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An Áróra Investigation #2
Blóðrauður sjór
When entrepreneur Flosi arrives home for dinner one night, he discovers that his house has been ransacked, and his wife Gudrun missing. A letter on the kitchen table confirms that she has been kidnapped. If Flosi doesn’t agree to pay an enormous ransom, Gudrun will be killed. Forbidden from contacting the police, he gets in touch with r ra, who specialises in finding hidden assets, and she, alongside her detective friend Daniel, try to get to the bottom of the case without anyone catching on. Meanwhile, r ra and Daniel continue the puzzling, devastating search for r ra’s sister safold, who disappeared without trace. As fog descends, in a cold and rainy Icelandic autumn, the investigation becomes increasingly dangerous, and confusing.
314 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2020
166 people are currently reading
571 people want to read
About the author
Lilja Sigurðardóttir
19 books432 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
October 18, 2022
The second Áróra Investigation, and the follow-up to the fabulous "Cold As Hell", this thriller was a tense and twisty reading experience.
Throughout the first novel, I was a bit torn as to whether I liked Áróra or not. It took me the entire novel to decide that yes, yes I do. She is a 'badass'. She is tall, strong, and knows her own place in her world. Sometimes her moral compass seems a bit off, but she resonates as a 'good' person. I liked her even better in this book.
The Icelandic settings were well described, though the author seems to have a love/hate relationship with the country - as does her protagonist, Áróra.
This novel would make a great movie. With themes of abduction, money laundering, infidelity, tax evasion, and missing persons, this book has a lot going on. All that, and the potential Áróra/Daníel backstory, make this both a thrilling and compelling read.
Highly recommended to all readers who enjoy a well executed crime thriller. I'm loving this series and look forward to the third installment.
Throughout the first novel, I was a bit torn as to whether I liked Áróra or not. It took me the entire novel to decide that yes, yes I do. She is a 'badass'. She is tall, strong, and knows her own place in her world. Sometimes her moral compass seems a bit off, but she resonates as a 'good' person. I liked her even better in this book.
The Icelandic settings were well described, though the author seems to have a love/hate relationship with the country - as does her protagonist, Áróra.
This novel would make a great movie. With themes of abduction, money laundering, infidelity, tax evasion, and missing persons, this book has a lot going on. All that, and the potential Áróra/Daníel backstory, make this both a thrilling and compelling read.
Highly recommended to all readers who enjoy a well executed crime thriller. I'm loving this series and look forward to the third installment.
October 24, 2022
Back in October last year I read and reviewed Cold As Hell, the first in this series, and said at the time that it was probably my favourite book from this author.
Here we have Red As Blood, number two in the Áróra Investigates series and it's another wonderful read, I love this series, I hope it goes on for years and years and years!
Despite her initial reluctance to return to Iceland to search for her missing sister, Áróra is still in the country, in fact she's bought a flat there and whilst she's loathe to tell her mother this, she is determined that she will stay until the mystery of where Isafold disappeared to is solved. Áróra's job as a financial investigator means that she can work from anywhere, she has many contacts and she can be very useful to local authorities too.
Áróra is contacted by local businessman Flosi. He's returned to his home to find that his wife Gudrún is missing. There's a note demanding two million Euros and strict instructions not to call the police. Flosi does have access to money, but will need Áróra's help and expertise to get it into Iceland. Whilst it's clear that the people who have Gudrún want no police involvement, Áróra knows that Daniel, the local detective who worked on Isafold's disappearance can help, and so an overt and undercover mission begins.
Whilst I have never been to Iceland, I really feel as though I know it very well and that's down to the sublime writing of this very talented author. Her descriptive prose, of the people and the places, the customs and the cultures are so so well done and give such a feeling of authenticity to the story.
It's a complex case with many layers and things are never quite what they seem in Flosi's life. As Áróra, Daniel and the rest of the team start to investigate, they uncover things that Flosi would have preferred to keep quiet. I had my suspicions about the why and the who but these changed constantly as the author threw another twist into the mix.
I have loved getting to know more about the characters too, we get such an insight into their private lives which goes a long way to explain how they carry out their professional work too. A varied, eclectic and interesting bunch of folk who work so well together on the page.
As always, translated wonderfully by Quentin Bates, this is just brilliant. I loved every page and was utterly glued to it throughout. I cannot wait for the next instalment.
Here we have Red As Blood, number two in the Áróra Investigates series and it's another wonderful read, I love this series, I hope it goes on for years and years and years!
Despite her initial reluctance to return to Iceland to search for her missing sister, Áróra is still in the country, in fact she's bought a flat there and whilst she's loathe to tell her mother this, she is determined that she will stay until the mystery of where Isafold disappeared to is solved. Áróra's job as a financial investigator means that she can work from anywhere, she has many contacts and she can be very useful to local authorities too.
Áróra is contacted by local businessman Flosi. He's returned to his home to find that his wife Gudrún is missing. There's a note demanding two million Euros and strict instructions not to call the police. Flosi does have access to money, but will need Áróra's help and expertise to get it into Iceland. Whilst it's clear that the people who have Gudrún want no police involvement, Áróra knows that Daniel, the local detective who worked on Isafold's disappearance can help, and so an overt and undercover mission begins.
Whilst I have never been to Iceland, I really feel as though I know it very well and that's down to the sublime writing of this very talented author. Her descriptive prose, of the people and the places, the customs and the cultures are so so well done and give such a feeling of authenticity to the story.
It's a complex case with many layers and things are never quite what they seem in Flosi's life. As Áróra, Daniel and the rest of the team start to investigate, they uncover things that Flosi would have preferred to keep quiet. I had my suspicions about the why and the who but these changed constantly as the author threw another twist into the mix.
I have loved getting to know more about the characters too, we get such an insight into their private lives which goes a long way to explain how they carry out their professional work too. A varied, eclectic and interesting bunch of folk who work so well together on the page.
As always, translated wonderfully by Quentin Bates, this is just brilliant. I loved every page and was utterly glued to it throughout. I cannot wait for the next instalment.
June 9, 2023
Short chapters, cool characters, fun plot twists, easy reading: just the way I like my Icelandic crimes
October 19, 2022
Red As Blood is the second novel in Lilja Sigurðardóttir’s Áróra Investigations series following last year’s Cold As Hell, a novel which I described as featuring a hellish climate, deeply conceited characters that don’t fit a mould and a permeating sense of displacement. Following the events in that story, financial investigator Áróra has remained in Iceland. Several months later we encounter her in a determined attempt to try to find her missing sister Ísaford in the far south west of the island. However this appears likely to be destined to be a mystery that sustains over the five part series. It isn’t long until she finds herself a new client to pull her away from that task.
When successful businessman Flosi returns home one evening, he finds a back window broken and his wife Gudrun nowhere to be seen. has disappearing seemingly while making their evening meal. Beside the part prepared food that was intended to be their evening meal is a note that makes it clear that she has been kidnapped. In return for her safe return they have requested a ransom of €2 million is sought. When he contacts Áróra she persuades him that while she is a specialist at finding hidden assets, this doesn’t necessarily include people. Despite being warned in the note not to contact the police, Áróra convinces him to speak to her detective friend Daniel. Before long Flosi’s house is being regularly visited by police officers, including Daniel and his colleague Helena, and forensic experts in the guise of relatives or delivery people. Daniel and Helena have their suspicions in relation to both Flosi and his daughter Sara Sol.
Flosi behaviour is very volatile and perplexing to them, often appearing very emotional, other times more composed yet he repeatedly refers to Gudrun in the past tense when discussing her with the detectives. While he corrects himself each time in an emotional outburst, it does suggest that perhaps he may know more about his wife’s fate that he has been letting on. Meanwhile his daughter admits that she has not always had an easy relationship with Gudrun who is her step mother, and some of her own actions lead to suspicion. While Flosi’s perplexing personal life may have provided a motive for someone to take his wife, his further complicated business affairs, which Áróra is focused on, also provide alternative possibilities.
While kidnaps are popular in psychological thrillers, they are apparently very rare in Icelandic society. Unlike many such stories there is no narrative from the point of view of the kidnapped nor the kidnappers so her welfare just like their motivations are hidden from the reader as much as the police officers. The onus therefore is on the meticulous work done by the police and Áróra’s examination of Flosi and Gudrun’s financial accounts. The book is comprised of short chapters with multiple narratives from Áróra, Daniel and Helene. These bring different perspectives to the case as each attempts to pull the investigation in different directions as they struggle to find a theory as to the purpose of the kidnapping. While their time in proximity and mutual attraction bring Áróra and Daniel appear likely to bring them closer together, it is relative newcomer Helene whose personal life inadvertently risks threatening the investigation.
As with all the stories I have read by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, it is the characters that draw you in. The gradual unravelling of their secrets and weaknesses are as significant as the paper trails, call logs and camera footage that begins to put the investigators upon a particular trail. Yet as the time draws close for the handover of the ransom discoveries and revelations are ahead.
I did enjoy the development in the characters of Áróra, Daniel and Helene, while Áróra has maybe gained a little more of what she is looking for her search for Ísaford shows no sign of ending. Red As Blood is perhaps not as fast paced as the first novel in the series, overall quite a different type of story but the author’s qualities always emerge convincingly. I would recommend starting with Cold As Hell to get Áróra’s background and I’m sure after reading this you will be as keen to read the subsequent novels in the series, White As Snow and Dark As Night as I am.
When successful businessman Flosi returns home one evening, he finds a back window broken and his wife Gudrun nowhere to be seen. has disappearing seemingly while making their evening meal. Beside the part prepared food that was intended to be their evening meal is a note that makes it clear that she has been kidnapped. In return for her safe return they have requested a ransom of €2 million is sought. When he contacts Áróra she persuades him that while she is a specialist at finding hidden assets, this doesn’t necessarily include people. Despite being warned in the note not to contact the police, Áróra convinces him to speak to her detective friend Daniel. Before long Flosi’s house is being regularly visited by police officers, including Daniel and his colleague Helena, and forensic experts in the guise of relatives or delivery people. Daniel and Helena have their suspicions in relation to both Flosi and his daughter Sara Sol.
