I found this good-condition softcover at the Book Cellar. I love this book and was glad to find an inexpensive release copy.

I first read this book courtesy of myntti's bookring, and loved it so much that I bought a keeper copy of my own. [I like this cover-art better, but I preferred the other title, Not Before Sundown; oh, well, what can you do? {grin}]

I absolutely loved this book! From the mix of point-of-view and documentary-evidence in the storytelling to the devastatingly clear descriptions - sketched with the utmost economy and yet making me incredibly aware of the details - plus the sensuality and the fear and the growing suspense... It's simply wonderful!

I found that the descriptions of Pessi were so vivid that I could almost feel him myself - an armful of deceptively slight muscle and fur, reminding me more of a wild cat but in humanoid shape. The early chapters in which Angel learns how to care for him were very funny - except for the guinea pigs, of course; who was training whom, indeed? And some of the romantic complications with the men Angel's chasing and the ones who are chasing him were amusing at first, until it began to be clear just how self-centered most of the players were. (Very realistic, though; so often the one pursued has no interest in the pursuer, but is busily chasing someone else.) Ecke, bless him, does get some very good bits; early on he's ruminating on how each person (and animal) sees a city in a different way, from the fashion-conscious who see a string of storefronts to a dog who sees scents. Some lovely (and often funny) images in that bit.

I loved the factual-sounding inserts - some of them were very tantalizing, and I find myself hoping that maybe there really is a Tom of Finland work titled Trolls and Fairies out there somewhere {grin}. I'd dearly love to know whether Calvin Klein cologne really does stimulate male ocelots to breed. And I got a big kick out of the faux news article "Wild Beasts Haunt Our Cities," as I'd recently read Beast in the Garden, about real-life predators-in-the-city situations, and found Sinisalo's version to be seamless...

The last section of the book, Part 5, was like a series of quick-cut film segments with ever-increasing tension; it was clear that something awful was going to happen but not how it would play out or who would survive. I don't want to give any spoilers, but will say that I was pleased with the ending, though a bit sad. And I give full marks to the author for seamlessly integrating her mythological creatures into a world that felt utterly real.

And whenever I smell juniper berries I'll think of Pessi...

I left this book in the Little Free Library near the historic old firehouse building at around 4 or so on this beautiful day; hope the finder enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

*** Released for the 2017 Science Fiction release challenge. ***