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The Winter Job
A darkly humorous and warmly touching suspense novel about friendship, love and death, The Winter Job flies a hundred and twenty kilometres an hour straight into the darkest heart of a Finnish winter night.
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 steering wheel, 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 when he realises he might be in serious trouble…
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 steering wheel, 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 when he realises he might be in serious trouble…
276 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2024
12 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Antti Tuomainen
26 books590 followersAntti Tuomainen (b. 1971) is one of Finland’s most acclaimed and award-winning crime fiction writers. To date, Tuomainen’s works have been translated into more than 25 languages. Crowned “The King of Helsinki Noir,” Tuomainen’s piercing and evocative style has never stopped evolving.
In The Man Who Died, Tuomainen displays a new side of his authorship and unveils his multifaceted ability in full. The novel, which combines Tuomainen’s trademark suspense with a darkly tinged humor, has won the hearts of readers and critics alike, and secured him the new title of King of Noir Comedy. The Man Who Died also became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards.
Palm Beach Finland was an immense success, with Marcel Berlins (The Times) calling Tuomainen 'the funniest writer in Europe'.
His latest thriller, Little Siberia, was shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger, the Amazon Publishing/Capital Crime Awards and the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year.
In The Man Who Died, Tuomainen displays a new side of his authorship and unveils his multifaceted ability in full. The novel, which combines Tuomainen’s trademark suspense with a darkly tinged humor, has won the hearts of readers and critics alike, and secured him the new title of King of Noir Comedy. The Man Who Died also became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards.
Palm Beach Finland was an immense success, with Marcel Berlins (The Times) calling Tuomainen 'the funniest writer in Europe'.
His latest thriller, Little Siberia, was shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger, the Amazon Publishing/Capital Crime Awards and the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 15, 2025
I thought I'm not going to read another Tuomainen book, but when I began to read this one I just couldn't stop.
This is a great story of being a father and promises made, about what it means to be a friend, and how a journey can change people.
When you read this book, you may find the communication and dialogues between the characters a bit stiff, unusual or unnatural, but having met and talked to some Nordic authors I came to understand that that way of communicating is natural for their environment.
I still don't like Antti sense of humour based on comparation, but there were a lot of funny situations in this book. That also goes for his descriptions in action scenes, he is either vague or focused on unnecessary details. Another thing that bothered me was how easy characters came to conclusions and often different characters to the same description/ conclusion.
But I really enjoyed the story, the adventure, the characters, this epic quest of bringing a sofa from point A to point B. Loved the antagonists.
This is a great story of being a father and promises made, about what it means to be a friend, and how a journey can change people.
When you read this book, you may find the communication and dialogues between the characters a bit stiff, unusual or unnatural, but having met and talked to some Nordic authors I came to understand that that way of communicating is natural for their environment.
I still don't like Antti sense of humour based on comparation, but there were a lot of funny situations in this book. That also goes for his descriptions in action scenes, he is either vague or focused on unnecessary details. Another thing that bothered me was how easy characters came to conclusions and often different characters to the same description/ conclusion.
But I really enjoyed the story, the adventure, the characters, this epic quest of bringing a sofa from point A to point B. Loved the antagonists.
August 5, 2025
3,5 ⭐
October 20, 2025
3.5 Stars
This book is being described as a darkly funny crime caper and, as marketed, it does indeed remind me of the Coen Brothers’ black comedy crime film Fargo. This is not a genre I read often but this novel has its moments.
Christmas 1982 is approaching. Ilmari Nieminen wants to give his daughter a piano as a Christmas gift, but he has no money. Desperate, he takes a job to transport a valuable antique sofa from Helsinki to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost town in Finland. By chance, he meets a childhood friend, Antero Kuikka, who repairs the wipers on the old, not totally road-worthy van Ilmari is driving on the condition he be able to travel north with him. The two set off but soon discover that they are being followed by a man in a Saab 96 and a couple in an egg-yolk-yellow Lada who are all intent on taking the sofa. Of course, it turns out that Ilmari and Antero are transporting more than a sofa.
The point of view shifts among the occupants of the three vehicles. Ilmari and Antero, as they travel in a light-blue British van, reconnect after not having seen each other for over two decades. In the Lada are two communists, Anneli Kukkorinne and Erkki Liljalampi, who want to steal the sofa to sell it and use the proceeds to promote their cause. The two have worked many missions together but Anneli starts to suspect that her partner may not be totally committed. In the Saab is Otto Puolanka, a psychopath who made me think of Anton Chigurh in the Coens’ film No Country for Old Men. His chapters always open with his thoughts about the place through which he is travelling, thoughts which indicate his personality: “Pitäjänmäki was like a massive fanny: dark, slippery and a mystery to mankind” and “Sparsely populated areas were like parts of the body suffering from an advanced sexually transmitted disease: all sensation had died long ago.”
Readers who enjoy crime capers will find the characteristic elements. There’s generally a light-hearted tone, though there are violent scenes. The fate of Salminen would certainly be appropriate in a Coen Brothers’ film. There’s a misfit crew. Ilmari and Antero are an odd couple but so are Anneli and Erkki. And, of course, things do not go as planned for anyone and these misadventures lead to both tension and humour.
I’m not a fan of physical comedy. There are funny scenes, but for me it’s the more subtle humour that appeals. There are statements like “the Lada’s front tyre met its Soviet maker” and “seeing the sofa in the back of the van was like stumbling upon the Koh-I-Noor diamond in a sweaty changing room.” I enjoyed the music references and the discussions of the soap opera Dallas.
But there are also poignant moments. Ilmari and Antero do have some conversations about family, friendship, and trust. The journey becomes a journey of self-discovery; someone he encounters even tells Ilmari, “’I hope the journey has given you guidance in more than just a geographical sense.’” Ilmari, for instance, admits to how his behaviour led to the breakup of his marriage. Even Anneli comes to see things from a different perspective. And I love the ending: “It was time for a new song.”
This is not the type of book I would ordinarily read, but it will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy a blending of dark humour, suspense, and poignant reflection.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) or substack (https://doreenyakabuski.substack.com/) for over 1,200 of my book reviews.
This book is being described as a darkly funny crime caper and, as marketed, it does indeed remind me of the Coen Brothers’ black comedy crime film Fargo. This is not a genre I read often but this novel has its moments.
Christmas 1982 is approaching. Ilmari Nieminen wants to give his daughter a piano as a Christmas gift, but he has no money. Desperate, he takes a job to transport a valuable antique sofa from Helsinki to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost town in Finland. By chance, he meets a childhood friend, Antero Kuikka, who repairs the wipers on the old, not totally road-worthy van Ilmari is driving on the condition he be able to travel north with him. The two set off but soon discover that they are being followed by a man in a Saab 96 and a couple in an egg-yolk-yellow Lada who are all intent on taking the sofa. Of course, it turns out that Ilmari and Antero are transporting more than a sofa.
