Kari moves with grave misgivings, since he was very reluctant to leave the area near the Arctic Circle where he had always been the happiest. He agreed to do so because his American born wife really hated living there and yearns for the big city. She is pregnant again and employed as manager of one of the city's most luxurious hotels.

Kari has no seniority and has been saddled with the obnoxious genius Milo as his partner. Helsinki has gone over a score of years with a perfect record for murder solving and this partnership's first serious challenge is met when responding to a female murdered in her lover's bed.

Rein Saar claimed he was knocked unconscious when he came in that night and woke up next to her body. The victim had been brutally tortured almost beyond recognition; however, he identifies her as Ilsa Filippov, wife of a wealthy industrialist. Rein is her riding instructor and he claims they met solely for recreational sex. Kari's boss is pushing for a quick arrest of Rein and a resolution of the case, inasmuch as the Ilsa's husband is a close friend of his.

At the same time, Germany is seeking extradition for Arvid Lateen, a 90 year old national war hero. It is claimed that he committed a variety of war crimes during World War II. Kari realizes too quickly why he has been chosen by the Minister to investigate inasmuch as his beloved but now deceased grandfather had been stationed with Lahtinen at the same Stalag. Finnish authorities in the know want this issue buried quickly.

Further complicating Kari’s life is lack of sleep caused by a continuing migraine some three weeks old at the opening of this story. His brother and sister in law have also decided to visit in order to assist Kate at the birth and early days of her motherhood. The birth is imminent, but unfortunately they bring their dysfunctional problems with them on their visit.

Lucifer's Tears has many plots and subplots, although this story is totally character driven. Comparatively speaking, very little time is spent on the actual police procedures and a lot of time spent with the developing characters, interaction and plot impact.

Thompson adroitly handles these intersecting story lines. As the novel speeds toward resolution, the reader may be surprised to realize what an imaginative and clever story emerges on all fronts.

Thompson was born in Kentucky but has lived in Finland for over a dozen years. His skillful interweaving of the principle character Kari's tortured existence with the utilization of Helsinki and its environs together with Finish customs and history is reminiscent of Stieg Larsson's talent in Millennium series. A sequel it may be, but it stands alone well and is certain to be regarded as one of the Nordic genre's finest releases of the year.

--Thea Davis