The Lazy Days of Temptation: A Finland Mystery

by Sarah King

A quirky, light-hearted crime caper! Perfect for fans of M C Beaton and Alexander McCall Smith.Cats stuck up trees. Missing mothers. Run over hedgehogs. If you’ve got a story to tell, and no one to gripe to, then call on Tytti Vertainen, Tapiolinna’s first and only female journalist.Tytti chases facts. Her tactics may be unorthodox and not always precise, but she has shrewdness, daring and remarkable insight in her corner. And all these talents will be tested when she is asked to solve a murder… but the corpse has disappeared. More detective than journalist, she sets out to unravel the mystery and break the story. A story about a buried past that may threaten her very own future.The Lazy Days of Temptation is set among the shallow seas and lofty pines of Finland. Detective work soon supplants the frequent cups of coffee as Tytti, jolted from her everyday routine, sets out to find a murderer.

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 2014

About the author

‘She holds a biochemistry degree which is vital for poisoning victims to the letter.’

That’s the kind of thing Agatha Christie might have said if asked for a quote about King to put in an About the Author section of her Amazon webpage. Yes, King utilises the left hemisphere of her brain for the exact science, the right for make-believe murder, and leaves the corpus callosum to sort out what’s what. Expect some tastefully executed bloodshed in The Finland Mysteries!

A freelance journalist who wanted to catch the bad guys—but ended up reviewing restaurants—she wakes, she walks (the dog), she wreaks havoc on a decade-old MacBook Pro, whipping up spine-tingling murder mysteries with a dash of wit. When not living the dream, she eats things on toast, ambles around forests and chats with friendly Finns about her rescue dog, Gloria.


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Yuki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was given this book in exchange for honest review. The characters are very well - developed, although I must admit I do not like some of them at all, but that's what make this novel even more honest. Love the scenery description of Finland, by the way. What I don't like at first is the slow pace, but it all leads up to this satisfaction of an ending, so I guess is okay, and probably that's what it feels like in Finland too: peaceful and relaxing.

Sorry if my rambling makes zero sense :c.

[Daniela Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a way to develop a mystery story, without a doubt a masterfully written book, my first book by Sarah King that far exceeded my expectations! Through her narration, she paints a detailed picture of the island life and its unique people that live there, where everyone has a secret to hide.
Here we will meet Tytti Vertainen, a journalist who has suffered a lot in the past, and currently both her professional and personal life have problems. Tytti will end up involved in a case where she will have to use all her journalistic skills and instincts to discover the truth.

In addition to suspense, the novel explores deep themes such as guilt, justice, and morality. Each character faces their own internal judgment, which adds a layer of emotional depth to the story and makes it much deeper than other books in the mystery genre. Especially Tytti who faces her past and the unanswered questions that have lingered for years, she is forced to reconcile her memories with the present.

This book addresses several topics such as pain, loss, truth, betrayal, family secrets, and more. Also, the plot develops with twists that continually surprise, and at least I did not expect them. The entire climax gradually ties up the loose ends. The pace is constant, the well-built characters and the setting make this a book that captivates you from beginning to end. Highly recommended, and I hope to read more books by the author in the future.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

We live in a world of exceptions and this is what Sarah King made us aware of. Everyone in her life was always being upright but there was something sneaky or lustful about their relationships which was brought out in the end. I enjoyed this book and as a first book thought it was great lesson to learn.

[Kelly Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing twist at the end!!

Wow what a great ending!! I never expected it the entire time I was reading this book. This author did a great job with the characters and with the description of Finland. I felt like I could really relate to the character as if I knew them. I love how the author took a quite place where nothing seems to ever happen and turn it into a murder mystery. The journalist that wanted a big story to write about found herself trying to solve the murder and even puts herself in danger as well. I guess we need to watch what we wish for. This is a great book with an ending that will amaze you!! I will be looking for more books from this author!!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

was given this book in exchange for a review. I loved the descriptions of Finland. It made me want to go and visit, The characters were quite well developed but not very likeable. The main character, Tytti, was honest to a fault. She insisted on honesty although it sometimes hurt people. Her childhood friend, Kai, seemed a bit of a bore. Not much occurred until the last quarter of the book then the action stepped up a bit. There was a twist at the end; not what was expected. I guess the book conforms to the pace of life on a Finnish island where not a lot happens. This was a pleasant read but not very exciting

[Mike Yuryev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet and touching novel about a girl in a 'frozen time' Finnish island and the deep secrets behind the walls of otherwise cute and neat houses. It reflects nicely the atmosphere of Finnish calm life and gives a glimpse on interesting twist of the everyday life of a local newspaper journalist.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The plot development was amazing. The book was very realistic. The character stories were what really made the book.