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Murder at the Residence: Nordic crime fiction's best-kept secret!
It’s New Year and Iceland is still reeling from the effects of the financial crash when a notorious financier is found beaten to death after a high-profile reception at the President’s residence.
The police are certain they have the killer – or do they? Determined to get to the truth, maverick lawyer Stella Blómkvist isn’t so sure.
'Stella is a force of She drinks Jack Daniels and uses the Alice B Toklas cookbook' – Mark Sanderson, The Times
A stripper disappears from one of city's seediest nightspots, and nobody but Stella seems interested in finding her. A drug mule cooling his heels in a prison cell refuses to speak to anyone but Stella – although she’s never heard of him. An old man makes a deathbed confession and request for Stella to find the family he lost long ago.
‘I had never heard of Stella Blómkvist, but I guarantee I’ll never forget her!’ – Christoffer Petersen
With a sharp tongue and a moral compass all of her own, Stella Blómkvist has a talent for attracting trouble and she’s as at home in the corridors of power as in the dark corners of Reykjavík’s underworld.
Stella Blómkvist delivers an explosive mix of murder, intrigue and surprise, and is one of Iceland's best-loved crime series.
The police are certain they have the killer – or do they? Determined to get to the truth, maverick lawyer Stella Blómkvist isn’t so sure.
'Stella is a force of She drinks Jack Daniels and uses the Alice B Toklas cookbook' – Mark Sanderson, The Times
A stripper disappears from one of city's seediest nightspots, and nobody but Stella seems interested in finding her. A drug mule cooling his heels in a prison cell refuses to speak to anyone but Stella – although she’s never heard of him. An old man makes a deathbed confession and request for Stella to find the family he lost long ago.
‘I had never heard of Stella Blómkvist, but I guarantee I’ll never forget her!’ – Christoffer Petersen
With a sharp tongue and a moral compass all of her own, Stella Blómkvist has a talent for attracting trouble and she’s as at home in the corridors of power as in the dark corners of Reykjavík’s underworld.
Stella Blómkvist delivers an explosive mix of murder, intrigue and surprise, and is one of Iceland's best-loved crime series.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2023
About the author
Stella Blómkvist
20 books33 followersNobody knows who Stella Blómkvist is. More than ten years have passed since the publication of her (or his) first book, Morðið í stjórnarráðinu (The Murder in the Ministry), but nobody has ever uncovered the mystery of who is behind the pen name. Many possible names have been suggested as the identity of Stella, including Davíð Oddson, the former Prime Minister of Iceland. However, these theories are pure speculation.
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September 3, 2023
“Feminine intuition is the smoke alarm of the soul”
I must confess that I feel a certain degree of weariness when it comes to fresh releases in the Nordic crime fiction (sub)genre, undoubtedly caused by the vast number of novels I’ve devoured during the last decade or so. However, the news that Corylus Books was about to publish the first installment in the highly popular in Iceland, Stella Blomkvist series caught my attention and rekindled my dormant appetite for criminal stories set in the northernmost European countries. This Icelandic saga that consists of 8 books so far has been inexplicably neglected by the English-speaking publishing world and that becomes even weirder if you know the mystery shimmering behind the true identity of the author. Stella Blomkvist is the pen name of an unknown individual who, until today, never revealed their self in public for reasons that remain obscure. There has been a great deal of speculation in Iceland regarding the possible identity of the author and, for a while, even the name of an ex- prime minister was considered as a possibility. Nevertheless, the enigma lives on and the only source of information regarding the evasive crime novelist is their own work.
It is through reading the novels written by Stella Blomkvist that we begin to infer potential character traits of their creator. For example, he/she seems to be privy of the machinations taking place in the corridors of power, political or otherwise. The books depict Iceland not as a tranquil little country in the north Atlantic with a population of about 350.000 people who lead an uneventful life, struggling to survive the harsh weather conditions. Blomkvist gives prominence to the real problems and challenges that the Icelanders have to face, from corruption in the public sphere to the rise of imported criminality from the Baltic countries and Russia. The reader who finishes reading Stella Blomkvist: Murder at the Residence will no doubt have to reassess his beliefs regarding the Land of Fire and Ice and eventually realize that the image of an unspoiled society is nothing more than a chimera. The protagonist, who shares the same name with the author, is a high-end lawyer with an uncanny ability to be equally assertive and influential among both the members of the Icelandic elite and the shady outcasts of Reykjavik’s underbelly. Stella seems to always know the right man or woman for each case she takes on and her fiery temperament gives her the courage to face even the most sinister of thighs and look them in the eye while talking to them.
Moreover, Stella’s ambiguous sexuality add to the mystery of her persona and her lustful outbreaks often lead her to the dark corners of the city in search of a sex mate for the night. It is while being in such a quest that she meets a young prostitute who tells her that she is worried over the disappearance of her colleague and close friend Ilona and asks for Stella’s help. The protagonist’s personal investigation into the matter inevitably forces her to talk to one of the most despicable criminals in town, the so-called Porno Valdi, the owner of several strip joints in the Icelandic capital. As Stella tries to trace Ilona’s whereabouts, another murder takes place that sends shockwaves to the whole nation. A well-known financier is found brutally murdered in the altar of a church, beaten to death. The victim’s name rings a bell as he has been involved in thorny cases during the collapse of the country’s economy that took place in 2008. The story is set, chronologically, a little after the catastrophic events that resulted in recession and pain for the Icelanders who saw their money evaporate from one minute to another. These two cases, Ilona’s and the financier’s, are the two main plot threads that propel the action, though there are several more subplots, including the deathbed confession of an old man who, at his dying breath, tells Stella something unthinkable and the arrest of a young Lithuanian drug mule to whom Stella provides legal support. All the different plot strands merge into one in the end and all the questions find their respective answers in a masterful manner, reminiscent of the works by the best Nordic crime authors.
If you find Stella’s character impossible to resist, you ought to check out the namesake TV series starring Heida Reed in the role of Stella. The show’s episodes are loosely based on the novels; however the characterization is spot-on as Reed proves that she was the optimal choice for this particular role. The monologues that we hear in voiceover ring so plausible to my ears after reading Stella Blomkvist: Murder at the Residence. It is like the screenwriter(s) have grasped the essence of Stella and effectively communicated it to the audience through the great dialogue, so true to the spirit of the original source. If you are a fan of Nordic crime fiction, then this title is simply unmissable. A big thanks the people working at Corylus Books who invited me to this blog tour.
I must confess that I feel a certain degree of weariness when it comes to fresh releases in the Nordic crime fiction (sub)genre, undoubtedly caused by the vast number of novels I’ve devoured during the last decade or so. However, the news that Corylus Books was about to publish the first installment in the highly popular in Iceland, Stella Blomkvist series caught my attention and rekindled my dormant appetite for criminal stories set in the northernmost European countries. This Icelandic saga that consists of 8 books so far has been inexplicably neglected by the English-speaking publishing world and that becomes even weirder if you know the mystery shimmering behind the true identity of the author. Stella Blomkvist is the pen name of an unknown individual who, until today, never revealed their self in public for reasons that remain obscure. There has been a great deal of speculation in Iceland regarding the possible identity of the author and, for a while, even the name of an ex- prime minister was considered as a possibility. Nevertheless, the enigma lives on and the only source of information regarding the evasive crime novelist is their own work.
It is through reading the novels written by Stella Blomkvist that we begin to infer potential character traits of their creator. For example, he/she seems to be privy of the machinations taking place in the corridors of power, political or otherwise. The books depict Iceland not as a tranquil little country in the north Atlantic with a population of about 350.000 people who lead an uneventful life, struggling to survive the harsh weather conditions. Blomkvist gives prominence to the real problems and challenges that the Icelanders have to face, from corruption in the public sphere to the rise of imported criminality from the Baltic countries and Russia. The reader who finishes reading Stella Blomkvist: Murder at the Residence will no doubt have to reassess his beliefs regarding the Land of Fire and Ice and eventually realize that the image of an unspoiled society is nothing more than a chimera. The protagonist, who shares the same name with the author, is a high-end lawyer with an uncanny ability to be equally assertive and influential among both the members of the Icelandic elite and the shady outcasts of Reykjavik’s underbelly. Stella seems to always know the right man or woman for each case she takes on and her fiery temperament gives her the courage to face even the most sinister of thighs and look them in the eye while talking to them.
Moreover, Stella’s ambiguous sexuality add to the mystery of her persona and her lustful outbreaks often lead her to the dark corners of the city in search of a sex mate for the night. It is while being in such a quest that she meets a young prostitute who tells her that she is worried over the disappearance of her colleague and close friend Ilona and asks for Stella’s help. The protagonist’s personal investigation into the matter inevitably forces her to talk to one of the most despicable criminals in town, the so-called Porno Valdi, the owner of several strip joints in the Icelandic capital. As Stella tries to trace Ilona’s whereabouts, another murder takes place that sends shockwaves to the whole nation. A well-known financier is found brutally murdered in the altar of a church, beaten to death. The victim’s name rings a bell as he has been involved in thorny cases during the collapse of the country’s economy that took place in 2008. The story is set, chronologically, a little after the catastrophic events that resulted in recession and pain for the Icelanders who saw their money evaporate from one minute to another. These two cases, Ilona’s and the financier’s, are the two main plot threads that propel the action, though there are several more subplots, including the deathbed confession of an old man who, at his dying breath, tells Stella something unthinkable and the arrest of a young Lithuanian drug mule to whom Stella provides legal support. All the different plot strands merge into one in the end and all the questions find their respective answers in a masterful manner, reminiscent of the works by the best Nordic crime authors.
If you find Stella’s character impossible to resist, you ought to check out the namesake TV series starring Heida Reed in the role of Stella. The show’s episodes are loosely based on the novels; however the characterization is spot-on as Reed proves that she was the optimal choice for this particular role. The monologues that we hear in voiceover ring so plausible to my ears after reading Stella Blomkvist: Murder at the Residence. It is like the screenwriter(s) have grasped the essence of Stella and effectively communicated it to the audience through the great dialogue, so true to the spirit of the original source. If you are a fan of Nordic crime fiction, then this title is simply unmissable. A big thanks the people working at Corylus Books who invited me to this blog tour.