The point of view shifts among the occupants of the three vehicles. Ilmari and Antero, as they travel in a light-blue British van, reconnect after not having seen each other for over two decades. In the Lada are two communists, Anneli Kukkorinne and Erkki Liljalampi, who want to steal the sofa to sell it and use the proceeds to promote their cause. The two have worked many missions together but Anneli starts to suspect that her partner may not be totally committed. In the Saab is Otto Puolanka, a psychopath who made me think of Anton Chigurh in the Coens’ film No Country for Old Men. His chapters always open with his thoughts about the place through which he is travelling, thoughts which indicate his personality: “Pitäjänmäki was like a massive fanny: dark, slippery and a mystery to mankind” and “Sparsely populated areas were like parts of the body suffering from an advanced sexually transmitted disease: all sensation had died long ago.”
Readers who enjoy crime capers will find the characteristic elements. There’s generally a light-hearted tone, though there are violent scenes. The fate of Salminen would certainly be appropriate in a Coen Brothers’ film. There’s a misfit crew. Ilmari and Antero are an odd couple but so are Anneli and Erkki. And, of course, things do not go as planned for anyone and these misadventures lead to both tension and humour.
I’m not a fan of physical comedy. There are funny scenes, but for me it’s the more subtle humour that appeals. There are statements like “the Lada’s front tyre met its Soviet maker” and “seeing the sofa in the back of the van was like stumbling upon the Koh-I-Noor diamond in a sweaty changing room.” I enjoyed the music references and the discussions of the soap opera Dallas.
But there are also poignant moments. Ilmari and Antero do have some conversations about family, friendship, and trust. The journey becomes a journey of self-discovery; someone he encounters even tells Ilmari, “’I hope the journey has given you guidance in more than just a geographical sense.’” Ilmari, for instance, admits to how his behaviour led to the breakup of his marriage. Even Anneli comes to see things from a different perspective. And I love the ending: “It was time for a new song.”
This is not the type of book I would ordinarily read, but it will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy a blending of dark humour, suspense, and poignant reflection.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) or substack (https://doreenyakabuski.substack.com/) for over 1,200 of my book reviews.
November 10, 2024
Antti Tuomaista tituleerataan "Euroopan hauskimmaksi kirjoittajaksi". Tätä uutuusta lukiessani tulee taas mieleeni, että kannattaisi monen lukea ne Tuomaisen neljä ensimmäistä kirjaa - ja että Tuomainen välillä palaisi niiden romaanien Nordic noiriin (Tappaja, toivoakseni, Veljeni vartija ja Synkkä niin kuin sydämeni) tai suoranaiseen scifiin (Parantaja).
Tuomaisen uusin romaani on road trip (road movie), tien päällä -tarina. Postinlajittelija Ilmari saa keikan viedä pakettiautolla toimitus Helsingistä Kilpisjärvelle. Mukaan tulee sattumalta Ilmarin lapsuudenystävä Antero. Matkalla poiketaan Ilomantsissa, Vaasassa ja Rovaniemellä. Matkalla jutellaan, tavataan erilaisia ihmisiä ja kuunnellaan musiikkia. Peräänsä Ilmari ja Antero saavat kaksikin eri takaa-ajajaa, jotka ovat kiinnostuneita Ilmarin ja Anteron kuljettamasta lastista.
Takaa-ajajia sekä Ilmarin ja Anteron kuljettamaa lastia ei oikeastaan missään vaiheessa avata sen kummemmin, ei edes lopussa. Tuomaisen fokus on ennen kaikkea Ilmarin tarinassa. Mikäs siinä, toimii se näinkin. Ei tämäkään sitä parasta Tuomaista ole, mutta toimii ihan OK. Olen lukenut kaikki Tuomaiset ja tulen lukemaan seuraavatkin. Palaisitko, Antti, juurillesi ja kirjoittaisit seuraavaksi ensimmäisten romaaniesi kaltaisia tarinoita?
Arvioksi 3,4/5
Antti Tuomainen: Tappokeli (2024).
Tuomaisen uusin romaani on road trip (road movie), tien päällä -tarina. Postinlajittelija Ilmari saa keikan viedä pakettiautolla toimitus Helsingistä Kilpisjärvelle. Mukaan tulee sattumalta Ilmarin lapsuudenystävä Antero. Matkalla poiketaan Ilomantsissa, Vaasassa ja Rovaniemellä. Matkalla jutellaan, tavataan erilaisia ihmisiä ja kuunnellaan musiikkia. Peräänsä Ilmari ja Antero saavat kaksikin eri takaa-ajajaa, jotka ovat kiinnostuneita Ilmarin ja Anteron kuljettamasta lastista.
Takaa-ajajia sekä Ilmarin ja Anteron kuljettamaa lastia ei oikeastaan missään vaiheessa avata sen kummemmin, ei edes lopussa. Tuomaisen fokus on ennen kaikkea Ilmarin tarinassa. Mikäs siinä, toimii se näinkin. Ei tämäkään sitä parasta Tuomaista ole, mutta toimii ihan OK. Olen lukenut kaikki Tuomaiset ja tulen lukemaan seuraavatkin. Palaisitko, Antti, juurillesi ja kirjoittaisit seuraavaksi ensimmäisten romaaniesi kaltaisia tarinoita?
Arvioksi 3,4/5
Antti Tuomainen: Tappokeli (2024).
February 4, 2025
The Times -lehden "Euroopan hauskimmaksi kirjailijaksi" nimeämän Antti Tuomaisen tuorein romaani Tappokeli (2024) ei ole niin kaavamainen kuin kirjailijan moni edeltävä teos, mutta se ei onnistu myöskään olemaan kovin hauska tai kiinnostava. Lupaavan alun jälkeen kerronta jämähtää hieman laahaavaksi, eikä henkilöhahmoihinkaan saada oikein tarpeeksi syvyyttä. Tuntuu hieman, että Jäniskertoimen (2020) jälkeen parhaat paukut ja ideat on käytetty. Romaanin parhaaksi anniksi jääkin vuoden 1982 nostalginen ajankuva ja päähenkilöä aatteen ohjaamina vainoava kommaripariskunta.
Vastaeronnut postimies Ilmari Nieminen tekee rahapulassaan hieman hämäräperäisen diilin ja lähtee kuskaamaan arvokasta antiikkisohvaa Pohjois-Haagasta Kilpisjärvelle ankarissa talviolosuhteissa. Kaiken ylittävänä motivaationa on, että Ilmari on luvannut tyttärelleen Aleksanterinkadun musiikkikaupan kalliin pianon joululahjaksi. Jo alkumatkasta mukaan autoon tuppaantuu vanha, oudonoloinen lapsuudenystävä, ja pian kaksikon perässä on vihreällä Saab 69:llä kaahaava alamaailman torpedo sekä keltaista Lada 1200:sta ajava väkivaltainen kommunistipari. Välillä pohditaan elämänvalintoja ja ystävyyden merkitystä.
