good pace good story well read

Recommend. Its good, its interesting and I never got bored as I sometimes do.

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Finnish psychological thriller..

Definitely different, this is a slow burn with a noir type feel throughout.
Lia a Finnish graphic designer who has a life changing experience when a murdered Latvian prostitute is found dead in broad daylight, the tragic circumstances do not leave Lia she becomes somewhat obsessed with any progress on the case.
Lia meets Mari, an enigmatic woman with an almost supernatural power, who has an innate ability to read people, running a secretive organisation called 'The Studio' . Here they try to put right injustices which come in many wide and varied forms. they manipulate the system and are often on the wrong side of the law to gain the results they want.

A firm friendship ensues between Lia and Mari though Mari's motives are unclear, she's a multi-layered complex character as she handles challenges like, domestic abuse, corruption, prostitution, murder all sewn into the plot seamlessly.
They make an agreement if Lia helps to bring down a corrupt politician who is gaining momentum, Mari will use her own vast resources to help find out more information about the murder of the Latvian prostitute.
I found Mari's character almost frigid and could not warm to her,but saying this annoyingly secretive that she's piqued my interest that I want to pick pick pick to unravel her mysteries and past.
Lia is much easier to understand and I loved how she developed and grew in strength as the story progressed.
The surrounding characters are strong and well defined, with a quality of writing that can't be denied. I found the slow pace increased my satisfaction towards the end and would decidedly read more by PH.

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7 people found this helpful

Awesome first book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Had me listening from the minute it opened to the end
Characters were undetailed but fascinating - had the two main women formed their relationship.
The plot was good and interwoven
For a first book, this was great

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4 people found this helpful

Introverts make a difference!

Where does Cold Courage rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The quiet cool almost glacial heroine faces some challenges and finds she is more than the person she thought she was. Bad things are put right, even if not legally.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Cool Finnish girls dispense justice

Any additional comments?

This story creeps up on you. At the start the heroine is colourless, vapour. Then you understand how glaciers can carve out the landscape.

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A strange one

Would you recommend Cold Courage to your friends? Why or why not?

I would recommend this book, mainly because it gives a Finnish view of London. It is unlike other scandi novels I have listened to.

Have you listened to any of Candida Gubbins’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Excellent narrator.

Did Cold Courage inspire you to do anything?

Try a different Finnish author.

Any additional comments?

I don't think this plot would work if the main character was not from Finland.

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1 person found this helpful

Dull and poorly read

Would you try another book written by Pekka Hiltunen or narrated by Candida Gubbins?

No, I would definitely not try either. I found the reader's tone totally unsuited to the story being read.

What could Pekka Hiltunen have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Write a story that is a bit more plausible and edit this story to about half its length.

What didn’t you like about Candida Gubbins’s performance?

I liked nothing of her performance. She read this novel as if it was an article from Hello magazine.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Cold Courage?

I would certainly condense the first two hours of reading into 15 minutes

Any additional comments?

One of the most disappointing books I've had from Audible. One to avoid.

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Most Disappointing

Any additional comments?

Having read the initial blurb and suggested awards I was looking forward to another strong Scandinavian writer. I have been completely disappointed. Almost nothing happened in the fist third of the book apart from some very dubious strands of a forming friendship [it was described as a 'thriller']. When the action did begin it seemed as though the author was trying to find as many unbelievable happenings as possible and weave them together to make a plot. The beginning was boring, the ending stretched the imagination too far.

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8 people found this helpful

This one is to be avoided

I have downloaded and listened to dozens of books from Audible over the last few years and have never picked one which was as disappointing as Cold Courage.Within 10 minutes of listening I was intensly irritated both by the narrators voice and by the ridiculous premises on which the story is built.The characterisation is nonsensensical as are most of the actions within the story.I have never felt the desire to write a review before but I was so angered by this unbelievably silly book that I felt I wanted to warn other listeners of what is in store for them.Just don't waste your money on this one.

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13 people found this helpful

Don't bother

I love scandinavian thrillers and got this book after I've read so many positive reviews. But I have to admit that this is the worst book I've (tried to) listen to all year. Really, do not bother with this one, unless you have a favor for unbelievable characters, minutelong insights of thoughts/feelings of a self-obsessed 26 year Finnish Girl who lives in London and thinks she knows it all, bad story-lines and a narrator who made me cringe. I will avoid in the future both author and narrator.

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1 person found this helpful

Dire

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

I have enjoyed many Scandinavian crime novels, but I simply could not get into this one.It began with reference to a particularly lurid crime, then seemed to ramble on about very little at great length. After 9 chapters and at least an hour of listening (which felt like forever) nothing much had happened with only a few passing references to this or any crime. I have no idea who might enjoy it.

Would you ever listen to anything by Pekka Hiltunen again?

I am returning this book and will avoid the author in future.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was bored to distraction and very disappointed in view of the awards and nominations apparently piled on the book.

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4 people found this helpful