Join us for a book talk with prizewinning Finnish author Karo Hämäläinen on his English-language debut, Cruel Is The Night.
A literary homage to Agatha Christie and a black comedy locked-room mystery about murder, mayhem, and morality in our cynical modern world, in this novel four Finnish friends meet for dinner. It’s been ten years since the host, Robert, has seen his once-best friend, Mikko, following an ideological falling-out regarding Robert’s scheme to earn millions off of unethical (but not illegal) interest rate manipulations — a scheme that particularly troubled Mikko, as an investigative journalist who has dedicated his career to bringing down corrupt financiers and politicians. Also along for the evening are Mikko’s wife, Veera (with whom Robert once had a secret affair) and Robert’s young trophy wife, Elise.
Mikko has arrived in London with an agenda and thinks he’s about to get away with murder, but he has no idea what’s on the menu for the night: not only does every diner have a bone to pick with another, but there’s an arsenal of deadly weapons hiding in plain sight.
And by the end of the night, there will be only one survivor.
Soho Press editor Juliet Grames joins us for the book talk. Following the discussion, copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.
About the Author
Karo Hämäläinen spent 15 years as an economics reporter and currently works as the managing editor of Parnasso, Finland’s leading literary publication. His debut novel, The Buyout, was shortlisted for the 2011 Savonia Prize and received the 2012 Tampere Literary Prize. His novel Alone won the 2016 Savonia Prize.
Following stints in Munich, Berlin, and Tampere, Hämäläinen now lives in Helsinki. In his spare time, he likes reading and running; his record marathon time is 3:04:04.
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Photo by Harri Hinkka; book jacket courtesy Soho Press
MON—APRIL 30—7 PM, free