Endorsements for The Winter Warriors

”This is a book you will not put down. Maybe never”
Richard Ford

“There are echoes of Vasily Grossman in this gripping, chillingly urgent story of the horrors and heroism of war”
A.D. Miller, author of Snowdrops

“An astonishing novel; gripping, horrifying, and surprisingly moving, perfect for fans of Ben Macintyre and Robert Harris”
Paula Hawkins

“A sniper’s life, a thriller of the highest quality, as timely as it is gripping, by a very fine writer”
Philippe Sands

“A fascinating and gripping novel about a forgotten corner of the Second World War. Remarkable and revelatory”
William Boyd

Reviews of The Winter Warriors

“A well-researched, heart-rending account of a tragic war”
Antonia Senior, The Times Best Historical Fiction Books of 2025

“horribly topical and wholly immersive, with descriptions vivid enough to make you shiver, this astonishing book is not only a testament to bravery and resilience, but a powerful indictment of the cruelty and needless suffering that result when ideology comes up against reality”
Laura Wilson, Guardian Best Recent Crime and Thrillers

“Norek delivers big scenes made of touch and sound and smell, all vividly rendered in Nick Caistor’s translation… there are tremendous set pieces of action, such as a Finnish infantry attack on a Soviet tank using only a log of wood and two petrol bombs, with Norek’s account buzzing with as much violent energy — and as much glee — as the attack itself”
John Self, Financial Times

“Young men fighting for their country and lives have rarely been so movingly portrayed. As the temperature falls and the body count rises, the echoes of this powerful historical page-turner can be seen in Ukraine today”
Matt Nixson, Daily Express

“With great skill and concision, Norek brings us into the hearts and minds of frontline soldiers, but also pulls back to include the Finnish Commander in Chief, Mannerheim, the Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and the morally bankrupt Soviet army, whose political officers can shoot their own men at will. All characters are effortlessly brought alive. Knowing that amidst such overwhelming odds not all of the Finns can possibly survive, the suspense gripped me. Grim, funny, poignant, always vivid, this is the best military novel I have read for a long time”
Ben Bergonzi, Historical Novel Society

“Over and beyond the vivid visceral writing, character-driven narrative and a chillingly immersive atmosphere, The Winter Warriors is epic in scope. Both moving and thought-provoking, it is literary adrenaline which hooks you from page one”
Georgia de Chamberet, Bookblast