Flosi behaviour is very volatile and perplexing to them, often appearing very emotional, other times more composed yet he repeatedly refers to Gudrun in the past tense when discussing her with the detectives. While he corrects himself each time in an emotional outburst, it does suggest that perhaps he may know more about his wife’s fate that he has been letting on. Meanwhile his daughter admits that she has not always had an easy relationship with Gudrun who is her step mother, and some of her own actions lead to suspicion. While Flosi’s perplexing personal life may have provided a motive for someone to take his wife, his further complicated business affairs, which Áróra is focused on, also provide alternative possibilities.
While kidnaps are popular in psychological thrillers, they are apparently very rare in Icelandic society. Unlike many such stories there is no narrative from the point of view of the kidnapped nor the kidnappers so her welfare just like their motivations are hidden from the reader as much as the police officers. The onus therefore is on the meticulous work done by the police and Áróra’s examination of Flosi and Gudrun’s financial accounts. The book is comprised of short chapters with multiple narratives from Áróra, Daniel and Helene. These bring different perspectives to the case as each attempts to pull the investigation in different directions as they struggle to find a theory as to the purpose of the kidnapping. While their time in proximity and mutual attraction bring Áróra and Daniel appear likely to bring them closer together, it is relative newcomer Helene whose personal life inadvertently risks threatening the investigation.
As with all the stories I have read by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, it is the characters that draw you in. The gradual unravelling of their secrets and weaknesses are as significant as the paper trails, call logs and camera footage that begins to put the investigators upon a particular trail. Yet as the time draws close for the handover of the ransom discoveries and revelations are ahead.
I did enjoy the development in the characters of Áróra, Daniel and Helene, while Áróra has maybe gained a little more of what she is looking for her search for Ísaford shows no sign of ending. Red As Blood is perhaps not as fast paced as the first novel in the series, overall quite a different type of story but the author’s qualities always emerge convincingly. I would recommend starting with Cold As Hell to get Áróra’s background and I’m sure after reading this you will be as keen to read the subsequent novels in the series, White As Snow and Dark As Night as I am.
May 21, 2025
För drygt ett år sedan läste jag första delen i den här serien och blev väldigt positivt överraskad. Andra delen dök upp här dök upp här innan jag hade läst den första, men har fått vänta ett tag. När jag nu hade ganska mycket månad kvar och påskledigt så tyckte jag att det kunde vara dags för Blodrött hav.
Isländskt brukar passa mig väldigt bra. Om man ska generalisera så verkar isländska författare, ofta, ha samma typ av berättande. Dessutom har de lika ofta ett språk som passar mig. Det är kort och koncist, inte direkt några utsvävningar, inga långrandiga miljöbeskrivningar och läsaren förutsätts veta hur man utför vardagliga saker utan att det beskrivs. Detaljerat. Det gäller även för den här boken.
Blodrött hav är inte riktigt lika bra som första delen, men det är inte långtifrån. Den avslutas med en rejäl cliffhanger så jag får se till att läsa tredje boken snart. Som så klart redan står i hyllan.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
Isländskt brukar passa mig väldigt bra. Om man ska generalisera så verkar isländska författare, ofta, ha samma typ av berättande. Dessutom har de lika ofta ett språk som passar mig. Det är kort och koncist, inte direkt några utsvävningar, inga långrandiga miljöbeskrivningar och läsaren förutsätts veta hur man utför vardagliga saker utan att det beskrivs. Detaljerat. Det gäller även för den här boken.
Blodrött hav är inte riktigt lika bra som första delen, men det är inte långtifrån. Den avslutas med en rejäl cliffhanger så jag får se till att läsa tredje boken snart. Som så klart redan står i hyllan.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
April 6, 2023
Áróra explodes back onto the scene in Lilja’s continuation to the ‘An Áróra Investigation’ series!
An immersive and chilling crime masterclass by one of Nordic Noir’s greats! As you all know by now, I am a huge fan of Lilja and all her books, absolutely one of my favourite writers and I would say one of the best in the world in the genre. Red As Blood continues the trend with an atmospheric tale of abduction, infidelity and crime gangs.
Lilja has a distinct ability to craft the environment her books are set in with an ability second to none. Too often was I caught feeling the Icelandic cold or shrouded by a mysterious fog. To describe this book as atmospheric is an understated phrase. I honestly cannot fathom anyone other than Lilja delivering this gripping tale.
Áróra is a fantastic, deep and captivating character. We know this from Cold As Hell but Red As Blood sees the progression of Daniel’s story and this dynamic with Áróra is explored more, certainly the will they, won’t they aspect. Daniel is just as strong of a character as Áróra and the combination of these two by Lilja is a masterstroke.
If you are a Nordic Noir fan, or if you are a fan of Lilja, definitely get Red As Blood now! But make sure you have red Cold As Hell beforehand! Both are out now and the continuation of the series is coming soon! Catch up before it’s out! Thank you Orenda Books for the review copy! I loved it so much I bought it physically!
An immersive and chilling crime masterclass by one of Nordic Noir’s greats! As you all know by now, I am a huge fan of Lilja and all her books, absolutely one of my favourite writers and I would say one of the best in the world in the genre. Red As Blood continues the trend with an atmospheric tale of abduction, infidelity and crime gangs.
Lilja has a distinct ability to craft the environment her books are set in with an ability second to none. Too often was I caught feeling the Icelandic cold or shrouded by a mysterious fog. To describe this book as atmospheric is an understated phrase. I honestly cannot fathom anyone other than Lilja delivering this gripping tale.
Áróra is a fantastic, deep and captivating character. We know this from Cold As Hell but Red As Blood sees the progression of Daniel’s story and this dynamic with Áróra is explored more, certainly the will they, won’t they aspect. Daniel is just as strong of a character as Áróra and the combination of these two by Lilja is a masterstroke.
If you are a Nordic Noir fan, or if you are a fan of Lilja, definitely get Red As Blood now! But make sure you have red Cold As Hell beforehand! Both are out now and the continuation of the series is coming soon! Catch up before it’s out! Thank you Orenda Books for the review copy! I loved it so much I bought it physically!
May 1, 2023
This is a continuation of the series that began with Cold as blood with financial investigator Arora coming to Iceland in search of her sister Isaford. The investigation into her sister's disappearance continues in this one with Arora also getting involved in an abduction case involving the wife of a man with millions in overseas accounts.
Arora and her police friend Daniel along with a discreetly set up police team look for clues to the identity of the kidnapper of businessman Flosi's wife Gudrun. Looking closely at the family dynamics and the marriage, they discover a lot of tension and secrets in the marriage even as Flosi's finances ring alarm bells.
As in the previous book, the Icelandic atmosphere is a character by itself, at times harsh and difficult and at other times beautiful. Arora's attempts to settle down in Iceland, figure out her relationship with Daniel and achieve closure in the search for her sister are woven into the narrative.
The investigation has enough surprises to keep the suspense alive and this an intriguing read.
Arora and her police friend Daniel along with a discreetly set up police team look for clues to the identity of the kidnapper of businessman Flosi's wife Gudrun. Looking closely at the family dynamics and the marriage, they discover a lot of tension and secrets in the marriage even as Flosi's finances ring alarm bells.
As in the previous book, the Icelandic atmosphere is a character by itself, at times harsh and difficult and at other times beautiful. Arora's attempts to settle down in Iceland, figure out her relationship with Daniel and achieve closure in the search for her sister are woven into the narrative.
The investigation has enough surprises to keep the suspense alive and this an intriguing read.
February 8, 2025
When Flosi’s wife is kidnapped, he is warned not to contact the police, and he doesn’t want them taking too close a look at his affairs anyway. So he contacts financial investigator Árora and she arranges a secret operation with her CID friend Daníel, but Flosi’s evasions and changing moods make the case increasingly difficult. Meanwhile Árora continues to look for her missing sister Ísafold.
This is a tense and exciting read where Sigurðardottir’s short chapters and snappy sentences adds to the pace and tension. The plot seems obvious initially but the twists are added at just the right time of throw the reader off course, the suspects all have something to hide, and the resolution is excellent. Árora and Daniel’s relationship continues to evolve without overshadowing the main plot, and his colleague Helena adds more interest and depth to the story.
Atmospheric and thrilling, this is an excellent series and I’m looking forward to reading the next episode.
This is a tense and exciting read where Sigurðardottir’s short chapters and snappy sentences adds to the pace and tension. The plot seems obvious initially but the twists are added at just the right time of throw the reader off course, the suspects all have something to hide, and the resolution is excellent. Árora and Daniel’s relationship continues to evolve without overshadowing the main plot, and his colleague Helena adds more interest and depth to the story.
Atmospheric and thrilling, this is an excellent series and I’m looking forward to reading the next episode.
February 9, 2025
Det är något speciellt med isländska deckare och jag är allt som oftast förtjust. Blodrött hav är andra del i Áróra-serien och första boken, Iskall sol, var ett wow från min sida. Den här andra boken har en rätt trög start som drar ner mitt betyg ett snäpp, men mot slutet är tempoväxlingen väl avvägd. Det hela kretsar kring ett försvinnande och det blir en rätt intressant historia. Ibland har jag, i ljudboksformatet, lite svårt att hänga med när berättelsen byter perspektiv men får på det stora hela en bra läsupplevelse. Del tre kommer absolut att läsas!
