The Priest of Evil

Eurocrime is really a tremendous imprint, providing some real little gems of books from a range of different cultural backgrounds. These books provide the crime reader with a glimpse into another culture. And make you realise that whilst some things are very different, more often it's the similarities that are surprising.

The things that THE PRIEST OF EVIL shows are the same in Finland, as they are where I come from, include the way that people can be invisible. Sometimes it's because of age, often it's age and gender combined. The other thing that seems to be guaranteed to make you invisible is doing something that discomforts others. Stand and preach, hand out pamphlets, be old, be old and female, look scruffy, or homeless or somehow show more "different" and you're pretty well guaranteed to slip under most people's radars. Except for other members of society also slightly on the outer. And that was the other message that came across very clearly in this book - be an outsider and you risk gravitating towards the edges, towards acceptance of any kind. Regardless of whether those edges are safe, and whether that acceptance is unconditional. Although it's not always a given and in many ways the hero's in our society (in this case the tenacious detective), are outsiders in their own right - who were drawn to a different edge.

THE PRIEST OF EVIL is quiet and contained, whilst Joensuu creates a very intimate relationship with his characters. As is the way with so many of the very good psychological style crime fiction books, there is a lot that isn't fully explained, resolved or even addressed. The reader is left to consider what it is that initiates the directions that people's lives take. show less

I so wanted to enjoy this book, but to be honest it disappointed. No character was developed, I knew as little at the end about the supposed main character as I did at the beginning, and cared even less. And I was hoping it would bring me back to the Helsinki I love, but there too it let me down. It could have been set anywhere, nothing of Helsinki shone through. And the end, the last page, what was that about? Oh dear. I wish i could be more positive, but I can't, sorry.

Very good indeed. I was not sure at first but it builds up very well. It has the real feel of Helsinki and the story becomes gripping. The characters are strong and believable.

I couldn't agree more (with review by ebyrne42 ). I felt let down and confused about why I had read it. Shame as it should have had a lot going for it

This is a very fine novel and I look forward to reading more of this Authors Work