Trouble

(Paperback)

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Helsinki, June 1953, at the heart of the Cold War. Hella, now a reluctant private investigator, has been asked by her former boss at the Helsinki murder squad to do a background check on a member of the Finnish secret services. Not the type of job Hella was hoping for, but she accepts it on the condition that she is given access to the files concerning the roadside death of her father in 1942, at a time when Finland joined forces with Nazi Germany in its attack against the Soviet Union. German troops were sent to Finland, the Gestapo arrived in Helsinki and German influence on local government was strong, including demands for the deportation of local Jews.

Colonel Mauzer, his wife and other family members were killed by a truck in a hit and run incident. An accident, file closed, they said. But not for Hella, whose unwelcome investigation leads to some who would prefer to see her stopped dead in her tracks.

Praise for Katja Ivar:

'A captivating first novel My dear girl, her patronizing boss instructs, justice in a cold climate is not a natural phenomenon. But the stubborn and resourceful Sgt. Mauzer seems just the police officer to deliver it.' Wall Street Journal

'The misdirection and manipulation of the evidence is worthy of Agatha Christie, but the quirky humour is Katja Ivars own. Ultimately, though, it is her portrait of Helsinki 'a city of lost souls that is most impressive.' The Times

Reviews

Praise for Trouble"Hella pursues that cold case as well as disturbing discoveries from her look into Heikkinen's history. Ivar balances the complex plotlines perfectly. Fans of multifaceted female leads will be riveted."--Publishers Weekly
"Ivar has created an interesting heroine, again poking into hornets' nests wherever she finds them. An attractive young man nearby has taken a more than casual interest in her. Even the man from the secret service behaves nicely to her. It's all too good to be true. So what is the truth Will she find out You bet she will." -CrimeTime

Praise for Deep as Death "Discover the adventures of Hella Mauzer, a splendid creation by Katja Ivar. Mauzer is an engaging protagonist, with the 1950's setting and characters totally convincing. Katja Ivar writes wonderfully." --ShotsMag "The deaths mount up and the pressure reaches boiling point. The book ends up with an utterly unexpected and superb climax. The characters are well drawn and the setting in a chilly, wintry Helsinki is utterly authentic. It also reflects the social mores of the time and no doubt what is now called the 'old police ways'. Enjoy!" --Law Society Scotland Journal "Ms Ivar's well-constructed book is full of surprises--and offers a greatly satisfying payoff." --WSJ"Even though Hella Mauzer has "high cheekbones, huge eyes, and lovely legs", the Finnish police force has seen fit to dispense with her services. She is reduced to being a private investigator on the mean streets of Helsinki in 1953. The misdirection and manipulation of the evidence is worthy of Agatha Christie, but the quirky humour is Katja Ivar's own. Ultimately, though, it is her portrait of Helsinki--"a city of lost souls"--that is most impressive." --The Times"The second in Katja Ivar's very original series featuring the stubborn and somewhat reckless detective Hella Mauzer. She continues to be one of the most unusual, and unusually interesting, characters around." --Morning Star Praise for Evil Things

"Welcome to the most stubborn of cops, Hella Mauzer, righting wrongs in cold Lapland, a memorable character with just the right disdain for authority and its amoral attitudes to justice and women. A feminist 1952 cop before feminism was invented." Maxim Jakubowski, author of The Louisiana Republic

"I read it in one sitting. It's thrilling. The setting, the timing, being in the midst of the Cold War, and our stubborn, smart and brave heroine Hella - a woman fighting crime in a world opposed to her, are all elements I enjoyed!" Cecilia Ekbck, author of Wolf Winter

"This is a remarkable debut -- the best novel I've read this year. A historical thriller with a heart that keeps you enthralled to the final page.." David Young, author of A Darker State and STASI Child, both part of the Oberleutnant Karin Mueller series.

"The unusual setting and psychologically complex heroine will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next instalment."-- Publishers Weekly Starred Review.

"'My dear girl, ' her patronizing boss instructs, 'justice in a cold climate is not a natural phenomenon.' But the stubborn and resourceful Sgt. Hella Mauzer seems just the police officer to deliver it." --Wall Street Journal

"Evil Things introduces the readers to a small country where the winter snow hides a cataclysmic crime. It's a chilling entry in this three-part series."--NY Journal of Books

Author Bio

Katja Ivar grew up in Russia and the U.S. She travelled the world extensively, from Almaty to Ushuaia, from Karelia to Kyushu, before finally settling in Paris where she lives with her husband and three children. She received a B.A. in Linguistics and a master's degree in Contemporary History from Sorbonne University. 'Evil Things' was her debut novel and the first in the Hella Mauzer series. 'Deep as Death' was the second.