Tappokelissä ei ole Tuomaisen onnistuneimpien ja hauskimpien romaanien vaivatonta lennokkuutta ja imua, eikä hetkeksikään tule tunnetta, että on parhaillaan lukemassa jotain täysin uutta tai omaperäistä. Tällainen tunne tuli romaaneista Jäniskerroin (2020) ja Mies joka kuoli (2016).
Arvioni: 2,9 tähteä viidestä.
Vastaeronnut postimies Ilmari Nieminen tekee rahapulassaan hieman hämäräperäisen diilin ja lähtee kuskaamaan arvokasta antiikkisohvaa Pohjois-Haagasta Kilpisjärvelle ankarissa talviolosuhteissa. Kaiken ylittävänä motivaationa on, että Ilmari on luvannut tyttärelleen Aleksanterinkadun musiikkikaupan kalliin pianon joululahjaksi. Jo alkumatkasta mukaan autoon tuppaantuu vanha, oudonoloinen lapsuudenystävä, ja pian kaksikon perässä on vihreällä Saab 69:llä kaahaava alamaailman torpedo sekä keltaista Lada 1200:sta ajava väkivaltainen kommunistipari. Välillä pohditaan elämänvalintoja ja ystävyyden merkitystä.
Tappokelissä ei ole Tuomaisen onnistuneimpien ja hauskimpien romaanien vaivatonta lennokkuutta ja imua, eikä hetkeksikään tule tunnetta, että on parhaillaan lukemassa jotain täysin uutta tai omaperäistä. Tällainen tunne tuli romaaneista Jäniskerroin (2020) ja Mies joka kuoli (2016).
Arvioni: 2,9 tähteä viidestä.
February 13, 2025
Putting my Antti-goggles on, I join yet another thrilling ride of experiencing a moment of someone else's life in a "tube" of occurrences. The main characters arch of working towards having an effect on things that happen to them, sometimes is more successful in other books.
Antti's books' characters have similarities to "The Maid" by Nita Prose and it would be interesting to see how Antti would introduce a different type of main character from book to book as there is a slight repetitiveness now on the social-skill-impaired/relationship-pickled middle aged man/woman.
Antti's books' characters have similarities to "The Maid" by Nita Prose and it would be interesting to see how Antti would introduce a different type of main character from book to book as there is a slight repetitiveness now on the social-skill-impaired/relationship-pickled middle aged man/woman.
October 19, 2024
Olen tykännyt monista Tuomaisen kirjoista, mutta vaikka tämä jollain tavalla niitä aiempia lukemiani muistutti, en tällä kertaa päässyt tämän pakettiauton kyytiin. Kuuntelin äänikirjana, ja tipahtelin juonesta monen monta kertaa, huumorikaan ei tällä kertaa purrut. Sitkeästi kuuntelin kuitenkin loppuun saakka.
May 12, 2025
Ilmari ottaa sohvan kuljettamisen tehtäväkseen ja vanha kaveri ilmestyy samalle reissulle. Takaa-ajajia ilmestyy monta porukkaa. Olisihan tämä voinut olla enemmän mukaansatempaava mutta menihän se näinkin
December 24, 2025
A dark comedy with a very sense of humour throughout. Set in a white frozen landscape, the journey goes through several scrapes and the backdrop adds to the isolated feeling of despair in this comically depressive novel.
I enjoyed it but it was a little dry for my liking
I enjoyed it but it was a little dry for my liking
November 29, 2024
Hervottoman hauska romaani. En muista milloin olisin nauranut ääneen tätä kuunnellessani. Eipä ole turhaan myös maailmalla niin suosittu.
December 11, 2024
Kuuntelin äänikirjana. Käänteitä riittävästi, huumoria sopivalla tavalla.
December 26, 2025
While it hit all the right beats the language read a little stiff. Still the characters and flashes of humor managed to shine through. 3.5/5
November 30, 2025
I didn't choose this book. I acquired it as part of my subscription from an independent bookshop. I wouldn't have ever chosen it.
but I read it and was bowled over.
Translated from the original Finnish, it's a quirky, original crime drama - quite funny too. it would make an excellent film!
A man down on his luck takes a job to deliver a sofa , to location in Northern Finland, to pay for his daughters Christmas present. A piano.
it sounds straight forward but of course it isn't. Think part Planes Train and automobiles, part Wacky races - with lots of snow, ice and shady characters. Oh and a few guns. For the shady characters want that sofa very much.
Read it!
but I read it and was bowled over.
Translated from the original Finnish, it's a quirky, original crime drama - quite funny too. it would make an excellent film!
A man down on his luck takes a job to deliver a sofa , to location in Northern Finland, to pay for his daughters Christmas present. A piano.
it sounds straight forward but of course it isn't. Think part Planes Train and automobiles, part Wacky races - with lots of snow, ice and shady characters. Oh and a few guns. For the shady characters want that sofa very much.
Read it!
November 7, 2025
Helsinki, 1982. Postal worker, Ilmari Nieminen has a problem: he has promised his daughter a piano for Christmas, but the financial demands of his recent divorce mean the coffers are bare. With only a few days to go until Christmas Eve, he is determined not to let her down, but how is he to lay his hands on the money he needs at such short notice? Then the perfect opportunity lands in his lap when he lands a job transporting an antique sofa to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost town in Finland.
With the sofa secured in the back of an old van, and plans to take in a couple of stops on the way to deal with unfinished business, Ilmari sets off into an increasingly heavy snow storm. Stopping off at a petrol station for assistance with his broken windscreen wipers, he meets up with childhood friend Antero, who fixes the problem in exchange for a lift.
As the pair head north, they notice that they are not alone. A mysterious green Saab 96, and an almost luminous yellow Lada seem to be in hot pursuit... and when they inspect the contents of the van, they realise that this is no ordinary sofa, and no ordinary job.
How I love an Antti Tuomainen book, and this brand new gem was an absolute festive delight. The story follows the progress of Ilmari and Antero's deliciously absurd road trip to Finalnd's icy north, cutting back and forth from their slow-burn, buddy story to the darkly comic agendas of their pursuers - a misfit pair of communist revolutionaries (one of whom is obsessed with the soap opera Dallas), and a violent outlaw with major anger issues.
Along the way, there are oodles of thrills, spills, and hilarious cock-ups as the assassins on their trail do their very best to wrest the precious sofa from Ilmari, against a cracking (mostly) 1980's soundtrack, and Antero proves his worth in his role as 'shotgun' (quite literally on occasion). Pitch black humour Tuomainen style is the order of the day, which gave me lots of chuckles, and the story is flooded with lovely themes about friendship and loneliness that strum mercilessly on your heartstrings in the way he does so well. Have the tissues handy for the touching moments, because you will need them.
David Hackston does a wonderful job translating this novel, as anticipated, and he pulls an absolute blinder when it comes to the choice words and phrases he uses to hit Tuomainen's farcical mark - particularly when it comes to the opening lines of the chapters about Otto, the wrathful outlaw, which are a riot!
