Fishing for the Little Pike [J0287]

2023 PB in nice clean condition. Translated from the Finnish by Lola Rogers. In the utterly original, genre-defying, English-language debut of Finnish author Juhani Karila, a young woman's annual pilgrimage to her home in Lapland to catch an elusive pike in three days is complicated by a host of mythical creatures, a murder detective hot on her trail, and a deadly curse hanging over her head. When Elina makes her annual summer pilgrimage to her remote family farm in Lapland, she has three days to catch the pike in a local pond or she and the love of her life will both die. This year her task is made more difficult by the intervention of a host of deadly supernatural creatures and a murder detective on her tail. Can Elina catch the pike and put to rest the curse that has been hanging over her head since a youthful love affair turned sour? Can Sergeant Janatuinen make it back to civilization in one piece? And just why is Lapland in summer so weird? Fishing for the Little Pike is an audacious, genre-defying blend of fantasy, folk tale, and nature writing.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Compelling in the oddest and loveliest way!"; "It's light but serious, modern but full of unusual folklore, its vibe is as Finnish as it could be (or, maybe, Laplandic from Finnish people's pov). I'd say there are some lacks and uncertainties in the whole story, it's not perfect, but so gorgeous nevertheless!"; "Strange, surreal, blurry, odd and wildly imaginative. A completely new genre and author for me. While I am still processing the thoughts and ideas behind this book, I am definitely glad for this opportunity to expand my literary and imaginative horizons."