Kati Hiekkapelto’s cop Anna Fekete first featured in The Hummingird (2014) and she returns in another crime thriller which exposes the raw underbelly of Finland’s normally calm and thoughtful society. Police officer Fekete and her older colleague Esko have to fight hard to stay on top of a series of crimes, included the emergence of The Black Cobras – a ruthless drug gang. The book is strong on the theme of social justice, but this polemic never overwhelms what is a brilliant police procedural. The Defenceless was translated by David Hackston, and you can click the link to read our full review.