August 8, 2023
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I started reading this book. The whole situation intrigued me, largely due to the fact that, from the very start, it was made clear that nobody really knows the identity of this author. Renowned for being unknown as it were, but not only that, they are also the hero of this particular series. Written in first person, the author guides us through a dark and twisted story of power, corruption and murder,. set against the backdrop of a post financial crash Iceland.
This book is packed with mystery, with several seemingly unconnected threads and investigations occupying Stella's attention. A lawyer by trade, she has the knack of finding herself in the middle of some very complicated situations, and not just because of the accused that she is hired to defend. Not only is she assigned to defend an accused drug trafficker, and a suspected murderer, she also finds herself juggling two very different missing persons investigations and a civil case involving an anti-government protestor. Busy woman. And yet, it never felt like a busy or complicated story, despite the fact that there were so many conflicting priorities for Stella.
I actually really liked Stella. Found her easy to spend time with, in spite of her often acerbic nature and her very direct way of managing people and situations. There is just something about her that is captivating and really draws you in. Perhaps it is because she is somewhat of a mass of contradictions - a woman who is seemingly focused and aloof, and yet completely passionate and intense about the one missing person case. Then there is the overwhelming love for her daughter which shines through, giving her a real touch of humanity. I liked the style of her narration, reminiscent, in some ways, of the Chastity Riley series by Simone Buchholz. I'm usually loathe to draw comparisons between books in that way, but it really did kind of feel that often staccato style of first person narrative that really does place you, as a reader, front and centre of the action, as well as giving a real insight into the narrator themselves.
The setting of this book,Iceland in the aftermath of the banking crisis, is perfect. It gives you that sense of the turmoil and the political unrest that occurred at the time, adding another layer of conflict and tension to an already complicated story. The author has drawn us into a world of protest and division, where powerful, rich, people still have a significant amount of sway in the halls of government and the police, but where societal change is constant, and the sense of injustice caused the effect of the financial crisis on your average Icelandic citizen is growing day by day. Quentin Bates has done a brilliant job with the translation, capturing that unrest in a way which makes it accessible for people outside of the immediate bubble, but also giving it a relevance that can be compared to the many protests of the current day.
The book is packed with mystery, tension and a whole host of seedy, unreliable and corrupt characters, so much so that it felt very difficult to know who to trust. One thing is for sure, with Stella Blómkivst at the helm, this is a journey I was more than happy to go on, and I will be intrigued to see what other cases we are led through in the future. I can see why this is such a popular series in its native Iceland. The intrigue starts from the very first page and with a surprisingly shocking ending, it's a story that I would heartily recommend.
This book is packed with mystery, with several seemingly unconnected threads and investigations occupying Stella's attention. A lawyer by trade, she has the knack of finding herself in the middle of some very complicated situations, and not just because of the accused that she is hired to defend. Not only is she assigned to defend an accused drug trafficker, and a suspected murderer, she also finds herself juggling two very different missing persons investigations and a civil case involving an anti-government protestor. Busy woman. And yet, it never felt like a busy or complicated story, despite the fact that there were so many conflicting priorities for Stella.
I actually really liked Stella. Found her easy to spend time with, in spite of her often acerbic nature and her very direct way of managing people and situations. There is just something about her that is captivating and really draws you in. Perhaps it is because she is somewhat of a mass of contradictions - a woman who is seemingly focused and aloof, and yet completely passionate and intense about the one missing person case. Then there is the overwhelming love for her daughter which shines through, giving her a real touch of humanity. I liked the style of her narration, reminiscent, in some ways, of the Chastity Riley series by Simone Buchholz. I'm usually loathe to draw comparisons between books in that way, but it really did kind of feel that often staccato style of first person narrative that really does place you, as a reader, front and centre of the action, as well as giving a real insight into the narrator themselves.
The setting of this book,Iceland in the aftermath of the banking crisis, is perfect. It gives you that sense of the turmoil and the political unrest that occurred at the time, adding another layer of conflict and tension to an already complicated story. The author has drawn us into a world of protest and division, where powerful, rich, people still have a significant amount of sway in the halls of government and the police, but where societal change is constant, and the sense of injustice caused the effect of the financial crisis on your average Icelandic citizen is growing day by day. Quentin Bates has done a brilliant job with the translation, capturing that unrest in a way which makes it accessible for people outside of the immediate bubble, but also giving it a relevance that can be compared to the many protests of the current day.
The book is packed with mystery, tension and a whole host of seedy, unreliable and corrupt characters, so much so that it felt very difficult to know who to trust. One thing is for sure, with Stella Blómkivst at the helm, this is a journey I was more than happy to go on, and I will be intrigued to see what other cases we are led through in the future. I can see why this is such a popular series in its native Iceland. The intrigue starts from the very first page and with a surprisingly shocking ending, it's a story that I would heartily recommend.
September 3, 2023
Stella Blómkvist is a lawyer trying to get her finances back on track as Iceland itself is reeling from a financial scandal that is threatening a political crisis as a result. Protests are being held as the public are increasingly demanding answers.
Anyway, not to worry about that as the story open’s on New Year’s Eve 2009 when Stella is out for a good time and bills are not due for a while. She’s finding her ‘old friend’ Jack Daniels is a better bet than finding a companion to ease her loneliness. Maybe motherhood, her daughter Sóley Árdís is being looked after by her cousin and his wife, or age is gaining on her either way it’s late and time to get home.
After an unsavoury proposition after visiting the ladies in the basement of a club Stella is approached by one of the young woman she saw down there. Her friend Ilona is missing and no one will do anything. Stella agrees to listen to her and they are going towards the bar when she encounters three police officers Rósalind, Eiríkur and Glúmur. Anyway, putting that aside for the moment, she speaks with Dagnija who’s from Latvia and works for at a notorious local strip joint owned by Sigvaldi Auðólfsson or Porno Valdi as he’s called. Her friend Ilona has been missing nearly a week. Stella tells her to come to her office on Friday if Ilona hasn’t returned. Which she does.
Stella’s office is the ground floor of her home. She is assisted by Lísa Björk.
Called to Landakot hospital Stella is asked by a dying man, Hákon Hákonarson, to trace a child born on in May 1971 who in the summer of 1972 ‘disappeared’. He believes he’s the the child’s father her name was Ásthildur and he wants her to inherit his estate. He confesses to killing two men that summer and gives Stella an old cigar box. It contains information and instructions. This isn’t at the top of things to do so she sends off a note and files the box away.
Stella is asked to act for a man, Robertas, who is suspected of bringing in drugs to Iceland. She doesn’t know him yet he asked for her by name. The head of the drug squad, Gunnbjörn Hannesson, assures Stella that it was at Robertas request. He’s 29 and from Lithuania so an interpreter, Svanhvít Daníelsdóttir, has been appointed. After interview as Stella is leaving he mentions Sergei. Sergei? Ludmilla’s protector? Is there a link to her Latvian friend Ludmilla?
When Dagnija confirms that Ilona hasn’t returned that investigation hots up and when Stella is given some information by Rósalind, one of the cops she encountered on New Years Eve, it seems to be turning into a difficult if not dangerous case.
She is asked by one of the political protesters Freyja Dögg Hrólfsdóttir, who is knocked down by a vehicle and has a broken arm, to act for her as she wants to sue the driver who, it seems, is Bjarni Bjarnason a senior officer of the Central Bank.
Stella is attending a christening with her daughter at a church in Álftanes near Bessastaðir, the official residence of Iceland’s president. When they enter the church it seems that there has been a robbery, candlesticks have been stolen, when examining some vestments Stella uncovers a body. It’s Benedikt Björgúlfsson a financier.
Then she gets the case of a young man who is charged with the murder of the man she found in the church everything seems to be convenient and when her request for copies of cctv tapes keeps being stalled Stella knows something is not right.
Stella has got a lot on her plate but it doesn’t stop her from doing her utmost to represent each of her clients. Juggling all these cases Stella works steadily to ensure she is getting answers. She is helped when Rósalind comes forward with information on Ilona.
As Stella digs up information it is fascinating to see how various leads bring connections and insights into the different cases she is looking into.
The threads from each case are skilfully brought together by the author into a satisfying whole. Each thread concluding in a fair and just way – justice as Stella or, perhaps, her mother would say was served.
Stella is a feisty, confident and smart woman a terrific character whose human qualities are shown in her relationship with her daughter, her desire to help her clients and her interactions with Ludmilla, Rósalind and with Lisa who also helps look after Sóley Árdis.
I really enjoyed reading Murder at the Residence by Stella Blómkvist. It has a great lead character who investigates with little fuss nor is there much violence and yet this is not a cosy mystery rather it a dark tale of murder, drugs and the sex trade with political intrigue and financial scandal thrown in any of which could have dire consequences for Stella all of which she faces with her steely determination, no nonsense attitude and wonderfully unique sense of fairness.
Stella’s thoughts run through the book which brings a quirky sense of humour and view on the world along with her quick mind and sharp tongue this is a story told from her point of view throughout. Her recall of her mother’s sayings brought a smile to my face.
It all adds up to my really looking forward to reading more from this author who has the same name as her main character Stella Blómkvist but that’s one mystery that is unlikely to ever be solved!
As ever Quentin Bates has done a mighty fine job of translating this story and deserves our thanks, along with the publisher Corylus Books, for bringing this terrific book to life for the English reader.
Thanks
Many thanks to Ewa for inviting me to join this wonderful BlogTour and to Corylus Books for an eBook of Murder at the Residence by Stella Blómkvist for review purposes.
Anyway, not to worry about that as the story open’s on New Year’s Eve 2009 when Stella is out for a good time and bills are not due for a while. She’s finding her ‘old friend’ Jack Daniels is a better bet than finding a companion to ease her loneliness. Maybe motherhood, her daughter Sóley Árdís is being looked after by her cousin and his wife, or age is gaining on her either way it’s late and time to get home.