Quintessential Tuomainen madness with a heartfelt core of pure gold, and with the magic of Christmas too. Perfection!
With the sofa secured in the back of an old van, and plans to take in a couple of stops on the way to deal with unfinished business, Ilmari sets off into an increasingly heavy snow storm. Stopping off at a petrol station for assistance with his broken windscreen wipers, he meets up with childhood friend Antero, who fixes the problem in exchange for a lift.
As the pair head north, they notice that they are not alone. A mysterious green Saab 96, and an almost luminous yellow Lada seem to be in hot pursuit... and when they inspect the contents of the van, they realise that this is no ordinary sofa, and no ordinary job.
How I love an Antti Tuomainen book, and this brand new gem was an absolute festive delight. The story follows the progress of Ilmari and Antero's deliciously absurd road trip to Finalnd's icy north, cutting back and forth from their slow-burn, buddy story to the darkly comic agendas of their pursuers - a misfit pair of communist revolutionaries (one of whom is obsessed with the soap opera Dallas), and a violent outlaw with major anger issues.
Along the way, there are oodles of thrills, spills, and hilarious cock-ups as the assassins on their trail do their very best to wrest the precious sofa from Ilmari, against a cracking (mostly) 1980's soundtrack, and Antero proves his worth in his role as 'shotgun' (quite literally on occasion). Pitch black humour Tuomainen style is the order of the day, which gave me lots of chuckles, and the story is flooded with lovely themes about friendship and loneliness that strum mercilessly on your heartstrings in the way he does so well. Have the tissues handy for the touching moments, because you will need them.
David Hackston does a wonderful job translating this novel, as anticipated, and he pulls an absolute blinder when it comes to the choice words and phrases he uses to hit Tuomainen's farcical mark - particularly when it comes to the opening lines of the chapters about Otto, the wrathful outlaw, which are a riot!
Quintessential Tuomainen madness with a heartfelt core of pure gold, and with the magic of Christmas too. Perfection!
October 24, 2025
Nothing warms the cockles of this cold, cold heart more than a return to the utterly baffling, utterly absurd, but wonderfully life affirming world of Antti Tuomainen. This madcap road trip, once again beautifully translated by David Hackston, is all you would expect from this truly unique writer. The Winter Job is simply another shining example of Tuomainen’s innate skill in making the surreal normal and the normal surreal, and always with a central protagonist who the reader can relate to, and cheer for, defined by their very ordinariness- in this case Ilmari Nieminen. With every book we enter a world where the small, some would say humdrum existence of ordinary people, is suddenly enveloped in drama and absurdity, that shifts their world view, and thanks to the compassion of Tuomainen’s writing, ours too…
Ilmari is an unassuming man, who embarks on this seemingly simple job to deliver a sofa to a distant destination to secure the money to buy a piano for his daughter for Christmas. So far, so simple you would think, but you would be wrong. Teaming up with an estranged school friend, and pursued by ne-er-do-wells with their own agenda for retrieving the sofa, this seemingly straightforward assignment turns into a perilous game of cat and mouse for our warm hearted postal worker. The plot soon descends into a Coen-esque style road trip fraught with murderous intent, full of black humour, but with an ultimately life affirming message of comradeship and friendship.
The reignited friendship between Ilamri and his former schoolfriend Antero lies at the heart of the book, as they unite in Ilmari’s sofa quest- like a modern day Odysseus with soft furnishings- and as their journey unfolds some interesting truths come to light. Antero is a complicated man, made more intriguing by the fact that he not only served in the Foreign Legion, but that he has also had to battle with his own personal demons. He proves a steadfast companion to Ilamari even with the inevitable moments of distrust, and their friendship gives the readers all the feels as the book progresses. There is another interesting spin on the theme of friendship in the relationship between two of their pursuers, Anneli and Erkki, a mismatched team of political agitators, also seeking to secure the sofa, whose professional and chilly relationship goes through the wringer, but results in a real sense of respect for each other. And then there is the other pursuer Otto, the violent lone wolf, a foul mouthed man obsessed with the song ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ who is seemingly beyond redemption…but is he?
I always love the way that Tuomainen couches the more violent aspects of his books with this dark humour, so the violence itself becomes more sanitised in its absurdity. Who’d have thought that a man being mowed down by a snow plough could be so inherently funny? The fight scenes are full of almost comedic violence, and there is always a precise control to how Tuomainen combines humour in the narrative, with the balance between the dark, the absurd and the slightly slapstick, sitting perfectly within the framework of the plot, and causing unexpected moments of sheer hilarious delight.
I am tempted to say that The Winter Job is quite possibly my favourite book so far by this always entertaining and quirky writer. I loved the balance between the humanity, the criminality and the pitch black humour in this one so much, and it was a real treat just to lose myself in the absurdity of it all. One of my favourite books this year, and as always, another book by Antti Tuomainen that I can highly recommend. Embrace the absurdity and enjoy the ride…
Ilmari is an unassuming man, who embarks on this seemingly simple job to deliver a sofa to a distant destination to secure the money to buy a piano for his daughter for Christmas. So far, so simple you would think, but you would be wrong. Teaming up with an estranged school friend, and pursued by ne-er-do-wells with their own agenda for retrieving the sofa, this seemingly straightforward assignment turns into a perilous game of cat and mouse for our warm hearted postal worker. The plot soon descends into a Coen-esque style road trip fraught with murderous intent, full of black humour, but with an ultimately life affirming message of comradeship and friendship.
The reignited friendship between Ilamri and his former schoolfriend Antero lies at the heart of the book, as they unite in Ilmari’s sofa quest- like a modern day Odysseus with soft furnishings- and as their journey unfolds some interesting truths come to light. Antero is a complicated man, made more intriguing by the fact that he not only served in the Foreign Legion, but that he has also had to battle with his own personal demons. He proves a steadfast companion to Ilamari even with the inevitable moments of distrust, and their friendship gives the readers all the feels as the book progresses. There is another interesting spin on the theme of friendship in the relationship between two of their pursuers, Anneli and Erkki, a mismatched team of political agitators, also seeking to secure the sofa, whose professional and chilly relationship goes through the wringer, but results in a real sense of respect for each other. And then there is the other pursuer Otto, the violent lone wolf, a foul mouthed man obsessed with the song ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ who is seemingly beyond redemption…but is he?
I always love the way that Tuomainen couches the more violent aspects of his books with this dark humour, so the violence itself becomes more sanitised in its absurdity. Who’d have thought that a man being mowed down by a snow plough could be so inherently funny? The fight scenes are full of almost comedic violence, and there is always a precise control to how Tuomainen combines humour in the narrative, with the balance between the dark, the absurd and the slightly slapstick, sitting perfectly within the framework of the plot, and causing unexpected moments of sheer hilarious delight.
