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Sonja heldur að hún sé loksins sloppin úr gildrunni, frá samviskulausum eiturlyfjamógúlum sem héldu henni í heljargreipum. En þegar drengurinn Tómas, hennar dýrasta djásn, er tekinn frá henni enn á ný er fjandinn laus.
Bankakonan Agla bíður dóms fyrir fjármálamisferli en fleira hvílir á henni: valdamiklir menn eiga hönk upp í bakið á henni og Sonja, sem hún elskar svo heitt, vill ekki sjá hana.
Atferli Sonju veldur Braga tollverði líka áhyggjum; hefur hann misreiknað sig? Taugar þeirra allra eru þandar til hins ýtrasta – og útilokað að allt fari vel.
Netið eftir Lilju Sigurðardóttur er æsispennandi glæpasaga, sjálfstætt framhald Gildrunnar sem kom út í fyrra og var afar vel tekið.
IN ENGLISH:
- IMPLICATED -
Sonja believes that she’s finally escaped the trap set up to ensnare her by unscrupulous drug lords. But when the person she cherishes above all else in the world, her son Tomas, is taken from her, all hell breaks loose again. Even though she sacrifices everything she owns in order to cut loose, freedom keeps slipping further away.
Former banker Agla is awaiting sentencing for financial misconduct, but that’s not all that troubles her: she owes money to some extremely powerful men and Sonja, whom she loves so dearly, doesn’t want to see her. Sonja’s behavior is also causing Customs Officer Bragi some concern; has he calculated wrong? All of them are in a nerve-wracking situation—and it’s impossible that it will end well.
Implicated is a thrilling crime novel and a stand-alone continuation of last year’s Trapped, which was very well-received. 353 pp
Sold to: France/Switzerland/Luxembourg/Canada
(Éditions Métailié); World English (Orenda B ooks)
Bankakonan Agla bíður dóms fyrir fjármálamisferli en fleira hvílir á henni: valdamiklir menn eiga hönk upp í bakið á henni og Sonja, sem hún elskar svo heitt, vill ekki sjá hana.
Atferli Sonju veldur Braga tollverði líka áhyggjum; hefur hann misreiknað sig? Taugar þeirra allra eru þandar til hins ýtrasta – og útilokað að allt fari vel.
Netið eftir Lilju Sigurðardóttur er æsispennandi glæpasaga, sjálfstætt framhald Gildrunnar sem kom út í fyrra og var afar vel tekið.
IN ENGLISH:
- IMPLICATED -
Sonja believes that she’s finally escaped the trap set up to ensnare her by unscrupulous drug lords. But when the person she cherishes above all else in the world, her son Tomas, is taken from her, all hell breaks loose again. Even though she sacrifices everything she owns in order to cut loose, freedom keeps slipping further away.
Former banker Agla is awaiting sentencing for financial misconduct, but that’s not all that troubles her: she owes money to some extremely powerful men and Sonja, whom she loves so dearly, doesn’t want to see her. Sonja’s behavior is also causing Customs Officer Bragi some concern; has he calculated wrong? All of them are in a nerve-wracking situation—and it’s impossible that it will end well.
Implicated is a thrilling crime novel and a stand-alone continuation of last year’s Trapped, which was very well-received. 353 pp
Sold to: France/Switzerland/Luxembourg/Canada
(Éditions Métailié); World English (Orenda B ooks)
353 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2019
257 people are currently reading
743 people want to read
About the author
Lilja Sigurðardóttir
19 books426 followersLilja´s newest book, Netið ((Tangle) was published by Forlagid publishing in October 2016 and is the second book in the Reykjavík Noir Trilogy.
Lilja started her writing career in 2008 when she sent a manuscript of a novel to a competition run by the publishing house Bjartur whose aim was to find the Icelandic Dan Brown. Lilja got a publishing deal out of the competition and in 2009 her first book, the crime novel Spor (Steps), came out, which she wrote in her spare time. Her second book, Fyrirgefning (Foregiveness) was published a year later but after that Lilja wrote mostly for theatre for the coming years. She won the Icelandic Theatre Awards for Best Play of the Year in 2014 for her staged debut Stóru börnin (Big Babies). But in 2015 she started a new crime series with Icelands biggest publisher Forlagid. The series has been called The Reykjavík Noir Trilogy, and the first book in series, Gildran (Snare) became an instant success.
Lilja started her writing career in 2008 when she sent a manuscript of a novel to a competition run by the publishing house Bjartur whose aim was to find the Icelandic Dan Brown. Lilja got a publishing deal out of the competition and in 2009 her first book, the crime novel Spor (Steps), came out, which she wrote in her spare time. Her second book, Fyrirgefning (Foregiveness) was published a year later but after that Lilja wrote mostly for theatre for the coming years. She won the Icelandic Theatre Awards for Best Play of the Year in 2014 for her staged debut Stóru börnin (Big Babies). But in 2015 she started a new crime series with Icelands biggest publisher Forlagid. The series has been called The Reykjavík Noir Trilogy, and the first book in series, Gildran (Snare) became an instant success.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
June 30, 2023
A psychological thriller from Iceland, told from different points of view and written in a quite laconic way. The second volume of a trilogy, which succeeds in keeping up the suspense. Unlike the first volume with its open end, the plot of this book is brought to a certain conclusion – even though that actually doesn’t mean a lot because we already know that there’s still a third part left … :-)
The things I especially liked: the scenes from the perspective of Tómas, a nine-year-old boy, who doesn’t always understand what’s going on, which is mostly funny, but also frightening at times. And the touching, absurd and sometimes even painful scenes between Sonja and Agla, the lesbian couple, who obviously start to overcome their differences, little by little.
Not the least bit less thrilling than the first volume!
4.5 Stars.
(A warning to the people who read the German version: The blurb is BS – please don’t pay attention to it!)
The things I especially liked: the scenes from the perspective of Tómas, a nine-year-old boy, who doesn’t always understand what’s going on, which is mostly funny, but also frightening at times. And the touching, absurd and sometimes even painful scenes between Sonja and Agla, the lesbian couple, who obviously start to overcome their differences, little by little.
Not the least bit less thrilling than the first volume!
4.5 Stars.
(A warning to the people who read the German version: The blurb is BS – please don’t pay attention to it!)
October 24, 2018
This is the second book in a series, I loved the first, Snare and highly recommend reading that before this one as it’s awesome and you’ll be properly caught up because the first book really sets the stage for what takes place in the second. It picks up soon after the first book ends and is just as tense and exciting as it’s predecessor.
You hear from Sojia, Bragi and Agla again and I was thoroughly invested in each of their stories, especially as they’re all connected in complex and interesting ways. While some of Sonja’s issues may have been resolved in the first book there are still many dangers to be found this time around and it had that same great sense of intensity and action. Once again, this was highly atmospheric both in the setting of Iceland but also in the great sense of paranoia and sheer panic that the author creates. She always manages to make me feel the same emotions and feelings as her characters, Sonja’s fear and desperation was a palpable thing that consumed me.
I cannot wait to see how things end in the third book and expect it to be another wild ride. If you’re a fan if Nordic Noir, don’t miss this and if you’ve never read this sub genre before this series is an excellent place to start.
Trap in three words: Exhilarating, Intense and Compelling.
You hear from Sojia, Bragi and Agla again and I was thoroughly invested in each of their stories, especially as they’re all connected in complex and interesting ways. While some of Sonja’s issues may have been resolved in the first book there are still many dangers to be found this time around and it had that same great sense of intensity and action. Once again, this was highly atmospheric both in the setting of Iceland but also in the great sense of paranoia and sheer panic that the author creates. She always manages to make me feel the same emotions and feelings as her characters, Sonja’s fear and desperation was a palpable thing that consumed me.
