The second breathtaking instalment in the chilling, addictive An Áróra Investigation series…

Book blurb

When entrepreneur Flosi arrives home for dinner one night, he discovers that his house has been ransacked, and his wife Gudrun missing. A letter on the kitchen table confirms that she has been kidnapped. If Flosi doesn’t agree to pay an enormous ransom, Gudrun will be killed.

Forbidden from contacting the police, he gets in touch with Áróra, who specialises in finding hidden assets, and she, alongside her detective friend Daniel, try to get to the bottom of the case without anyone catching on.

Meanwhile, Áróra and Daniel continue the puzzling, devastating search for Áróra’s sister Ísafold, who disappeared without trace. As fog descends, in a cold and rainy Icelandic autumn, the investigation becomes increasingly dangerous, and confusing.

My thoughts

We’re in a rainy, cold and autumnal Iceland in this second An Áróra Investigation. Áróra is settling into her new home as she continues to look for her sister Ísafold who went missing without trace in the last book. High on the suspect list is Ísafold’s boyfriend now long gone from Iceland. Even Áróra hasn’t been able to trace him but, of course, it’s assets rather than people she hunts.

Flossi gets home to find a kitchen in chaos and his wife, Gudrun, taken. A ransom note left on the table. If he calls the police Gudrun will die! If he doesn’t pay Gudrun will die! He calls his accountant, Michael, to make arrangements.

Áróra is out with her drone when she gets a call from Michael, an associate, and he asks her to help with a kidnapping. Áróra agrees, she has worked with Michael before and he’s always been helpful. She goes to see Flossi and as Michael asked gives her support. It’s obvious that Flossi is undone by Gudrun’s kidnapping. She will fly to England to collect the ransom money that Michael is releasing from Flossi’s (not so legitimate) accounts when it’s ready. In the meantime she persuades Flossi to allow her to bring in Daniel, a police detective, they set up a meeting.

Daniel is the detective on her sister’s missing persons case and has become a friend although Áróra was upset that the case was being put to one side and Ísafold is presumed dead, though deep down she ‘knows’ it’s true. They haven’t spoken much recently.

It’s agreed that Daniel and his team will investigate with a very low-key and secretive operation. They go to great lengths to ensure nothing gets out about it but that’s put into jeopardy when Helen thinks she may be compromised!

As Daniel and Áróra investigate it becomes obvious that Flossi has secrets – financial, yes, but is he lying about his relationship with Gudrun? Who took Gudrun? Could the Russian mafia be involved? Or is it something entirely different? Will the kidnappers find out that the police are involved? What would happen if they did? Can Daniel, his team, and Áróra keep the investigation under wraps long enough to bring the ransom money to Iceland and make the money drop in exchange for Gudrun?

Then something happens to turn the whole operation on it’s head!

This is a brilliant second instalment of the Áróra investigations, it’s a cleverly written, chilling murder and finance mystery. Not only is there a great sense of place but Lilja Sigurdardóttir gives us an amazing glimpse into the Icelandic culture and, moreover, the psyche of a killer and those close to. It’s a compelling and completely absorbing story. The ongoing characters are wonderful Áróra, Daniel, Helen whose private life we learn about and even a brief appearance is made by Lady Gúgúlú – who is just superb – they all make the book just a joy to read.

I loved Lilja Sigurdardóttir’s Reykjavik Noir trilogy but the Áróra series is equally as good – better! If that’s possible. Just as dark, although perhaps in different ways, it’s a series that I just want to keep reading. So, of course, I’m really looking forward to White as Snow which comes out in October.

The translation by Quentin Bates is, as ever, excellent and allows me the ability to read all the wonderful books by this author.

Book: Purchased

Previously read: Cold as Hell An Áróra Investigates #1 |The Reykjavik Noir Trilogy Snare | Trap | Cage and the stand-alone Betrayal

Translation

It is a must to acknowledge the translator without whom I and many others would not be able to read and enjoy foreign language books and to the publishers who bring these wonderful stories into our lives. Thanks to Quentin Bates (see below) and Orenda Books Ltd.

Information

Published: Orenda Books Ltd (13 Oct 2022) | 300 pages

Buy: Orenda Books Ltd | Your local bookstore | Your local library

Author

Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurdardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written four crime novels, with Snare, the first in a new series and Lilja’s English debut shortlisting for the CWA International Dagger and hitting bestseller lists worldwide. Trapsoon followed suit, with the third in the trilogy Cage winning the Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year, and was a Guardian Book of the Year. Lilja’s standalone Betrayal, was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel. In 2021, Cold as Hell, the first in the An Áróra Investigation series was published, with Red as Blood to follow in 2022. The film rights have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. Lilja is also an award-winning screenwriter in her native Iceland. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner.

Lilja Sigurðardóttir – website | @lilja1972 | Orenda Books Ltd

Books

Reykjavik Noir series

Snare | Trap | Cage

Standalone

Betrayal

An Áróra Investigation series

Cold As Hell |Red As Blood | White As Snow

Translator

Quentin Bates is a translator and author in his own right you can find more information about him, his translations and his books on his website and you can follow or on Twitter (or X as it’s now called!).

Red as Blood by Lilja Sigurdardóttir is my 7th read and now, at last, I’ve shared my thoughts on it.