I am tempted to say that The Winter Job is quite possibly my favourite book so far by this always entertaining and quirky writer. I loved the balance between the humanity, the criminality and the pitch black humour in this one so much, and it was a real treat just to lose myself in the absurdity of it all. One of my favourite books this year, and as always, another book by Antti Tuomainen that I can highly recommend. Embrace the absurdity and enjoy the ride…
November 27, 2025
An excellent read, great black comedy 😜
I visualised a Wes Anderson backdrop with a touch of Tarantino thrown in the mix. Bravo Antti !
I loved the addition of the nuns.
I visualised a Wes Anderson backdrop with a touch of Tarantino thrown in the mix. Bravo Antti !
I loved the addition of the nuns.
November 6, 2025
Recently divorced and broken, postman Ilmari made a promise to his daughter to buy her a piano for Christmas. Six days to go, a promise and no money. But a promise is a promise and as he got a last minute offer to transport a luxurious sofa from Helsinki, he may be finally courtship by luck. Until he - and his long lost school friend who unexpectedly joined his adventure - noticed being followed by some guys with no sense of humour and guns. And the sofa may hide some unexpected bloody secrets - literally.
Antti Tuomainen´s The Winter Job translated from Finnish by David Hackston and published by Orenda Books is a tragi-comical noir fully packed ´on the road´ novel - with a sofa. The book abunds in very specific details describing places and characters, from the spots on their shirts to the games of the Finnish geography. It helps the reader to imagine the described situations and characters in the most relatable way. This is one of the greatest merits of the translation who convened this sense of reality from one language to another.
Now you laugh out hard, few pages later you are thinking deep about the meaning of some philosophical exchange of the characters, while trying to escape their followers. A thriller that will make you laugh to tears, with common characters brought by fate in the most incredible situations.
The Cold War-related references - the action of the book takes place at the beginning of the 1980s - were also relevant for my political science interests, as it shows at what extent geopolitical events affect the everyday life of average people.
The Winter Job is a recommended read if you are looking for a thriller pushing the literary limits of the genre in a humorous way never tried it before. I can easily see a movie inspired by this book.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
Antti Tuomainen´s The Winter Job translated from Finnish by David Hackston and published by Orenda Books is a tragi-comical noir fully packed ´on the road´ novel - with a sofa. The book abunds in very specific details describing places and characters, from the spots on their shirts to the games of the Finnish geography. It helps the reader to imagine the described situations and characters in the most relatable way. This is one of the greatest merits of the translation who convened this sense of reality from one language to another.
Now you laugh out hard, few pages later you are thinking deep about the meaning of some philosophical exchange of the characters, while trying to escape their followers. A thriller that will make you laugh to tears, with common characters brought by fate in the most incredible situations.
The Cold War-related references - the action of the book takes place at the beginning of the 1980s - were also relevant for my political science interests, as it shows at what extent geopolitical events affect the everyday life of average people.
The Winter Job is a recommended read if you are looking for a thriller pushing the literary limits of the genre in a humorous way never tried it before. I can easily see a movie inspired by this book.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
October 24, 2025
I would never advocate walking along whilst reading a book - always try and be aware of what is around you folks - but having started reading The Winter Job, Antti Tuomainen's latest novel, I didn't want to have to put it down just so that I could go for some exercise. I mean, exercise is important - highly recommended for a longer life - but so is laughter and, after strolling along the town high street chuckling to myself courtesy of the deliciously dark humour in this book, I'm not all that surprised I was getting a few strange looks. Totally worth it, and The Winter Job is is a book I'll be heartily recommending to all. It's a touch mad at times, and the most entertaining road trip since Thelma and Louise, but for entirely different reasons and with action, threat and brilliant characters to boot, what more could a reader ask for?
Setting the scene, we meet the novel's central protagonist, Ilmari Nieminen, as he sets about reserving a very important Christmas gift for his daughter. Separated from her mother, Ilmari wants to make sure it is a christmas to remember. But in order to make the necessary money to buy his daughter the piano she longs for, something well outside of the scope of his postal worker wages, Ilmari agrees to take on a job transporting an item - a sofa - across the country. Now, for UK based readers, you will know that this is something DFS have been managing for years without half of the fuss that befalls Ilamri on this all to dangerous trip. I mean, sure, it's a fancy sofa, kind of vintage, and apparently quite valuable to someone. but worth killing for? Well ... apparently so.
Enter stage left a very dangerous character, Otto, who has been hired to 'recover' the sofa for another client, and stage right, a couple of 'activists', Erkki and Anneli, who are intent on using the sofa to fund their group's activities, all of whom are intent on making Ilamri's trip, how should I put this, eventful. But back to my earlier comment about Thelma and Louise, Ilmari is not about to make this trip on his own, finding himself giving a lift to an old friend from childhood, Antero Kuikka. Antero has a turbulent past, but is a fascinating character, and the kinship between him and Ilmari, although sometimes strained and not without suspicion on Ilmari's part, really does make the book a joy to read. Add in the moments of pitch black humour that Antti Tuomainen is so adept at weaving into this stories, and that comedic tension with Fargo-esque 'accidents' facing those who are trying to derail Ilmari's journey, and this is a book that had me hooked from start to finish.
It's probably fair to say that whilst the humour in this book is important, and there are scenes where Otto in particular seems to be superhuman, perhaps aided by the odd imbibement of less than legal chemical supplements, but it is the emotional edge in parts of the story which really hit home. The familiar expression of love that is clear from Ilamri's determination not to let his daughter down, or the moments of stark honesty between Ilmari and Antero, all contribute to the overall tone of the novel, giving it real heart and making it a joy to read. Whether Ilmari makes his delivery on time, and what fate befalls all of this wonderfully limited but all important cast of characters you will have to read to find out. Set against a remote Finnish backdrop, often as stark and harsh as Otto's conscience, this is one road trip I won't forget in a hurry.
Ably translated once again by the super talented David Hackston, with pitch perfect timing, emotion and deliciously dark humour, it's a book I most definitely recommend. Fans of Antti Tuomainen's work are going to love it, and for newbies to his writing you are in for a treat.
Setting the scene, we meet the novel's central protagonist, Ilmari Nieminen, as he sets about reserving a very important Christmas gift for his daughter. Separated from her mother, Ilmari wants to make sure it is a christmas to remember. But in order to make the necessary money to buy his daughter the piano she longs for, something well outside of the scope of his postal worker wages, Ilmari agrees to take on a job transporting an item - a sofa - across the country. Now, for UK based readers, you will know that this is something DFS have been managing for years without half of the fuss that befalls Ilamri on this all to dangerous trip. I mean, sure, it's a fancy sofa, kind of vintage, and apparently quite valuable to someone. but worth killing for? Well ... apparently so.