After an unsavoury proposition after visiting the ladies in the basement of a club Stella is approached by one of the young woman she saw down there. Her friend Ilona is missing and no one will do anything. Stella agrees to listen to her and they are going towards the bar when she encounters three police officers Rósalind, Eiríkur and Glúmur. Anyway, putting that aside for the moment, she speaks with Dagnija who’s from Latvia and works for at a notorious local strip joint owned by Sigvaldi Auðólfsson or Porno Valdi as he’s called. Her friend Ilona has been missing nearly a week. Stella tells her to come to her office on Friday if Ilona hasn’t returned. Which she does.
Stella’s office is the ground floor of her home. She is assisted by Lísa Björk.
Called to Landakot hospital Stella is asked by a dying man, Hákon Hákonarson, to trace a child born on in May 1971 who in the summer of 1972 ‘disappeared’. He believes he’s the the child’s father her name was Ásthildur and he wants her to inherit his estate. He confesses to killing two men that summer and gives Stella an old cigar box. It contains information and instructions. This isn’t at the top of things to do so she sends off a note and files the box away.
Stella is asked to act for a man, Robertas, who is suspected of bringing in drugs to Iceland. She doesn’t know him yet he asked for her by name. The head of the drug squad, Gunnbjörn Hannesson, assures Stella that it was at Robertas request. He’s 29 and from Lithuania so an interpreter, Svanhvít Daníelsdóttir, has been appointed. After interview as Stella is leaving he mentions Sergei. Sergei? Ludmilla’s protector? Is there a link to her Latvian friend Ludmilla?
When Dagnija confirms that Ilona hasn’t returned that investigation hots up and when Stella is given some information by Rósalind, one of the cops she encountered on New Years Eve, it seems to be turning into a difficult if not dangerous case.
She is asked by one of the political protesters Freyja Dögg Hrólfsdóttir, who is knocked down by a vehicle and has a broken arm, to act for her as she wants to sue the driver who, it seems, is Bjarni Bjarnason a senior officer of the Central Bank.
Stella is attending a christening with her daughter at a church in Álftanes near Bessastaðir, the official residence of Iceland’s president. When they enter the church it seems that there has been a robbery, candlesticks have been stolen, when examining some vestments Stella uncovers a body. It’s Benedikt Björgúlfsson a financier.
Then she gets the case of a young man who is charged with the murder of the man she found in the church everything seems to be convenient and when her request for copies of cctv tapes keeps being stalled Stella knows something is not right.
Stella has got a lot on her plate but it doesn’t stop her from doing her utmost to represent each of her clients. Juggling all these cases Stella works steadily to ensure she is getting answers. She is helped when Rósalind comes forward with information on Ilona.
As Stella digs up information it is fascinating to see how various leads bring connections and insights into the different cases she is looking into.
The threads from each case are skilfully brought together by the author into a satisfying whole. Each thread concluding in a fair and just way – justice as Stella or, perhaps, her mother would say was served.
Stella is a feisty, confident and smart woman a terrific character whose human qualities are shown in her relationship with her daughter, her desire to help her clients and her interactions with Ludmilla, Rósalind and with Lisa who also helps look after Sóley Árdis.
I really enjoyed reading Murder at the Residence by Stella Blómkvist. It has a great lead character who investigates with little fuss nor is there much violence and yet this is not a cosy mystery rather it a dark tale of murder, drugs and the sex trade with political intrigue and financial scandal thrown in any of which could have dire consequences for Stella all of which she faces with her steely determination, no nonsense attitude and wonderfully unique sense of fairness.
Stella’s thoughts run through the book which brings a quirky sense of humour and view on the world along with her quick mind and sharp tongue this is a story told from her point of view throughout. Her recall of her mother’s sayings brought a smile to my face.
It all adds up to my really looking forward to reading more from this author who has the same name as her main character Stella Blómkvist but that’s one mystery that is unlikely to ever be solved!
As ever Quentin Bates has done a mighty fine job of translating this story and deserves our thanks, along with the publisher Corylus Books, for bringing this terrific book to life for the English reader.
Thanks
Many thanks to Ewa for inviting me to join this wonderful BlogTour and to Corylus Books for an eBook of Murder at the Residence by Stella Blómkvist for review purposes.
August 28, 2024
Iceland is clawing its way back up from the financial crash that crippled it but many of the instigators are yet to be brought to justice.
A vacuum exists and it is slowly filling with those on the take, and make, seeing advantages to make a quick dollar. There are many who can do little but protest at the injustice, that the little people are the most hurt, and the most vulnerable - and some, protest they do, and anger and frustration on both sides, rises.
A young girl is run over at a protest, and another approaches lawyer Stella Blomkvist, seeking help to find her missing friend. And there ensues a twisted tale of greed and corruption, filed by drugs and sex trafficking and Stella doing her best to find answers when very few are willing to talk.
A great read.
A vacuum exists and it is slowly filling with those on the take, and make, seeing advantages to make a quick dollar. There are many who can do little but protest at the injustice, that the little people are the most hurt, and the most vulnerable - and some, protest they do, and anger and frustration on both sides, rises.
A young girl is run over at a protest, and another approaches lawyer Stella Blomkvist, seeking help to find her missing friend. And there ensues a twisted tale of greed and corruption, filed by drugs and sex trafficking and Stella doing her best to find answers when very few are willing to talk.
A great read.
September 1, 2023
A new year has dawned, and Iceland is in turmoil following the shocking financial crash that has broken the whole country. As January gets underway, controversial lawyer Stella Blómkvist finds the badly beaten body of a high profile financier in a church near the President’s residence. The police are convinced they have the murderer bang-to-rights, but Stella is sure that her new client has been framed, and she is determined to prove it.
Meanwhile, she has several other cases demanding her attention. A Lithuanian sex worker is desperate to find her friend, after she was last seen setting off for a party; a young protestor seeks justice against a disgraced banker; a suspected drug runner has asked for her help; and an old man has set her on an almost impossible task to find his daughter.
As Stella attempts to do what she can for her clients, bumping heads with the authorities in her own special way, she finds herself caught up in web of corruption that reaches from the darkest corners of Reykjavík’s underworld all the way to the top ranks of the city's respected citizens...
Murder at the Residence takes you into the world of the best-selling Icelandic crime series following the adventures of headstrong lawyer Stella Blómkvist (who is also the author), published for the first time in English by Corylus Books, in translation by Quentin Bates. Intriguingly, the real identity of the author of this series is unknown, even though the first book was published in the 1990s, although there has been a lot of speculation about who lies behind the Stella Blómkvist name.
The action begins on New Year's Eve 2009, with a fateful meeting in a public convenience, and follows several of Stella's cases as she tries to comply with the wide ranging requests of her clients to defend them against charges, advise them in civil matters, track down missing friends, and execute their dying wishes, all set against the backdrop of the shocking financial collapse in Iceland. This is a country in turmoil, seemingly having lost its own way and become prey to the unscrupulous on both sides of the law, which perhaps makes it unsurprising when Stella's ball-busting investigative style reveals more and more links between the cases.
Stella herself is a spiky character, and I did find it difficult to warm to her. There is a bit of wading through her complex personal relationships to do, with practically no filling in of backstory, which does make her motivations difficult to navigate. I do not feel that I had any more handle on the real Stella by the end of this book than at the beginning, other than that she has a predatory streak, which was a bit of a shame.
Nevertheless, within these pages there lies a very slick crime story that is well conceived and executed in a way that keeps you engaged throughout, and it has some cracking themes around past sins, revenge, and redemption running through it. The threads of the various mysteries and injustices that Stella must get to the bottom of are wide-ranging, but very gradually you come to see that they all fit into a very complicated framework around corruption and deception that goes right to the top of Iceland's establishment. You certainly have to admire Stella's doggedness to track down the leads, confront authority figures, and play around in the legal grey areas, in order to engineer the downfall of the villains of the piece. There is a satisfying conclusion to all aspects of the story, and the translation by Quentin Bates maintains a decent pace.
If Nordic noir is your thing then you will find many things in this book to please, even if it is difficult to pin your colours to Stella herself from this first adventure, especially in terms of the plot and the creditable way that this chaotic period of Iceland's contemporary history is described. I will be watching closely to see how this series develops in its English language reboot, as it shows real promise.
Meanwhile, she has several other cases demanding her attention. A Lithuanian sex worker is desperate to find her friend, after she was last seen setting off for a party; a young protestor seeks justice against a disgraced banker; a suspected drug runner has asked for her help; and an old man has set her on an almost impossible task to find his daughter.
As Stella attempts to do what she can for her clients, bumping heads with the authorities in her own special way, she finds herself caught up in web of corruption that reaches from the darkest corners of Reykjavík’s underworld all the way to the top ranks of the city's respected citizens...
Murder at the Residence takes you into the world of the best-selling Icelandic crime series following the adventures of headstrong lawyer Stella Blómkvist (who is also the author), published for the first time in English by Corylus Books, in translation by Quentin Bates. Intriguingly, the real identity of the author of this series is unknown, even though the first book was published in the 1990s, although there has been a lot of speculation about who lies behind the Stella Blómkvist name.
The action begins on New Year's Eve 2009, with a fateful meeting in a public convenience, and follows several of Stella's cases as she tries to comply with the wide ranging requests of her clients to defend them against charges, advise them in civil matters, track down missing friends, and execute their dying wishes, all set against the backdrop of the shocking financial collapse in Iceland. This is a country in turmoil, seemingly having lost its own way and become prey to the unscrupulous on both sides of the law, which perhaps makes it unsurprising when Stella's ball-busting investigative style reveals more and more links between the cases.
Stella herself is a spiky character, and I did find it difficult to warm to her. There is a bit of wading through her complex personal relationships to do, with practically no filling in of backstory, which does make her motivations difficult to navigate. I do not feel that I had any more handle on the real Stella by the end of this book than at the beginning, other than that she has a predatory streak, which was a bit of a shame.