March 7, 2024
Spannender Island-Krimi
Klappentext:
»Wir haben deine Frau. Der Preis für ihre Freiheit beträgt zwei Millionen Euro. Ihr Leben liegt in deinen Händen.«
Als der vermögende Unternehmer Flosi nach einem langen Arbeitstag nach Hause kommt, muss er feststellen, dass sein Haus durchwühlt wurde. Glas ist geborsten, das Abendessen auf dem Fußboden verteilt, und von seiner Frau Guðrún fehlt jede Spur. Eine auf dem Küchentisch hinterlassene Nachricht bestätigt Flosis Befürchtung: Guðrún wurde entführt. Wenn er nicht das geforderte hohe Lösegeld zahlt, wird seine Frau sterben. Da er sich nicht an die Polizei wenden darf, kontaktiert er Áróra, die sich eigentlich auf das Aufspüren versteckter Vermögenswerte spezialisiert hat. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Freund, dem Polizisten Daníel, versucht sie fieberhaft, den Fall zu lösen und die Entführte zu finden, bevor es zu spät ist. Gleichzeitig setzen die beiden die rätselhafte Suche nach Áróras Schwester Ísafold fort, die vermutlich ermordet wurde. Und während sich in diesem kalten, regnerischen Herbst der Nebel über Reykjavík senkt, entwickelt sich die Suche zu einem Wettlauf gegen die Zeit.
„Blutrot ist der zweite Band der Áróra-Reihe von Lilja Sigurdardóttir.
Im ersten Band „Höllenkalt“ hat man Áróra ja schon kennengelernt. Sie sucht immer noch nach der Leiche ihrer ermordeten Schwester. Áróra fährt abgelegene Vulkansteinwege ab und filmt die Umgebung mit einer Drohne. Doch viel Zeit zum Suchen bleibt ihr in diesem Band nicht. Áróra wird von Michael, einem Freund in Großbritannien kontaktiert. Er ist Steuerberater und soll für einen Kunden, dessen Frau entführt wurde 2 Millionen Euro nach Island bringen. Da sein Kunde Flosi keine Polizei einschalten möchte bittet Michael Áróra einmal nach Flosi zu sehen. Áróra kann Flosi davon überzeugen den Polizisten Daníel mit einzuschalten. Die Polizei beginnt die Ermittlungen ganz unauffällig damit die Entführer, sollten sie das Haus beobachten nicht merken, dass die Polizei eingeweiht ist.
Áróra ist selbstständige Ermittlerin im Bereich Wirtschaftskriminalität. Sie ist eigenbrötlerisch und ich habe im ersten Band etwas gebraucht um mit ihr warm zu werden, mittlerweile ist sie mir sympathisch.
Der Polizist Daniel war mir im ersten Band gleich sympathisch. Er hegt Gefühle für Áróra, die sie bisher nicht erwidert.
Der Entführungsfall ist recht kompliziert. Es soll keine Polizei eingeschaltet werden.
Lilja Sigurdardóttir löst das sehr intelligent. Die Polizisten kommen immer als „Freunde“ zu Flosi, die ihn in der schweren Zeit unterstützen wollen.
Wer hat Flosis Frau entführt? Es werden verschiedene Szenarien durchgespielt aber am Ende gibt es eine Wendung die ich so nicht vorausgesehen habe.
Lilja Sigurdardóttir hat einen flüssigen und angenehm zu lesenden Schreibstil. Die Autorin baut Spannung auf und hält sie auch bis zum Ende aufrecht.
„Blutrot“ ist ein spannender Island-Krimi den ich gerne gelesen habe.
Ich bin schon auf „Schneeweiß“, den 3. Band der schon im Juni erscheinen wird gespannt.
Klappentext:
»Wir haben deine Frau. Der Preis für ihre Freiheit beträgt zwei Millionen Euro. Ihr Leben liegt in deinen Händen.«
Als der vermögende Unternehmer Flosi nach einem langen Arbeitstag nach Hause kommt, muss er feststellen, dass sein Haus durchwühlt wurde. Glas ist geborsten, das Abendessen auf dem Fußboden verteilt, und von seiner Frau Guðrún fehlt jede Spur. Eine auf dem Küchentisch hinterlassene Nachricht bestätigt Flosis Befürchtung: Guðrún wurde entführt. Wenn er nicht das geforderte hohe Lösegeld zahlt, wird seine Frau sterben. Da er sich nicht an die Polizei wenden darf, kontaktiert er Áróra, die sich eigentlich auf das Aufspüren versteckter Vermögenswerte spezialisiert hat. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Freund, dem Polizisten Daníel, versucht sie fieberhaft, den Fall zu lösen und die Entführte zu finden, bevor es zu spät ist. Gleichzeitig setzen die beiden die rätselhafte Suche nach Áróras Schwester Ísafold fort, die vermutlich ermordet wurde. Und während sich in diesem kalten, regnerischen Herbst der Nebel über Reykjavík senkt, entwickelt sich die Suche zu einem Wettlauf gegen die Zeit.
„Blutrot ist der zweite Band der Áróra-Reihe von Lilja Sigurdardóttir.
Im ersten Band „Höllenkalt“ hat man Áróra ja schon kennengelernt. Sie sucht immer noch nach der Leiche ihrer ermordeten Schwester. Áróra fährt abgelegene Vulkansteinwege ab und filmt die Umgebung mit einer Drohne. Doch viel Zeit zum Suchen bleibt ihr in diesem Band nicht. Áróra wird von Michael, einem Freund in Großbritannien kontaktiert. Er ist Steuerberater und soll für einen Kunden, dessen Frau entführt wurde 2 Millionen Euro nach Island bringen. Da sein Kunde Flosi keine Polizei einschalten möchte bittet Michael Áróra einmal nach Flosi zu sehen. Áróra kann Flosi davon überzeugen den Polizisten Daníel mit einzuschalten. Die Polizei beginnt die Ermittlungen ganz unauffällig damit die Entführer, sollten sie das Haus beobachten nicht merken, dass die Polizei eingeweiht ist.
Áróra ist selbstständige Ermittlerin im Bereich Wirtschaftskriminalität. Sie ist eigenbrötlerisch und ich habe im ersten Band etwas gebraucht um mit ihr warm zu werden, mittlerweile ist sie mir sympathisch.
Der Polizist Daniel war mir im ersten Band gleich sympathisch. Er hegt Gefühle für Áróra, die sie bisher nicht erwidert.
Der Entführungsfall ist recht kompliziert. Es soll keine Polizei eingeschaltet werden.
Lilja Sigurdardóttir löst das sehr intelligent. Die Polizisten kommen immer als „Freunde“ zu Flosi, die ihn in der schweren Zeit unterstützen wollen.
Wer hat Flosis Frau entführt? Es werden verschiedene Szenarien durchgespielt aber am Ende gibt es eine Wendung die ich so nicht vorausgesehen habe.
Lilja Sigurdardóttir hat einen flüssigen und angenehm zu lesenden Schreibstil. Die Autorin baut Spannung auf und hält sie auch bis zum Ende aufrecht.
„Blutrot“ ist ein spannender Island-Krimi den ich gerne gelesen habe.
Ich bin schon auf „Schneeweiß“, den 3. Band der schon im Juni erscheinen wird gespannt.
December 19, 2020
Ánægð með þessa bók. Skemmtilegar persónur sem manni er farið að þykja vænt um.
Spennandi flétta
Spennandi flétta
September 3, 2025
This is a good series. The two main characters are likeable and the plot is pretty good.
January 1, 2023
Following up Cold as Hell, Red as Blood sees Áróra still in Iceland - in fact she's bought a flat - searching for her missing sister, Ísafold. However, she soon becomes involved in the search for another missing woman, Gudrun, whose husband Flosi returns home one evening to find the kitchen wrecked and a ransom demand on the table.
Áróra's skills at tracing missing money prove to be very useful in what follows, as, working with, Daniel, her will-they, won't-they distraction in the Reykjavík police and his team, she attempts to unravel a most perplexing mystery - one with family, business and potentially, criminal aspects but where it's never clear which is at the root of events.
This was a thoroughly engaging crime novel, Áróra's romantic tension with Daniel palpable. He's introduced as a thoroughly nice guy, a real exception to the rule of the grizzled, burnt out cop, and from what we see of him here, that's truly deserved (see for example the subplot with his neighbour, drag artist Lady Gúgúlú who has a thing about the "hidden people" inhabiting a corner of Daniel's garden forbidding him form mowing it, but whom he protects here).
But there are other tensions too. Daniel is supposed to be investigating Ísafold's disappearance, but that seems to be going nowhere. Is he actually as dependable as he might be? Is meticulous, work-focussed Helena (a member of the team who looks up to Daniel as her mentor but is of a rather different temperament) getting distracted by her casual hook-ups, and losing focus on the enquiry?
The book manages to pack a great deal into a fairly small space. Daniel sets about getting a clear picture of Gudrun and Flosi's lives, soon discovering that with ex-wives, mistresses and step-daughters, not to mention business dealings, it's all a lot more complex than you'd imagine. The unravelling of Gudrun and Flosi's family was especially fascinating - in the sense that a car crash is fascinating. So many levels of misunderstanding and deception are going on here, one of which embroils Helena. As the truth emerges, it's nicely accounted for by the character and background of everyone we meet here - rather than being crowbarred in to fit a plot. There's real depth to them all - plenty of interesting backstory, but more, a sense of them as real people about whom one comes to care.
With hints of wider events and other players at the end, Red as Blood is an excellent middle volume to a trilogy and indeed a fine example of a detective novel. It's rendered ably into English by Quentin Bates who as ever manages both to make the language show that this is taking part in a foreign language while at the same time making the words clear and absorbing.
Áróra's skills at tracing missing money prove to be very useful in what follows, as, working with, Daniel, her will-they, won't-they distraction in the Reykjavík police and his team, she attempts to unravel a most perplexing mystery - one with family, business and potentially, criminal aspects but where it's never clear which is at the root of events.
This was a thoroughly engaging crime novel, Áróra's romantic tension with Daniel palpable. He's introduced as a thoroughly nice guy, a real exception to the rule of the grizzled, burnt out cop, and from what we see of him here, that's truly deserved (see for example the subplot with his neighbour, drag artist Lady Gúgúlú who has a thing about the "hidden people" inhabiting a corner of Daniel's garden forbidding him form mowing it, but whom he protects here).
