Helinä Häkkänen

Non-fiction author · researcher · soon a novelist

Author

I write about the human mind, crime and violence. My non-fiction books share what I have learned as a scientist and a psychotherapist. My first crime novel will be published in early 2028.

6non-fiction books
60+peer-reviewed articles
2028first crime novel
Helinä Häkkänen signing copies of Profiloija at the book fair
At the Helsinki Book Fair, 2025

Newest books

Cover of Profiloija BESTSELLER

Bestseller · Bazar 2025

Profiloija (The Profiler)

I worked at the National Bureau of Investigation for more than ten years, building offender profiles from crime scene findings to support investigations. In the book I describe how the criminal mind is studied: I open up cases that have been heard in court, and the methods and history of profiling.

About the book (in Finnish) →
Cover of Suomalaisen henkirikoksen anatomia

Newest · Bazar 2026

Suomalaisen henkirikoksen anatomia (The Anatomy of Finnish Homicide)

The book asks why and how people are killed in Finland. I analyse Finnish homicides on the basis of what I have learned as a scientific researcher, a police specialist researcher and a clinician.

About the book (in Finnish) →
Helinä Häkkänen with a Profiler tattoo on her hand

Coming · early 2028

My first crime novel will be published in early 2028

I have worked with real crimes for 25 years. My debut crime novel, set in the world of criminal investigation, is currently being edited and will be published in early 2028.

Earlier books

Cover of the audiobook 100 kysymystä narsismista

100 kysymystä narsismista

Audiobook · Otava 2025

A psychologist’s survival guide to recognising narcissism and getting through it.

Cover of 100 kysymystä narsismista

100 kysymystä narsismista

Book · Readme.fi 2018

The same book in print.

Cover of Psychopathy and Law

Psychopathy and Law: A Practitioner’s Guide

Wiley-Blackwell 2012 · editor

An international handbook on psychopathy in the legal system.

Cover of Psykopatia

Psykopatia

Edita 2009 · editor

A Finnish-language edited volume on psychopathy, its assessment and how it shows itself.

Scientific publications

Behind my books lie more than 25 years of research. I have published peer-reviewed articles in international and Finnish journals, as well as book chapters and research reports.

60+peer-reviewed articles
17book chapters
8research reports
  • Homicide
  • Psychopathy
  • Stalking
  • Offender profiling
  • Witness psychology
  • Trauma and EMDR

Selected publications

  • Häkkänen, H. (under review, 2026). Expert Psychological Evidence and the Evaluation of Traumatic Memory in War Crimes Trials.
  • Häkkänen, H. (2024). Serving as an Expert Witness in Court: A Legal Psychologist’s Opinion on the Assessment of Testimonial Evidence in a War Crimes Trial. Part II. [in Finnish] Defensor Legis 1/2024. Finnish Bar Association.
  • Häkkänen-Nyholm, H., Heinimaa, M., & Solomon, R. (2020). The Use of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) in the Treatment of Complicated Grief Following the Loss of a Loved One. [in Finnish] Duodecim 136(17), 1889–94.
  • Häkkänen-Nyholm, H. & Häkli, E. (2019). Views of Legal Professionals and Psychotherapists on Traumatisation and Its Effects on Testimonial Evidence. [in Finnish] Defensor Legis 6/2019.
  • Häkkänen-Nyholm, H. & Salo, V. (2019). Sentencing for Stalking: Finnish Case Law in 2015–2016. [in Finnish] Defensor Legis 3/2019.
  • Häkkänen-Nyholm, H. (2018). A History of the Applications of Legal Psychology. [in Finnish] Defensor Legis 2, 183–193.
  • Häkkänen-Nyholm, H. (2017). Legal Proceedings and Stress: What Physicians Need to Know. Review. [in Finnish] Duodecim 133(24), 2351–6.
  • Häkkänen-Nyholm, H. (2017). Legal-Psychological Preparation of a Party or Witness for a Court Hearing or Arbitration. [in Finnish] Defensor Legis 1, 118–131.
  • O’Toole, M. E., Folino, J., Garbarino, J., Gorelick, S. M., Häkkänen-Nyholm, H., Meloy, R., Samenow, S. E., & Nishimura, Y. S. (2014). Why Do Young Males Attack Schools? Seven Discipline Leaders Share Their Perspectives. Violence and Gender 1(1), 13–18.
  • Häkkänen-Nyholm, H. & Hare, R. D. (2009). Psychopathy, homicide, and the courts: Working the system. Criminal Justice & Behavior 36(8), 761–777.
See the full publication list