Nevertheless, within these pages there lies a very slick crime story that is well conceived and executed in a way that keeps you engaged throughout, and it has some cracking themes around past sins, revenge, and redemption running through it. The threads of the various mysteries and injustices that Stella must get to the bottom of are wide-ranging, but very gradually you come to see that they all fit into a very complicated framework around corruption and deception that goes right to the top of Iceland's establishment. You certainly have to admire Stella's doggedness to track down the leads, confront authority figures, and play around in the legal grey areas, in order to engineer the downfall of the villains of the piece. There is a satisfying conclusion to all aspects of the story, and the translation by Quentin Bates maintains a decent pace.
If Nordic noir is your thing then you will find many things in this book to please, even if it is difficult to pin your colours to Stella herself from this first adventure, especially in terms of the plot and the creditable way that this chaotic period of Iceland's contemporary history is described. I will be watching closely to see how this series develops in its English language reboot, as it shows real promise.
November 1, 2023
The novel is set in 2009 and Iceland’s economic miracle, which had foundations on the quicksand of speculative investment banking, has crashed. Bankruptcy and financial pain abound for the general population but not those directly and indirectly responsible, the bankers, fat cats and politicians, who appear impervious to losses and lack even the honour to resign. The us and them continues even though the have tanked the country and recovery will be a painful rocky road ahead.
Stella Blómkvist is a needle-sharp lawyer with a tongue to match and an attitude more in keeping with Sam Spade than Rumpole of The Bailey. She seems to be the go-to lawyer for the Icelandic lower order as we see her pick up several clients in the first few chapters. There’s a death bed request from a man to find and deliver a message to the woman who is his daughter, one he has lost track of and could even be dead. Then there is a request from a Latvian ‘dancer’ to find her friend who has been missing since New Year’s Eve, when she performed at a ‘special’ gig. A man charged with smuggling drugs in a car he was delivering contacts her after hearing about her on the ferry from Denmark. Not forgetting a young drug addict who surfaces from stupor to find the police in his room and himself in serious trouble, which really is the cherry on the top of Stella’s Bakewell Tart. Clients that have the accountant in me shouting are they going to pay! A strange assortment but Stella can manage their conflicting demands which she does with some aplomb.
It isn’t so much a storyline as a puzzle to be solved. It’s like a fifteen puzzle, one of those with fifteen tiles set into a four-by-four square, with one free square to slide pieces into. To get the answers she is looking for Stella must slide the facts she discovers about her cases around until the picture is clear and that only happens when they are in the right places. Unconventional work for a lawyer, becoming part private investigator and part investigative journalist helping an old friend, to add to a useful book of contacts. Stella proves to be a real thorn in the side of the police and her interactions with them add much to the story which doesn’t hold much in the way of danger and jeopardy.
There are several coincidences and seemingly improbable connections, but then when you think about it, Iceland is a country but one where when it comes to population size it would only be the size of a medium city elsewhere. As ever it is a magnificent setting for crime fiction.
It's a slim novel and thanks to the fantastic work of translator Quentin Bates there is plenty of vim to vigor to the prose. The dialogue has plenty of snap, crackle and pop as Stella is a woman who shoots from the lip and cuts down with insults, though not all vocalised. Stella also employs several nicknames for people and objects which adds wit to the overall texture and often finishes a chapter with a maxim passed down from her mother to reflect upon.
The themes of guilt and remorse are explored throughout the storyline as miscreants refuse to take responsibility for their actions, except for one hypocritical but ultimately remorseful man. Most significantly relating to events from the past as the secrets that some hopes were buried resurface, but also currently as the guilty greedy are rewarded for failure. sadly this seems all too common in the twenty-first century.
Stella is a wonderful heroine and has been added to my list of great female characters. Thoroughly modern in outlook she is strong, determined, resourceful and focussed on what she wants. She is insultingly compared to Messalina, the wife of Claudius, which is a little unfair, let’s just say she’s a woman with desires who knows what she likes.
Stella Blómkvist is a needle-sharp lawyer with a tongue to match and an attitude more in keeping with Sam Spade than Rumpole of The Bailey. She seems to be the go-to lawyer for the Icelandic lower order as we see her pick up several clients in the first few chapters. There’s a death bed request from a man to find and deliver a message to the woman who is his daughter, one he has lost track of and could even be dead. Then there is a request from a Latvian ‘dancer’ to find her friend who has been missing since New Year’s Eve, when she performed at a ‘special’ gig. A man charged with smuggling drugs in a car he was delivering contacts her after hearing about her on the ferry from Denmark. Not forgetting a young drug addict who surfaces from stupor to find the police in his room and himself in serious trouble, which really is the cherry on the top of Stella’s Bakewell Tart. Clients that have the accountant in me shouting are they going to pay! A strange assortment but Stella can manage their conflicting demands which she does with some aplomb.
It isn’t so much a storyline as a puzzle to be solved. It’s like a fifteen puzzle, one of those with fifteen tiles set into a four-by-four square, with one free square to slide pieces into. To get the answers she is looking for Stella must slide the facts she discovers about her cases around until the picture is clear and that only happens when they are in the right places. Unconventional work for a lawyer, becoming part private investigator and part investigative journalist helping an old friend, to add to a useful book of contacts. Stella proves to be a real thorn in the side of the police and her interactions with them add much to the story which doesn’t hold much in the way of danger and jeopardy.
There are several coincidences and seemingly improbable connections, but then when you think about it, Iceland is a country but one where when it comes to population size it would only be the size of a medium city elsewhere. As ever it is a magnificent setting for crime fiction.
It's a slim novel and thanks to the fantastic work of translator Quentin Bates there is plenty of vim to vigor to the prose. The dialogue has plenty of snap, crackle and pop as Stella is a woman who shoots from the lip and cuts down with insults, though not all vocalised. Stella also employs several nicknames for people and objects which adds wit to the overall texture and often finishes a chapter with a maxim passed down from her mother to reflect upon.
The themes of guilt and remorse are explored throughout the storyline as miscreants refuse to take responsibility for their actions, except for one hypocritical but ultimately remorseful man. Most significantly relating to events from the past as the secrets that some hopes were buried resurface, but also currently as the guilty greedy are rewarded for failure. sadly this seems all too common in the twenty-first century.
Stella is a wonderful heroine and has been added to my list of great female characters. Thoroughly modern in outlook she is strong, determined, resourceful and focussed on what she wants. She is insultingly compared to Messalina, the wife of Claudius, which is a little unfair, let’s just say she’s a woman with desires who knows what she likes.
November 9, 2023
Every time when I am invited to take part to a blog tour organised by Corylus Books I know already it is an invitation to a world of mystery, where mentalities do meet political crime and unexpected mentalities. Murder at the Residence by Stella Blómkvist (first book featuring a maverick lawyer called...Stella Blómkvist) translated from Icelandic by author and translator Quentin Bates is my latest read in the series of Icelandic Noir.
The author herself is a mystery, a kind of Elena Ferrante of Icelandic literature. Murder at the Residence is her first book published in English, but she wrote more than ten books in the series published between 1997 and 2022.
The novel starts at the New Year´s Eve of 2009, in the climate of incertitude and social unrest created by the financial crash. A financier is found dead after attending a high end social gathering, a woman disappears suddenly and it seems like Reykjavik´s underworld only trust Stella - a ´high-flying lawyer´ for various kinds of confessions and requests. The Reykjavik of Murder at the Residence is not the one we are used with from the travel memoirs or travelogues: it is the world of strip joints were undocumented women are forced to work, and the corruption and incompetence of the Government opens the gates of hell for the inhabitants of this small and apparently picture perfect country.
I may confess that I am not in too much detail familiar with Iceland´s political intricacies, but maybe it is about time to upgrade my information.
I love the ambiance of the book, revealing the world that you hardly associate with Iceland. It is fascinating and unexpected, but sounds very real and relatable. I felt that most of the action of the book is built around Stella which is a complex character, but would have been interested to discover other characters as well.
Stella is cynical, of the type that comes with a deep knowledge of human behavior and unlimited capacity of doing evil by assumed choice. She does not mince her words when she refers to politicians of all kind and their corrupt endeavour. I loved to follow her questioning and smart twists and the intelligent way to manage her daily tasks, as a busy lawyer and a single mother too. She´s the kind of character that I would love to chat with in real life.
The story - introduced through daily, diary-like kind of mentions, with its complex intertwined episodes, as it is customary to a setting in the dark entrenches of the society, is cleverly paced, packed with enough action to keep you awake, although relatively short in length - less than 200 pages. The actions and the persons are described in the smallest details, allowing the reader to have a very clear picture of both the characters and the events.
My first meeting with Stella made me curious to continue the adventure, and would be more than happy to have access to other translations of her work. My fascination with languages brought me close to flirting with Icelandic as well, but I bet I do need a much more intensive practice until fluent enough to read a ´Noir´. I could only hope that Corylus will continue with more translations of this mysterious writer of mysteries.
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
The author herself is a mystery, a kind of Elena Ferrante of Icelandic literature. Murder at the Residence is her first book published in English, but she wrote more than ten books in the series published between 1997 and 2022.
The novel starts at the New Year´s Eve of 2009, in the climate of incertitude and social unrest created by the financial crash. A financier is found dead after attending a high end social gathering, a woman disappears suddenly and it seems like Reykjavik´s underworld only trust Stella - a ´high-flying lawyer´ for various kinds of confessions and requests. The Reykjavik of Murder at the Residence is not the one we are used with from the travel memoirs or travelogues: it is the world of strip joints were undocumented women are forced to work, and the corruption and incompetence of the Government opens the gates of hell for the inhabitants of this small and apparently picture perfect country.
I may confess that I am not in too much detail familiar with Iceland´s political intricacies, but maybe it is about time to upgrade my information.
I love the ambiance of the book, revealing the world that you hardly associate with Iceland. It is fascinating and unexpected, but sounds very real and relatable. I felt that most of the action of the book is built around Stella which is a complex character, but would have been interested to discover other characters as well.
Stella is cynical, of the type that comes with a deep knowledge of human behavior and unlimited capacity of doing evil by assumed choice. She does not mince her words when she refers to politicians of all kind and their corrupt endeavour. I loved to follow her questioning and smart twists and the intelligent way to manage her daily tasks, as a busy lawyer and a single mother too. She´s the kind of character that I would love to chat with in real life.
