Photo: Unknown author / CC BY-SA 2.5 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Leena Lehtolainen is a writer, literary critic and columnist, born on March 11, 1964 in Vesanto, North Savo, Finland. As of 2026, Leena Lehtolainen is 62 years old. Education on record includes University of Helsinki. Recorded honors include Clew of the Year (1997), Kirjapöllö Award (2002) and Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland (2020). Notable works include Fatal Headwind, Death Spiral and Snow Woman (Maria Kallio Book 4).
My Take
Leena Lehtolainen is a writer I hold in high regard. Her Maria Kallio series helped put a woman's perspective at the center of Nordic crime fiction long before the genre became a global phenomenon, and the recognition she has earned, from the Clew of the Year in 1997 to the Pro Finlandia Medal in 2020, reflects a career of real substance. Born in Vesanto, she studied Finnish literature at the University of Helsinki and also conducts choirs; she brings a musician's ear to her prose. I admire crime writers who use the form to examine society and character rather than just deliver thrills, and Lehtolainen does precisely that with quiet authority.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Leena Lehtolainen
- Name (Japanese)
- レーナ・レヘトライネン
- Reading
- れーな・れへとらいねん
- Born
- March 11, 1964 (age 62)
- Origin
- Vesanto, North Savo, Finland
- Occupation
- writer / literary critic / columnist / choir director / novelist
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Dragon
2. Background
- University
- University of Helsinki
Awards & achievements
- 1997 Clew of the Year
- 2002 Kirjapöllö Award
- 2020 Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | Fatal Headwind |
| Notable work | Death Spiral |
| Notable work | Snow Woman (Maria Kallio Book 4) |
| Notable work | Her Enemy (Maria Kallio Book 2) |
| Notable work | The Bodyguard |
| Notable work | The Lion of Justice |
4. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.leenalehtolainen.net/
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leena%20Lehtolainen
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AC%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8A%E3%83%BB%E3%83%AC%E3%83%98%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%8D%E3%83%B3
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q267698
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Leena Lehtolainen born?
Leena Lehtolainen was born on March 11, 1964 and is 62 years old.
Where is Leena Lehtolainen from?
Leena Lehtolainen is from Vesanto, North Savo, Finland.
What does Leena Lehtolainen do?
Leena Lehtolainen works as writer, literary critic, columnist, choir director, novelist.
Where did Leena Lehtolainen study?
Leena Lehtolainen attended University of Helsinki.
What is Leena Lehtolainen known for?
Leena Lehtolainen's notable works include Fatal Headwind, Death Spiral, Snow Woman (Maria Kallio Book 4).
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