But there are other tensions too. Daniel is supposed to be investigating Ísafold's disappearance, but that seems to be going nowhere. Is he actually as dependable as he might be? Is meticulous, work-focussed Helena (a member of the team who looks up to Daniel as her mentor but is of a rather different temperament) getting distracted by her casual hook-ups, and losing focus on the enquiry?
The book manages to pack a great deal into a fairly small space. Daniel sets about getting a clear picture of Gudrun and Flosi's lives, soon discovering that with ex-wives, mistresses and step-daughters, not to mention business dealings, it's all a lot more complex than you'd imagine. The unravelling of Gudrun and Flosi's family was especially fascinating - in the sense that a car crash is fascinating. So many levels of misunderstanding and deception are going on here, one of which embroils Helena. As the truth emerges, it's nicely accounted for by the character and background of everyone we meet here - rather than being crowbarred in to fit a plot. There's real depth to them all - plenty of interesting backstory, but more, a sense of them as real people about whom one comes to care.
With hints of wider events and other players at the end, Red as Blood is an excellent middle volume to a trilogy and indeed a fine example of a detective novel. It's rendered ably into English by Quentin Bates who as ever manages both to make the language show that this is taking part in a foreign language while at the same time making the words clear and absorbing.
November 1, 2022
Red As Blood, Lilja Sigurðardóttir #2 in new Áróra series. Pre ordered October 2022. 5.49.iBook. 5/5 excellent.
When Flosi arrives home for dinner one night, he discovers that his house has been ransacked, and his wife Gudrun is missing. A letter on the kitchen table confirms that she has been kidnapped. If Flosi doesn’t agree to pay an enormous ransom, Gudrun will be killed.
Forbidden from contacting the police, he calls his accountant to arrange the ransom, who contacts Áróra, who specialises in finding hidden assets, and she, alongside her detective friend Daniel, try to get to the bottom of the case without anyone catching on. Áróra and Daniel also, as in book one, continue their search for Áróra’s sister Ísafold, who disappeared without trace.
The police under Daniel’s lead help Flosi and they become acquainted with his daughter and first wife then more and more connections add to the puzzle. Helena tries to become as good a cop as Daniel and we see glimpses into her private life. Plus the colorful boarder at Daniel’s place appears in book two also. There are many interesting characters, several twists and surprises during the investigation, all making this storyline hard to put down. A very good read. Short snappy chapters.
Hopefully many more from this writer. Enjoyed reading all her books very m
When Flosi arrives home for dinner one night, he discovers that his house has been ransacked, and his wife Gudrun is missing. A letter on the kitchen table confirms that she has been kidnapped. If Flosi doesn’t agree to pay an enormous ransom, Gudrun will be killed.
Forbidden from contacting the police, he calls his accountant to arrange the ransom, who contacts Áróra, who specialises in finding hidden assets, and she, alongside her detective friend Daniel, try to get to the bottom of the case without anyone catching on. Áróra and Daniel also, as in book one, continue their search for Áróra’s sister Ísafold, who disappeared without trace.
The police under Daniel’s lead help Flosi and they become acquainted with his daughter and first wife then more and more connections add to the puzzle. Helena tries to become as good a cop as Daniel and we see glimpses into her private life. Plus the colorful boarder at Daniel’s place appears in book two also. There are many interesting characters, several twists and surprises during the investigation, all making this storyline hard to put down. A very good read. Short snappy chapters.
Hopefully many more from this writer. Enjoyed reading all her books very m
June 9, 2024
Bored most of the way through. As well as feeling manipulated (the whole Leonid Kuznetov thing was a bit of a panto, and an obvious setup for another iteration of the series), I reacted as if I’d ordered a tasty pizza but got a loaf of sliced white with a bottle of ketchup. The writing style seemed plain, and quite repetitive. I’d rather authors left things out, or implied them, rather than telling you what this or that character is thinking. Maybe I’m too used to more literary things in which sentences are an art form. Recommendation for such readers: read every other paragraph, or try it in a random chapter order.
November 23, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ The plot of this was so incredibly obvious that I’m mad I wasted my time on this book. It was obviously loosely based (perhaps more so than loosely) on the Lørenskog disappearance, and even if it wasn’t, it was wayyyyy too easy to guess everything before it happened.
I have a lot of other qualms that involve this series in general— for example, why is this called the Árora series? Why do we pretend she’s the main character when obviously it’s the detective Daniel?
The only stars at all come from the fact that I like the writing and I like the translator.
I have a lot of other qualms that involve this series in general— for example, why is this called the Árora series? Why do we pretend she’s the main character when obviously it’s the detective Daniel?
The only stars at all come from the fact that I like the writing and I like the translator.
October 3, 2022
I do love this series. From the beginning of this novel we are pulled right into the action, a seemingly simple domestic scene that turns from bliss to chaos in just a few short page turns. A kidnapped housewife, a husband who is perhaps not being as honest as he could be, and a new job for Áróra which turns out has more layers than an onion. I liked the flexible nature of the truths in this book, the way in which readers are kept on the back foot, never quite given the full picture until the perfect moment. There are so many 'could be' threads in this book that the 'actually it's' moments deliver the perfect amount of surprise, just the way I like it.
I really like Áróra as a character. Drawn back to Iceland to try and find out the truth of what happened to her sister, and if you haven't read the first book in the series, Cold As Hell, I would suggest that you read that before setting off on this particular adventure. Both as stand alone stories, and within a few pages of the start of book one, readers are left with little doubt of how the story will go, but not the why or who of it all. In Red As Blood we are dealt the what and the who, so if you can't handle spoilers, read the books in order. If, like me, you've devoured book one, the emotional impact of Áróra's quest will be quite strong. I love her determination, her focus, but also the way in which the author has portrayed her guilt and her need for atonement for not being there for Īsafold when she really needed her. Her involvement in the kidnapping case, what should be simply a case of safely transporting a very large quantity of cash from the UK to Iceland to cover the ransom, becomes a distraction, but one full of far more threat and jeopardy than Áróra or her friend, MIchael, might have expected.
It's safe to say that when there is money involved it makes people act in very suspect and unexpected ways. This whole story centres around the cash, not only its origins but who would know that such quantities existed. It leads us to a number of suspects, the finger of blame being pointed. in many directions in swift succession, some more obvious than others. There is a darker side to the book, as if kidnapping were not enough, and it leads to several very heart-thumping moments for
I do love this series. From the beginning of this novel we are pulled right into the action, a seemingly simple domestic scene that turns from bliss to chaos in just a few short page turns. A kidnapped housewife, a husband who is perhaps not being as honest as he could be, and a new job for Áróra which turns out has more layers than an onion. I liked the flexible nature of the truths in this book, the way in which readers are kept on the back foot, never quite given the full picture until the perfect moment. There are so many 'could be' threads in this book that the 'actually it's' moments deliver the perfect amount of surprise, just the way I like it.
I really like Áróra as a character. Drawn back to Iceland to try and find out the truth of what happened to her sister, and if you haven't read the first book in the series, Cold As Hell, I would suggest that you read that before setting off on this particular adventure. Both as stand alone stories, and within a few pages of the start of book one, readers are left with little doubt of how the story will go, but not the why or who of it all. In Red As Blood we are dealt the what and the who, so if you can't handle spoilers, read the books in order. If, like me, you've devoured book one, the emotional impact of Áróra's quest will be quite strong. I love her determination, her focus, but also the way in which the author has portrayed her guilt and her need for atonement for not being there for Īsafold when she really needed her. Her involvement in the kidnapping case, what should be simply a case of safely transporting a very large quantity of cash from the UK to Iceland to cover the ransom, becomes a distraction, but one full of far more threat and jeopardy than Áróra or her friend, MIchael, might have expected.
It's safe to say that when there is money involved it makes people act in very suspect and unexpected ways. This whole story centres around the cash, not only its origins but who would know that such quantities existed. It leads us to a number of suspects, the finger of blame being pointed. in many directions in swift succession, some more obvious than others. There is a darker side to the book, as if kidnapping were not enough, and it leads to several very heart-thumping moments for Áróra in the pursuit of the truth. I liked that conflict, that sense that what she uncovers in this book has implications for the future and I'm looking forward to seeing them play out in the next few books.
Áróra isn't on this quest alone as Police Detective Daniel Hansson is back and ready to step in to get to the truth of the case. There is a real chemistry between the pair, but a reluctance on Áróra's part to act upon it as all of her focus is on Īsafold. Where there is any chance of a thaw in this book you'll have to read to find out, but they make a good pair, fully in tune with each other and they work really well together, drawing the case to a conclusion, even if it's not the one you might has expected.
The kidnapping is not the only angle to this book and I like the way in which Lilja Sigurardóttir has explored all the different relationships within the book. It's not only the familial ties of kidnapping victim Gudrun, her husband, Flosi, and the extended family of daughter, Sara Sól, and ex-wife Karen, although that relationship is tangled and complicated enough. Flosi is far from a sympathetic victim and there is a sense that whatever he gets he probably deserved. There's also the ties between Áróra and Daniel, a bit more of an exploration of the many relationships of Daniel's fellow Detective Helena, who is searching for the perfect hook-up, as well as a closer look at the friendship between Daniel and his neighbour Lady Gúgúlú, where we see a much more tender side to that friendship as well as exploration of homophobia.
It may sound like there is a lot going on and, in fairness, there is, but it never feels that way, the flow of the story and the pacing pitched perfectly to keep readers on tenterhooks and making me completely invested in the lives of these characters. Love or loathe them, I wanted to see the case play out, and play out it most certainly did. Brilliant translation by Quentin Bates once more, capturing all the nuances of the story, the emotion of the various backstories, the tension of the darker moments, and bringing an absolute clarity to the Icelandic landscape that takes us to the heart of the story. I'm loving the series and cannot wait to read more. Most definitely recommended.