Enter stage left a very dangerous character, Otto, who has been hired to 'recover' the sofa for another client, and stage right, a couple of 'activists', Erkki and Anneli, who are intent on using the sofa to fund their group's activities, all of whom are intent on making Ilamri's trip, how should I put this, eventful. But back to my earlier comment about Thelma and Louise, Ilmari is not about to make this trip on his own, finding himself giving a lift to an old friend from childhood, Antero Kuikka. Antero has a turbulent past, but is a fascinating character, and the kinship between him and Ilmari, although sometimes strained and not without suspicion on Ilmari's part, really does make the book a joy to read. Add in the moments of pitch black humour that Antti Tuomainen is so adept at weaving into this stories, and that comedic tension with Fargo-esque 'accidents' facing those who are trying to derail Ilmari's journey, and this is a book that had me hooked from start to finish.
It's probably fair to say that whilst the humour in this book is important, and there are scenes where Otto in particular seems to be superhuman, perhaps aided by the odd imbibement of less than legal chemical supplements, but it is the emotional edge in parts of the story which really hit home. The familiar expression of love that is clear from Ilamri's determination not to let his daughter down, or the moments of stark honesty between Ilmari and Antero, all contribute to the overall tone of the novel, giving it real heart and making it a joy to read. Whether Ilmari makes his delivery on time, and what fate befalls all of this wonderfully limited but all important cast of characters you will have to read to find out. Set against a remote Finnish backdrop, often as stark and harsh as Otto's conscience, this is one road trip I won't forget in a hurry.
Ably translated once again by the super talented David Hackston, with pitch perfect timing, emotion and deliciously dark humour, it's a book I most definitely recommend. Fans of Antti Tuomainen's work are going to love it, and for newbies to his writing you are in for a treat.
October 28, 2025
‘The Winter Job’ is a rollicking road trip caper that reads like a movie! Europe’s most funny writer is back and with a belter of a book. I devoured this in one evening and it instantly transported me to a snowy, dark Finland, full of Christmas sparkle. It has elements of Steven Spielberg’s first-ever film ‘Duel’, but the humour of Steven Carroll all wrapped up in the escapades of Steven Martin. Doesn’t that sound like a book you would want to read?!
It is 1982 in Helsinki and Ilmari Nieminen is desperate to buy his daughter a piano for Christmas. Unfortunately, his postal wage just won’t cut it, so he takes a rather opportune job transporting an antique sofa to the north of Finland. After bumping into an old school friend, who manages to save the day by fixing his wipers, Ilmari soon realises that he seems to have some pursuers who will not stop at anything to get that sofa!
Antti seems to have a golden touch when it comes to these dark comedic stories. I haven’t read one that didn’t manage to entertain. His characters are always nuanced, with shades of light and dark balanced so delicately that he creates protagonists and antagonists that are highly memorable. The reason I mentioned ‘Duel’ is because Antti created the same tension between the ‘car’ and the ‘truck’ throughout this narrative, as Spielberg did in the film. The chase across a desolate snowy Finland played out visually straight away and I honestly believe we might see it on screen at some point.
Additionally, to the action is a story that deals with loneliness, family, friendship and ultimately hope. Every person is dealing with their own issues and Antti uses this to show that open communication between people really does work. And who said the Finns don’t talk about their feelings! Ilmari may be the leading man but Antero stole my heart. Despite a troubled background and a missing leg, he still manages to be the beating heart of this book. I truly hope we will have more stories about these two as their banter and connection made for a brilliant adventure!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
October 18, 2025
The king of the comedy crime caper has knocked it out of the park once again with this atmospheric, quirky, witty and addictive that’s as dark and forbidding as the Finnish winter.
Helsinki, 1982. Postal worker Ilmari Nieminen is down on his luck. But when his twelve-year-old daughter tells him she wants a piano, he vows to get it for her for Christmas. As the deadline approaches, Ilmari’s financial woes continue so he accepts a job transporting an antique sofa that is at the centre of a family dispute. But he soon realises that this job isn’t all it seems. Shortly after bumping into an old school friend who helps fix his wipers, Ilmari notices that two cars are pursuing him and seem eager to get their hands on the sofa, too. But why? Whoever heard of armed robbing a sofa? The friends take a closer look at the sofa and are shocked at what they found. This is no ordinary sofa and Ilmari realises he could be in trouble. What follows is a cat-and-mouse chase across the country in a snowstorm that leaves us wondering if Ilmari will be able to deliver his cargo and keep his promise to his daughter.
Antti Tuomainen is an author who never misses. This is my fifth time reading one of his books and I’ve loved every minute of reading them. Full of dark humour, sinister deeds and memorable characters, Tuomainen knows how to hold his reader in his thrall, keeping them guessing and on the edge of their seat right to the very last page. And he does just that with his latest offering, The Winter Job, a high-speed chase across snowy Finland to take possession of a sofa that also explores themes of love, death, loneliness, trust and friendship. It’s chaotic, cryptic, unorthodox, unpredictable, suspenseful, and bloody brilliant. And it more than lives up to Tuomainen’s reputation for original, madcap stories that work thanks to his accomplished storytelling, witty observations and adventure-filled storylines interwoven with a sense of danger. That sense of peril and danger is elevated in this book by the dark and snowy landscape as it creates greater obstacles for the characters to overcome. And don’t get me started on his red herrings. Antti, you totally had me going there more than once!
The book is filled with a motley crew of characters who are unique and unforgettable. Some of them likeable, others detestable, but they are all a delight to read and add something essential to the story. These are flawed people who are dealing with varying issues, trying to survive and do what is right to them. Ilmari was a great protagonist who was likeable, easy to root for, and I enjoyed watching him rediscover a friendship with Antero. Meanwhile the villains were easy to dislike but fun to read, especially Otto. He was one crazy psycho! Someone I’d hate to meet in real life but love reading in a book.
Wildly entertaining, surprising and compelling, this book is perfect for thriller fans who are looking for something a bit different. Highly recommended.
Helsinki, 1982. Postal worker Ilmari Nieminen is down on his luck. But when his twelve-year-old daughter tells him she wants a piano, he vows to get it for her for Christmas. As the deadline approaches, Ilmari’s financial woes continue so he accepts a job transporting an antique sofa that is at the centre of a family dispute. But he soon realises that this job isn’t all it seems. Shortly after bumping into an old school friend who helps fix his wipers, Ilmari notices that two cars are pursuing him and seem eager to get their hands on the sofa, too. But why? Whoever heard of armed robbing a sofa? The friends take a closer look at the sofa and are shocked at what they found. This is no ordinary sofa and Ilmari realises he could be in trouble. What follows is a cat-and-mouse chase across the country in a snowstorm that leaves us wondering if Ilmari will be able to deliver his cargo and keep his promise to his daughter.
Antti Tuomainen is an author who never misses. This is my fifth time reading one of his books and I’ve loved every minute of reading them. Full of dark humour, sinister deeds and memorable characters, Tuomainen knows how to hold his reader in his thrall, keeping them guessing and on the edge of their seat right to the very last page. And he does just that with his latest offering, The Winter Job, a high-speed chase across snowy Finland to take possession of a sofa that also explores themes of love, death, loneliness, trust and friendship. It’s chaotic, cryptic, unorthodox, unpredictable, suspenseful, and bloody brilliant. And it more than lives up to Tuomainen’s reputation for original, madcap stories that work thanks to his accomplished storytelling, witty observations and adventure-filled storylines interwoven with a sense of danger. That sense of peril and danger is elevated in this book by the dark and snowy landscape as it creates greater obstacles for the characters to overcome. And don’t get me started on his red herrings. Antti, you totally had me going there more than once!
