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Finnish authors abroad
Finnish authors abroad
The only difference between the dead and the living is the gaze.
Paris, 1943, under the German occupation. A teenage boy named Lucien steals a locked notebook from an antique shop. He starts using it as a journal but soon discovers that the stories he writes on its pages become real – especially if they are related to death.
As Lucien comes of age, his life becomes entwined with writers and artists such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Jean Genet, and Alberto Giacometti. Yet beneath his literary aspirations lies a deeper obsession: the act of looking. The mysterious notebook gradually transforms from a gift into a curse, forcing Lucien to confront the moral consequences of imagination and desire.
Strongly linked to some of the most fascinating artistic and literary currents of the post-war Paris, The Gaze Behind the Lock unfolds as a meditation on ambition, art, passion, perception, and the dangerous power of creation. At the same time, the story is a gripping adventure driven by obsession and violence. Both fast-paced and philosophical, eerily entertaining and imaginatively conceived, The Gaze Behind the Lock combines literary mystery, speculative fiction, and psychological suspense in a unique way.
The Gaze Behind the Lock appeals to readers of historical and mystery novels as much as to admirers of intellectually ambitious literary fiction. Through its rich engagement with the work of Alberto Giacometti, the novel reflects Heikki Kännö’s dual sensibility as a writer and visual artist, exploring how art can transform not only our perception of ourselves and others, but also life itself.
English sample
English synpopsis
Finnish edition
Nominated for the Finlandia Prize for Fiction 2026 (winner tba)
‘The novel, set in post-World War II Paris, deals with mysticism and hidden knowledge and is a defense of art and philosophy. It blends together imagined and real-life figures and proceeds with a thriller-like tension. The various narrators of the book, with their differing levels of reliability, make this a polyphonic and multilayered work.’ —Finlandia Prize Jury
‘Heikki Kännö’s fresh novel The Gaze Behind the Lock is a masterful and captivating book. The author succeeds in turning the subject of the philosophy of art into an irresistible work that draws one into its world. […] The conflicting characters of the novel are richly depicted. Lucien’s obsession-hued thought constructs are explored with special precision. The reader is not let off easily, as they are drawn into the labyrinths of the human mind where desires and needs compete with each other. Kännö’s text is captivating and evokes strong emotions. Even when one momentarily puts the novel down, it feels as if you are still in the world depicted in the book. The surrounding reality fades into a mirage and one’s thoughts gravitate to the company of Lucien and his friends. Only the rarest of novels reach this level of interaction.’ —Toni Jerrman, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper
‘ (…) the themes of art, guilt and observation tie the novel’s parts together in a masterful way.’ — Satakunnan kansa daily newspaper
‘The plot and the structure of the novel are complex and multilayered. Many of the characters are drawn from the real world, but Kännö alters their lives to suit the requirements of fiction. This is fascinating. The Gaze Behind the Lock continuously rolls forth a wealth of language, insights into art and philosophical concepts and human relationships in a way that is irresistible.’ — Turun Sanomat daily newspaper
‘Heikki Kännö is a unique figure in Finnish literature. He writes ambitious, gripping novels in which art and artists have the power to change our reality – for better or for worse. The Gaze Behind the Lock is both fast-paced and philosophical, eerily entertaining and imaginative. It draws on philosophy and art to tell a story of obsessions, selfishness and sacrifice also questioning what an artist in entitled to do in the name of their art. The Gaze Behind the Lock will appeal to fans of crime mysteries and readers of philosophical novels alike. It will leave a lasting impression on readers of compelling fiction.’ —Helena Kulmala, Publishing Manager, WSOY, Finland
