The Winter Job

by Antti Tuomainen, David Hackston (Translator)

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…

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

276 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2024

About the author

Antti 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.

Reviews

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Јордан Kocevski) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐

[Juha Viitanen · Rating 3 out of 5]

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).

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antti Tuomainen takes us back to 1982 in The Winter Job for a thriller which revels in its dark humour and ludicrous characters but ultimately proves to be a surprisingly heartwarming tale that's perfect for the festive season.
The perennial reports of parents desperately fighting over the last must-have toy of the year in the shop have nothing on the lengths Ilmari Nieminen has to go to after he promises his daughter a piano for Christmas. He manages to persuade the salesman in the instrument store to hold the piano for him until Christmas Eve but with just six days to go and no money, the odds seem stacked against Helena's wish coming true. It's no surprise then, that he should accept the offer of a job to transport an antique sofa to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost town in Finland but right from the start, it becomes obvious that this isn't going to be a straightforward delivery. After picking the sofa up from a complete chancer of a dealer, he quickly runs into a problem when the old Ford Thames that has been assigned to him doesn't have functioning windscreen wipers. It looks as though his journey will already face a delay until a voice offers to help. The good Samaritan on the forecourt turns out to be Antero Kuikka, a childhood friend of Ilmari's and his timely intervention comes only with the condition that he join him on the trip north Ilmari and Antero have unfinished business following an incident years ago but nevertheless, they set off with the sofa in the back and a sports bag filled with music cassettes in the front.
Shortly after Ilmari departs, deranged hardman Otto Puolanka arrives at the antique dealer's property and soon shows just how unpredictably violent he can be. He is undoubtedly a very dangerous man but this is an Antti Tuomainen novel and so the violence is often almost Tom-and-Jerry cartoon-like. Otto is by turns brutal, hilarious and pathetic; his mood swings are lethal, he listens to Eye of the Tiger on repeat and he just seems to keeps coming, regardless of the pain he endures as he doggedly pursues the sofa – but a scene where he believes he has found a friend is oddly poignant.
Otto isn't the only person on the tail of Ilmari and Antero as they are also being followed by Erkki and Anneli, a pair of Communists in an egg-yolk yellow Lada. Erkki is the senior of the two but his recent behaviour – not least his love of the TV show, Dallas and J.R. Ewing in particular – has led to Anneli growing increasingly suspicious that he may not be as dedicated to the cause as he should be. Nevertheless, they soon make their presence felt and so Ilmari begins to question just what is so desirable about this sofa.
After he makes his shocking discovery, this compulsively absurdist caper becomes even more ridiculously action-packed as Ilmari and Antero face near-misses, breathtaking chases and a deeply unpleasant search in the snow. They make a good team and yet their history means there's an element of doubt between them which adds a further layer of intrigue to the chaotic proceedings. Can Ilmari really trust Antero? Meanwhile, Anneli's doubts about Erkki underlines how trust is one of the main themes of The Winter Job.
In Ilmari Nieminen, Antti Tuomainen has another of the everyman characters he so excels at creating to explore the human condition, through a skilful combination of humour and pathos. Loneliness and the need for connection is the most important topic examined in The Winter Job and there are some touching scenes amidst the wild chases and snowy mayhem. The atmospheric descriptions of the inclement weather conditions as the characters engage in their frenetic Wacky Race from Helsinki to Kilpisjärvi adds further drama to proceedings and as always, Antti Tuomainen's vivid prose is a sheer delight throughout. A word of thanks here too, of course, for David Hackston's work in translating the novel.
With its pitch-perfect timing, gripping plot, first-rate characterisation and a nostalgic early 80s' soundtrack, I loved this brilliantly funny cat-and-mouse thriller. The Winter Job is a standalone novel but I'm sure I won't be the only reader hoping Antti Tuomainen might be persuaded to write another series. Very highly recommended!

