A companion--but not a sequel--to Silences: A Novel of the 1918 Finnish Civil War, The Devil's Violin: Myllysilta's History is the story of surviving and thriving, of love and heartbreak, and of the wisdom of leaving past songs unsung.
From the Back Cover
Born into a violent home in early-1900s Finland, Antti Myllysilta learns to kill to survive. Gifted in languages, he grows up reading widely and observing human nature.
Just before the 1918 Finnish Civil War, Antti's Red Finn brothers ambush the farm of White sympathizer Jussi Mantere and murder his mother. Jussi kills all four brothers, but Antti escapes. During the war, Antti spies for the Reds while fighting alongside the Whites. What he sees and does in the war disgusts him, and he vows, No son of mine will go to war.
At last, peace is declared. Antti emigrates to Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada, where many Finns already live--including Jussi Mantere. Now known as Andrew Millbridge, Antti Myllysilta builds a new life--marriage, a family, and successful (if not strictly legal) businesses. Then a new World War looms, threatening his son's safety. Over time, his daughter loses confidence in her father's sanity.
And always, Millbridge wonders when Jussi Mantere will at last seek revenge for the murders in their shared past.
About the Author
Roy Blomstrom, born in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, is the son of Finland-Swede parents who lived through the Finnish Civil War and later emigrated to Canada. He lives and writes in Shuniah, Ontario, just outside Thunder Bay.
Praise for The Devil's Violin: Myllysilta's History
"Blomstrom's writing is smart, crisp, rich in detail and human emotions.... This is a gripping, fine, and rewarding read."
—Michael Sobota, The Walleye
“A forgotten page of history Blomstrom renders vividly.”
—H. Lewis Allways, reviewed at Amazon.com
