Dog Park

A Novel

INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER • Set in Ukraine and Finland, a captivating story of intrigue, betrayal, and murder in the global fertility market--from acclaimed writer Sofi Oksanen, "an international publishing sensation frequently likened to Stieg Larsson" (The Guardian).

Helsinki, 2016. Olenka sits on a bench, watching a family play in a dog park. A stranger sits down beside her. Olenka startles; she would recognize this other woman anywhere. After all, Olenka was the one who ruined her life. And this woman may be about to do the same to Olenka. Yet, for a fragile moment, here they are, together—looking at their own children being raised by other people.

Moving seamlessly between modern-day Finland and Ukraine in the early days of its post-Soviet independence, Dog Park is a keenly observed, dark, and propulsive novel set at the intersection of East and West, centered on a web of exploitation and the commodification of the female body.

Sofi Oksanen brings fearless psychological acuity to this captivating story about a woman unable to escape the memory of her lost child, the ruthless powers that still hunt her, and the lies that could well end up saving her.

A surprisingly good novel about Ukraine

As someone who was born and lived in the parts of Ukraine described in the book, I found the book amazingly well-researched and relatable. The writer conveys the atmosphere and the events of Ukraininan life so well that I had to remind myself that it was actually written by a Finnish writer. The plot is captivating and even though the story is quite sad, it is hard to put the book down. Highly recommended!