I really like Áróra as a character. Drawn back to Iceland to try and find out the truth of what happened to her sister, and if you haven't read the first book in the series, Cold As Hell, I would suggest that you read that before setting off on this particular adventure. Both as stand alone stories, and within a few pages of the start of book one, readers are left with little doubt of how the story will go, but not the why or who of it all. In Red As Blood we are dealt the what and the who, so if you can't handle spoilers, read the books in order. If, like me, you've devoured book one, the emotional impact of Áróra's quest will be quite strong. I love her determination, her focus, but also the way in which the author has portrayed her guilt and her need for atonement for not being there for Īsafold when she really needed her. Her involvement in the kidnapping case, what should be simply a case of safely transporting a very large quantity of cash from the UK to Iceland to cover the ransom, becomes a distraction, but one full of far more threat and jeopardy than Áróra or her friend, MIchael, might have expected.
It's safe to say that when there is money involved it makes people act in very suspect and unexpected ways. This whole story centres around the cash, not only its origins but who would know that such quantities existed. It leads us to a number of suspects, the finger of blame being pointed. in many directions in swift succession, some more obvious than others. There is a darker side to the book, as if kidnapping were not enough, and it leads to several very heart-thumping moments for
I do love this series. From the beginning of this novel we are pulled right into the action, a seemingly simple domestic scene that turns from bliss to chaos in just a few short page turns. A kidnapped housewife, a husband who is perhaps not being as honest as he could be, and a new job for Áróra which turns out has more layers than an onion. I liked the flexible nature of the truths in this book, the way in which readers are kept on the back foot, never quite given the full picture until the perfect moment. There are so many 'could be' threads in this book that the 'actually it's' moments deliver the perfect amount of surprise, just the way I like it.
I really like Áróra as a character. Drawn back to Iceland to try and find out the truth of what happened to her sister, and if you haven't read the first book in the series, Cold As Hell, I would suggest that you read that before setting off on this particular adventure. Both as stand alone stories, and within a few pages of the start of book one, readers are left with little doubt of how the story will go, but not the why or who of it all. In Red As Blood we are dealt the what and the who, so if you can't handle spoilers, read the books in order. If, like me, you've devoured book one, the emotional impact of Áróra's quest will be quite strong. I love her determination, her focus, but also the way in which the author has portrayed her guilt and her need for atonement for not being there for Īsafold when she really needed her. Her involvement in the kidnapping case, what should be simply a case of safely transporting a very large quantity of cash from the UK to Iceland to cover the ransom, becomes a distraction, but one full of far more threat and jeopardy than Áróra or her friend, MIchael, might have expected.
It's safe to say that when there is money involved it makes people act in very suspect and unexpected ways. This whole story centres around the cash, not only its origins but who would know that such quantities existed. It leads us to a number of suspects, the finger of blame being pointed. in many directions in swift succession, some more obvious than others. There is a darker side to the book, as if kidnapping were not enough, and it leads to several very heart-thumping moments for Áróra in the pursuit of the truth. I liked that conflict, that sense that what she uncovers in this book has implications for the future and I'm looking forward to seeing them play out in the next few books.
Áróra isn't on this quest alone as Police Detective Daniel Hansson is back and ready to step in to get to the truth of the case. There is a real chemistry between the pair, but a reluctance on Áróra's part to act upon it as all of her focus is on Īsafold. Where there is any chance of a thaw in this book you'll have to read to find out, but they make a good pair, fully in tune with each other and they work really well together, drawing the case to a conclusion, even if it's not the one you might has expected.
The kidnapping is not the only angle to this book and I like the way in which Lilja Sigurardóttir has explored all the different relationships within the book. It's not only the familial ties of kidnapping victim Gudrun, her husband, Flosi, and the extended family of daughter, Sara Sól, and ex-wife Karen, although that relationship is tangled and complicated enough. Flosi is far from a sympathetic victim and there is a sense that whatever he gets he probably deserved. There's also the ties between Áróra and Daniel, a bit more of an exploration of the many relationships of Daniel's fellow Detective Helena, who is searching for the perfect hook-up, as well as a closer look at the friendship between Daniel and his neighbour Lady Gúgúlú, where we see a much more tender side to that friendship as well as exploration of homophobia.
It may sound like there is a lot going on and, in fairness, there is, but it never feels that way, the flow of the story and the pacing pitched perfectly to keep readers on tenterhooks and making me completely invested in the lives of these characters. Love or loathe them, I wanted to see the case play out, and play out it most certainly did. Brilliant translation by Quentin Bates once more, capturing all the nuances of the story, the emotion of the various backstories, the tension of the darker moments, and bringing an absolute clarity to the Icelandic landscape that takes us to the heart of the story. I'm loving the series and cannot wait to read more. Most definitely recommended.
October 19, 2020
Flott bók sem rennur mjög hratt og þétt. Virkilega flott.
October 27, 2022
In Lilja Sigurðardóttir’s pulse-pounding, twisty thriller Red as Blood, when a wealthy entrepreneur arrives home from work to find his wife missing and a ransom note, Áróra Jónsdóttir and Icelandic detective Daníel and his team get drawn into a web of illicit affairs, family dysfunction, and dodgy financial dealings while investigating an abduction.
Financial investigator, Áróra Jónsdóttir, is still in Iceland searching for her missing sister Ísafold, now presumed dead, when her friend and colleague Michael calls from Scotland with a strange favor to ask.
We pick up where we left off at the end of Cold As Hell, and Áróra Jónsdóttir is still in Iceland searching for her missing sister, Ísafold, though now she accepts the reality she is looking to recover a body. She wants closure for her mother, but also for herself because she still feels she had let her sister down.
Áróra is out searching for her sister’s remains in remote and foreboding lava fields when she takes a call from her friend and colleague, Michael. This time, instead of giving her an assignment, Michael asks a personal favor. Then we’re straight into the action as Áróra goes to visit Michael’s client, Flosi. He had arrived home in the evening to find his wife missing, the kitchen in disarray, and a ransom note on the counter. He’d phoned Michael with his story, telling him the note warned about involving the police, so Michael promised to send Áróra to offer support. Sigurðardóttir easily gets us up to speed, so readers picking up this book without having read the first in the series won’t feel lost.
After Flosi relates his story to Áróra and shows her the ransom note, she understands she is out of her depth as far as investigating a kidnapping. So, after overcoming Flosi’s objections, she convinces him to go with her to meet a police detective she knows for advice. That leads to her reunion with Daníel, the detective working on her sister’s disappearance, though that investigation has hit a dead end. During the meeting, Daníel persuades Flosi to let the police take over the investigation of his wife’s abduction, promising to keep their involvement secret in case the kidnappers are watching. I very much enjoyed this. While we learned in the first book that Áróra is a clever and capable financial investigator, investigating a kidnapping isn’t within her skill set, so the story has more authenticity with the police handling the abduction. It also frees up Áróra to do what she does, investigate an associated financial angle.
As the story unfolds, we learn more about Flosi, his adult daughter, the state of his marriage, and the backstories of the other major players Sigurðardóttir introduces us to. Soon we have no shortage of suspects, with motives for involvement in the disappearance of Flosi’s wife. And Daníel and his team methodically sift through them as they work toward understanding the circumstances of the abduction, hoping to identify the perpetrators and getting Flosi’s wife, Guðrún, back unharmed.
As usual, sensory descriptions of the Icelandic scenery and climate set the mood in many scenes. When we first meet Áróra as the book opens, she is driving along rough tracks through ominous, isolated lava fields searching for her sister’s body, and the scene seems a foreboding omen for sinister events to come. Filtered through the lens of Áróra’s thoughts and perspectives of the events feels both jarring and frightening and helps build suspense from the start.
In its reveal of the character’s words, thoughts, and deeds, whether intended by the author or not, the book says much about contemporary relationships between intimate partners and husbands and wives. Relationships marked by deceit and questionable ethics and decisions holding wide-ranging, often painful consequences. This is the theme I found most realistic and relatable in the book. It some ways the relationships described left me feeling somewhat melancholy. Has our society become one where individuals are so selfish and obsessed with seeking personal gratification that we see others, even intimate partners, as nothing more than a means of satisfying our own desires for pleasure? Do their hopes, needs, and desires mean so little to us we use and then readily discard them when they no longer serve our self-interested purposes? It all seems so mercenary, and in the end, it seems the way people often do relationships these days robs them of experiencing any authentic, much less long-term happiness. The relational conflicts as much as anything propelled the novel.
The gloomy bits aside, I enjoyed the book and savored the beautifully rendered prose although I devoured Red as Blood in a single sitting. Kudos here to translator extraordinaire Quentin Bates for his usual masterful job of bringing us the text in English. Sigurðardóttir skillfully combines an endearingly flawed lead, realistic, relatable supporting characters, and jaw-dropping twists to produce an intelligently plotted, fast-paced thriller. She also ends the book with an interesting turn of events, so I’m certainly keen to see what comes next.
Financial investigator, Áróra Jónsdóttir, is still in Iceland searching for her missing sister Ísafold, now presumed dead, when her friend and colleague Michael calls from Scotland with a strange favor to ask.
We pick up where we left off at the end of Cold As Hell, and Áróra Jónsdóttir is still in Iceland searching for her missing sister, Ísafold, though now she accepts the reality she is looking to recover a body. She wants closure for her mother, but also for herself because she still feels she had let her sister down.
Áróra is out searching for her sister’s remains in remote and foreboding lava fields when she takes a call from her friend and colleague, Michael. This time, instead of giving her an assignment, Michael asks a personal favor. Then we’re straight into the action as Áróra goes to visit Michael’s client, Flosi. He had arrived home in the evening to find his wife missing, the kitchen in disarray, and a ransom note on the counter. He’d phoned Michael with his story, telling him the note warned about involving the police, so Michael promised to send Áróra to offer support. Sigurðardóttir easily gets us up to speed, so readers picking up this book without having read the first in the series won’t feel lost.
After Flosi relates his story to Áróra and shows her the ransom note, she understands she is out of her depth as far as investigating a kidnapping. So, after overcoming Flosi’s objections, she convinces him to go with her to meet a police detective she knows for advice. That leads to her reunion with Daníel, the detective working on her sister’s disappearance, though that investigation has hit a dead end. During the meeting, Daníel persuades Flosi to let the police take over the investigation of his wife’s abduction, promising to keep their involvement secret in case the kidnappers are watching. I very much enjoyed this. While we learned in the first book that Áróra is a clever and capable financial investigator, investigating a kidnapping isn’t within her skill set, so the story has more authenticity with the police handling the abduction. It also frees up Áróra to do what she does, investigate an associated financial angle.
