The English Speakers

A cold case unearths shocking secrets from the past in this gripping Nordic noir crime thriller, perfect for fans of Wallander and True Detective.

Three detectives, thrown together as expats in their Helsinki precinct, don't seem to have much in common aside from their job. But Charles, who holds a disgraced past, James with a side-gig as a famous author and Aija, young and eager to impress, begin to bond over their otherness, when two cryptic cases suddenly come their way.

The fifteen-year-old remains of a young woman are found buried in the woods. The crime scene hasn't been preserved, her identity is unknown, and her killer is a couple of decades ahead of them - solving this case seems unlikely.

Months later, after the case has turned colder still, Charlie is unnerved when he is called out to another grisly crime - an apparent suicide. First on the scene, Charlie knows this should be James' case, but from the evidence he is faced with, he starts to suspect that James may in fact be the perpetrator. How far is Charlie willing to go to uncover the dark secrets surrounding him?

Set against the constant rain of a Nordic spring, The English Speakers is a noir procedural that tackles themes of identity, race, and belonging as it builds towards its devastating conclusion.

Author: Agatha Zaza
Publisher: Datura Books
Published: 07/14/2026
Pages: 400
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 7.70h x 5.10w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9781917415262


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 05/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 05/15/2026

About the Author
Agatha Zaza is a writer living in Helsinki, Finland. She works in the international development sector specialising in communications, institutional giving and human rights. Born in Zambia, Agatha has worked and lived in several countries, among them New Zealand and the then Soviet Union. While in Ireland, she earned a Master's in Equality Studies from University College Dublin and she completed her first novel, The Pretenders, in Singapore. Agatha's work can be seen in the Johannesburg Review of Books. She has been nominated for a prize for short fiction. She can usually be found working in cafes in Helsinki's historic centre and enjoys perusing its second hand clothing and furniture shops.