I cannot wait to see how things end in the third book and expect it to be another wild ride. If you’re a fan if Nordic Noir, don’t miss this and if you’ve never read this sub genre before this series is an excellent place to start.
Trap in three words: Exhilarating, Intense and Compelling.
January 25, 2021
This is the second book in the Reykjavik series. The theme of the book is around the way drug mules become trapped into a system that they cannot escape.
Sonja had been a drug mule and has now escaped to Florida from Iceland with her son, Tomas. However, she soon finds herself enmeshed in the trap yet again. This time she is going in with her eyes open and determined to escape the trap once and for all. Is this possible, or is she going from the frying pan into the fire?
Sonja had been a drug mule and has now escaped to Florida from Iceland with her son, Tomas. However, she soon finds herself enmeshed in the trap yet again. This time she is going in with her eyes open and determined to escape the trap once and for all. Is this possible, or is she going from the frying pan into the fire?
September 27, 2022
The second book in the Reykjavik Noir series, picking up just after the events in Book #1. Sonja has fled Iceland with her son Tómas for Florida, escaping from her ex-husband, drug runner and banker Adam. Tómas misses his dog, and contacts his father, who has some Mexican thugs grab the boy and brings them back to Iceland, forcing Sonja to return to being a drug mule, if she wants to see Tómas. Meanwhile, Sonja’s lover, Agla, is angry that she was abandoned by Sonja, but cannot resist Sonja. Agla conceives a clever plan to repay a massive debt she and her co-conspirators at the Bank (including Adam) built up with a sleazy lender. Sonja also decides she needs to get Adam out of the way and makes a deal with the devil, which backfires badly, putting her in the hands of an equally dangerous adversary. Like Agla, Sonja is also working with the limited resources at her disposal to restore her life. Looking forward to the conclusion.
October 1, 2019
Finished reading: September 23rd 2019
"It was time to turn around, look fear in the face and swim back into the net. Somewhere in that tangle had to be the way out."
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
March 13, 2019
Dark thriller set in ICELAND
Trap is second title in the Reykjavik thriller series by Lilja Sigurðardóttir. We reviewed the first, Snare, back in October 2017. Trap is every bit as good as Snare. It features the same characters and takes them forward to the next stage of their life adventure. As I said in my last review ‘I suspect Lilja is setting the scene for the next book in the series’. I could say the same again… And I am looking forward to the third book.
The story opens with Sonja and her son Tómas in Florida, on the run from her ex-husband and drug runner, Adam. Adam tracks them down and ‘escorts’ them back to Iceland where he takes Tómas to live with him and uses him as a bargaining chip to get Sonja to bend to his will – and go back to being a drug mule. Sonja’s lover, Agla, is one of three senior bankers being investigated for money laundering and fraud on an industrial scale – their plans went wrong as the financial crash hit. She is embarking on a dangerous scheme to clear a massive debt they built up with a somewhat less than desirable lender. Agla travels to the financial capitals of Europe to progress her scheme, and Sonja travels to Greenland, London, and Mexico as the drugs plot moves on. She is protected each time she flies into Reykjavik by Bragi, an about to retire customs officer with a terminally ill wife in her pay… There is much fast moving action… All the time, though, Agla is plotting to be with Sonja, and Sonja is plotting to get Tómas back – and put Adam behind bars. Lots of double crossing (and a fair amount of violence) going on…
Trap is an exciting book, and Lilja is a real addition to the ranks of Icelandic Noir writers. For a small country (only 340,000 inhabitants) there is a lot of talent around.
Definitely recommended.
Trap is second title in the Reykjavik thriller series by Lilja Sigurðardóttir. We reviewed the first, Snare, back in October 2017. Trap is every bit as good as Snare. It features the same characters and takes them forward to the next stage of their life adventure. As I said in my last review ‘I suspect Lilja is setting the scene for the next book in the series’. I could say the same again… And I am looking forward to the third book.
The story opens with Sonja and her son Tómas in Florida, on the run from her ex-husband and drug runner, Adam. Adam tracks them down and ‘escorts’ them back to Iceland where he takes Tómas to live with him and uses him as a bargaining chip to get Sonja to bend to his will – and go back to being a drug mule. Sonja’s lover, Agla, is one of three senior bankers being investigated for money laundering and fraud on an industrial scale – their plans went wrong as the financial crash hit. She is embarking on a dangerous scheme to clear a massive debt they built up with a somewhat less than desirable lender. Agla travels to the financial capitals of Europe to progress her scheme, and Sonja travels to Greenland, London, and Mexico as the drugs plot moves on. She is protected each time she flies into Reykjavik by Bragi, an about to retire customs officer with a terminally ill wife in her pay… There is much fast moving action… All the time, though, Agla is plotting to be with Sonja, and Sonja is plotting to get Tómas back – and put Adam behind bars. Lots of double crossing (and a fair amount of violence) going on…
Trap is an exciting book, and Lilja is a real addition to the ranks of Icelandic Noir writers. For a small country (only 340,000 inhabitants) there is a lot of talent around.
Definitely recommended.
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August 10, 2018OMG OMG OMG
October 31, 2018
Sonja has taken her son Tomas and escaped to sunny Florida where she hopes to build a new life for them. She has finally been able to escape the trappings of the cocaine trade in Iceland. One day Tomas goes missing and soon a series of events are put into motion that will take Sonja straight back into the world she was desperately trying to escape. Along with her son, Sonja is whisked away back to Iceland where she will need to pay the consequences of her failed escape.
Back in Iceland we find that Sonja’s lover, Agla, is battling her own drama. She is awaiting her sentencing for an ongoing financial misconduct case against her and some of her former coworkers. It appears Agla also owes money to a powerful entity and looming jail time won’t get her out of paying her debts. Sonja is trying to distance herself from Agla as she sorts out her own troubles. Coming to Sonja’s aide is Bragi, a customs officer on the cusp of retirement and desperate to make quick money to take care of his dying wife. How will Sonja sort out the latest drama that has landed in her lap? Will she ever be free of the cocaine drug lords?
Lilja Sigurdardottir delivered an electrifying story about Sonja’s life in Iceland’s underground cocaine trade within the pages of SNARE. The clever and intense follow-up, TRAP, picks up right where SNARE left off. Instantly the reader is hooked once more on Sonja’s seemingly never ending drama. Despite thinking that she has officially escaped her troubles in the sunshine of Florida, life has another thing coming for Sonja. TRAP is a high energy story that will keep readers fully invested in the characters and on the edge of their seat waiting to see what conclusion Sigurdardottir has created this time!
The alternating POVs take a step up with the second installment in this trilogy, as the reader is treated with hearing from Tomas, Sonja’s young son, and Maria, an employee in the special investigators office who just happens to be looking into Agla. Old favorites, Sonja, Agla, and Bragi, are also back again, picking up their stories where we left off in the previous book. Each narrative has its own plotline and an interconnectedness with the others that really works to keep the pages turning. Short, snappy, and intense chapters further fuel this need to keep reading as it feels as though Sigurdardottir has mastered the art of a cliffhanger seemingly with each chapter. TRAP is a fantastic thrill ride of crime fiction that has solidified Lilja Sigurdardottir has a must read author for me!
A special thank you to Orenda Books for providing me with my free review copy!
Please be sure to check out all of the amazing bloggers heading up this exciting tour!
