as well as some expected turns in her life that have been previewed in previous works. In fact, when she throws up the first time, we are all in on the development. Yes, her relationship with Antti is still a little shaky and she has her usual taste for shapely men’s legs but she is locked in on her pregnancy and it starts to reshape her life from the first missed period. And yes, she still has her IUD. They don’t always work, you know. Then there are the murder of Elina of the Rosberg Institute and the attempted murder of her sister. There is always the sexist Ström to kick around and to kick back, but he is relatively harmless, as always. There’s are pole-dancer, Minna, a pile of feminists in the Rosberga House to which no male is admitted and there is an astroastrological psychiatrist (con man) for good measure as well as a comely but dangerous TV host. The other characters are mostly cops in Espoo and surrounding towns. Kallio is a fascinating character and her marriage and pregnancy are cleverly developed, not only for this novel, but for the next several as now there are more elements with which to threaten her. Lehtolainen’s joviality and skill at interweaving her various plot elements, hallmarks of her style, are evident again and make for a smooth, suspenseful read.
off-tbr-and-into-wpb
November 6, 2014Archive Date Dec 31 2014
Description: When the well-known director of a women’s retreat center goes missing, Espoo Police Detective Maria Kallio is called to investigate. As the missing woman’s friends and family quickly become the pool of suspects, Maria must soften her tough interrogation style to uncover the information she needs to solve the crime. Meanwhile, a killer Maria put in prison escapes and sets out to take revenge. As the missing persons case—and Maria’s personal life—become increasingly complicated, the Espoo Police work to track down the escaped killer before it’s too late.
Oooops, there is a cock-up: Error getting Licence E_LIC_SIGN_ERROR
Description: When the well-known director of a women’s retreat center goes missing, Espoo Police Detective Maria Kallio is called to investigate. As the missing woman’s friends and family quickly become the pool of suspects, Maria must soften her tough interrogation style to uncover the information she needs to solve the crime. Meanwhile, a killer Maria put in prison escapes and sets out to take revenge. As the missing persons case—and Maria’s personal life—become increasingly complicated, the Espoo Police work to track down the escaped killer before it’s too late.
Oooops, there is a cock-up: Error getting Licence E_LIC_SIGN_ERROR
May 16, 2019
A good crime novel
I enjoyed the characters and the story. The capture of Finnish culture is good. I am married to a Finn. The reveal at the of reminds of an old Perry Mason plot. Still a lot of fun.
I enjoyed the characters and the story. The capture of Finnish culture is good. I am married to a Finn. The reveal at the of reminds of an old Perry Mason plot. Still a lot of fun.
February 15, 2015
This the 4th book in the series, I've read all four. I still do not like the protagonist. Maybe it is a generational thing.
November 4, 2018
Perus-Kalliota. Pidin enemmän kuin edellisestä osasta, mukava kun päähenkilö alkaa vähän kasvaa ihmisenä.
January 18, 2020
Spännande. Funderade på hur allt hängde ihop ända till upplösningen i slutet.
December 2, 2019
I am liking the books in this series. I'm warming to Mario Kallio as a main character. I think that giving her a permanent job (after a few books of temporary jobs) helps. I also think that she appears less abrasive in this book than the previous books; either that or I'm used to her. I also find myself wondering what I'm missing: there are little things, like when she speaks of common and uncommon surnames and I realize, as somebody who doesn't speak Finnish and can only read this series in translation, what information do I miss, because I lack the background knowledge or perhaps because it doesn't show through after the book has been translated.
I think my experience of this books also is: I need to care about the mystery and the suspects if I am going to enjoy books in this series. In this one, I was more interested than in some of the earlier books and I think that helped. (This is probably another area where my lack of familiarity with the setting hinders me.)
I think my experience of this books also is: I need to care about the mystery and the suspects if I am going to enjoy books in this series. In this one, I was more interested than in some of the earlier books and I think that helped. (This is probably another area where my lack of familiarity with the setting hinders me.)