As the story unfolds, we learn more about Flosi, his adult daughter, the state of his marriage, and the backstories of the other major players Sigurðardóttir introduces us to. Soon we have no shortage of suspects, with motives for involvement in the disappearance of Flosi’s wife. And Daníel and his team methodically sift through them as they work toward understanding the circumstances of the abduction, hoping to identify the perpetrators and getting Flosi’s wife, Guðrún, back unharmed.
As usual, sensory descriptions of the Icelandic scenery and climate set the mood in many scenes. When we first meet Áróra as the book opens, she is driving along rough tracks through ominous, isolated lava fields searching for her sister’s body, and the scene seems a foreboding omen for sinister events to come. Filtered through the lens of Áróra’s thoughts and perspectives of the events feels both jarring and frightening and helps build suspense from the start.
In its reveal of the character’s words, thoughts, and deeds, whether intended by the author or not, the book says much about contemporary relationships between intimate partners and husbands and wives. Relationships marked by deceit and questionable ethics and decisions holding wide-ranging, often painful consequences. This is the theme I found most realistic and relatable in the book. It some ways the relationships described left me feeling somewhat melancholy. Has our society become one where individuals are so selfish and obsessed with seeking personal gratification that we see others, even intimate partners, as nothing more than a means of satisfying our own desires for pleasure? Do their hopes, needs, and desires mean so little to us we use and then readily discard them when they no longer serve our self-interested purposes? It all seems so mercenary, and in the end, it seems the way people often do relationships these days robs them of experiencing any authentic, much less long-term happiness. The relational conflicts as much as anything propelled the novel.
The gloomy bits aside, I enjoyed the book and savored the beautifully rendered prose although I devoured Red as Blood in a single sitting. Kudos here to translator extraordinaire Quentin Bates for his usual masterful job of bringing us the text in English. Sigurðardóttir skillfully combines an endearingly flawed lead, realistic, relatable supporting characters, and jaw-dropping twists to produce an intelligently plotted, fast-paced thriller. She also ends the book with an interesting turn of events, so I’m certainly keen to see what comes next.
November 1, 2022
Red As Blood is the second book in Lilja Sigurdardóttir's An Áróra Investigation series and while it is a stand-alone, there is a narrative thread concerning Áróra's missing sister, Ísafold continued here and so I would recommend reading the previous book, Cold as Hell if possible – it's also a cracking read and was one of my favourite books of 2021, if you need any more reasons to treat yourself to it...!
Although Áróra is still searching for her sister, the main storyline in Red as Blood concerns the abduction of Guðrún Aronsdóttir, the wife of Flosi, a wealthy entrepreneur who receives a ransom demand and strict instructions not to involve the police. Instead he calls his accountant who in turn contacts Áróra who agrees she will travel to London to fetch his money. It's always interesting to discover a different sort of protagonist in crime fiction and Áróra is definitely that. She's a financial investigator who searches for lost money and as an intelligent woman, realises that despite the warnings to the contrary, the police have to be involved.
She joins forces again with Detective Daniel Hansson and the sparks that were in such evidence in Cold as Hell show no signs of abating here. The chemistry between the pair is undeniable but both have their fair share of emotional baggage which means they are reluctant to make the first move. As this is a criminal investigation, much of the storyline follows Daniel's perspective and he's an immensely likeable character. There's a moment where he is discussing learning through life experiences and muses that life's knocks 'make it easier to understand the circumstances others find themselves in'. There are some glimpses into his life here – the friendship he shares with his neighbour, Lady Gúgúlú is particularly touching – but I have a feeling there is more to discover about this thoughtful, kind man and I'm looking forward to seeing how his character is developed further as the series progresses.
Meanwhile, Áróra herself is an intriguingly complex woman. She was taught by her father to champion her 'troll-and-Viking blood' and to embrace her tall, muscular physique but even though she is doggedly determined, there is still a more vulnerable, lonely side to her. Her guilt over her sister's disappearance is painful and she has resisted telling her mother of her plans to relocate to Iceland. In Cold as Hell she was an outsider but she seems more at home now – although having been raised in Britain, still notices certain Icelandic quirks and habits. Having never been that fond of the country, it's fascinating to see the hold it has on her. The sense of place engendered through her eyes is excellent; the sights and smells in particular are vividly described throughout.
The family under such duress; Flosi, his adult daughter, Sara Sól, ex-wife Karen and other various friends and colleagues are no less interesting. With no clear indication as to who is responsible for Guðrún's disappearance, there are plenty of secrets and lies to be uncovered. Lilja Sigurdardóttir always excels at exploring contemporary issues and that's true again in Red as Blood; the complicated dynamics of blended families, global financial crimes and violence towards the LGBT community are all examined to a greater or lesser extent, as are the universal themes of jealousy, greed and deception. The introduction of some of Daniel's colleagues is welcome too, especially Helena whose unashamed desire for no-strings hook-ups is refreshing to see in a female character.
Red as Blood is a multilayered murder mystery with a cleverly woven, compelling plot that flows seamlessly throughout. The sensitive translation by Quentin Bates ensures none of the subtleties regarding tension, atmosphere and characterisation are lost, and the result is another first-rate, unmissable novel by one of my favourite authors. Very highly recommended.
Although Áróra is still searching for her sister, the main storyline in Red as Blood concerns the abduction of Guðrún Aronsdóttir, the wife of Flosi, a wealthy entrepreneur who receives a ransom demand and strict instructions not to involve the police. Instead he calls his accountant who in turn contacts Áróra who agrees she will travel to London to fetch his money. It's always interesting to discover a different sort of protagonist in crime fiction and Áróra is definitely that. She's a financial investigator who searches for lost money and as an intelligent woman, realises that despite the warnings to the contrary, the police have to be involved.
She joins forces again with Detective Daniel Hansson and the sparks that were in such evidence in Cold as Hell show no signs of abating here. The chemistry between the pair is undeniable but both have their fair share of emotional baggage which means they are reluctant to make the first move. As this is a criminal investigation, much of the storyline follows Daniel's perspective and he's an immensely likeable character. There's a moment where he is discussing learning through life experiences and muses that life's knocks 'make it easier to understand the circumstances others find themselves in'. There are some glimpses into his life here – the friendship he shares with his neighbour, Lady Gúgúlú is particularly touching – but I have a feeling there is more to discover about this thoughtful, kind man and I'm looking forward to seeing how his character is developed further as the series progresses.
Meanwhile, Áróra herself is an intriguingly complex woman. She was taught by her father to champion her 'troll-and-Viking blood' and to embrace her tall, muscular physique but even though she is doggedly determined, there is still a more vulnerable, lonely side to her. Her guilt over her sister's disappearance is painful and she has resisted telling her mother of her plans to relocate to Iceland. In Cold as Hell she was an outsider but she seems more at home now – although having been raised in Britain, still notices certain Icelandic quirks and habits. Having never been that fond of the country, it's fascinating to see the hold it has on her. The sense of place engendered through her eyes is excellent; the sights and smells in particular are vividly described throughout.
The family under such duress; Flosi, his adult daughter, Sara Sól, ex-wife Karen and other various friends and colleagues are no less interesting. With no clear indication as to who is responsible for Guðrún's disappearance, there are plenty of secrets and lies to be uncovered. Lilja Sigurdardóttir always excels at exploring contemporary issues and that's true again in Red as Blood; the complicated dynamics of blended families, global financial crimes and violence towards the LGBT community are all examined to a greater or lesser extent, as are the universal themes of jealousy, greed and deception. The introduction of some of Daniel's colleagues is welcome too, especially Helena whose unashamed desire for no-strings hook-ups is refreshing to see in a female character.
Red as Blood is a multilayered murder mystery with a cleverly woven, compelling plot that flows seamlessly throughout. The sensitive translation by Quentin Bates ensures none of the subtleties regarding tension, atmosphere and characterisation are lost, and the result is another first-rate, unmissable novel by one of my favourite authors. Very highly recommended.
August 7, 2023
4-4.5*
We’re in a rainy, cold and autumnal Iceland in this second An Áróra Investigation. Áróra is settling into her new home as she continues to look for her sister Ísafold who went missing without trace in the last book. High on the suspect list is Ísafold’s boyfriend now long gone from Iceland. Even Áróra hasn’t been able to trace him but, of course, it’s assets rather than people she hunts.
Flossi gets home to find a kitchen in chaos and his wife, Gudrun, taken. A ransom note left on the table. If he calls the police Gudrun will die! If he doesn’t pay Gudrun will die! He calls his accountant, Michael, to make arrangements.
Áróra is out with her drone when she gets a call from Michael, an associate, and he asks her to help with a kidnapping. Áróra agrees, she has worked with Michael before and he’s always been helpful. She goes to see Flossi and as Michael asked gives her support. It’s obvious that Flossi is undone by Gudrun’s kidnapping. She will fly to England to collect the ransom money that Michael is releasing from Flossi’s (not so legitimate) accounts when it’s ready. In the meantime she persuades Flossi to allow her to bring in Daniel, a police detective, they set up a meeting.
Daniel is the detective on her sister’s missing persons case and has become a friend although Áróra was upset that the case was being put to one side and Ísafold is presumed dead, though deep down she ‘knows’ it’s true. They haven’t spoken much recently.
It’s agreed that Daniel and his team will investigate with a very low-key and secretive operation. They go to great lengths to ensure nothing gets out about it but that’s put into jeopardy when Helen thinks she may be compromised!
As Daniel and Áróra investigate it becomes obvious that Flossi has secrets – financial, yes, but is he lying about his relationship with Gudrun? Who took Gudrun? Could the Russian mafia be involved? Or is it something entirely different? Will the kidnappers find out that the police are involved? What would happen if they did? Can Daniel, his team, and Áróra keep the investigation under wraps long enough to bring the ransom money to Iceland and make the money drop in exchange for Gudrun?