The story - introduced through daily, diary-like kind of mentions, with its complex intertwined episodes, as it is customary to a setting in the dark entrenches of the society, is cleverly paced, packed with enough action to keep you awake, although relatively short in length - less than 200 pages. The actions and the persons are described in the smallest details, allowing the reader to have a very clear picture of both the characters and the events.
My first meeting with Stella made me curious to continue the adventure, and would be more than happy to have access to other translations of her work. My fascination with languages brought me close to flirting with Icelandic as well, but I bet I do need a much more intensive practice until fluent enough to read a ´Noir´. I could only hope that Corylus will continue with more translations of this mysterious writer of mysteries.
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
September 26, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up
The mystery of Stella Blómkvist's identity has intrigued Icelandic readers for many years; now, with Murder at the Residence being the first book in the long-running series to be translated into English, it's our turn to meet the character at the heart of the novels and to speculate who the author who shares her name really is. She's certainly an interesting protagonist and the first-person narrative ensures there's a real immediacy to the pleasingly complex plot.
The book opens on New Year's Eve in 2009 and there's a gritty earthiness to these early scenes as a drunk Stella looks for a hookup but is instead approached by a Latvian sex worker, Dagnila who asks for her help to find her missing friend. The globalised exploitation of sex workers is just one of the themes explored in Murder at the Residence and throughout the book, there's an often caustically honest portrayal of Iceland's issues. This was, of course, a period of extreme uncertainty and anger in the country following the devastating financial crash. Greed and corruption at the highest levels has resulted in ordinary people clamouring for change and while she doesn't become directly involved in the protests, it's clear that lawyer Stella sympathises with the political and social views of some of her clients.
She isn't averse to pushing boundaries and upsetting the authorities as well as criminals but her principles, resolute belief in justice and her obvious love for her daughter means she's a compelling, rather likeable character, and her pursuit of erotic pleasures only serves to make her even more fascinating. Her search for the missing young woman proves to be just one strand of the multilayered storyline and she also has to help an addict facing a murder charge, a drug mule avoid a long prison sentence far from home and an idealistic young woman who has had enough of the political landscape. Scandi Noir is renowned for its uncompromising examination of social issues and the juxtaposition between the addicts and sex workers she defends and the shady dealings in the corridors of power is particularly compulsive in Murder at the Residence. With Iceland being such a small country, the connections between some of her cases are more believable than perhaps they might have been in a different setting.
The translation by Quentin Bates is excellent and he captures both the darkness of the plot and the raw, biting wit of the dialogue. For the most part, I enjoyed Murder at the Residence and found it an engaging read, however, I have to admit that I found some of the narrative a little jarring, most notably the author's constant use of certain phrases such as referring to the police as the 'boys in black' or 'blackbirds' and her car as her 'silver steed'. Her repeated references to her mother's various sayings at the end of chapters became less amusing as the novel progressed too. I felt these repetitions were a little too noticeable and tended to pull me out of the story. Nevertheless, this is only a minor gripe and the intriguingly twisty mystery and forthright sense of time and place throughout means I have no hesitation in recommending this intelligent, atmospheric crime thriller.
The mystery of Stella Blómkvist's identity has intrigued Icelandic readers for many years; now, with Murder at the Residence being the first book in the long-running series to be translated into English, it's our turn to meet the character at the heart of the novels and to speculate who the author who shares her name really is. She's certainly an interesting protagonist and the first-person narrative ensures there's a real immediacy to the pleasingly complex plot.
The book opens on New Year's Eve in 2009 and there's a gritty earthiness to these early scenes as a drunk Stella looks for a hookup but is instead approached by a Latvian sex worker, Dagnila who asks for her help to find her missing friend. The globalised exploitation of sex workers is just one of the themes explored in Murder at the Residence and throughout the book, there's an often caustically honest portrayal of Iceland's issues. This was, of course, a period of extreme uncertainty and anger in the country following the devastating financial crash. Greed and corruption at the highest levels has resulted in ordinary people clamouring for change and while she doesn't become directly involved in the protests, it's clear that lawyer Stella sympathises with the political and social views of some of her clients.
She isn't averse to pushing boundaries and upsetting the authorities as well as criminals but her principles, resolute belief in justice and her obvious love for her daughter means she's a compelling, rather likeable character, and her pursuit of erotic pleasures only serves to make her even more fascinating. Her search for the missing young woman proves to be just one strand of the multilayered storyline and she also has to help an addict facing a murder charge, a drug mule avoid a long prison sentence far from home and an idealistic young woman who has had enough of the political landscape. Scandi Noir is renowned for its uncompromising examination of social issues and the juxtaposition between the addicts and sex workers she defends and the shady dealings in the corridors of power is particularly compulsive in Murder at the Residence. With Iceland being such a small country, the connections between some of her cases are more believable than perhaps they might have been in a different setting.
The translation by Quentin Bates is excellent and he captures both the darkness of the plot and the raw, biting wit of the dialogue. For the most part, I enjoyed Murder at the Residence and found it an engaging read, however, I have to admit that I found some of the narrative a little jarring, most notably the author's constant use of certain phrases such as referring to the police as the 'boys in black' or 'blackbirds' and her car as her 'silver steed'. Her repeated references to her mother's various sayings at the end of chapters became less amusing as the novel progressed too. I felt these repetitions were a little too noticeable and tended to pull me out of the story. Nevertheless, this is only a minor gripe and the intriguingly twisty mystery and forthright sense of time and place throughout means I have no hesitation in recommending this intelligent, atmospheric crime thriller.
January 24, 2025
Noir set in ICELAND in the aftermath of the financial crisis crisis
Stella Blómkvist is an enigmatic author, who uses a pen name for anonymity and has never been identified. The protagonist in this series of books is also called Stella Blómkvist, which might prove confusing in this review! Murder at the Residence is the first book translated into English from a series that has been popular in Iceland for many years and made into several TV series. It’s a bit frustrating, not knowing whether Stella the character’s background and associations are more fully explained in these earlier books. Either way, she’s a quirky character and this is a quirky book. It has a host of characters and more than one sub-plot to keep you on your toes as you read.
The book’s setting in Iceland in 2009, during the aftermath of the country’s financial crash. Many of the characters are affected by this catastrophe, as were most Icelanders in reality. Some of the bankers, businessmen and politicians appear to have more on their conscience than just the financial woes of the country, however.
Stella is a defence lawyer, aged 39. She’s mum to a small daughter she adores but also a wild party girl, into casual sex and fast cars. She’s also a victim of the banking crash and is keen to make money to top up her savings, which she refers to as ‘the Stella Fund’. Another character describes her, perhaps uncharitably, as “a foul-mouthed nymphomaniac who revels in the dregs of society.”
A Latvian stripper, Ilona, has gone missing, possibly kidnapped, and her friend asks Stella to find her. Stella makes use of her contacts (some possibly from previous cases?) to delve into the truth of the situation.
Meanwhile, Stella is determined to defend Robertas; a Lithuanian accused of being a drug mule.
Stella also takes an interest in the case of a drug-addicted young man who is the police’s only suspect in the murder of a banker. Stella is convinced of his innocence – and there are plenty of other possibilities, since a well-attended party was being held in the president’s residence right next door to the scene of the crime. But is Stella right? And can she prove it? Even she begins to have doubts.
In addition, a dying man asks her to find the daughter he believes is his but hasn’t seen for many years. The Scandinavian system of openness in public documentation lets her down and there seems to be no trace of the girl.
Murder at the Residence is a story of corruption and greed set at a time when Iceland was suffering financial ruin. It’s also a tale of guilt and vengeance. It’s a worthwhile read but don’t try to multi-task because it needs all your attention! I valued the history and folklore that the author has included, which will be of interest to anyone planning to travel to Iceland. I disliked some of the linguistic tics, such as preferring terms like ‘boys in black’. ‘blackbirds’ and ‘the city’s finest’ to ‘police officers’, and constantly referring to her car as the ‘silver steed’. Initially I felt that Stella wasn’t my favourite character ever, but I believe she will grow on me, as further books in the series are revealed.
Stella Blómkvist is an enigmatic author, who uses a pen name for anonymity and has never been identified. The protagonist in this series of books is also called Stella Blómkvist, which might prove confusing in this review! Murder at the Residence is the first book translated into English from a series that has been popular in Iceland for many years and made into several TV series. It’s a bit frustrating, not knowing whether Stella the character’s background and associations are more fully explained in these earlier books. Either way, she’s a quirky character and this is a quirky book. It has a host of characters and more than one sub-plot to keep you on your toes as you read.
The book’s setting in Iceland in 2009, during the aftermath of the country’s financial crash. Many of the characters are affected by this catastrophe, as were most Icelanders in reality. Some of the bankers, businessmen and politicians appear to have more on their conscience than just the financial woes of the country, however.
Stella is a defence lawyer, aged 39. She’s mum to a small daughter she adores but also a wild party girl, into casual sex and fast cars. She’s also a victim of the banking crash and is keen to make money to top up her savings, which she refers to as ‘the Stella Fund’. Another character describes her, perhaps uncharitably, as “a foul-mouthed nymphomaniac who revels in the dregs of society.”
A Latvian stripper, Ilona, has gone missing, possibly kidnapped, and her friend asks Stella to find her. Stella makes use of her contacts (some possibly from previous cases?) to delve into the truth of the situation.
Meanwhile, Stella is determined to defend Robertas; a Lithuanian accused of being a drug mule.
Stella also takes an interest in the case of a drug-addicted young man who is the police’s only suspect in the murder of a banker. Stella is convinced of his innocence – and there are plenty of other possibilities, since a well-attended party was being held in the president’s residence right next door to the scene of the crime. But is Stella right? And can she prove it? Even she begins to have doubts.
In addition, a dying man asks her to find the daughter he believes is his but hasn’t seen for many years. The Scandinavian system of openness in public documentation lets her down and there seems to be no trace of the girl.