July 25, 2019
4.5 stars. This continues some themes started in the third book regarding Maria's feelings on marriage and motherhood. After giving a presentation on women's participation in the police force at a women's shelter, Maria is soon confronted with the disappearance of the shelter's owner and manager. The case soon becomes the priority of the Violent Crimes Unit in Espoo, Finland, where she now works.
Like other books in the series, this book provides astute social commentary, this time on the position of women and women's reproductive rights. I liked this book even better than earlier ones in the series because it was more suspenseful and had an unexpected twist at the end. I will definitely pick up book 5 at some point. Great travel reading!
Like other books in the series, this book provides astute social commentary, this time on the position of women and women's reproductive rights. I liked this book even better than earlier ones in the series because it was more suspenseful and had an unexpected twist at the end. I will definitely pick up book 5 at some point. Great travel reading!
June 7, 2021
Very Satisfying!
This was the best one of the series so far as I read them in order. I didn't realize these were written in the 1990's before Nordic noir and crime novels in general were all the rage. So perhaps the author was a real trendsetter at the time and comparing her to more recent writers isn't germaine. All the books so far are well written...it just took me awhile to appreciate them. Book four had a lot of emotional depth, quite an exciting plot and the addition of Maria being pregnant. I found the descriptions of her mental and physical progress through this life changing event quite sweet and interesting. She is growing in maturity as are her partners and her detective skills are brilliant! Well done!
This was the best one of the series so far as I read them in order. I didn't realize these were written in the 1990's before Nordic noir and crime novels in general were all the rage. So perhaps the author was a real trendsetter at the time and comparing her to more recent writers isn't germaine. All the books so far are well written...it just took me awhile to appreciate them. Book four had a lot of emotional depth, quite an exciting plot and the addition of Maria being pregnant. I found the descriptions of her mental and physical progress through this life changing event quite sweet and interesting. She is growing in maturity as are her partners and her detective skills are brilliant! Well done!
October 10, 2018
I am continuing to enjoy this detective series set in Finland featuring Maria Kallio. After going back and forth between being a police officer and a lawyer, she has settled into being a police officer in a Violent Crimes unit, and is looking for a missing woman who runs a women's shelter (no men allowed) and then later investigating her death, while looking over her shoulder for an escaped criminal who has vowed revenge on her and a fellow police officer. She is also newly married and adjusting to married life. There's a lot going on in this story, and as usual I'm interested in the setting in Finland where it always seems to be winter! 3.5 stars
May 24, 2019
All the pleasure of reacquaintance Maria Kallio - but in a genuine police procedural
What an improvement! At last Maria Kallio is finding her feet in the police force, so that we can be presented with a proper police procedural.
With an intriguing case (what would make someone go out into the snow Finnish night dressed only in flimsy night clothes?) And plenty of emphasis on the investigation, this is the sorry of crime fiction I enjoy. I hope the next book in the series delivers in the same way.
What an improvement! At last Maria Kallio is finding her feet in the police force, so that we can be presented with a proper police procedural.
With an intriguing case (what would make someone go out into the snow Finnish night dressed only in flimsy night clothes?) And plenty of emphasis on the investigation, this is the sorry of crime fiction I enjoy. I hope the next book in the series delivers in the same way.
March 30, 2018
I enjoyed Snow Woman in much the same way as I enjoyed those leading up to it: a Finish woman detective putting away law breakers through believable (more or less) detective work while coping with the ordinary demands of life. Nothing flashy, not a flipping page turner--just good story telling. I fully intend to read the entire canon. And,I have found a recipe for pulla bread and am tracking down Maria's favorite Scotch.
May 4, 2019
A New Pregnancy Procedural
No more of this author for me. She’s a good and talented writer and her stories of detecting by Maria are fun. I just feel a little too much women stuff as the side story is too much for comfort. Darling nipples from pregnancy and mention of bloody circumcision on female children took me away from the story - and it took a bit to shake the images. Good author for women, sorry. No disrespect to women intended.