The book is filled with a motley crew of characters who are unique and unforgettable. Some of them likeable, others detestable, but they are all a delight to read and add something essential to the story. These are flawed people who are dealing with varying issues, trying to survive and do what is right to them. Ilmari was a great protagonist who was likeable, easy to root for, and I enjoyed watching him rediscover a friendship with Antero. Meanwhile the villains were easy to dislike but fun to read, especially Otto. He was one crazy psycho! Someone I’d hate to meet in real life but love reading in a book.
Wildly entertaining, surprising and compelling, this book is perfect for thriller fans who are looking for something a bit different. Highly recommended.
November 3, 2025
Helsinki, 1982.
Ilmari Nieminen is a postal worker, who is desperate to buy a piano for his daughter’s Christmas. His 12-year-old daughter, Helena, wants to become a concert pianist, and Ilmari would do anything to make her Christmas wish come true.
Ever since his divorce with Helena’s mother, Ilmari’s financial situation has worsened. He has no money and it’s only six days until Christmas.
He is offered a last minute job to transport an antique sofa to Kilpisjärvi, one of Finland’s most northern towns.
With a snowstorm due to arrive any second, he sets off for what would be a journey of a lifetime.
Along the way, he meets a long lost friend, Antero Kuikka, who helps him with the van and ends up tagging along.
However, the two men are followed, not by one, but by two cars…
Goodness me, what a story!
I am such a huge fan of Antti’s writing and I was so excited to read another of his books. I wasn’t disappointed!
Tuomainen’s writing style is witty and quirky and I was laughing out loud at the comparisons of Finnish towns to body parts, and also some of the situations his characters found themselves in.
What struck me was the fact that all characters in the story felt lonely despite being surrounded by people.
This book explores the themes of friendships, belonging and wanting to connect to others. It’s also a road trip of a lifetime across Finland with some great 80s tunes.
I definitely recommend it.
Ilmari Nieminen is a postal worker, who is desperate to buy a piano for his daughter’s Christmas. His 12-year-old daughter, Helena, wants to become a concert pianist, and Ilmari would do anything to make her Christmas wish come true.
Ever since his divorce with Helena’s mother, Ilmari’s financial situation has worsened. He has no money and it’s only six days until Christmas.
He is offered a last minute job to transport an antique sofa to Kilpisjärvi, one of Finland’s most northern towns.
With a snowstorm due to arrive any second, he sets off for what would be a journey of a lifetime.
Along the way, he meets a long lost friend, Antero Kuikka, who helps him with the van and ends up tagging along.
However, the two men are followed, not by one, but by two cars…
Goodness me, what a story!
I am such a huge fan of Antti’s writing and I was so excited to read another of his books. I wasn’t disappointed!
Tuomainen’s writing style is witty and quirky and I was laughing out loud at the comparisons of Finnish towns to body parts, and also some of the situations his characters found themselves in.
What struck me was the fact that all characters in the story felt lonely despite being surrounded by people.
This book explores the themes of friendships, belonging and wanting to connect to others. It’s also a road trip of a lifetime across Finland with some great 80s tunes.
I definitely recommend it.
November 7, 2025
I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I started reading The Winter Job, but I really enjoyed it!
Antii Tuomainen is a new-to-me author, and I like his writing style.
Ilmari Nieminen takes on a one-off job to deliver a sofa to earn enough money to buy his daughter the piano he has promised her for Christmas. What could possibly go wrong!?
Ilmari is a likable character, and his journey turns out to be far more eventful than he could have possibly imagined. He doesn’t expect to bump into an old friend who ends up tagging along and he certainly doesn’t expect to find himself being followed. Turns out there’s more to this sofa than meets the eye and there are others who want it too. He is determined to deliver it to the destination he has been given though otherwise he won’t get paid and his daughter won’t get her piano. He’s a recently divorced father who wants to fulfil his promise to his daughter. Woe betide anyone who tries to get in his way.
Set in Finland in 1982 this is a brilliant story, full of suspense, and peppered with dark humour. I was rooting for Ilamari the whole way through. The ending really made me smile.
** Many thanks to Orenda Books for my digital review copy **
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2025/11/0...
Antii Tuomainen is a new-to-me author, and I like his writing style.
Ilmari Nieminen takes on a one-off job to deliver a sofa to earn enough money to buy his daughter the piano he has promised her for Christmas. What could possibly go wrong!?
Ilmari is a likable character, and his journey turns out to be far more eventful than he could have possibly imagined. He doesn’t expect to bump into an old friend who ends up tagging along and he certainly doesn’t expect to find himself being followed. Turns out there’s more to this sofa than meets the eye and there are others who want it too. He is determined to deliver it to the destination he has been given though otherwise he won’t get paid and his daughter won’t get her piano. He’s a recently divorced father who wants to fulfil his promise to his daughter. Woe betide anyone who tries to get in his way.
Set in Finland in 1982 this is a brilliant story, full of suspense, and peppered with dark humour. I was rooting for Ilamari the whole way through. The ending really made me smile.
** Many thanks to Orenda Books for my digital review copy **
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2025/11/0...
November 13, 2025
A gentle and funny crime-type caper, loved it.
October 21, 2025
Oh how my heart sings when I begin a new book by Antti Tuomainen. That yearly delight of some Finnish crime, with dark humour and crazy plotting is just the best and once again, he has not let me down. Do take a look at that wonderful cover image too, it is superb and exactly depicts the words inside the book.
The Winter Job is set in Finland in 1982, and follows Ilmari Nieminen, a recently divorced postal worker who’s made a Christmas promise to his daughter — a piano — but has almost no time and even less money.
Desperate, he takes a last-minute job transporting a valuable antique sofa all the way to Kilpisjärvi, which is way up north. Along the way, complications begin: an old friend shows up, repairs are needed, and soon Ilmari realises that someone is tailing him (a Saab 96, a bright-yellow Lada) and what he is transporting may be more than just furniture.
What starts as a fairly simple job gets tangled with danger, unexpected passengers, secrets, and moral complications. It becomes not just about delivery, but about friendship, love, what a father will do, and how far someone will go when promises are at stake.
It's a complicated plot, with a cast of characters that arrive on the page to bring joy and laughter, and also anxiety, and some love.
The wintry Finnish setting is vivid and cold and bleak in just the right way. It amplifies the urgency, the isolation, and the danger. The author does a good job using landscape, weather, and environment not just as backdrop but as part of the tension.
As always, and something that has become something of a trademark for this author; there’s a dark humour throughout. Some moments that are absurd, ironic, or wry and these balance the threat and keep things from becoming unduly grim. It helps the characters feel more real, even sympathetic.
