Lilja Sigurdardóttir – Cold As Hell.

‘Cold as Hell’ by Lilja Sigurdardóttir and translated by Quentin Bates is the first book in the Áróra Investigation series. This is an author that I was introduced to earlier this year and since then she has been one of my favourite authors for translated fiction.

In this series, we meet half English/ half Icelandic Áróra. Ísafold, her older sister has worryingly disappeared. Her boyfriend is the cause of the worrying, as he has put her in hospital previously by beating her that badly. Áróra and their mother both live in England while Ísofold is in Iceland. Áróra is convinced by her mother to go over to Iceland to try to find Isofold, even though Áróra and Ísofold aren’t on speaking terms due to Ísofold’s relationship with Bjorn. She has no clue what to expect when she gets there. As she arrives and starts to look into what happened to her sister she realises that there is something not right about her disappearance.

Áróra set out to try to find her sister, but while she is a great financial investigator she doesn’t seem to be able to get anywhere with her sister’s disappearance. Ísofold’s neighbour seems a bit strange and there seems to be something he isn’t saying. Áróra is more than a bit concerned about the financial dealings of Hakon the hotelier which almost sidelines her from Ísofold.

This is a very skillfully written book, but if you have read any of this author’s books before you won’t be at all surprised. As the story unfolds we are given perspectives from different points of view. The events of Ísofold’s disappearance begin to come together. Such a twisting story that brings characters who all have their secrets and no matter how much you try to find out who the perpetrator is, you can’t.

Another translated novel which again, is done excellently. The sense of place is not lost in translation at all. Lilja Sigurdardóttir has such a way with words she can bring her characters to life as well as the bleakness of the landscape. The fact that for all the moments of lightness there is a contrasting darkness which is in both the events and the setting of the book.

Quentin Bates allowed the words to evoke the images Lilja Sigurdardóttir originally intended so you feel like you could be there. These are not characters that are all likeable and it makes them real and relatable in so many ways. Again the author has brought a mystery that is very atmospheric and so intriguing, with characters you want to get to know. She has again proved she is a master of her craft.

Thanks to Anne Cater and Orenda Books for my place on this tour and the copy of this outstanding book.