[Peter Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ilmari has screwed up his marriage, he knows as much, his former wife has a new man in her life. That ship may have sailed, but at least he can maintain his relationship with his daughter Helena. She is a budding musician and together they have set their hearts on a piano for her Christmas present, expensive but it will be worth it. He wouldn’t normally be able to afford it but after a colleague was unavailable to do it, a lucrative job ‘on the side’ has presented itself. It seems a simple enough task, to transport a valuable antique sofa, a surprisingly heavy sofa, up to the far north. They are even going to provide the transport. Come Christmas Eve he will be in the snooty music store with a fist full of cash and his promise fulfilled. What could possibly go wrong? Well, the reader is about to join Antti Tuomainen on another of his sublime flights of fancy where nothing is straightforward or as it seems. So, fasten your seat belt it could be a bumpy ride.

The storyline is a variation of the classic road trip, so popular in the 1960s and 1970s, where the central characters have new, enlightening experiences on a journey of self-discovery. Just to add more flavour this is done in triplicate and simultaneously, as this sofa proves to be a very popular piece of furniture. What ensues is a cross-country chase, albeit hampered by severe weather and the vehicles being early 1980s ones.

The lead vehicle is a pale blue Ford Thames van in which Ilmari is carrying the precious cargo. He is joined by Antero, a friend from his childhood, who is hitching a lift anywhere, in exchange for doing a repair to the van when Ilmari was desperate. Antero provides the soundtrack to the trip, thanks to the many tapes in his capacious bag. Who doesn't enjoy the hits of the 80s on a snowbound journey.

Hot on their tail in a dark-green Saab 96 is Otto, a bad-tempered man who is a prolific smoker and hard drinker. The soundtrack to his life is The Eye of the Tiger, Survivor’s classic theme song from Rocky III, which is constantly on cue. His background is unclear, but if he was able to show a little more humanity, he might be an assassin or hit man…

Bringing up the rear, in a egg-yolk-yellow Lada 1200 is Erkki and Anneli, who could pass for father and daughter but are members of a revolutionary communist cell that has anarchist leanings. Capturing the sofa would be a major prize, though Anneli is unsure exactly why. Ilmari has a head start, but Erkki is sure they can catch up in their ‘fine socialist sports car’, hmm.

The route taken is far from direct, the reasons why seemingly bizarre on the surface, but with deeper meaning. This ensures that there is plenty of incidents on route and a sprinkling of violence. When I say sprinkling, it is more like the practical joke where somebody loosens the top of the salt cellar, as there are regular explosions of cartoon like violence. Expect objects to be clanged off heads, pointy things to stick in and remarkable recoveries made. Here the author is in his element.

As always, he writes with a big heart, here touching on what it means to have a family and friends, and their importance in combating loneliness and isolation. Considering all that goes on the finale is quite uplifting, but it is a Christmas story, I guess.

Once again, the translator, David Hackston does a wonderful job in keeping the individuality and quirkiness in the prose. This extends to the first sentence of each new chapter which is often a oddly vivid description or a totally outrageous simile.

Captivating crime caper.

[Niko-Janne Vantala · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Angi Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read. Antti Tuomainen makes you wonder every time, what would I do? How far would I go? And the thing is it’s so hard to find answers because you feel for his characters. This one is in way over his head. Ilmari wants to give his daughter the one thing she wants for Christmas, a piano. His one sticking point is money. He has none. The story doesn’t only ask questions but has dark humour sprinkled liberally throughout as the situation the character is in escalates way out of control. This is like watching a dark crime novel and a slapstick comedy welded together. I do mean watch as all of his stories are incredibly cinematic. They keep you glued as they build.
You will feel for the characters as the story never goes across the line from absurd into ridiculous. And it never gets so dark that it switches you off from feeling for the characters. I loved it.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.

[Lilja Oja · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Helena · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Päivi P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ilmari on rahaton ja ottaa kuljetuskeikan saadakseen rahat tyttärensä joululahjaan. Sohvakuljetus Helsingistä Ilomantsin ja Vaasan kautta Kilpisjärvelle osoittautuu haasteelliseksi, jopa vaaralliseksi, kun pakettiautoa seuraakin kaksi epämääräistä seuruetta. Matkakumppaniksi sattumalta mukaan tarttunut vanha lapsuudenkaveri Antero osoittautuu vaaran paikoissa luottokaveriksi, vaikka vanhat asiat painavatkin miesten välejä. Hulvaton mustaa huumoria roppakaupalla sisältävä roadtrip.