Murder at the Residence is a story of corruption and greed set at a time when Iceland was suffering financial ruin. It’s also a tale of guilt and vengeance. It’s a worthwhile read but don’t try to multi-task because it needs all your attention! I valued the history and folklore that the author has included, which will be of interest to anyone planning to travel to Iceland. I disliked some of the linguistic tics, such as preferring terms like ‘boys in black’. ‘blackbirds’ and ‘the city’s finest’ to ‘police officers’, and constantly referring to her car as the ‘silver steed’. Initially I felt that Stella wasn’t my favourite character ever, but I believe she will grow on me, as further books in the series are revealed.
August 29, 2023
Stella Blómkvist is not only our author, in Murder at the Residence she is also our protagonist. Stella is an interesting character. She is a single mother who dotes on her daughter, and a fearless lawyer who enjoys nothing more than knocking down the doors of power.
Very much her own woman, she conducts her personal life with the same bravado that she challenges power and and those who wield it.
This is Stella’s story and she tells it with pace and authority. Set in the financial and political crisis that was the Icelandic banking crisis, we see people protesting on the streets, politicians struggling to avoid taking responsibility and those rich businessmen and financiers who were responsible and who had politicians in their pockets, walking away from the mess they have caused and leaving the ordinary Icelandic citizens to suffer.
Social and political unrest is everywhere on the streets and one of Stella’s new clients is a young woman who was knocked down and badly injured, she claims by the police, during a people’s protest. She’s also been asked to find a missing heiress – by her dying father. At the same time, a young woman has gone missing. A young woman – a stripper -who seems to have been involved with some distinctly unsavoury characters and Stella is on a mission to find her. That mission, together with defending an alleged drugs trafficker then leads her into a murder investigation in which a notorious financier is found beaten to death after a distinguished reception at the President’s residence.
The police know they have the killer bang to rights but Stella Blómkvist isn’t convinced.
There are it appears, the same kind of relationships between gangsters and the rich that appear on the edges of all wealthy societies and not only that but the Icelandic police are sometimes complacent, sometimes unsure about whose side they are on and sometimes they are just blatantly corrupt.
Stella relishes all her challenges and it seems that nothing can diminish her enthusiasm for a beautiful woman – not even her daughter playing on the rug while watching the television! She is a powerhouse, challenging authority, taking no nonsense from her clients and yet utterly committed to fair dealing and to finding a woman everyone else has been prepared to write off.
It’s interesting reading this book as a first person narrative because it’s all Stella’s perspective and she doesn’t hold back on her opinions about the police and others she comes into close contact with. She has a caustic tongue and she’s not afraid to use it. She also seems a little mercurial in her attachments, writing one off without regret as another comes into focus. Quentin Bates translation has no difficulty in enabling us to vividly understand Iceland in the midst of the turmoil of the financial crisis.
Verdict: I enjoyed this first outing of Stella Blómkvist and look forward to getting to know her better in future books.
Very much her own woman, she conducts her personal life with the same bravado that she challenges power and and those who wield it.
This is Stella’s story and she tells it with pace and authority. Set in the financial and political crisis that was the Icelandic banking crisis, we see people protesting on the streets, politicians struggling to avoid taking responsibility and those rich businessmen and financiers who were responsible and who had politicians in their pockets, walking away from the mess they have caused and leaving the ordinary Icelandic citizens to suffer.
Social and political unrest is everywhere on the streets and one of Stella’s new clients is a young woman who was knocked down and badly injured, she claims by the police, during a people’s protest. She’s also been asked to find a missing heiress – by her dying father. At the same time, a young woman has gone missing. A young woman – a stripper -who seems to have been involved with some distinctly unsavoury characters and Stella is on a mission to find her. That mission, together with defending an alleged drugs trafficker then leads her into a murder investigation in which a notorious financier is found beaten to death after a distinguished reception at the President’s residence.
The police know they have the killer bang to rights but Stella Blómkvist isn’t convinced.
There are it appears, the same kind of relationships between gangsters and the rich that appear on the edges of all wealthy societies and not only that but the Icelandic police are sometimes complacent, sometimes unsure about whose side they are on and sometimes they are just blatantly corrupt.
Stella relishes all her challenges and it seems that nothing can diminish her enthusiasm for a beautiful woman – not even her daughter playing on the rug while watching the television! She is a powerhouse, challenging authority, taking no nonsense from her clients and yet utterly committed to fair dealing and to finding a woman everyone else has been prepared to write off.
It’s interesting reading this book as a first person narrative because it’s all Stella’s perspective and she doesn’t hold back on her opinions about the police and others she comes into close contact with. She has a caustic tongue and she’s not afraid to use it. She also seems a little mercurial in her attachments, writing one off without regret as another comes into focus. Quentin Bates translation has no difficulty in enabling us to vividly understand Iceland in the midst of the turmoil of the financial crisis.
Verdict: I enjoyed this first outing of Stella Blómkvist and look forward to getting to know her better in future books.
August 27, 2023
With 5 seemingly unconnected cases landed in her lap, the fabulous and feisty Stella Blómkvist bursts onto the English crime series scene with this 'explosive mix of murder, intrigue and surprise', deftly translated by the wonderful Quentin Bates.
With a dead banker, a credible suspect already in the tank, a missing stripper, a drug mule, an injured protestor and a deathbed request, the stage is set for Stella, who really has her work cut out as she gradually and painstakingly untangles the multiple threads of these very different but, unlikely as it seems initially, possibly interwoven cases, but she is nothing if not dogged, and she has a good team of well written and likeable characters around her.
The book is tightly written, no faffing about navel gazing here, not a word wasted, and many of the chapters end with apropos bon mots from Stella's absent mother. The plot gets going straight away with no holds barred, and is gripping throughout, racing along at a perfect pace in punchy little chapters which always draw you in to think 'oh go on then, just one more!'
It's set in the timeline of the Pots and Pans revolution, after the financial crash of 2008, and the inclusion of these historical details adds another layer of gritty realism and Stella has to deal with her own financial fallout from this at the same time as her clients' dilemmas. Passion is not in short supply in the book - Stella is a passionate woman, who loves her daughter, her car and a slug of Jack Daniels, and who knows what (& who) she wants and is not shy about getting it! She's a great character, who I can't wait to see more of - there are several Icelandic Stella books so I'm hoping Corylus will be treating us to more in future!
For myself, I can't help but feel the anonymous author, an incredibly well kept secret, might be a man, but then 'feminine intuition is the smoke alarm of the soul', as Mother said!
With a dead banker, a credible suspect already in the tank, a missing stripper, a drug mule, an injured protestor and a deathbed request, the stage is set for Stella, who really has her work cut out as she gradually and painstakingly untangles the multiple threads of these very different but, unlikely as it seems initially, possibly interwoven cases, but she is nothing if not dogged, and she has a good team of well written and likeable characters around her.
The book is tightly written, no faffing about navel gazing here, not a word wasted, and many of the chapters end with apropos bon mots from Stella's absent mother. The plot gets going straight away with no holds barred, and is gripping throughout, racing along at a perfect pace in punchy little chapters which always draw you in to think 'oh go on then, just one more!'
It's set in the timeline of the Pots and Pans revolution, after the financial crash of 2008, and the inclusion of these historical details adds another layer of gritty realism and Stella has to deal with her own financial fallout from this at the same time as her clients' dilemmas. Passion is not in short supply in the book - Stella is a passionate woman, who loves her daughter, her car and a slug of Jack Daniels, and who knows what (& who) she wants and is not shy about getting it! She's a great character, who I can't wait to see more of - there are several Icelandic Stella books so I'm hoping Corylus will be treating us to more in future!
For myself, I can't help but feel the anonymous author, an incredibly well kept secret, might be a man, but then 'feminine intuition is the smoke alarm of the soul', as Mother said!
September 11, 2023
There is action from the outset in this book, the first to be translated by Corylus Books, and Quentin Bates does a great job of helping bring Iceland to life on the page. The book us set against the Icelandic financial collapse, providing a background rich in political tension.
A range of different crimes & legal problems all have one thing in common - Stella Blómkvist has encountered a key player in some way & now she has a lot of tricky plates to spin.
While I can't fault the story itself, the writing style grated on me, I'm afraid. Narrated by Stella herself, who is made out to be a no-nonsense woman who goes after what she wants, the way she speaks seems to hark back to the stereotypical American private Investigator of decades past
For example, instead of calling the police "the police," they were endlessly referred to as "blackbirds", "the boys in black" or "the city's finest" & her car was always her"silver steed".
This is a personal quibble though, &, by all accounts the series is a huge hit, so I'm sure you will make up your own minds!
Thanks to the author, Ewa Sherman, and Corylus Books for the eARC of this book.
A range of different crimes & legal problems all have one thing in common - Stella Blómkvist has encountered a key player in some way & now she has a lot of tricky plates to spin.
While I can't fault the story itself, the writing style grated on me, I'm afraid. Narrated by Stella herself, who is made out to be a no-nonsense woman who goes after what she wants, the way she speaks seems to hark back to the stereotypical American private Investigator of decades past
For example, instead of calling the police "the police," they were endlessly referred to as "blackbirds", "the boys in black" or "the city's finest" & her car was always her"silver steed".
This is a personal quibble though, &, by all accounts the series is a huge hit, so I'm sure you will make up your own minds!
Thanks to the author, Ewa Sherman, and Corylus Books for the eARC of this book.
September 13, 2023
Stella is a character that seems to attract everything! People, attention, trouble you name it. That said she is afraid of nothing and is more than capable of handling herself and getting exactly what and who she wants.
She’s a refreshing character that makes you want to know more about her. Her attitude makes you follow moth to a flame wanting to know what will happen. As we don’t know the real identity of the author, is this part of the allure? I’m not sure it is. She’s just one of those characters that has been so well written it hauls you in and holds you there entranced. Her freshness, humour and her own ideas of being determined to go her own way are part of it. If she thinks someone or in this case an organisation like the police is wrong about something she investigates on her own. The fact that she’s written in first person, something I love, made me immerse myself and I felt I knew her more as she’s an open book. I hope Corylus produces some more of this author’s work, whoever they are! As always the translation by Quentin Bates is spot on.
