The Last Grudge

Set in 1990s and 2000s Helsinki, Seeck’s third installment in the “Ghosts of the Past” series (following The Ice Coven) combines a riveting police procedural, complex character development, and an intriguing, twisty mystery. Detective Sergeant Jessica Niemi, seriously injured and still reeling from the events set out in the second book in the series, is on leave; her duties as lead investigator have been assigned to her partner, Yusef Peeple. Business tycoon Eliel Zetterborg is murdered in his heavily guarded penthouse just before a controversial merger. Because Zetterborg has many enemies (including family and friends), suspects are plentiful. Narrator Abby Craden deftly presents the atmospheric environs, adding to the suspenseful tone as she fleshes out each character and brings out their strengths and weaknesses. As the mystery deepens, compassionate and astute Yusef suffers a personal loss, and his colleagues, including the ailing Niemi, pitch in to help. After making many believable yet false deductions, Yusef and his team’s investigation results in a shocking climax.