As White as Snow

Lumikki Andersson is backpacking in Prague, where the weather is scorching hot. A girl approaches her in a small café and claims to be her half sister. Lumikki’s parents seem to be hiding a secret concerning the family’s past, so the girl’s claim rouses Lumikki’s interest. Despite her erratic behaviour, the girl manages to persuade Lumikki to join a religious family community.

Later it turns out that the members are no relation to each other, after all. But it is not until Lumikki learns that the cult leaders are planning mass suicide that she understands just how dangerous the cult is. Furthermore, someone is planning to profit from the tragedy. Lumikki gets acquainted with the streets and graveyards of Prague when she is forced to run for her life to prevent the tragedy. The religion of the cult is not pure; and innocence is not as white as snow.

Praise:

“Limned in stark red, white, and black, this cold, delicate snowflake of a tale sparkles with icy magic.” —Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

“Simukka creates a tough, self-sufficient heroine in seventeen-year-old Lumikki Andersson in this first book in the Snow White Trilogy…Fans of Nesbø and Larsson won’t be disappointed.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“[A] YA novel in the tradition of Nordic noir—edgy crime novels set in frigid lands.” —Booklist (Starred Review)

“A compelling start, a strong female character, the rich background setting of Finland, and a hint of a Snow White retelling are highlights of this work.” —School Library Journal

“The Arctic setting of this import is used to full advantage, evoking a chilling mood and strewing genuine frigid weather obstacles in Lumikki’s way…The first entry in Simukka’s Snow White trilogy will tempt mystery readers back for more.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“The fact that this, in a nutshell, is a mix of YA novel and mystery is less discouraging for adult readers as the chase in the story is appealing enough and the cinematic scenes depicted by a sensible translation bring joy to the readers.” — MysteryTribune.com

“Lumikki is fit, resourceful and a mistress of disguise, able to transform her appearance at a moment’s notice…With its sex, drugs and violence, the world Lumikki infiltrates is amoral and cynical; a sophisticated tale, then, suavely translated by Owen F. Witesman.”
– Financial Times

“Discovering these fantastically crafted novels by the very talented Finnish author, Salla Simukka has been a real highlight this year for me. Salla’s courageous and vivid heroine, Lumikki, takes us on a compelling journey, and this outstanding sensual thriller sequence will utterly entrance readers! We are thrilled to be the UK home for The Snow White Trilogy.  “
– Emily Thomas, Publisher, Hot Key Books

“We were delighted and proud to hear that Salla Simukka had chosen Hachette’s Black Moon imprint for her SNOW WHITE trilogy.  Lumikki is a strong and vibrant heroine whose trials and tribulations I personally look forward to sharing with our readers.  No doubt this new voice will have the greatest happily ever after with the French YA community of readers.”
– Aurélia Goyens, Editor,  Hachette Livre Black Moon, France

“What a strong, extraordinary and compelling new voice! And what a thrilling and convincing story! We are absolutely enthusiastic to be able to add Salla Simukka to our list and to make her Snow White trilogy our focus title at the next Frankfurt bookfair and in fall and winter 2014. We are sure that German readers will love Salla Simukka!”
– Katrin Weller, Editor-in-Chief, Arena Verlag, Germany