Back in Iceland we find that Sonja’s lover, Agla, is battling her own drama. She is awaiting her sentencing for an ongoing financial misconduct case against her and some of her former coworkers. It appears Agla also owes money to a powerful entity and looming jail time won’t get her out of paying her debts. Sonja is trying to distance herself from Agla as she sorts out her own troubles. Coming to Sonja’s aide is Bragi, a customs officer on the cusp of retirement and desperate to make quick money to take care of his dying wife. How will Sonja sort out the latest drama that has landed in her lap? Will she ever be free of the cocaine drug lords?
Lilja Sigurdardottir delivered an electrifying story about Sonja’s life in Iceland’s underground cocaine trade within the pages of SNARE. The clever and intense follow-up, TRAP, picks up right where SNARE left off. Instantly the reader is hooked once more on Sonja’s seemingly never ending drama. Despite thinking that she has officially escaped her troubles in the sunshine of Florida, life has another thing coming for Sonja. TRAP is a high energy story that will keep readers fully invested in the characters and on the edge of their seat waiting to see what conclusion Sigurdardottir has created this time!
The alternating POVs take a step up with the second installment in this trilogy, as the reader is treated with hearing from Tomas, Sonja’s young son, and Maria, an employee in the special investigators office who just happens to be looking into Agla. Old favorites, Sonja, Agla, and Bragi, are also back again, picking up their stories where we left off in the previous book. Each narrative has its own plotline and an interconnectedness with the others that really works to keep the pages turning. Short, snappy, and intense chapters further fuel this need to keep reading as it feels as though Sigurdardottir has mastered the art of a cliffhanger seemingly with each chapter. TRAP is a fantastic thrill ride of crime fiction that has solidified Lilja Sigurdardottir has a must read author for me!
A special thank you to Orenda Books for providing me with my free review copy!
Please be sure to check out all of the amazing bloggers heading up this exciting tour!
February 4, 2023
“It made no difference how much she wriggled like a fish on a hook. She should just as well forget all her own plans, give up and go with the flow. It made no difference what she did, the trap continued to close around her.”
Trap is the second instalment of Icelandic author Lilja Sigurðardottir’s Reykjavík Noir trilogy and continues the taut, almost claustrophobic and breathless pace of the first book, Snare. Trap picks up seamlessly where Snare left off and although it’s been more than 12 months since I read the first book I had no problems reconnecting with the story and characters.
Trap sits within that genre of financial crime thriller, set in 2011 amidst the aftermath turmoil of the Icelandic financial crisis, and Sigurðardottir does an amazing job of highlighting just how deep and far reaching the tentacles of that insidious debacle really were. I’m not going to pretend to understand all the financial lingo and machinations described but suffice it to say they are complex, underhanded and delve into an Icelandic underbelly that I am certainly motivated to read more about. Intriguing that such a far flung and tiny nation can exert such global pressure.
Character wise, Sigurðardottir continues to develop each of the people we are introduced to in Snare. The plot continues at a fast pace and honestly I devoured this book. Slightly more outrageous in terms of a few of the events that occur in the plot which probably take this book down half a star from the first one but nevertheless it’s a surprising 4.5 stars from me and I’m happy to round it up to 5 big ones.
Trap is the second instalment of Icelandic author Lilja Sigurðardottir’s Reykjavík Noir trilogy and continues the taut, almost claustrophobic and breathless pace of the first book, Snare. Trap picks up seamlessly where Snare left off and although it’s been more than 12 months since I read the first book I had no problems reconnecting with the story and characters.
Trap sits within that genre of financial crime thriller, set in 2011 amidst the aftermath turmoil of the Icelandic financial crisis, and Sigurðardottir does an amazing job of highlighting just how deep and far reaching the tentacles of that insidious debacle really were. I’m not going to pretend to understand all the financial lingo and machinations described but suffice it to say they are complex, underhanded and delve into an Icelandic underbelly that I am certainly motivated to read more about. Intriguing that such a far flung and tiny nation can exert such global pressure.
Character wise, Sigurðardottir continues to develop each of the people we are introduced to in Snare. The plot continues at a fast pace and honestly I devoured this book. Slightly more outrageous in terms of a few of the events that occur in the plot which probably take this book down half a star from the first one but nevertheless it’s a surprising 4.5 stars from me and I’m happy to round it up to 5 big ones.
September 15, 2018
There's plenty of talk about the 'Scandi Crime Wave' and 'Nordic Noir' as if it's some kind of homogeneous offering from the crime writers of that multinational region, when in truth there are plenty of differences in settings, styles, and stories told.
Icelandic author Lilja Sigurdardottir certainly underlines that: TRAP is the second in her Reykjavik Noir series and is an edgy tale of international drug running and financial shenanigans centred on a host of rather unlikable but fascinating characters with nary a hard-drinking pensive copper in sight.
In a way, it's noir in its truer sense (rather than the mere synonym for crime & mystery storytelling which it's become in recent years) - many of the characters are a bit cynical or fatalistic, and there's plenty of moral ambiguity on offer all across the board. This draws the reader in with a sense of freshness and fascination, while at the same time creating a little buffer: at times I found myself admiring the storytelling more than being totally enveloped by it. Perhaps because I wasn't really rooting for any of the characters, rather just witnessing the traps set and all the carnage unfold.
But it is delicious carnage.
This is a pretty fast, slim read, but has lots going on. Slick, but with substance. It's really interesting to see a crime writer take on the high-level financial mismanagement and white collar crime that can infest nations and have huge effects but isn't paid as much heed as violent crime. Sigurdardottir delivers an interesting tale with great pace and plenty of tension, and some really memorable moments and characters. I closed the book thinking it would make for a great screen tale too.
While none of the characters are particularly heroic, there is a sense of understanding and some empathy with some of them: we can see how they got themselves into bad situations, and even if things began for selfish or less-than-honourable reasons, and much of the harm is self-inflicted, there's also a strong sense of humanity and the messiness of life, both professionally and personally.
A really interesting read from a talented storyteller. One that sticks with you.
Icelandic author Lilja Sigurdardottir certainly underlines that: TRAP is the second in her Reykjavik Noir series and is an edgy tale of international drug running and financial shenanigans centred on a host of rather unlikable but fascinating characters with nary a hard-drinking pensive copper in sight.
In a way, it's noir in its truer sense (rather than the mere synonym for crime & mystery storytelling which it's become in recent years) - many of the characters are a bit cynical or fatalistic, and there's plenty of moral ambiguity on offer all across the board. This draws the reader in with a sense of freshness and fascination, while at the same time creating a little buffer: at times I found myself admiring the storytelling more than being totally enveloped by it. Perhaps because I wasn't really rooting for any of the characters, rather just witnessing the traps set and all the carnage unfold.
But it is delicious carnage.
This is a pretty fast, slim read, but has lots going on. Slick, but with substance. It's really interesting to see a crime writer take on the high-level financial mismanagement and white collar crime that can infest nations and have huge effects but isn't paid as much heed as violent crime. Sigurdardottir delivers an interesting tale with great pace and plenty of tension, and some really memorable moments and characters. I closed the book thinking it would make for a great screen tale too.
While none of the characters are particularly heroic, there is a sense of understanding and some empathy with some of them: we can see how they got themselves into bad situations, and even if things began for selfish or less-than-honourable reasons, and much of the harm is self-inflicted, there's also a strong sense of humanity and the messiness of life, both professionally and personally.
A really interesting read from a talented storyteller. One that sticks with you.
April 26, 2023
Not quite as satisfying as the first book, or quite as interesting? I mean, I've definitely gotten invested enough in Sonja and Agla and Tómas and now María, and I want to know what becomes of them and this tangled little web. I guess I just had a few big hurdles I couldn't overcome. The more details we got about the financial schemes and Agla's involvement, the less I understood. That's definitely my fault; I don't think the book did a bad job of explaining it. Banking stuff just kinda goes over my head. On the drugs side, things once again got super cheesy and over the top in a way reminiscent of bad TV, and I didn't really like it. There's a supposed twist that was really easy to guess, and I just wasn't invested enough. There's lots of minor time skips, and little gaps that don't get completely filled, and that really took me out of the story sometimes.
And on the relationship side, it was nice to see things with Agla and Sonja move from the perpetual stand still, but the fact that we never see them really talk, and they both remain (for the most part) unaware of what's happening in each other's lives (even though there are huge things happening for them both) was kinda frustrating. It's not the main part of the story, far from it. Nevertheless, I was kinda over the secret keeping. I'm rooting for them as a couple, and we're slowly getting more backstory. But I wanted more.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Susannah Hampton; loved it again. I'm kinda worried about the third book, which I've already started and I'm not sure I like the direction we've taken, but I'm determined to finish this series and see what happens to everyone.
Content warnings:
And on the relationship side, it was nice to see things with Agla and Sonja move from the perpetual stand still, but the fact that we never see them really talk, and they both remain (for the most part) unaware of what's happening in each other's lives (even though there are huge things happening for them both) was kinda frustrating. It's not the main part of the story, far from it. Nevertheless, I was kinda over the secret keeping. I'm rooting for them as a couple, and we're slowly getting more backstory. But I wanted more.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Susannah Hampton; loved it again. I'm kinda worried about the third book, which I've already started and I'm not sure I like the direction we've taken, but I'm determined to finish this series and see what happens to everyone.
Content warnings:
July 25, 2018
Snare was a novel that really stabbed its story and characters into your reading memory. This one takes Snare and sets it in a trap, which then grabs you and keeps you captive throughout.
The story of Agla and Sonja continues and boy does it ramp up! Agla is awaiting trial for fiscal misconduct, Sonja has to return to Iceland to save her son. Bragi is also once again at the heart of the story and the heart of the drug deals which flow through Iceland’s airports. Talk abot dealing and double dealing!
If a snare is a trap, then this one is that one on the cover which clams shut and makes you squeal. There’s a lot more detail to this story than the first installment and at times it felt overstuffed or maybe that was the financial jargon. There are several stories happening at once and the very short chapters both added tension yet jarred at times.
Still, it moved the story on and it was also exciting to head off to Nuuk. (other brief stays in Amsterdam and elsewhere were also a breather - but in 226 pages that was barely needed)
So, I now need part three to see how things pan out. Kudos to the translator. I don’t imagine this was easy to translate!
The story of Agla and Sonja continues and boy does it ramp up! Agla is awaiting trial for fiscal misconduct, Sonja has to return to Iceland to save her son. Bragi is also once again at the heart of the story and the heart of the drug deals which flow through Iceland’s airports. Talk abot dealing and double dealing!
If a snare is a trap, then this one is that one on the cover which clams shut and makes you squeal. There’s a lot more detail to this story than the first installment and at times it felt overstuffed or maybe that was the financial jargon. There are several stories happening at once and the very short chapters both added tension yet jarred at times.
Still, it moved the story on and it was also exciting to head off to Nuuk. (other brief stays in Amsterdam and elsewhere were also a breather - but in 226 pages that was barely needed)
So, I now need part three to see how things pan out. Kudos to the translator. I don’t imagine this was easy to translate!
September 20, 2018
When I finished reading the new novel by Lilja Sigurdardóttir, who debuted more than successfully with the ''Snare'', I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Though ''The Trap'' is definitely an enjoyable and entertaining crime book, it seems that it lacks the originality of the writer's previous novel and while it has a well-woven plot which keeps the reader interested, the tempo is somehow flat and anti-climactic, never reaching a peak. In my opinion, this is the book's main problem along with the under-representation of some of the previous book's main characters (Bragi). Overall, I would say it is a worthwhile book that every Nordic noir fan should check out but those who are familiar with the first novel of this series may feel a little bit disheartened.
August 15, 2018
First of all I have to say that this cover is EVERYTHING! Striking simplicity at its finest! And the story within is anything but simplistic! A compounding complicated story that keeps you on the edge of your seat! I had enjoyed Snare so much that I was eager to see if this one enthralled me as much and it did not disappoint!
Thanks to Orenda for this early copy:)
Thanks to Orenda for this early copy:)
October 4, 2018
Trap hits the ground running, you’re immediately thrown into the thick of things, and the plot holds your attention throughout. Trap is the perfect title for this novel, because, as the blurb states, Sonja does find herself caught in the middle of a dangerous trap. As much as I like her, the danger she was in made for great reading. The pace was fast, Sonja was constantly on the go, trying to navigate her way out of the mess she found herself in. Trap is a continuation of its predecessor, so you’ll get more out of this novel if you’ve read book one, Snare. Snare is a brilliant novel, and Trap is equally as brilliant, a Nordic crime thriller to excite and delight.
There are a few subplots in this novel that are interconnected one way or another, some I found more interesting than others; events surrounding Sonja were my favourite, and I really liked the way she worked with customs officer, Bragi, and wish we could have seen more of those two in action. Trap is filled with tension, and there were certainly a few moments that had me on the edge of my seat!
Regarding Agla’s situation, it was interesting, but a lot of the financial scheming was lost on me; but what was abundantly clear was the stakes were high, and with the direction of the events that occurred, I certainly don’t think Agla is safe, yet. Agla’s need for Sonja was a bit cringy at times, a bit too full on, and I found myself wishing she would just chill out. Not in a way that made me dislike the novel, more in the way that I wanted her to see that if she was a bit calmer, things would all come right in the end, but I guess when the stakes are high, anxieties are heightened also.
Interestingly, in Snare, it was Sonja’s young son, Tomas, who stole the show, and that was the same in Trap. This young child is caught up in his parents’ war and to see the emotional strain this placed on him really tugged at my heartstrings. As did his relationship with his mother, their bond, love, and trust, really warmed my heart. This emotional injection in the plot had me hoping nothing bad befell Sonja, because I really wanted her break free from the trap so she could be free to enjoy her relationship with her son.
I really appreciated the translated table at the start of this novel, although I’m pretty sure I still pronounced everything wrong, I’d be really interested in listening to the audiobook to see how wrong my pronunciation was! But I’m grateful for the translation, provided by Quentin Bates, as it allowed me to read this novel, and, as with Snare, I felt nothing was lost in translation.
Trap is different to other Nordic Noir titles, in that it doesn’t have that moody atmosphere I associate with the subgenre, instead it had this edginess to it that makes it feel fresh and original – the plot is dark, exciting and I absolutely recommend it!
*My thanks to Orenda Books for providing me a copy of this book*
There are a few subplots in this novel that are interconnected one way or another, some I found more interesting than others; events surrounding Sonja were my favourite, and I really liked the way she worked with customs officer, Bragi, and wish we could have seen more of those two in action. Trap is filled with tension, and there were certainly a few moments that had me on the edge of my seat!
Regarding Agla’s situation, it was interesting, but a lot of the financial scheming was lost on me; but what was abundantly clear was the stakes were high, and with the direction of the events that occurred, I certainly don’t think Agla is safe, yet. Agla’s need for Sonja was a bit cringy at times, a bit too full on, and I found myself wishing she would just chill out. Not in a way that made me dislike the novel, more in the way that I wanted her to see that if she was a bit calmer, things would all come right in the end, but I guess when the stakes are high, anxieties are heightened also.
Interestingly, in Snare, it was Sonja’s young son, Tomas, who stole the show, and that was the same in Trap. This young child is caught up in his parents’ war and to see the emotional strain this placed on him really tugged at my heartstrings. As did his relationship with his mother, their bond, love, and trust, really warmed my heart. This emotional injection in the plot had me hoping nothing bad befell Sonja, because I really wanted her break free from the trap so she could be free to enjoy her relationship with her son.
I really appreciated the translated table at the start of this novel, although I’m pretty sure I still pronounced everything wrong, I’d be really interested in listening to the audiobook to see how wrong my pronunciation was! But I’m grateful for the translation, provided by Quentin Bates, as it allowed me to read this novel, and, as with Snare, I felt nothing was lost in translation.
Trap is different to other Nordic Noir titles, in that it doesn’t have that moody atmosphere I associate with the subgenre, instead it had this edginess to it that makes it feel fresh and original – the plot is dark, exciting and I absolutely recommend it!
*My thanks to Orenda Books for providing me a copy of this book*
February 13, 2019
Trap – The Reykjavik Noir Series is getting better
Trap is the second in the Reykjavik series and picks up where Snare, the first in the series, leaves off. Lilja Sigurðardottir has once again written an exciting and pulsating thriller with something happening on every page. The book has been excellently translated by Quentin Bates.
Sonya has managed to stay hidden in Florida with Tomas, keeping her head down and getting to be with her son, alone in the sun. Along way from the snow and cold of Iceland, but at the same time taking nothing for granted. It is when her ex-husband, Adam, snatches Tomas back and they are both back in Reykjavik.
Back in to the life of having to mule drugs from Europe, and keeping her friendly customs officer on side, for Sonja there seems to be no escape. But things she finds out in London may just change her life, but whether its for the better is debatable.
Sonja’s lover is still up to her neck in a financial misconduct case over the Icelandic bank crash, and with powerful men after her, Agla seems to lose it. Well lose it everywhere except where money is concerned. She is still up to her neck in misconduct, but her mind is on Sonja.
Another great Icelandic thriller, that may be small, but it is ambitious, uncompromising but so satisfying thriller. Must be all those dark nights that enables the Icelandic people to produce so many excellent thriller writers.
Trap is the second in the Reykjavik series and picks up where Snare, the first in the series, leaves off. Lilja Sigurðardottir has once again written an exciting and pulsating thriller with something happening on every page. The book has been excellently translated by Quentin Bates.
Sonya has managed to stay hidden in Florida with Tomas, keeping her head down and getting to be with her son, alone in the sun. Along way from the snow and cold of Iceland, but at the same time taking nothing for granted. It is when her ex-husband, Adam, snatches Tomas back and they are both back in Reykjavik.
Back in to the life of having to mule drugs from Europe, and keeping her friendly customs officer on side, for Sonja there seems to be no escape. But things she finds out in London may just change her life, but whether its for the better is debatable.
Sonja’s lover is still up to her neck in a financial misconduct case over the Icelandic bank crash, and with powerful men after her, Agla seems to lose it. Well lose it everywhere except where money is concerned. She is still up to her neck in misconduct, but her mind is on Sonja.
Another great Icelandic thriller, that may be small, but it is ambitious, uncompromising but so satisfying thriller. Must be all those dark nights that enables the Icelandic people to produce so many excellent thriller writers.
December 26, 2021
Po trylogii Lilji Sigurðardóttir nie spodziewałam się cudów i słusznie, bo nie są to wyżyny kunsztu kryminalnego, co dotkliwie pokazał mi tom trzeci, który z braku dostępu do audiobooka, przeczytałam. Już nie raz się przekonałam, że to co bezrefleksyjnie wchłaniam podczas słuchania, nie zawsze jest strawne, gdy się tę książkę czyta. Zacznę może jednak od pozytywów.
Akcja tego cyklu ma miejsce tuż po krachu finansowym, podczas którego bardzo ucierpiała Islandia. Okazało się, że dynamiczny rozwój banków był tylko wielką bańką pełną spekulacji. Teraz tzw banksterzy podlegają prawu i ich kombinacje i machlojki są stopniowo rozpracowywane przez specjalną policyjną komórkę. Jedną z banksterek jest Agla - nieprzytomnie bogata, niezwykle elegancka, lwica jeśli chodzi o finanse i zupełnie nieśmiała w kwestii związku. Agla prowadzi bowiem niecałkiem oficjalny związek z Sonją - ładną, zgrabną matką kilkuletniego chłopca. To ich tête-à-tête doprowadziło do rozpadu małżeństwa Sonji. Adam, jej ex, to sprytny zawodnik, również bankster. Tak ustawił całą sprawę, że dziecko mieszka u niego, a spragniona kontaktów z synem matka musi o nie walczyć. To właśnie ta sytuacja wplątała je w szemrane interesy i teraz pracuje jako kurierka narkotyków. Niewykształcona i w zasadzie niezbyt rozgarnięta Sonja dobrze odnalazła się w tej czynności i może poszczycić się najlepszą skutecznością wśród islandzkich kurierów. W pierwszym tomie dowiadujemy się więc, jak doszło do tego, że Sonja działa w świecie narkotyków oraz kto stoi za wielkim handlem. Autorka wprowadzi też postać Bragiego - celnika, który zbliża się do emerytury i bardzo potrzebuje pieniędzy. Miałam zacząć od pozytywów, więc podkreślę na plus wprowadzenie wątku lesbijskiego, a także dość szczegółowe (aczkolwiek mogą ono być nużące) wyjaśnienie tła islandzkiego krachu finansowego.
Ciąg dalszy: https://przeczytalamksiazke.blogspot....
Akcja tego cyklu ma miejsce tuż po krachu finansowym, podczas którego bardzo ucierpiała Islandia. Okazało się, że dynamiczny rozwój banków był tylko wielką bańką pełną spekulacji. Teraz tzw banksterzy podlegają prawu i ich kombinacje i machlojki są stopniowo rozpracowywane przez specjalną policyjną komórkę. Jedną z banksterek jest Agla - nieprzytomnie bogata, niezwykle elegancka, lwica jeśli chodzi o finanse i zupełnie nieśmiała w kwestii związku. Agla prowadzi bowiem niecałkiem oficjalny związek z Sonją - ładną, zgrabną matką kilkuletniego chłopca. To ich tête-à-tête doprowadziło do rozpadu małżeństwa Sonji. Adam, jej ex, to sprytny zawodnik, również bankster. Tak ustawił całą sprawę, że dziecko mieszka u niego, a spragniona kontaktów z synem matka musi o nie walczyć. To właśnie ta sytuacja wplątała je w szemrane interesy i teraz pracuje jako kurierka narkotyków. Niewykształcona i w zasadzie niezbyt rozgarnięta Sonja dobrze odnalazła się w tej czynności i może poszczycić się najlepszą skutecznością wśród islandzkich kurierów. W pierwszym tomie dowiadujemy się więc, jak doszło do tego, że Sonja działa w świecie narkotyków oraz kto stoi za wielkim handlem. Autorka wprowadzi też postać Bragiego - celnika, który zbliża się do emerytury i bardzo potrzebuje pieniędzy. Miałam zacząć od pozytywów, więc podkreślę na plus wprowadzenie wątku lesbijskiego, a także dość szczegółowe (aczkolwiek mogą ono być nużące) wyjaśnienie tła islandzkiego krachu finansowego.
Ciąg dalszy: https://przeczytalamksiazke.blogspot....
February 11, 2021
Irre Spannend wenn auch nicht ganz so genial wie der erste Teil, der einfach ein offenes Ende hatte,
trotzdem kann ich es kaum erwarten, dass der dritte band in meinem FAch landet!!!!!
trotzdem kann ich es kaum erwarten, dass der dritte band in meinem FAch landet!!!!!
December 29, 2021
Penultima traducere din 2021.
Mai multe, în curând.
Mai multe, în curând.
August 4, 2025
Continuing on from the first book. Same great characters. Looking forward to the 3rd and last in the series.
February 6, 2017
Góð og spennandi bók. Skemmtilegar persónur, maður heldur allavega með glæpa konunum.
November 1, 2016
Eins og fyrri bókin grípur þessi manni heljartökum ásamt því að vera hröð, spennandi og vel fléttuð.
Fyrst þegar ég heyrði af þessu framhaldi Gildrunar bjóst ég ekki við því að bókin myndi standa væntingar því Lilja Sigurðardóttir var búin að setja markið ansi hátt með Gildrunni - en hún stóðst svo sannlega háar væntingar og rúmlega það!
Mæli tvímælalaust með þessari bók fyrir alla sem hafa gaman að góðum spennusögum.
Fyrst þegar ég heyrði af þessu framhaldi Gildrunar bjóst ég ekki við því að bókin myndi standa væntingar því Lilja Sigurðardóttir var búin að setja markið ansi hátt með Gildrunni - en hún stóðst svo sannlega háar væntingar og rúmlega það!
Mæli tvímælalaust með þessari bók fyrir alla sem hafa gaman að góðum spennusögum.
December 23, 2018
Review to follow.
September 23, 2018
In December last year, I read and reviewed Snare; the first book in this series. I adored it and it got a very well deserved place on my Top Books of the Year list. I've been looking forward to the follow up ever since then.
I would advise that readers make sure that they've read Snare before starting on Trap. Whilst you could, at a push read this as a stand alone, the whole experience is enhanced by having some idea of what happened in Snare. These are fairly short, quick reads that carry the reader along a punchy and fast paced story.
In Trap we find Sonja and her young son Tomas in Florida. She's escaped the clutches of her ex husband Adam, and the drugs gang who used her as a mule. However, her respite from the horror and stress of dealing with some of the most dangerous criminals in the world is short and when Tomas is snatched, she finds herself back in Iceland.
Meanwhile, Sonja's lover Agla is still awaiting her sentence. Caught up in and mastermind of some of the largest financial misconduct cases that Iceland have seen, Agla is still plotting and planning. She needs to get some very large debts repaid to some very dangerous people.
Readers of Snare will be delighted to know that Bragi; the customs officer is once again, a huge part of this story. One of Lilja Sigurdardóttir's main strengths are the creation of her characters and Bragi is a huge favourite of mine. He's just a guy, working out his retirement, however he's also multi layered and determined that his wife will end her days in comfort. Nothing will stop him ensuring that the beloved lady who has been by his side for so many years will get the best care available as she comes to the end of her life.
Trap is a complex story, told so very well. There's some really dark, dry humour in there along with the realities of modern-day drugs smuggling and financial corruption. This author writes with great authenticity, keeping her readers gripped and engaged throughout the whole breathless journey.
With a tension that increases as the pages are turned and characters who are incredibly well created, realistic and at time, downright horrific, Trap is a brilliant follow up to the wonderful Snare. I was totally consumed by the plot, bewitched by the stylish prose and once more am left longing for the next instalment.
I would advise that readers make sure that they've read Snare before starting on Trap. Whilst you could, at a push read this as a stand alone, the whole experience is enhanced by having some idea of what happened in Snare. These are fairly short, quick reads that carry the reader along a punchy and fast paced story.
In Trap we find Sonja and her young son Tomas in Florida. She's escaped the clutches of her ex husband Adam, and the drugs gang who used her as a mule. However, her respite from the horror and stress of dealing with some of the most dangerous criminals in the world is short and when Tomas is snatched, she finds herself back in Iceland.
Meanwhile, Sonja's lover Agla is still awaiting her sentence. Caught up in and mastermind of some of the largest financial misconduct cases that Iceland have seen, Agla is still plotting and planning. She needs to get some very large debts repaid to some very dangerous people.
Readers of Snare will be delighted to know that Bragi; the customs officer is once again, a huge part of this story. One of Lilja Sigurdardóttir's main strengths are the creation of her characters and Bragi is a huge favourite of mine. He's just a guy, working out his retirement, however he's also multi layered and determined that his wife will end her days in comfort. Nothing will stop him ensuring that the beloved lady who has been by his side for so many years will get the best care available as she comes to the end of her life.
Trap is a complex story, told so very well. There's some really dark, dry humour in there along with the realities of modern-day drugs smuggling and financial corruption. This author writes with great authenticity, keeping her readers gripped and engaged throughout the whole breathless journey.
With a tension that increases as the pages are turned and characters who are incredibly well created, realistic and at time, downright horrific, Trap is a brilliant follow up to the wonderful Snare. I was totally consumed by the plot, bewitched by the stylish prose and once more am left longing for the next instalment.
October 11, 2020
Das geschah im ersten Band:
Sonja hatte geglaubt, mit ihrer Arbeit als Drogenkurier die Anwaltskosten für den Sorgerechtsstreit um ihren Sohn Tómas zu finanzieren und ihn so vom Vater freikaufen zu können. Doch dann fand sie sich in einem instabilen „Netz“ (so heißt der erste Band der Trilogie) aus gegenseitigen Abhängigkeiten wieder, das sofort zu reißen drohte, sowie sie sich bewegte. Mit Sonja verknüpft sind in diesem Netz nicht nur ihr Mann Adam, der sie mit dem gemeinsamen Sohn als Geisel erpresst, hinzu kommen der Zollbeamte Bragi, der kurz vor seiner Pensionierung noch einmal zu Hochform aufzulaufen scheint, und Sonjas Liebhaberin Agla, gegen die inzwischen wegen ihrer Rolle im isländischen Börsen-Skandal ermittelt wurde.
Inhalt
Die Isländerin Sonja ist mit ihrem Sohn Tómas auf einem Campingplatz in Florida untergetaucht. Sie floh im Streit um das Sorgerecht für Tómas vor ihrem Mann, ahnungslos, wie weit der Arm des Drogen-Kartells reicht, für das sie regelmäßig Kokain nach Reykjavik geschmuggelt hatte. Als Sonja in ihrer Heimatstadt ohne Tómas, ohne Gepäck und in kurzen Hosen an der Tür ihrer Ex-Geliebten Agla läutet, scheint sie völlig am Ende zu sein. Bei der Rückkehr von einer ihrer "Geschäftsreisen" nach Island war damals der erfahrene Zollbeamte Bragi auf Sonja aufmerksam geworden. Gemeinsam hatten sie ein Geschäftsmodell entwickelt, das Bragi finanziell in die Lage versetzte, seine demenzkranke Frau Valdís aus dem Pflegeheim zu holen und für sie eine Pflegerin einzustellen. Wenn Sonja von ihrem Auftraggeber nun wieder auf ihren alten Platz als menschliches Maultier gezwungen wird, könnte ihr Absturz auch Bragi mitreißen. Bragis und Sonjas Kooperation ist genauestens austariert, so dass der alte Zollbeamte kurzfristig aus dem Konzept gerät, als er eine Schmuggelroute verfolgen soll, die aus der isländischen Hauptstadt hinausführt.
Zwischen Sonja und der Frau ihres obersten Bosses einerseits, sowie der Bankerin Agla und der Ermittlerin María, die bereits nach dem Banken-Crash gegen Agla ermittelt hat, andererseits zeigen sich neue Netze, die an den Titel des ersten Bandes denken lassen. Die Frauen mit ihrer selten fiesen Art, anderen ins Kreuz zu treten, schenken sich gegenseitig nichts, wirklich nichts. Keine von ihnen möchte ich als Verfolgerin an den Hacken kleben haben. Bragi hingegen tut das, für das seine jüngeren Kollegen ihn wie einen Wunderheiler verehren – er erkennt als einziger ein Muster hinter den Ereignissen, mit dem niemand gerechnet hat. Ein Netz, Schlingen, Gitterstangen … in den Lackelementen der Cover-Illustrationen setzt sich jeweils ein Motto eines der drei Bände fort.
Fazit
Die Ereignisse spielen 2011, zum Ende der isländischen Bankenkrise. Mit extrem kurzen Kapiteln, die meist nur 1 bis 2 Seiten umfassen, und schnellen Perspektivwechseln treibt Lilja Sigurðardóttir im zweiten Band ihrer Trilogie die Handlung voran. Es ist zu verführerisch, nur noch ein paar Seiten zu lesen und noch ein paar … Kurz und prägnant charakterisiert Sigurðardóttir ihre Figuren und vermittelt eine Ahnung davon, was jede von ihnen antreibt.
Sonja hatte geglaubt, mit ihrer Arbeit als Drogenkurier die Anwaltskosten für den Sorgerechtsstreit um ihren Sohn Tómas zu finanzieren und ihn so vom Vater freikaufen zu können. Doch dann fand sie sich in einem instabilen „Netz“ (so heißt der erste Band der Trilogie) aus gegenseitigen Abhängigkeiten wieder, das sofort zu reißen drohte, sowie sie sich bewegte. Mit Sonja verknüpft sind in diesem Netz nicht nur ihr Mann Adam, der sie mit dem gemeinsamen Sohn als Geisel erpresst, hinzu kommen der Zollbeamte Bragi, der kurz vor seiner Pensionierung noch einmal zu Hochform aufzulaufen scheint, und Sonjas Liebhaberin Agla, gegen die inzwischen wegen ihrer Rolle im isländischen Börsen-Skandal ermittelt wurde.
Inhalt
Die Isländerin Sonja ist mit ihrem Sohn Tómas auf einem Campingplatz in Florida untergetaucht. Sie floh im Streit um das Sorgerecht für Tómas vor ihrem Mann, ahnungslos, wie weit der Arm des Drogen-Kartells reicht, für das sie regelmäßig Kokain nach Reykjavik geschmuggelt hatte. Als Sonja in ihrer Heimatstadt ohne Tómas, ohne Gepäck und in kurzen Hosen an der Tür ihrer Ex-Geliebten Agla läutet, scheint sie völlig am Ende zu sein. Bei der Rückkehr von einer ihrer "Geschäftsreisen" nach Island war damals der erfahrene Zollbeamte Bragi auf Sonja aufmerksam geworden. Gemeinsam hatten sie ein Geschäftsmodell entwickelt, das Bragi finanziell in die Lage versetzte, seine demenzkranke Frau Valdís aus dem Pflegeheim zu holen und für sie eine Pflegerin einzustellen. Wenn Sonja von ihrem Auftraggeber nun wieder auf ihren alten Platz als menschliches Maultier gezwungen wird, könnte ihr Absturz auch Bragi mitreißen. Bragis und Sonjas Kooperation ist genauestens austariert, so dass der alte Zollbeamte kurzfristig aus dem Konzept gerät, als er eine Schmuggelroute verfolgen soll, die aus der isländischen Hauptstadt hinausführt.
Zwischen Sonja und der Frau ihres obersten Bosses einerseits, sowie der Bankerin Agla und der Ermittlerin María, die bereits nach dem Banken-Crash gegen Agla ermittelt hat, andererseits zeigen sich neue Netze, die an den Titel des ersten Bandes denken lassen. Die Frauen mit ihrer selten fiesen Art, anderen ins Kreuz zu treten, schenken sich gegenseitig nichts, wirklich nichts. Keine von ihnen möchte ich als Verfolgerin an den Hacken kleben haben. Bragi hingegen tut das, für das seine jüngeren Kollegen ihn wie einen Wunderheiler verehren – er erkennt als einziger ein Muster hinter den Ereignissen, mit dem niemand gerechnet hat. Ein Netz, Schlingen, Gitterstangen … in den Lackelementen der Cover-Illustrationen setzt sich jeweils ein Motto eines der drei Bände fort.
Fazit
Die Ereignisse spielen 2011, zum Ende der isländischen Bankenkrise. Mit extrem kurzen Kapiteln, die meist nur 1 bis 2 Seiten umfassen, und schnellen Perspektivwechseln treibt Lilja Sigurðardóttir im zweiten Band ihrer Trilogie die Handlung voran. Es ist zu verführerisch, nur noch ein paar Seiten zu lesen und noch ein paar … Kurz und prägnant charakterisiert Sigurðardóttir ihre Figuren und vermittelt eine Ahnung davon, was jede von ihnen antreibt.
October 29, 2018
If you read Snare by Lilja Sigurdardóttir, then you must head off to your local bookshop and get yourself a copy of Trap (Orenda Books) which is the second in the Reykjavik Noir Series. This I raced through in one day it was that gripping. One book I knew when I started there was no way I was going to put this book down.
Sonya is trying to make a new start and escape the world of drugs and is happy in Florida, the sunshine state. What could possibly go wrong. Her life is Thomas her son but when he is taken, Sonya’s life falls back into the chaos and hell of the past and this will include heading back to Iceland a country she thought she had seen the last of.
Back in Iceland is her shocking husband Adam who is behind her son’s kidnap. He is desperate to get Sonya and bring them back to Iceland. Now Sonya is back and back into the world she tried to escape from a world of drugs and drug lords. Sonya wants her son back but things are about to get raw and nasty. Firstly, there is her ex in Adam but then there are a few seedier and creepy characters that threaten Sonya’s life and that of her son.
In the strong storyline there is financial misconduct that involves Sonya’s lover Agla, but there is real tension between them both now. Agla owes big money to a group of men who want their money back and they will do what it takes to make sure they get it back.
We also meet more of the characters from the first book including Bragi who is the customs officer who is not far off retirement, for Bragi he is ticking off the days and caring for is very sick wife. Sonya will always be able to count on Bragi for help in her quest despite everything that Bragi has to cope with in his life.
Sigurdardóttir has written a very strong second book in Trap. This is a real page turner strong on characters and is dark and leaves you with punch in the gut feel as the storyline gets darker and chilling and has left me hoping there is to be a book three. Highly Recommended.
230 Pages.
Sonya is trying to make a new start and escape the world of drugs and is happy in Florida, the sunshine state. What could possibly go wrong. Her life is Thomas her son but when he is taken, Sonya’s life falls back into the chaos and hell of the past and this will include heading back to Iceland a country she thought she had seen the last of.
Back in Iceland is her shocking husband Adam who is behind her son’s kidnap. He is desperate to get Sonya and bring them back to Iceland. Now Sonya is back and back into the world she tried to escape from a world of drugs and drug lords. Sonya wants her son back but things are about to get raw and nasty. Firstly, there is her ex in Adam but then there are a few seedier and creepy characters that threaten Sonya’s life and that of her son.