As well as the crime thriller story, The Winter Job looks at responsibility (especially fatherly), morality (does the end justify the means?), trust, friendship, and what sacrifices people make. It’s these deeper human questions that lift the book beyond a mere chase or road trip thriller.
The Winter Job is a highly enjoyable thriller that does more than just deliver thrills. If you like road-trip stories, rugged landscapes, and characters who are flawed but sympathetic, this one is for you. The emotional heart; what a father is willing to do, what friendship means, the cost of promise adds depth.
Highly recommended by me
The Winter Job is set in Finland in 1982, and follows Ilmari Nieminen, a recently divorced postal worker who’s made a Christmas promise to his daughter — a piano — but has almost no time and even less money.
Desperate, he takes a last-minute job transporting a valuable antique sofa all the way to Kilpisjärvi, which is way up north. Along the way, complications begin: an old friend shows up, repairs are needed, and soon Ilmari realises that someone is tailing him (a Saab 96, a bright-yellow Lada) and what he is transporting may be more than just furniture.
What starts as a fairly simple job gets tangled with danger, unexpected passengers, secrets, and moral complications. It becomes not just about delivery, but about friendship, love, what a father will do, and how far someone will go when promises are at stake.
It's a complicated plot, with a cast of characters that arrive on the page to bring joy and laughter, and also anxiety, and some love.
The wintry Finnish setting is vivid and cold and bleak in just the right way. It amplifies the urgency, the isolation, and the danger. The author does a good job using landscape, weather, and environment not just as backdrop but as part of the tension.
As always, and something that has become something of a trademark for this author; there’s a dark humour throughout. Some moments that are absurd, ironic, or wry and these balance the threat and keep things from becoming unduly grim. It helps the characters feel more real, even sympathetic.
As well as the crime thriller story, The Winter Job looks at responsibility (especially fatherly), morality (does the end justify the means?), trust, friendship, and what sacrifices people make. It’s these deeper human questions that lift the book beyond a mere chase or road trip thriller.
The Winter Job is a highly enjoyable thriller that does more than just deliver thrills. If you like road-trip stories, rugged landscapes, and characters who are flawed but sympathetic, this one is for you. The emotional heart; what a father is willing to do, what friendship means, the cost of promise adds depth.
Highly recommended by me
October 31, 2025
The Winter Job is a dark, tense and wonderfully humourous piece of European noir, of the highest order.
It's a real masterclass of a crime caper by a true specialist of the genre.
Set in the frozen, harsh landscapes of Northern Finland, we follow Ilmari, a father in desperate need of a piano for his Daughter's Christmas present, but with no money whatsoever, he takes a job of transporting a valuable antique sofa to the northernmost town in Finland. What follows is a calamitous, funny, unexpectedly moving thriller of friendship, love and death that'll have you turning the pages long after you should have gone to sleep.
Throughly enjoyed this.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
It's a real masterclass of a crime caper by a true specialist of the genre.
Set in the frozen, harsh landscapes of Northern Finland, we follow Ilmari, a father in desperate need of a piano for his Daughter's Christmas present, but with no money whatsoever, he takes a job of transporting a valuable antique sofa to the northernmost town in Finland. What follows is a calamitous, funny, unexpectedly moving thriller of friendship, love and death that'll have you turning the pages long after you should have gone to sleep.
Throughly enjoyed this.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
October 26, 2025
I love that the ‘heroes’ of the author’s books all have mundane jobs. In The Adventure Park trilogy, our intrepid hero Henri Koskinen was an actuary, who had inherited the YouMeFun theme park with all the drama that ensued. Not a spy, or a detective, or a brain surgeon, but basically an accountant. Then in The Burning Stones, Anni Korpinen sold saunas. And not even the whole flaming thing, just the stove.
In The Winter Job, it’s 1982 when we meet postal worker Ilmari Nieminen. There’s nothing special about him. Recently divorced, he wants to buy his daughter a piano for Christmas, but he doesn’t have enough money, so he agrees to deliver a sofa to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost town in Finland. The sofa is admittedly a valuable antique, but surely it’s not valuable enough for the chase that follows.
Firstly, there’s the Lada, a really old-fashioned looking car made in the Soviet Union. It came in a variety of colours, including a bright lemon yellow. Driven by two mismatched communists, Anneli and Erkki, they want to use the sofa to raise money for their cause. But they are also being pursued by crazy Otto in his Saab 96, who has a different agenda. What does he know that they don’t? Something crucial of course. And don’t get in his way if you want to stay alive. Ilmari teams up with his old school friend Antero, but can he trust him? Or does Antero have his own agenda?
It’s often very dark, very gruesome, and very funny, all at the same time. And the method of killing the man who stole his leather jacket at a party is almost as bad as the first murder in The Burning Stones, which will remain branded on my memory for years to come. Antti Tuomainen’s books are unique in their humour and weirdness – once read, never forgotten. And again, the translation is perfectly seamless.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
In The Winter Job, it’s 1982 when we meet postal worker Ilmari Nieminen. There’s nothing special about him. Recently divorced, he wants to buy his daughter a piano for Christmas, but he doesn’t have enough money, so he agrees to deliver a sofa to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost town in Finland. The sofa is admittedly a valuable antique, but surely it’s not valuable enough for the chase that follows.
Firstly, there’s the Lada, a really old-fashioned looking car made in the Soviet Union. It came in a variety of colours, including a bright lemon yellow. Driven by two mismatched communists, Anneli and Erkki, they want to use the sofa to raise money for their cause. But they are also being pursued by crazy Otto in his Saab 96, who has a different agenda. What does he know that they don’t? Something crucial of course. And don’t get in his way if you want to stay alive. Ilmari teams up with his old school friend Antero, but can he trust him? Or does Antero have his own agenda?
It’s often very dark, very gruesome, and very funny, all at the same time. And the method of killing the man who stole his leather jacket at a party is almost as bad as the first murder in The Burning Stones, which will remain branded on my memory for years to come. Antti Tuomainen’s books are unique in their humour and weirdness – once read, never forgotten. And again, the translation is perfectly seamless.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
October 15, 2025
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.
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.
October 30, 2025
A road trip, a car chase in classic vehicles, an old friend refound, some bad people who want the sofa that Hapless Ilmari is delivering. I loved it. Full review on my blog https://annabookbel.net/the-winter-jo...
October 30, 2025
4.5 rounded
Delightfully quirky, as always.
Delightfully quirky, as always.
October 26, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this most unusual road trip. Set in the depths of winter Ilmari agrees to deliver a sofa to the other side of Finland in order to earn enough money to buy his daughter a piano for Christmas. However this turns out to be be so much more than a straight forward trip. Meeting up with an old friend relationships are tested and when a Saab96 starts following them the tensions increase. Limani realises this will be no ordinary delivery. Filled with Tuomainens dark humour this is a book to be enjoyed. Highly recommended
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