With thanks to Ewa Sherman, Corylus and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
She’s a refreshing character that makes you want to know more about her. Her attitude makes you follow moth to a flame wanting to know what will happen. As we don’t know the real identity of the author, is this part of the allure? I’m not sure it is. She’s just one of those characters that has been so well written it hauls you in and holds you there entranced. Her freshness, humour and her own ideas of being determined to go her own way are part of it. If she thinks someone or in this case an organisation like the police is wrong about something she investigates on her own. The fact that she’s written in first person, something I love, made me immerse myself and I felt I knew her more as she’s an open book. I hope Corylus produces some more of this author’s work, whoever they are! As always the translation by Quentin Bates is spot on.
With thanks to Ewa Sherman, Corylus and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
November 25, 2023
Murder at the Residence
Tricky to review this. Stella Blomkvist is a hugely popular author in Iceland and her real identity is shrouded in mystery. I believe this is the first time she has been translated into English. I love Icelandic noir and this is a great story, full of clever twists and turns. The novel is written in the first person by a lawyer (also Stella Blomkist) as she tries to solve a high profile murder case that her client is accused of.
The only problem is that the writing style can be rather odd. She likes to give peculiar names to things such as her car which is always her silver steed, and the police - blackbirds, city’s finest etc. Her descriptions are often rather basic, particularly with colours. I’m assuming this is her original writing, not the translator, Quentin Bates. It does add a level of irritation when reading, it probably wouldn’t if I was Icelandic and used to her style but it reads very strangely in places in English. Fabulous story though and I wanted to find out what had really happened.
Tricky to review this. Stella Blomkvist is a hugely popular author in Iceland and her real identity is shrouded in mystery. I believe this is the first time she has been translated into English. I love Icelandic noir and this is a great story, full of clever twists and turns. The novel is written in the first person by a lawyer (also Stella Blomkist) as she tries to solve a high profile murder case that her client is accused of.
The only problem is that the writing style can be rather odd. She likes to give peculiar names to things such as her car which is always her silver steed, and the police - blackbirds, city’s finest etc. Her descriptions are often rather basic, particularly with colours. I’m assuming this is her original writing, not the translator, Quentin Bates. It does add a level of irritation when reading, it probably wouldn’t if I was Icelandic and used to her style but it reads very strangely in places in English. Fabulous story though and I wanted to find out what had really happened.
February 8, 2026
Murder at the Residence, Stella Blómkvist #1, Quentin Bates, Translator. iBook August 2023, 269 pg, 3.49. 8/2/2026. 3/5
I watched the tv series and enjoyed it very much and have read #3 in this series Murder Tide, now this #1 in the series that is available in English translation. One of the pleasures of reading is the unique country and culture of Iceland and of course the quirky intelligence of this mysterious writer and character that still remains a mystery since some time in the 1990s …Stella Blómkvist. Happy to see anything translated by Quentin Bates as well. This was a very good read with Stella’s daughter 2 and her trusty assistant Lisa trying to track down a person named in a last will and testament while also trying solve a murder, then two and connect crimes of the past to explain the present murders…all well done with some good twists. On to #2 Murder Under the Midnight Sun.
The Murder Pool, Stella Blómkvist #4, Quentin Bates, Translator. iBook pre ordered 5 March 2026. 4.49.
I watched the tv series and enjoyed it very much and have read #3 in this series Murder Tide, now this #1 in the series that is available in English translation. One of the pleasures of reading is the unique country and culture of Iceland and of course the quirky intelligence of this mysterious writer and character that still remains a mystery since some time in the 1990s …Stella Blómkvist. Happy to see anything translated by Quentin Bates as well. This was a very good read with Stella’s daughter 2 and her trusty assistant Lisa trying to track down a person named in a last will and testament while also trying solve a murder, then two and connect crimes of the past to explain the present murders…all well done with some good twists. On to #2 Murder Under the Midnight Sun.
The Murder Pool, Stella Blómkvist #4, Quentin Bates, Translator. iBook pre ordered 5 March 2026. 4.49.
March 28, 2025
The New Year dawns to find Iceland still coming to terms with the effects of the financial crash. When an infamous financier is beaten to death following a reception at the President’s residence, the cops soon have a man in custody. But lawyer Stella Blómkvist thinks there may be more to it and starts poking her nose in….
The first thing to note about this book is that the author and its main character are both called Stella Blómkvist, which adds a touch of mystery to the whole thing. The main character is intriguing and doesn’t fit into the usual stereotypical idea of a legal eagle. Character names are a bit tricky for non-Icelanders, and I did get confused about who was who at times, but the story is fast moving, and the ending particularly exciting. I wasn’t entirely sure about the translation (by Quentin Bates) – if it is an accurate translation then some of the dialogue is a bit clunky, but otherwise it’s an enjoyable read with an interesting main character.
The first thing to note about this book is that the author and its main character are both called Stella Blómkvist, which adds a touch of mystery to the whole thing. The main character is intriguing and doesn’t fit into the usual stereotypical idea of a legal eagle. Character names are a bit tricky for non-Icelanders, and I did get confused about who was who at times, but the story is fast moving, and the ending particularly exciting. I wasn’t entirely sure about the translation (by Quentin Bates) – if it is an accurate translation then some of the dialogue is a bit clunky, but otherwise it’s an enjoyable read with an interesting main character.
August 29, 2023
This book is set in Iceland and the whole story is about Stella Blomkvist, she is a maverick lawyer and is determined to find out the truth about a man who is found dead but things are not all as they seem, there are all these different cases that Stella wants to solve but can she solve them by herself? also will she end up getting into major trouble herself? I liked this short story, it had a great pace to it, it kept me engaged. Even though there are quite a few different characters in the story, I did feel as though I could keep up and remember who everyone was. The book has been translated and I think they have done a great job at that. It was intense, quirky and full of drama. I wonder what Stella Blomkvist will be getting up to next.
August 10, 2025
Stella Blómkvist has been an author who says what all the current people believe is true at the present time. Has it proved to be true, we've seen the action come to pass. Whether it was done before she wrote it, it has taken place. The parliament changed to a different makeup than the time of the banking problem. I don't think there's the problem with the police as when her story takes place. But she has a private lawyer who makes her story quite livable. Her baby, without the father knowing about it. Her lovers without people knowing them. But she seems to know when people are being honest and stays by them. She seems to know when people are telling the truth. Stella has brought the past up to the present inane case and made an honest story come to life.
September 20, 2023
Murder at the Residence is the first book in the Stella series to be translated into english.
Both the books protagonist and its author are called Stella Blómkvist. The Stella in the book is a lawyer in Reykjavík. Stella the author however, is a mystery, as no one knows their true identity.
There's plenty of action, not to mention twists and turns, in the book. It ticks all my boxes, namely murder, intrigue and likeable characters. It grabbed me from the first chapter, and didn't let go.
Quentin Bates, an established author in his own right, did a sterling job translating Murder at the Residence into english.
I would like to thank Quentin Bates for sending me an ARC of this book.
Both the books protagonist and its author are called Stella Blómkvist. The Stella in the book is a lawyer in Reykjavík. Stella the author however, is a mystery, as no one knows their true identity.
There's plenty of action, not to mention twists and turns, in the book. It ticks all my boxes, namely murder, intrigue and likeable characters. It grabbed me from the first chapter, and didn't let go.
Quentin Bates, an established author in his own right, did a sterling job translating Murder at the Residence into english.
I would like to thank Quentin Bates for sending me an ARC of this book.
April 28, 2025
The synopsis of the book seemed to be leading to a good story but the book didn’t deliver.
The investigation part of the book was good but it was, unfortunately, marred by repetitive comments and after a while, I couldn’t stand the main character who is always referring to her car as « the merc » or « the silver steed » and the numerous repetition of « mother says ». Also, the promiscuous thoughts of the main character didn’t bring anything to the story and could have been truncated.
Overall, it was a disappointing read.
The investigation part of the book was good but it was, unfortunately, marred by repetitive comments and after a while, I couldn’t stand the main character who is always referring to her car as « the merc » or « the silver steed » and the numerous repetition of « mother says ». Also, the promiscuous thoughts of the main character didn’t bring anything to the story and could have been truncated.
Overall, it was a disappointing read.
September 14, 2023
“Feminine intuition is the smoke alarm of the soul”, as Mother said.
Don’t be put off by the boring cover! This is actually a pacy and racy thriller set in Iceland at the time of their banks’ collapse, & featuring a female lawyer who has her hands full during the day with various cases, and looks to have her bed filled at night…
Short chapters, lots of dialogue rather than description, plenty of characters - a bit confusing for me! - but good fun.
Don’t be put off by the boring cover! This is actually a pacy and racy thriller set in Iceland at the time of their banks’ collapse, & featuring a female lawyer who has her hands full during the day with various cases, and looks to have her bed filled at night…
Short chapters, lots of dialogue rather than description, plenty of characters - a bit confusing for me! - but good fun.
August 25, 2025
A new author to me though obviously been about for a while ,and a very different style to many in Icelandic noir .It probes the murky side of Icelandic politics post the bank crash and has a mischevious and raunchy side through the libido of the main character a human rights lawyer.She manages to get very involved in crime investigations which you might have more expected from the police .First in a series of- will read more
September 8, 2025
A good entry level read but wow are there a lot of storylines going on
Interesting and I will definitely try the second in the series. Not all the many story lines contribute to the main plot and were more a distraction than a contribution.
Interesting and I will definitely try the second in the series. Not all the many story lines contribute to the main plot and were more a distraction than a contribution.
September 2, 2023
A really enjoyable read, I’m hoping that more books from this series will be translated into English so I can keep reading of Stella’s adventures
September 12, 2023
Great new writer
Brilliantly translated by Quentin Bates, I loved Stella Blomkvist. A great character, great story. Can't wait for the next book.
Brilliantly translated by Quentin Bates, I loved Stella Blomkvist. A great character, great story. Can't wait for the next book.
