A Lapland hometown hoodlum named Marzipan Räikkönen is killed near his house. But the who, why, and how of the murder no one knows, not even the victim himself. His death launches a series of events recounted in the first person by thirty-five different people touched by Marzipan¿s murder. The witty story line cleverly connects the dots among the personalities, including the ambulance drivers, detectives, family members, neighbors, two-bit criminals, and even the minister officiating at the funeral, to finally reveal the killer. This fast moving crime novel, full of wry Finnish humor, deepens into a multilayered panorama about society, its people, and ultimately justice. Published in 1995 in Finland, the novel was made into a movie in 1999. Jari Tervo (b. 1959), a Lapland native, is one of the most prominent and popular names in Finnish literature. The former reporter has gained a national reputation for his critically-acclaimed books and as a television personality. Tervo has an inimitable style and voice, much admired by critics. The public knows him as an omniscient quiz show guest and sardonic commentator on current events, and also follows his literary output with appreciation and admiration. He won Finland¿s Best Crime Novel award in 2000.