THE WINTER OF THE LIONS - Jan Costin Wagner

I cannot believe, firstly that I've left the last two books in this series unread for so long, and secondly I'd be daft enough to read the third, THE WINTER OF THE LIONS out of order.  Not that it made a lot of difference to the experience.  It's hard to use the word enjoyable when you're referring to any of the books by Jan Costin Wagner as they are so steeped in grief and brooding, although, there was just a glimmer that Kimmo Joentaa might be ready to move on a little.  Even though the death of his wife is still the defining thing in his life, he is forced to look outside himself, despite it being Christmas, the time of year he most dreads.

Set in Finland, Wagner is a German writer with a unique sense of the culture and the country.  His writing is pared down, emotional and dark.  The plotting of the book is slow, often impenetrable, yet for this reader, it simply didn't matter.  The storytelling really is astoundingly affecting and involving.  Joentaa is magnificently morose, but without a feeling of overwhelming self-pity. 

The first book in the series, ICE MOON, was a revelation when I first read it and I waited impatiently for the next to be translated.  Then for reasons best known to my idiot self, I bought and then never picked up the next book in the series SILENCE.  There really are times when I could kick myself, or at least put the book immediately on the bedside table.