March 22, 2026
I welcome this new edition to the wonderful collection of Icelandic mysteries. I enjoyed reading it and, while all the subplots were confusing attimes, it all came together nicely.
September 23, 2023
I've been eager to share this review, as the book's central character is something of a paradox.
In the years after the financial crash, as Icelandic society buckles under the political and fiscal strain, lawyer Stella Blómkvist pursues her practice in Reykjavík - in a book written by author Stella Blómkvist, a figure whose identity none has yet deduced, but who seems to move in high circles.
Murder at the Residence certainly appears to reflect a degree of personal knowledge, as author Blómkvist has her protagonist entangled with the murder of a leading financier after a Government reception, with a possible attempted coverup of what looks like dark and murky secrets.
Blómkvist (the lawyer) is an interesting figure. Raising a daughter alone, and pursuing her professional and personal life around nursery drops and family mealtimes, she's fearless, willing to go out on a limb, clashing both with the Reykjavík police (portrayed here as distinctly unreconstructed, happy to crack down on protesters but slow to take action to protect trafficked women) and the city's underworld. All this is against a background of anger at the way Iceland has been impoverished by financiers, and active protests besieging Parliament.
Yet lawyer Blómkvist isn't, perhaps, squeaky clean. She is also preoccupied with the state of the 'Stella Fund', a financial entity that seems to have taken a beating from the the market collapse, and she has her own contacts in Reykjavík's shadier business circles. Those contacts come in useful in resolving the several cases that she deals with in this book. There's the dead financier, a murder that one of her clients is accused of. She's trying to track down a missing young Latvian woman lured into sex work and who may have been spirited out of the country. And she's also searching for the lost daughter of a dying man who wants to make amends.
I understand that Murder at the Residence is a return for Blómkvist, the character having featured in in an earlier series of books, and the sense of backstory, of a developed character, adds richness to the portrayal here. She is certainly a fascinating and contradictory person, whether haunting the Reykjavík nightclubs looking for fun or tenaciously defending a client. Both aspects of her are used by Blómkvist (the writer) to expose the darker side of Icelandic society (prompting, again, the question of just how much knowledge and experience this story reflects). Quotes from her mother, often cynical ('Time never fails to douse the fires of passion') pepper the text, also suggesting another key relationship about which we know little.
Quentin Bates' assured translation more than does justice to the rapidly unfolding action in this taut and suspenseful story and overall this was a cracking mystery, with a well-drawn and engaging central character, giving a slightly different view of Iceland. I'd strongly recommend it.
In the years after the financial crash, as Icelandic society buckles under the political and fiscal strain, lawyer Stella Blómkvist pursues her practice in Reykjavík - in a book written by author Stella Blómkvist, a figure whose identity none has yet deduced, but who seems to move in high circles.
Murder at the Residence certainly appears to reflect a degree of personal knowledge, as author Blómkvist has her protagonist entangled with the murder of a leading financier after a Government reception, with a possible attempted coverup of what looks like dark and murky secrets.
Blómkvist (the lawyer) is an interesting figure. Raising a daughter alone, and pursuing her professional and personal life around nursery drops and family mealtimes, she's fearless, willing to go out on a limb, clashing both with the Reykjavík police (portrayed here as distinctly unreconstructed, happy to crack down on protesters but slow to take action to protect trafficked women) and the city's underworld. All this is against a background of anger at the way Iceland has been impoverished by financiers, and active protests besieging Parliament.
Yet lawyer Blómkvist isn't, perhaps, squeaky clean. She is also preoccupied with the state of the 'Stella Fund', a financial entity that seems to have taken a beating from the the market collapse, and she has her own contacts in Reykjavík's shadier business circles. Those contacts come in useful in resolving the several cases that she deals with in this book. There's the dead financier, a murder that one of her clients is accused of. She's trying to track down a missing young Latvian woman lured into sex work and who may have been spirited out of the country. And she's also searching for the lost daughter of a dying man who wants to make amends.
I understand that Murder at the Residence is a return for Blómkvist, the character having featured in in an earlier series of books, and the sense of backstory, of a developed character, adds richness to the portrayal here. She is certainly a fascinating and contradictory person, whether haunting the Reykjavík nightclubs looking for fun or tenaciously defending a client. Both aspects of her are used by Blómkvist (the writer) to expose the darker side of Icelandic society (prompting, again, the question of just how much knowledge and experience this story reflects). Quotes from her mother, often cynical ('Time never fails to douse the fires of passion') pepper the text, also suggesting another key relationship about which we know little.
Quentin Bates' assured translation more than does justice to the rapidly unfolding action in this taut and suspenseful story and overall this was a cracking mystery, with a well-drawn and engaging central character, giving a slightly different view of Iceland. I'd strongly recommend it.
October 10, 2023
I love Icelandic fiction and this up there with some of the best I have read, from the opening pages I was captivated by the writing
A perfect blend of Murder and intrigue, The book is beautifully played out against the backdrop from the fall out within the corridors of power in Iceland following the banking crisis, it’s always there as an undertone to the book adding to the atmosphere and intrigue
I’m not mentioning the actual plot so as not spoil the readers enjoyment, however, it is intricately multi-faceted, superbly brought together on the page, they way the story line threads intertwine is a masterclass in drawing the reader in, There are plenty of twists and surprise moments along the way, the tension only heightens as you read on
As a character there is somewhat of an air of mystery surrounding Stella, certainly dogged in getting to the truth, quick thinking, strong and to a degree independent, though you feel there is more to her character.
The book has a terrific mix of characters all superbly brought to life on the page, you get a real sense of who they and their role within the story. I also found that Iceland itself played just as important a role in giving a terrific sense of place and location and adding to the atmosphere
The pace of the book flows along in what starts to become a race against time, the writing gives a sense of urgency and drama
This was a read which had me enthralled and entertained throughout, a story which had me hooked and kept the pages turning
A perfect blend of Murder and intrigue, The book is beautifully played out against the backdrop from the fall out within the corridors of power in Iceland following the banking crisis, it’s always there as an undertone to the book adding to the atmosphere and intrigue
I’m not mentioning the actual plot so as not spoil the readers enjoyment, however, it is intricately multi-faceted, superbly brought together on the page, they way the story line threads intertwine is a masterclass in drawing the reader in, There are plenty of twists and surprise moments along the way, the tension only heightens as you read on
As a character there is somewhat of an air of mystery surrounding Stella, certainly dogged in getting to the truth, quick thinking, strong and to a degree independent, though you feel there is more to her character.
The book has a terrific mix of characters all superbly brought to life on the page, you get a real sense of who they and their role within the story. I also found that Iceland itself played just as important a role in giving a terrific sense of place and location and adding to the atmosphere
The pace of the book flows along in what starts to become a race against time, the writing gives a sense of urgency and drama
This was a read which had me enthralled and entertained throughout, a story which had me hooked and kept the pages turning
October 9, 2023
This is the first of the Stella Blómkvist books to be translated for Corylus Books. The series is huge in Iceland and is also a major TV series. I hadn't heard of these books before, but after reading this first one, I'm already a fan!
Stella is fabulous lead character, she's spiky, unusual, sometimes naughty and always on the ball. Whilst this is a relatively short novel of just over 250 pages, it is a truly a belter of a read. Packed with action, mystery and a great dose of humour too.
Stella is a well-known lawyer in Reykjavík, she often gets involved in cases that she thinks are being mishandled by the police. She really doesn't have much time for the force at all, nicknaming them 'the blackbirds' and speaking about them with scorn and mistrust.
This story opens on New Year's Eve, Iceland is still recovering from the recent financial crash and Stella really wants to get drunk and have a good night. She's a solitary figure, roaming the streets and these scenes really set the reader up to discover more about her, and about the country.
The President has hosted a very high profile drinks party at his residence and one of his guests, a very well know financier is found battered to death at a nearby church. The police are certain that they have the killer, but Stella is not so sure. She makes it her goal to discover the truth, whilst also working on her current cases.
As Stella questions more and more people and begins to find links in all of her cases, the mystery deepens. The police chief is not happy about her so-called interference, and the local crime underworld are certainly not pleased that she's involved either.
I love the character of Stella, she's a breath of fresh air in what can often be an genre overcrowded by stereotypical male characters. The insight into the workings of the Icelandic government, along with the darkest criminal behaviour is excellent, and readers will see that actually, there's not that much of a difference between them! Surprise, surprise.
A fabulous introduction to Stella, I'm really looking forward to the next books in the series.
Stella is fabulous lead character, she's spiky, unusual, sometimes naughty and always on the ball. Whilst this is a relatively short novel of just over 250 pages, it is a truly a belter of a read. Packed with action, mystery and a great dose of humour too.
Stella is a well-known lawyer in Reykjavík, she often gets involved in cases that she thinks are being mishandled by the police. She really doesn't have much time for the force at all, nicknaming them 'the blackbirds' and speaking about them with scorn and mistrust.
This story opens on New Year's Eve, Iceland is still recovering from the recent financial crash and Stella really wants to get drunk and have a good night. She's a solitary figure, roaming the streets and these scenes really set the reader up to discover more about her, and about the country.
The President has hosted a very high profile drinks party at his residence and one of his guests, a very well know financier is found battered to death at a nearby church. The police are certain that they have the killer, but Stella is not so sure. She makes it her goal to discover the truth, whilst also working on her current cases.
As Stella questions more and more people and begins to find links in all of her cases, the mystery deepens. The police chief is not happy about her so-called interference, and the local crime underworld are certainly not pleased that she's involved either.
I love the character of Stella, she's a breath of fresh air in what can often be an genre overcrowded by stereotypical male characters. The insight into the workings of the Icelandic government, along with the darkest criminal behaviour is excellent, and readers will see that actually, there's not that much of a difference between them! Surprise, surprise.
A fabulous introduction to Stella, I'm really looking forward to the next books in the series.
March 28, 2025
Stella’s a real character - raunchy, racy, feisty & undaunted.
It’s good to have a classy female lead who’s amusing , entertaining and fearless.
It’s good to have a classy female lead who’s amusing , entertaining and fearless.
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