As Red As Blood by Salla Simukka #Bookreview

Title: As Red As Blood
Series: Lumikki Anderson #1
Author:  Salla Simukka
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Published Date: Published January 17th, 2017
Genre: Mystery, Crime, YA
Page Count:256
Format: Hardcover

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Goodreads Summary: 
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for teens—this international best seller is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat Nordic noir that chills to the bone, and not just because of the bleak winter setting.

Lumikki Andersson has made it a rule to stay out of things that do not involve her. She knows all too well that trouble comes to those who stick their nose where it doesn’t belong. But Lumikki’s rule is put to the test when she uncovers thousands of washed Euro notes hung to dry in her school’s darkroom and three of her classmates with blood on their hands. Literally.

A web of lies and deception now has Lumikki on the run from those determined to get the money back—no matter the cost. At the center of the chaos: Polar Bear, the mythical drug lord who has managed to remain anonymous despite hosting lavish parties and having a notorious reputation. If Lumikki hopes to make it out alive, she’ll have to uncover the entire operation.

Even the cold Finnish winter can’t hide a culprit determined to stain the streets red.

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 My Review:

"She was the puzzle piece that didn't have its own place but could suddenly fill in almost any hole you needed it to."

This book is told in 3rd person and we get to see multiple pov, but mostly it does focus on Lumikki.

Lumikki is a loner who has been severely bullied which has caused her to learn how to be unseeable, un-smellable(is that a word) and basically act as much like a ghost a physically possible. 

We also get to see things more Elsie's and her friends pov, a random woman who we don't learn much about until later in the book, Elsie's dad, and of course some very bad people.

"Remember you aren't really here. This character is not you. Someone else is walking through these rooms in white high heels and a red evening gown. None of this can touch you. "

Lumikki is a character that while extremely cautious and prefers solitude will also willing interact with people if they initiate it and will help if someone asks her. She is also very protective of Elsie and others because of how badly she was bullied.

I could kind of guess what her backstory was and why she acted the way she did now before we learn the full story. 

When it came to the bad guy part of it, I would have liked a little more backstory on some of it, because it was rather confusing at times and I'm still not exactly sure how certain people started working together. 

"The easiest way to get along in life is to meddle as little as possible." 

Overall I really did like this story and was able to completely understand it and it read just like a book would that was originally written in English. When it got towards the last few chapters of the book I was so nervous for Lumikki because of the type of situation she was going into. But she handled everything like such a pro and it was just amazing. 

I can't wait to read the next one to see what Lumikki gets up to next!