Then something happens to turn the whole operation on it’s head!
This is a brilliant second instalment of the Áróra investigations, it’s a cleverly written, chilling murder and finance mystery. Not only is there a great sense of place but Lilja Sigurdardóttir gives us an amazing glimpse into the Icelandic culture and, moreover, the psyche of a killer and those close to. It’s a compelling and completely absorbing story. The ongoing characters are wonderful Áróra, Daniel, Helen whose private life we learn about and even a brief appearance is made by Lady Gúgúlú – who is just superb – they all make the book just a joy to read.
I loved Lilja Sigurdardóttir’s Reykjavik Noir trilogy but the Áróra series is equally as good – better! If that’s possible. Just as dark, although perhaps in different ways, it’s a series that I just want to keep reading. So, of course, I’m really looking forward to White as Snow which comes out in October.
The translation by Quentin Bates is, as ever, excellent and allows me the ability to read all the wonderful books by this author.
Book: Purchased
Previously read: Cold as Hell An Áróra Investigates #1 |The Reykjavik Noir Trilogy Snare | Trap | Cage and the stand-alone Betrayal
We’re in a rainy, cold and autumnal Iceland in this second An Áróra Investigation. Áróra is settling into her new home as she continues to look for her sister Ísafold who went missing without trace in the last book. High on the suspect list is Ísafold’s boyfriend now long gone from Iceland. Even Áróra hasn’t been able to trace him but, of course, it’s assets rather than people she hunts.
Flossi gets home to find a kitchen in chaos and his wife, Gudrun, taken. A ransom note left on the table. If he calls the police Gudrun will die! If he doesn’t pay Gudrun will die! He calls his accountant, Michael, to make arrangements.
Áróra is out with her drone when she gets a call from Michael, an associate, and he asks her to help with a kidnapping. Áróra agrees, she has worked with Michael before and he’s always been helpful. She goes to see Flossi and as Michael asked gives her support. It’s obvious that Flossi is undone by Gudrun’s kidnapping. She will fly to England to collect the ransom money that Michael is releasing from Flossi’s (not so legitimate) accounts when it’s ready. In the meantime she persuades Flossi to allow her to bring in Daniel, a police detective, they set up a meeting.
Daniel is the detective on her sister’s missing persons case and has become a friend although Áróra was upset that the case was being put to one side and Ísafold is presumed dead, though deep down she ‘knows’ it’s true. They haven’t spoken much recently.
It’s agreed that Daniel and his team will investigate with a very low-key and secretive operation. They go to great lengths to ensure nothing gets out about it but that’s put into jeopardy when Helen thinks she may be compromised!
As Daniel and Áróra investigate it becomes obvious that Flossi has secrets – financial, yes, but is he lying about his relationship with Gudrun? Who took Gudrun? Could the Russian mafia be involved? Or is it something entirely different? Will the kidnappers find out that the police are involved? What would happen if they did? Can Daniel, his team, and Áróra keep the investigation under wraps long enough to bring the ransom money to Iceland and make the money drop in exchange for Gudrun?
Then something happens to turn the whole operation on it’s head!
This is a brilliant second instalment of the Áróra investigations, it’s a cleverly written, chilling murder and finance mystery. Not only is there a great sense of place but Lilja Sigurdardóttir gives us an amazing glimpse into the Icelandic culture and, moreover, the psyche of a killer and those close to. It’s a compelling and completely absorbing story. The ongoing characters are wonderful Áróra, Daniel, Helen whose private life we learn about and even a brief appearance is made by Lady Gúgúlú – who is just superb – they all make the book just a joy to read.
I loved Lilja Sigurdardóttir’s Reykjavik Noir trilogy but the Áróra series is equally as good – better! If that’s possible. Just as dark, although perhaps in different ways, it’s a series that I just want to keep reading. So, of course, I’m really looking forward to White as Snow which comes out in October.
The translation by Quentin Bates is, as ever, excellent and allows me the ability to read all the wonderful books by this author.
Book: Purchased
Previously read: Cold as Hell An Áróra Investigates #1 |The Reykjavik Noir Trilogy Snare | Trap | Cage and the stand-alone Betrayal
October 9, 2023
This is the second installment in the Áróra Investigations series following Cold as Hell (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...).
Áróra, a financial investigator from the U.K. who specializes in finding hidden assets, has extended her stay in Iceland to continue the search for her sister Ísafold. She becomes involved in a case involving a wealthy businessman named Flosi.
Flosi arrives home to discover his wife Guðrún has been abducted. A ransom note demanding €2 million is left with strict instructions not to involve the police or Guðrún will be killed. Flosi contacts his accountant who asks Áróra to go and see Flosi. She realizes that Flosi needs more help that she can provide so she contacts Daníel, the police detective who has been working on Ísafold’s case. So as not to alert the kidnappers, a secretive police operation is set up. Who is responsible for Guðrún’s disappearance?
The novel is well-plotted. It quickly becomes obvious that Flosi keeps secrets about both his personal and professional life; at one point he is described as someone “’who has definitely hidden information and never offers anything unless it’s forced out of him.’” Of course, he’s not the only suspect because there are a number of people who have plausible motives.
The novel has four points of view: that of Áróra, Daníel, Flosi, and Helena, one of Daníel’s colleagues. This narrative approach works well for both plot and character development. Certainly, Helena, who is described as reliable if “a little inexperienced and not as intuitive as she might be,” provides an interesting perspective. She sees Daníel as a mentor so we learn about his investigative techniques which she tries to emulate.
Áróra is a complex, authentic character – flawed but likeable. She is intelligent and determined and I love her pride in her “troll-and-Viking blood.” At times she seems cold and calculating, but we get to see her caring and vulnerable side as well. She regrets her estrangement with her sister and feels guilty for not coming to help when Ísafold had asked; as a consequence, she is very much motivated by a need for atonement.
It is not necessary to have read Cold as Hell, but I would definitely recommend starting there for background. The relationship between Áróra and Daníel, for instance, can be better understood knowing what happens in the first book. I especially enjoyed the reappearance of Lady Gúgúlú, “’the sexiest and also the most daring queen to be found north of the Alps.’”
The book touches on several crimes: abduction, extortion, assault, murder, intimidation, tax evasion, and money laundering. People lie and cheat and steal and engage in violence. So there is plenty of action and several twists. And the short, snappy chapters just add to the quick pace.
I’ve enjoyed both books in this series and will be next reading White as Snow.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/DCYakabuski).
Áróra, a financial investigator from the U.K. who specializes in finding hidden assets, has extended her stay in Iceland to continue the search for her sister Ísafold. She becomes involved in a case involving a wealthy businessman named Flosi.
Flosi arrives home to discover his wife Guðrún has been abducted. A ransom note demanding €2 million is left with strict instructions not to involve the police or Guðrún will be killed. Flosi contacts his accountant who asks Áróra to go and see Flosi. She realizes that Flosi needs more help that she can provide so she contacts Daníel, the police detective who has been working on Ísafold’s case. So as not to alert the kidnappers, a secretive police operation is set up. Who is responsible for Guðrún’s disappearance?
The novel is well-plotted. It quickly becomes obvious that Flosi keeps secrets about both his personal and professional life; at one point he is described as someone “’who has definitely hidden information and never offers anything unless it’s forced out of him.’” Of course, he’s not the only suspect because there are a number of people who have plausible motives.
The novel has four points of view: that of Áróra, Daníel, Flosi, and Helena, one of Daníel’s colleagues. This narrative approach works well for both plot and character development. Certainly, Helena, who is described as reliable if “a little inexperienced and not as intuitive as she might be,” provides an interesting perspective. She sees Daníel as a mentor so we learn about his investigative techniques which she tries to emulate.
Áróra is a complex, authentic character – flawed but likeable. She is intelligent and determined and I love her pride in her “troll-and-Viking blood.” At times she seems cold and calculating, but we get to see her caring and vulnerable side as well. She regrets her estrangement with her sister and feels guilty for not coming to help when Ísafold had asked; as a consequence, she is very much motivated by a need for atonement.
It is not necessary to have read Cold as Hell, but I would definitely recommend starting there for background. The relationship between Áróra and Daníel, for instance, can be better understood knowing what happens in the first book. I especially enjoyed the reappearance of Lady Gúgúlú, “’the sexiest and also the most daring queen to be found north of the Alps.’”
The book touches on several crimes: abduction, extortion, assault, murder, intimidation, tax evasion, and money laundering. People lie and cheat and steal and engage in violence. So there is plenty of action and several twists. And the short, snappy chapters just add to the quick pace.
I’ve enjoyed both books in this series and will be next reading White as Snow.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/DCYakabuski).
January 13, 2023
The Ladies Vanish
Women disappearing under suspicious circumstances seems to be the preferred starting point for author Lilja Sigurðardóttir’s two “Arora” mystery novels. Have they befallen accidental missteps and are stranded, or something more sinister?
In her first 2019 novel, “Cold as Hell”, Arora Jonsdottir, a young professional self-employed forensic accountant in Edinburgh, unexpectedly turns investigator when her estranged sister, Isafold, goes missing in their home country of Iceland. By story’s end, her sister remains missing, likely a murder victim, though other challenges are resolved.
This dark Iceland crime drama continues Arora’s search for her missing sister in Sigurðardóttir’s 2020 novel, “Red as Blood”. More or less, one novel in two parts.
But the pursuit deviates when another woman, Guorun, wife of Flosi, a successful businessman selling and exporting products, goes missing. Vanishing into thin air around bustling Reykjavik… with a ransom note left in her place!
The kidnapping, or wife napping, brings together several of the characters from the first book: the older, attractive senior CID Inspector Daniel Hansson and his assistant Helena Ulfarsdottir, and the Nordic version of RuPaul, Lady Gugulu, Daniel’s neighbor. And the brooding late summer, early fall backdrop of Iceland, its mountains and lava fields.
