Finnish novelist admits to using ghost writer for 16 crime novels
Publisher denies knowlege
Tuula Sariola
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Ritva Sarkola
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Tuula Sariola, widow of the renowned Finnish crime novelist Mauri Sariola, has admitted that 16 crime novels credited to her were actually written by a ghost writer, her friend Ritva Sarkola.
Sariola says that the arrangement, which has lasted for nearly 20 years, "was based on an agreement between friends".
Paula Pesonen, an editor at Gummerus Publishers, who fine-tuned all of the manuscripts into shape for publication, says that she had no idea that a ghost writer was used.
"I am extremely surprised and shocked over the situation, and I can only say that I feel sorry for all parties", Pesonen said.
On Wednesday, in an interview with the Finnish News Agency STT, Sariola denied suspicions that she would not have been the writer of the books published in her name. Now she is apologising to both her readers, and to Gummerus.
The mystery began to unravel when the Oulu-based newspaper Kaleva published an interview with Mauno Moilanen, the head of Myllylahti Publishers, which will soon release a new detective story by Sarkola herself.
"Sarkola’s life’s work would have gone to waste if nobody had known the author", Moilanen said, explaining his decision to reveal the truth.
Ritva Sarkola is an old family friend of Tuula Sariola and Mauri Sariola, who died in 1985.
"I am relieved that Tuula admitted the truth about our cooperation in the writing of books. We both hope that handling the matter in public would end here", Sarkola says.
Sarkola says that she had promised Mauri Sariola that she would do all she can to help Tuula Sariola.
"When Tuula’s situation improved, she also gave me some money", Sarkola said in Wednesday’s edition of the late-edition tabloid Ilta-Sanomat.
During his career, Mauri Sariola (1924-1985) wrote 90 books, with total sales in Finland of about two million copies. Translations of his works have been published in 20 countries.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 16.6.2006 - TODAY |
 Finnish novelist admits to using ghost writer for 16 crime novels
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