With the twisty, intricately plotted and atmospheric, Dark as Night is the highly anticipated fourth book in the bestselling An Áróra Investigation series continues, as Áróra and her friends face unimaginable danger and extraordinary experiences that may change everything, forever…

Book blurb

When Áróra receives a call telling her that a child she’s never met is claiming to be her missing sister reincarnated, she is devastated … as ridiculous as the allegations might seem.

For three years she has been searching for her sister without finding a single clue, and now this strange child seems to have new information.

On the same day, Icelandic detective Daníel returns home to find a note from his tenant, drag queen Lady Gúgúlú, giving notice on her flat and explaining that she has to leave the country. Daníel is immediately suspicious, and when three threatening men appear, looking for Lady, it’s clear to him that something is very wrong…

And as Iceland’s long dark nights continue into springtime, that is just the very beginning…

My thoughts

The fourth book of the An Áróra series presents us with two main storylines. One involves a rather strange lead about Áróra’s missing sister Ísafold who she has been searching for since she disappeared in the first book. The second involves Lady Gúgúlú, Daniel’s tenant, neighbour and friend.

As for the lead Áróra receives it comes when a mother tells Áróra that her three year old daughter, Ester Lóa, believes that she is Ísafold reincarnated! It’s a shock, unusual even crazy Áróra knows but she just can’t dismiss it. When she and Daniel meet with the mother, Elísabet, Daniel is inclined to believe it’s not true. Áróra is confused by the fact that the little girl had said that Ísafold was killed by an ice bear – the nickname Ísafold gave her boyfriend – could it be true? Daniel also noticed that the little girl had apparently indicated where the most blood was found in the flat! Surely it was leaked information? It couldn’t be true? Could this child be what she says she is? Surely it’s some kind of scam!

Daniel and Áróra return home from meeting Elísabet. Áróra goes for a shower while Daniel goes to make dinner but he finds a note from Lady Gúgúlú, real name is Róbert and officially known as Haraldur – Harry for short, telling him he has gone abroad on a family matter and won’t be back! So he goes to check the garage room nothing had been taken he had left his phone, his iPad and not even taken a toothbrush! Daniel is sad that there hadn’t been a chance to say goodbye but is mainly concerned, who goes away without even taking their toothbrush?

Daniel and Áróra know that they are each too close to their own situation and if they are to find out what happened then they must be more objective. So, Daniel would need look into Elísabets claim and Áróra would need to find out what is going on with Lady Gúgúlú, where she had gone and why?

Lady Gúgúlú has been a wonderful but minor character in the series so far. But now we have an amazing storyline as we follow Lady Gúgúlú. Returning to his original name of Róbert he decides to become Robbi. Áróra’s investigation begins too and as this storyline develops we find out who the people are that Robbi is running from and why these people have been looking for him for so many years. As we read this gripping storyline we finally get to know more about this character and what we learn is both fascinating and heartbreaking.

Each of the themes are emotional yet the book as a whole is written so that you are fully engrossed in and engaged with the two investigations. One will bring a fast paced and thrilling conclusion whilst the other brings a supernatural element.

I love Lady Gúgúlú’s character and am delighted that Róbert’s story has come to light in this fourth book of the series. I hope that we’ll still see Lady Gúgúlú, or Róbert, in future books.

I’m also glad that what actually happened to Ísafold is being resolved. However, there is still more to that storyline as we are presented with a final shocking twist!

As always it’s good to read a series from the first book and this particular storyline of Ísafold’s is a good reason for reading the series in order. Even having read all the books it’s only as this is revealed that I recalled a particular scene from an earlier book! Surely there will be more about it in a future book? Surely!

What another wonderful book from Lilja Sigurdardóttir! The best one yet, I loved it and am already looking forward to reading the next one. I hope it isn’t long before it comes out.

Beautifully translated by Lorenza Garcia. Where would we be if wonderful publishers with excellent translators didn’t exist? We would be missing out on some of the best stories in the world and what a tragedy that would be.

Books

Book: My purchased copy to go with my other Lilja Sigurðardóttir books. Click on any picture to go to my thoughts on that book.

Thanks

Many thanks to Orenda Books for an eARC of Dark as Night by Lilja Sigurdardóttir and to Anne at RandomThingsTours for the invitation to this amazing BlogTour.

BlogTour

Why not take a take a look at all these lovely blogs for more insights into Dark as Night? Then check out the links below to get your very own copy of Dark as Night by Lilja Sigurdardóttir.

Information

PUBLICATION: ORENDA BOOKS | 10th OCTOBER 2024 | PAPERBACK ORIGINAL | £9.99 | ISBN13: 9781916788367 | 276 pp

Buy: Orenda Books | Hive | Waterstones | Bookshop.org (affiliate link) | AmazonSmileUK

Author: Bestselling crime-writer Lilja Sigurðardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written ten crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavík Noir trilogy, and her standalone thriller Betrayal, all of which have hit bestseller lists worldwide and been long- and shortlisted for multiple awards. The film rights for the Reykjavík Noir trilogy have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California, and the An Áróra Investigation series is now in production for a major TV series. Cold as Hell was published in the UK in 2021 and reprinted twice, followed by Red as Blood and White as Snow, both number-one digital bestsellers. Lilja lives outside of Reykjavík with her partner and a brood of chickens.

Lilja Sigurðardóttir – website | @lilja1972 | Orenda Books Ltd

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