Out Now! Out 20th September 2025

Book blurb

Nothing has changed at Bjargarlækur for as long as anyone can remember – so are moves to bring change to this remote farm in the Icelandic countryside a motive for murder? Three elderly siblings have lived more or less peacefully in this isolated place their whole lives, until Brynjólfur is found dead in his own bed. Called on to help out at the farm, freelance journalist Alma is far from certain that the old man died a natural death. Determined establish the facts of the matter, she finds herself caught up in a vicious family feud. Sisters Klara and Thórdís are unable to agree on the future of the farm, just as others with an interest in the place circle hungrily around them. Echoes of missed opportunities, lost love and age-old crimes surface as a reckoning takes a bitter toll on those left behind – and Alma struggles to get to the truth.

My thoughts

A Lethal Legacy is the first book by Guðrún Guðlaugsdóttir to be translated and published in English.

The author brings a freelance journalist, Alma, to a more remote part of Iceland where her daughter, Gunnhildur, has been working.

Gunnhildur works as a helper to three elderly siblings – Brynjólfur the brother of Klara and Thórdís – who live on their farm Bjargarlækur. Brynjólfur has died and the two sisters are left bereft and somewhat at odds with each other over what should happen to their home. Gunnhildur feels overwhelmed and a little concerned by Brynjólfur death, was it an overdose of his medication, which she is responsible for dispensing, that caused his death? How will she continue to care for the two sisters, her young daughter and help arrange the funeral? Alma, despite the fact that the new house she and her husband have bought is being renovated by her husband, doesn’t hesitate to come to her daughter’s aid.

Once she arrives at the farm Alma feels something is odd about Brynjólfur’s death. She sets about trying to find out what happened whilst supporting her daughter at the farm.

As Alma snoops around in the farmhouse and goes about her investigation she finds not only the sisters but herself in very dangerous circumstances.

This book delves into some dark history alongside Brynjólfur mysterious death. There are echoes of Miss Marple at play in Alma’s character or, perhaps, Poirot – forthright but with less arrogance, more empathy and plenty of ‘little grey cells’ – but has Alma bitten off more than she can chew?

Alma is a terrific character and the story quietly captures the attention and the heart of the reader as we see what is happening to the sisters, find out more about their lives both in the present and the past. When we ultimately find out what happened a little sadness comes with that knowledge. This is a charming, engrossing and fascinating story

Guðrún Guðlaugsdóttir, through Quentin Bates splendid translation and Corylus Books vision in bringing this book to the English speaking world, has brought this reader a new series that will be too hard to resist. I look forward to reading more of Alma and heartily recommend this book to all.

Thanks

Many thanks to Ewa Sherman for the invite to join this terrific BlogTour and Corylus Books for an eCopy of A Lethal Legacy by Guðrún Guðlaugsdóttir and translated by Quentin Bates

BlogTour

Why not take a look at these wonderful blog posts to find out more about A Lethal Legacy and then head down to the buy links to get your very own copy?

Information

Published: Corylus Books (20th September) | Ebook and paperback: 978-1-917586-02-3 | 234pp | Paperback £9.99 | Ebook £3.79

Buy: Corylus | Waterstones | Amazon | Your local library | Your local bookshop

Author

With a long career as a journalist behind her, Guðrún Guðlaugsdóttir’s literary output has been prodigious, having written biographies, books of interviews, collections of short stories and a book of verse, as well as the enduringly popular series of novels featuring the exploits of journalist Alma Jónsdóttir. 

Guðrún lives in Kópavogur. She has no plans to retire, and is still writing when most people of her age are taking it easy.

Guðrún on Skáld.IS | on Facebook | on Instagram | on GoodRead (lists authors books)