In the strong storyline there is financial misconduct that involves Sonya’s lover Agla, but there is real tension between them both now. Agla owes big money to a group of men who want their money back and they will do what it takes to make sure they get it back.
We also meet more of the characters from the first book including Bragi who is the customs officer who is not far off retirement, for Bragi he is ticking off the days and caring for is very sick wife. Sonya will always be able to count on Bragi for help in her quest despite everything that Bragi has to cope with in his life.
Sigurdardóttir has written a very strong second book in Trap. This is a real page turner strong on characters and is dark and leaves you with punch in the gut feel as the storyline gets darker and chilling and has left me hoping there is to be a book three. Highly Recommended.
230 Pages.
October 13, 2018
The first book of the Reykjavik Noir trilogy, Snare was an eye opener for me. It is the first crime fiction book I read which focused on the illegal drug trade. I was a bit hesitant, but I am so glad I gave it a chance. Sometimes I do forget there is much more to crime fiction than just murder. Snare and Trap portray a dark world with characters as cunning and evil as those in any murder mystery.
Former drug trafficker Sonja and her young son Tomas have escaped Sonja’s dangerous occupation and her drug kingpin husband, Adam. In Florida, Sonja has taken on a transient lifestyle in order to keep Adam and his associates off her trail. When Tomas is abducted, Sonja is forced return to Iceland and to the career she fled. After returning to Iceland Sonja is now deeper into the drug trade than she was before. New and more dangerous players have entered Sonja’s life making escaping with her life and Tomas seem impossible.
Sonja’s lover, Agla is in just as much trouble as Sonja. Agla is waiting to be sentenced to prison for her role in Iceland’s financial crisis. She is also indebted financially to a very treacherous man who is demanding payment in full.
After reading the first book Snare, I was left wanting to know more about Agla. Although she is a major character in Snare, details of her past were limited. As I got deeper into Trap, I was really excited when details of her background began to emerge. Agla’s mother appears to have been the biggest influence in her life. She was raised to be tough, smart, resourceful, and independent. Traits which served her well in her banking and finance career. In a male dominated world, Agla excels and is permitted entry into the inner circle of the bank with which she is employed. Although this eventually lands Agla in trouble, I was confident she had the skills and knowledge to overcome any obstacle. Even though Sonja is the main character of the series, I found myself drawn to Agla.
What I find so interesting about Sonja and Agla’s relationship, is how little they know about each other. Sonja knows Agla is in trouble with the law due to the press coverage, but she rarely questions her for details and Agla does not offer any explanations. Sonja has told Agla that she runs a computer software company which requires her to travel often, but Sonja is barely making ends meet. Sonja and Agla are both intelligent and intuitive, they have to know there is more to the others life but it seems they are afraid to learn more. I could not help but wonder what they could accomplish if they were honest with each other. With their combined skills, I cannot imagine a situation they could not manage.
In Trap we learn more about the charges of financial misconduct Agla is facing. We now know her supposed role in the bank fraud allegedly committed by her and the other bank managers. In detail, we learn about money laundering, fake bank accounts and loans. I initially thought I would find these details a little overwhelming and hard to follow. Surprisingly, I was able to understand how the money was laundered and the explanation of the fraud was smoothly woven into the story.
Readers who are new to the series can read Trap as a standalone, but they will miss out on the heartbreaking and shocking story of Bragi, who for me was the stand out character in Snare. Readers will need to know Bragi’s background in order to understand his relationship with Sonja. Trap is an addictive and thrilling read, perfect for crime fiction fans looking to branch out into other sub genres of crime fiction.
**Thanks to Orenda Books for my free copy of Trap**
Murder and Moore Rating :
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Former drug trafficker Sonja and her young son Tomas have escaped Sonja’s dangerous occupation and her drug kingpin husband, Adam. In Florida, Sonja has taken on a transient lifestyle in order to keep Adam and his associates off her trail. When Tomas is abducted, Sonja is forced return to Iceland and to the career she fled. After returning to Iceland Sonja is now deeper into the drug trade than she was before. New and more dangerous players have entered Sonja’s life making escaping with her life and Tomas seem impossible.
Sonja’s lover, Agla is in just as much trouble as Sonja. Agla is waiting to be sentenced to prison for her role in Iceland’s financial crisis. She is also indebted financially to a very treacherous man who is demanding payment in full.
After reading the first book Snare, I was left wanting to know more about Agla. Although she is a major character in Snare, details of her past were limited. As I got deeper into Trap, I was really excited when details of her background began to emerge. Agla’s mother appears to have been the biggest influence in her life. She was raised to be tough, smart, resourceful, and independent. Traits which served her well in her banking and finance career. In a male dominated world, Agla excels and is permitted entry into the inner circle of the bank with which she is employed. Although this eventually lands Agla in trouble, I was confident she had the skills and knowledge to overcome any obstacle. Even though Sonja is the main character of the series, I found myself drawn to Agla.
What I find so interesting about Sonja and Agla’s relationship, is how little they know about each other. Sonja knows Agla is in trouble with the law due to the press coverage, but she rarely questions her for details and Agla does not offer any explanations. Sonja has told Agla that she runs a computer software company which requires her to travel often, but Sonja is barely making ends meet. Sonja and Agla are both intelligent and intuitive, they have to know there is more to the others life but it seems they are afraid to learn more. I could not help but wonder what they could accomplish if they were honest with each other. With their combined skills, I cannot imagine a situation they could not manage.
In Trap we learn more about the charges of financial misconduct Agla is facing. We now know her supposed role in the bank fraud allegedly committed by her and the other bank managers. In detail, we learn about money laundering, fake bank accounts and loans. I initially thought I would find these details a little overwhelming and hard to follow. Surprisingly, I was able to understand how the money was laundered and the explanation of the fraud was smoothly woven into the story.
Readers who are new to the series can read Trap as a standalone, but they will miss out on the heartbreaking and shocking story of Bragi, who for me was the stand out character in Snare. Readers will need to know Bragi’s background in order to understand his relationship with Sonja. Trap is an addictive and thrilling read, perfect for crime fiction fans looking to branch out into other sub genres of crime fiction.
**Thanks to Orenda Books for my free copy of Trap**
Murder and Moore Rating :
4.5 out of 5 Stars
March 10, 2025
Trap is a very interesting type of story and it starts out with Sonja starts out running away with Tomas to Florida in America. She and her son are brought back to Iceland by Adam with the help of Mexicans. Put back in Iceland she gets to get back in running drugs into Iceland but is found out by the airport agents namely Bragi who is within retirement age and makes a deal with her. Meantime Agla is under investigation because of the Banking crises and she one of three people who are investigated. On one of her trips to London Sonja meets a woman who is the wife of Mr. José but finds his body behind a couch and helps her get rid of it but doesn't know she's being filmed getting rid of him at the same time. She uses this film to get Sonja to help in her takeover of her husbands business. This is something she is worried about and lends it to her help with a former employee of Mr. José that had his hand removed by his Tiger. Lilja develops several scenarios with each of these people with makes really good reading.
Florid
Florid
August 16, 2021
I need the next one immediatelly
January 14, 2023
teraz jestem coraz bardziej ciekawa ostatniego tomu!
p.s czemu sonja i agla są nazywane przyjaciółkami cały ten czas? hmm they seem to be very good friends tho🫥 THEY'RE LOVERS FOR GOD SAKE
p.s czemu sonja i agla są nazywane przyjaciółkami cały ten czas? hmm they seem to be very good friends tho🫥 THEY'RE LOVERS FOR GOD SAKE
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