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…
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.
My thoughts: I don’t believe in reincarnation – so I was very sceptical of the claim that a child could be Áróra’s lost sister, although she does pass on some rather detailed information that there is no other way she could have, three year olds don’t tend to hang out with murderers. Áróra is put through the wringer with this situation but it might finally give her resolution. Daniel takes over the case, to give her breathing space, and asks Áróra to find his suddenly missing lodger – drag queen Lady Gúgúlú.
This second case is incredibly convoluted and provides an entirely new back story to the colourful and sequined world created in Daniel’s garage. It seems the man Daniel knows is not entirely who he claimed to be – and he has multiple names too.
Áróra’s investigation takes her away from Iceland, and away from the peculiar case Daniel is dealing with. But will he get answers or just more questions?
I found Lady’s story, aka Robert, the reason he’s been hiding and has kept his past a tightly guarded secret really fascinating and compelling. It also provided a contrast to the hunt for Áróra’s sister that kept that plot from becoming too woo woo. Another excellent slice of Icelandic noir, and a great set up for further stories.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 