[Heli Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Fiona Widd · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[ukkindlecustomer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Land of the Midnight Sun

Darkly funny caper with bizarre road trip to deliver more bizarre item to unlikely recipients, at the same time giving classic antihero a chance of redemption. Also, an over the top villain worthy of Carl Hiassen.

[Helena Ketonen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hervottoman hauska romaani. En muista milloin olisin nauranut ääneen tätä kuunnellessani. Eipä ole turhaan myös maailmalla niin suosittu.

[Pasi Rautio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kuuntelin äänikirjana. Käänteitä riittävästi, huumoria sopivalla tavalla.

[Barondestructo · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this clever and unique tale, it is so different from anything I've read recently; fun and humorous in all the right places.

[Suzanne Cornyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4.

Just a fun, silly, enjoyable book.

[Barbara T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this guy

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Griff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author.

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

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…

[A FOX · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[David Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

'm grateful to Karen at Orenda for sending me a copy of The Winter Job to consider for review, and to Anne for inviting me to join the book's blogtour.
December 1982, and with Christmas coming up, postal worker Ilmari Nieminen has no way to buy his beloved daughter the piano he's impulsively promised her. Following his divorce - Ilmari has issues with trust, which have torpedoed his marriage, as well as all his other relationships - Helena is the centre of his life. He can't let her down. he just can't.

So he takes on a delivery job. A rather strange one. He has to transport an antique sofa more than 1000km to the north of the country. In the depths of winter. In an elderly British van unsuited to Finland's ice climate. Moreover, he's determined to take diversions on the journey to settle old obligations.

What can possibly go wrong?

So begins one of the strangest road novels I've ever encountered. As if the task Ilmari has assumed isn't tricky enough in itself, there's something... off... about the sofa (and indeed, the whole job) from the beginning. It's soon clear that others want it too - a bruiser called Otto, whose way of dealing with opposition is to knock it down, shows up, as does a pair of bickering political activists, Anneli and Erkki, who want to sell the sofa to fund the Cause.

Oh, and Ilmari also bumps into an old schoolfriend, Antero, he hasn't seen for years (since accusing him of theft, in fact). Antero is down on his luck, and joins Ilmari for the ride. But he, too, has business to settle on the journey.

As winter closes in, and this disparate group heads north in their various rackety vehicles, the stage is set for drama, catastrophe and... friendship?

The Winter Job is highly entertaining, not least in the lengths that the three groups go to acquire, or retain, the sofa. There is violence, double crossing, coincidence and heroism here - to such a degree that it seems as though this unlikely McMuffin has driven everyone clean out of their minds. (At times I was getting distinct Ealing comedy vibes, but the violence lurking here has a real edge, there are some truly gruesome scenes). It's also really enjoyable to see how Tuomainen takes an unlikely scenario and manages to invest the reader in its truth. You won't doubt the commitment of anyone here to the sofa, or the possibility that all this could actually happen.

Above all, though, or perhaps behind all or beneath all, there's more going on here than some bizarre gameshow challenge. All the participants in the Great Finnish Sofa-Off feel, in a sense, lost. They lack friends. They lack trust. They lack something or someone to come home to. Even lone wolf Otto senses this, though he then goes about building friendship in a most self-defeating way. And on those long Finnish miles - sorry, kilometres - there's plenty of opportunity to reflect on what went wrong and how it may not be too late to put is right.

The Winter Job is fun when it's doing slapstick, but also profound and moving, a kind of collective dark night of the soul for Ilmari and the rest - but is it a night they'll all come through to dawn unscathed?

Read this book and find out!

The Winter Job is translated by David Hackston into a lucid and readable English version that must have been a struggle in places given a context and setting that would be clear to the reader of the original but much harder to set out for a foreign reader. (it's great to see David given credit on the cover).

[Lynsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘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!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.