​

Matti Remes (born February 21, 1955, in Mänttä) is a Finnish author, graphic designer, and cartoonist. He is best known for the Ruben Waara crime novel series set in the archipelago town of Hanko, combining humor, local atmosphere, and elements of the classic detective story.

 

Key facts

• Date of birth: February 21, 1955

• Place of birth: Mänttä, Finland

• Residences: Helsinki, Hanko, and Italy

• Professions: Author, graphic designer, former professor at Aalto University (University of Art and Design Helsinki)

• Awards: Shortlisted for the Finnish “Vuoden johtolanka” crime fiction award in 2022 for the novel The Norwegian Girlfriend

• ​

Literary work

Remes has published thirteen novels, all set in and around Hanko. His Ruben Waara series is known for its gently ironic tone and vivid depiction of the setting. The books contain little violence but plenty of humor, and Remes has developed a highly distinctive personal style. His novels have often been praised for standing apart from mainstream crime fiction.

Matti Remes has also written seven cartoon books dealing with themes such as relationships, golf, and friendship. His cartoons have appeared in several newspapers and magazines in Finland and abroad, including the American edition of Playboy magazine.

Remes also edited the non-fiction book Success – The Little Red Book of Success, which explores success from various perspectives. (The co-author is Päivi Remes.)

​

Artistic and professional career

Alongside his literary career, Remes has had a long career in visual communication. For decades he ran his own design agency, Remes & Packart Oy, and in the early 2000s served as Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki (now part of Aalto University). He has also worked with the Finnish Postal Service’s art committee, contributing to the visual design of Finnish postage stamps.

Among Remes’s best-known design works are the logo for Marianne candy and the logo of the Finnish National Theatre.

​

Recognition and influence

The President of Finland awarded Remes the honorary title of Chamber Councilor in 2019 for his contributions to graphic design, education, and literature. His works have been compared to Andrea Camilleri’s Montalbano series. The television series Murder in Hanko is based on Remes’s characters and stories.

Remes lives and works in Helsinki and Hanko, spending part of each year in Italy. His works combine the atmosphere of the Finnish archipelago with the traditions of international crime fiction.