Dark & Thrilling | As Red as Blood by Salla Simukka

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets Six of Crows—this international bestseller is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that chills to the bone, and not just because of the icy winter setting.

Lumikki Andersson has made it a rule to stay out of things that do not involve her. She knows all too well that trouble comes to those who stick their nose where it doesn’t belong. But Lumikki’s rule is put to the test when she uncovers thousands of washed Euro notes hung to dry in her school’s darkroom and three of her classmates with blood on their hands. Literally. 

A web of lies and deception now has Lumikki on the run from those determined to get the money back—no matter the cost. At the center of the chaos: Polar Bear, the mythical drug lord who has managed to remain anonymous despite his lavish parties and notorious reputation. If Lumikki hopes to make it out alive, she’ll have to uncover the entire operation.

Even the cold Finnish winter can’t hide a culprit determined to stain the streets red.

“Fans of Nesbø and Larsson won’t be disappointed.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred

“This cold, delicate snowflake of a tale sparkles with icy magic.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

MY REVIEW

Translated from its original Finnish, As Red as Blood tells a dark, twisted tale reminiscent of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, as loner Lumikki Andersson unexpectedly finds herself in quite a bit of trouble involving suspiciously blood-covered money and people she’d rather avoid. The mystery surrounding her proceeds with great suspense, tension, and danger. And while Lumikki remains at the center of the narrative, crucial plot points shift the point of view away from her to give the reader revealing information (unknown to Lumikki) and heightens the drama of it all—a technique that kept me wholly intrigued. Well-paced from beginning to end, As Red as Blood is a solid, thrilling read, and fans of (YA) crime thrillers will enjoy it.

★★★★

Thanks to Blogging for Books, I received a complimentary copy of As Red as Blood and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.