No more of this author for me. She’s a good and talented writer and her stories of detecting by Maria are fun. I just feel a little too much women stuff as the side story is too much for comfort. Darling nipples from pregnancy and mention of bloody circumcision on female children took me away from the story - and it took a bit to shake the images. Good author for women, sorry. No disrespect to women intended.
September 3, 2019
Gekocht op de rommelmarkt in Grammene
omdat ik weinig Finse auteurs las.
Het zal met de boeken zijn zoals met de sport. De beste Finse misdaadauteur is de beste van 5,5 miljoen Finnen, de beste Engelstalige misdaadauteur is de beste van pakweg 500 miljoen. Ja, ik weet dat een kromme redenering is: Arnaldur Indridason is maar de beste van 300.000. Maar het zegt toch wel iets.
Matige thriller over echte en vermeende therapeuten, over afgestane, geadopteerde, gewilde en ongewilde kinderen.
omdat ik weinig Finse auteurs las.
Het zal met de boeken zijn zoals met de sport. De beste Finse misdaadauteur is de beste van 5,5 miljoen Finnen, de beste Engelstalige misdaadauteur is de beste van pakweg 500 miljoen. Ja, ik weet dat een kromme redenering is: Arnaldur Indridason is maar de beste van 300.000. Maar het zegt toch wel iets.
Matige thriller over echte en vermeende therapeuten, over afgestane, geadopteerde, gewilde en ongewilde kinderen.
February 18, 2023
Maria Kallio Fourth Murder Mystery
Maria Kallio investigates the death of the director of a woman's retreat center. Is it natural or murder and a murderer escapes from prison in this complex murder mystery. An enjoyable series but which I recommend you read in order in appreciate it best. I did have difficulty keeping track of the various Finnish characters not being familiar with Finnish proper names. Recommended.
Maria Kallio investigates the death of the director of a woman's retreat center. Is it natural or murder and a murderer escapes from prison in this complex murder mystery. An enjoyable series but which I recommend you read in order in appreciate it best. I did have difficulty keeping track of the various Finnish characters not being familiar with Finnish proper names. Recommended.
June 14, 2023
Maria Kallio is a Finnish detective in the Violent Crimes Unit outside Helsinki. She has recently gotten married and started a new, challenging job. After speaking at a woman's retreat in the countryside, she is called out to assist with the missing psychologist who heads the center. To complicate things further a criminal, who she had arrested, asked from prison. Before he was sentenced he had threatened to kill her.
June 20, 2018
The mystery goes firmly on the back burner in this one, which focuses heavily on a disturbing incident and a big change in Maria Kallio's life. The character exploration works, as does each individual plotline, but the story never quite comes into focus. It's a good read, but it helps to not be in a hurry.
January 30, 2023
Long winding road with a rapid fire finish
I wanted to like this book more, but it took a long time to get to the resolution of the mystery and then wrapped everything up a handful of pages. I'm reading these out of order and hoping that at least the 1st one in this series is better.
I wanted to like this book more, but it took a long time to get to the resolution of the mystery and then wrapped everything up a handful of pages. I'm reading these out of order and hoping that at least the 1st one in this series is better.
May 2, 2025
Hard-hitting crime story
The fourth book in the Maria Kellio series, Snow Woman ,is a hard-hitting crime story. The characters portray many of the hardships faced by women in the 1990s as they broke into formerly "men's" jobs. There are several threads that I found interesting and not difficult to follow how each is woven into the story. It is fast-paced and interesting.
The fourth book in the Maria Kellio series, Snow Woman ,is a hard-hitting crime story. The characters portray many of the hardships faced by women in the 1990s as they broke into formerly "men's" jobs. There are several threads that I found interesting and not difficult to follow how each is woven into the story. It is fast-paced and interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews