The Light in a Dark House

English translation shortlisted for the Petrona Award (Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year) 2014

“Magical. Better than Mankell.” (The Times)

The murder of an already dying woman puzzles the Finnish police in Turku: who breaks into a hospital to kill a comatose, unidentified patient? And what kind of murderer leaves a single trace on the bed sheet of his victim – a substance that forensics identify as being tear fluid.

Investigator Kimmo Joentaa should actually be devoting all his attention to solving this unusual case, but when Larissa, the woman who unexpectedly brought back light into his dark life, vanishes without a trace, he must divide his attention between the cases.

While the murderer finds more victims in different cities, Kimmo Joentaa’s dogged search finally leads him to a small village in the deepest Finnish province – and into the heart of darkness of a long, bygone summer.

Contact foreign rights
Sample Translations
Rights sold to

Czech Republic: Moravska Bastei MOBA / France: Jacqueline Chambon / Great Britain (World English): Harvill Secker / Netherlands: Cossee

  • Publisher: Galiani-Berlin
  • Release: 25.07.2011
  • ISBN: 978-3-86971-016-7
  • 320 Pages
  • Series: Ein Kimmo-Joentaa-Roman
  • Author: Jan Costin Wagner
The Light in a Dark House
Jan Costin Wagner The Light in a Dark House
Susanne Schleyer
© Susanne Schleyer
Jan Costin Wagner

Jan Costin Wagner was born in 1972 and lives in Frankfurt am Main, where he works as a writer and musician. His novels featuring the Finnish investigator Kimmo Joentaa were lauded by the press, received numerous awards (including German Crime Fiction Award and a nomination for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize) and have been translated into 14 languages. 

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