Elli Valtonen

Elli Valtonen is a Finnish author, veterinarian, and researcher based in Helsinki. Her work is distinguished by its literary sensitivity and deep engagement with questions of animal welfare, ethics, violence, and the relationship between humans and animals.

Elli Valtonen made her literary debut with Stunning Cradle (Tainnutuskehto, 2023), a novel exploring the moral and emotional complexities faced by three veterinary students. The novel was shortlisted for the Best Debut of the Year Prize, and it was awarded an honorary mention for “its depiction of faltering of youthful idealism”. In 2024, Valtonen was named The Newcomer of the Year by BookBeat. A Face Like Ours is her much-anticipated second novel.

Alongside her writing career, Elli Valtonen has conducted doctoral research focusing on animal welfare crimes, drawing together perspectives from veterinary medicine and criminology. In June 2026, she earned a doctorate in Clinical Veterinary Medicine at the University of Helsinki.