The first half of the book works through romantic and sexual attractions of various persuasions while the reunited team tries to figure out what is going on and where the motives lead. Complicating the investigation is the need to cloak police involvement from the kidnappers with elaborate ploys.
One approach they take is traditional police search and lead pursuit. A later parallel path uses Arora’s “very particular skills” to unravel an interesting explanation of international money laundering with shadowy Russian implications possibly impacting the motives and outcome of the plot.
Do you need to read the first book to understand the second one? Not necessarily but it helps. Even with the author’s diverting sexual escapades and potential involvements the second installment seems slower developing than her first novel.
It takes about half the book to get through the back stories and the pace to pick up. And narrative focus can shift unexpectedly: sometimes it’s Arora’s story, sometimes someone else’s, even in the same chapter. A little jarring.
Life is different in Iceland but the motives for murder very familiar.
(Here’s the link to my Amazon posted review of Lilja Sigurðardóttir’s 2019 “Cold as Hell”:
https://www.amazon.com/review/RHTM85Z...)
Women disappearing under suspicious circumstances seems to be the preferred starting point for author Lilja Sigurðardóttir’s two “Arora” mystery novels. Have they befallen accidental missteps and are stranded, or something more sinister?
In her first 2019 novel, “Cold as Hell”, Arora Jonsdottir, a young professional self-employed forensic accountant in Edinburgh, unexpectedly turns investigator when her estranged sister, Isafold, goes missing in their home country of Iceland. By story’s end, her sister remains missing, likely a murder victim, though other challenges are resolved.
This dark Iceland crime drama continues Arora’s search for her missing sister in Sigurðardóttir’s 2020 novel, “Red as Blood”. More or less, one novel in two parts.
But the pursuit deviates when another woman, Guorun, wife of Flosi, a successful businessman selling and exporting products, goes missing. Vanishing into thin air around bustling Reykjavik… with a ransom note left in her place!
The kidnapping, or wife napping, brings together several of the characters from the first book: the older, attractive senior CID Inspector Daniel Hansson and his assistant Helena Ulfarsdottir, and the Nordic version of RuPaul, Lady Gugulu, Daniel’s neighbor. And the brooding late summer, early fall backdrop of Iceland, its mountains and lava fields.
The first half of the book works through romantic and sexual attractions of various persuasions while the reunited team tries to figure out what is going on and where the motives lead. Complicating the investigation is the need to cloak police involvement from the kidnappers with elaborate ploys.
One approach they take is traditional police search and lead pursuit. A later parallel path uses Arora’s “very particular skills” to unravel an interesting explanation of international money laundering with shadowy Russian implications possibly impacting the motives and outcome of the plot.
Do you need to read the first book to understand the second one? Not necessarily but it helps. Even with the author’s diverting sexual escapades and potential involvements the second installment seems slower developing than her first novel.
It takes about half the book to get through the back stories and the pace to pick up. And narrative focus can shift unexpectedly: sometimes it’s Arora’s story, sometimes someone else’s, even in the same chapter. A little jarring.
Life is different in Iceland but the motives for murder very familiar.
(Here’s the link to my Amazon posted review of Lilja Sigurðardóttir’s 2019 “Cold as Hell”:
https://www.amazon.com/review/RHTM85Z...)
February 16, 2024
Finished reading: February 16th 2024
"Every time life punches you to the ground, it knocks away some of the arrogance and the illusion of self-importance, and that makes it easier to understand the circumstances others find themselves in."
October 5, 2022
I’ve been really looking forward to reading Red as Blood by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, who is such an exciting writer, and it did not disappoint. Lilja’s writing is so fast paced, and I always fly through her books, often in the matter of a few hours. She opens Red as Blood with a tense opening, getting the action going right away, when Flosi, a multi-millionaire, returns home to discover his wife, Gudrun, has disappeared. A ransom note has been left behind, demanding a vast sum of money in exchange for his wife’s safe return, leaving him in turmoil.
Lilja’s detective, Áróra, is back in this book, and she has been through a very recent trauma with the disappearance of her sister, Ísafold, which remains unsolved, and she is still trying to work out what happened. I wondered how she would be able to cope taking on a missing person’s case, when her sister still hadn’t been found, and this adds a layer of tension to the plot as Áróra tries to work out what is going on. Although Lilja does revisit this part of Áróra’s past, you do not need to have read the first book in this series to read Red as Blood, as it can easily be read as a standalone. But I highly recommend that you do read the first book, Cold as Hell.
With any missing person’s case, when a ransom is demanded, it’s always risky for the victim’s family to contact the police for help, and the police know this as well, meaning they must work carefully, and not make any mistakes that would let the kidnappers know they are involved. This continues to add to the tension in the novel. But even though a ransom demand has been made, Áróra looks deeper into the case, and attempts to work out what happened in the lead up to Gudrun’s disappearance, and it seems as though there are definitely more questions here.
The further Áróra delves deeper, the more complex this case become, and the investigation takes a darker and surprising turn as she begins to work out what happened. I could feel her determination to get to the bottom of this case. I was kept invested as she tried to get to the bottom of things.
Lilja Sigurðardóttir kept me turning the pages and the pace really kept me gripped. Once again you get a brilliant, vivid portrayal of the Icelandic landscape, as well as the weather as they head towards winter, making this book even more immersive.
Red as Blood is a brilliant addition to this series, and I can’t wait to see where Lilja Sigurðardóttir takes her characters next, especially after the final chapter. If you haven’t read any of Lilja’s books yet, you really need to.
Lilja’s detective, Áróra, is back in this book, and she has been through a very recent trauma with the disappearance of her sister, Ísafold, which remains unsolved, and she is still trying to work out what happened. I wondered how she would be able to cope taking on a missing person’s case, when her sister still hadn’t been found, and this adds a layer of tension to the plot as Áróra tries to work out what is going on. Although Lilja does revisit this part of Áróra’s past, you do not need to have read the first book in this series to read Red as Blood, as it can easily be read as a standalone. But I highly recommend that you do read the first book, Cold as Hell.
With any missing person’s case, when a ransom is demanded, it’s always risky for the victim’s family to contact the police for help, and the police know this as well, meaning they must work carefully, and not make any mistakes that would let the kidnappers know they are involved. This continues to add to the tension in the novel. But even though a ransom demand has been made, Áróra looks deeper into the case, and attempts to work out what happened in the lead up to Gudrun’s disappearance, and it seems as though there are definitely more questions here.
The further Áróra delves deeper, the more complex this case become, and the investigation takes a darker and surprising turn as she begins to work out what happened. I could feel her determination to get to the bottom of this case. I was kept invested as she tried to get to the bottom of things.
Lilja Sigurðardóttir kept me turning the pages and the pace really kept me gripped. Once again you get a brilliant, vivid portrayal of the Icelandic landscape, as well as the weather as they head towards winter, making this book even more immersive.
Red as Blood is a brilliant addition to this series, and I can’t wait to see where Lilja Sigurðardóttir takes her characters next, especially after the final chapter. If you haven’t read any of Lilja’s books yet, you really need to.
October 14, 2022
Although this can be read as a stand alone novel – it works much better if read after book 1 in the Arora investigations series Cold as Hell. There are events in the first novel that are continued and it really helps to have a fuller, in-depth knowledge of them. Plus – the book is awesome so you wouldn’t want to miss it.
Red as Blood has two storylines running through it. The first is a continuation from Cold as Hell as Arora continues to search for her missing sister. This plot is just heartbreaking as the readers know something that she doesn’t and it really intensifies the situation. This is where we see Arora at her most vulnerable and it’s a different part of her character than the one seen during her investigative work.
The second storyline is one of a missing person – the wife of a millionaire. Arora investigates missing things – often money related and this case reeks of it. Through this plot, the reader sees the more professional, drive and focused side of Arora and how her brain and mind work. She is excellent at what she does and I love her thoughts and methods.
Arora often comes across as though she is cold hearted and calculating but then we get glimpses of her more caring and broken side. These are portrayed through flashbacks of her sibling/parent relationships and they really capture the contrasting part of her personality. I like seeing the vulnerable side but I admire her strength and toughness too. Arora often made choices that made me want to shout out loud at her but this is why she is so relatable and human.
I was pleased to see her relative Daniel back helping her again as the tension between them was not resolved in the previous book.
Short chapters and different points of view really make this book a speedy read and keeps the suspense and tension moving. I love how the multi-narration really gives different insights into what’s going on, creating unreliable narratives and making me constantly question everyone and their motives.
This is a brilliant investigative story that is so well written and perfect for keeping the reader guessing and out of the loop. I became immersed and invested immediately and raced through it.
Red as Blood has two storylines running through it. The first is a continuation from Cold as Hell as Arora continues to search for her missing sister. This plot is just heartbreaking as the readers know something that she doesn’t and it really intensifies the situation. This is where we see Arora at her most vulnerable and it’s a different part of her character than the one seen during her investigative work.
The second storyline is one of a missing person – the wife of a millionaire. Arora investigates missing things – often money related and this case reeks of it. Through this plot, the reader sees the more professional, drive and focused side of Arora and how her brain and mind work. She is excellent at what she does and I love her thoughts and methods.
Arora often comes across as though she is cold hearted and calculating but then we get glimpses of her more caring and broken side. These are portrayed through flashbacks of her sibling/parent relationships and they really capture the contrasting part of her personality. I like seeing the vulnerable side but I admire her strength and toughness too. Arora often made choices that made me want to shout out loud at her but this is why she is so relatable and human.
I was pleased to see her relative Daniel back helping her again as the tension between them was not resolved in the previous book.
Short chapters and different points of view really make this book a speedy read and keeps the suspense and tension moving. I love how the multi-narration really gives different insights into what’s going on, creating unreliable narratives and making me constantly question everyone and their motives.
This is a brilliant investigative story that is so well written and perfect for keeping the reader guessing and out of the loop. I became immersed and invested immediately and raced through it.
October 3, 2022
Blurb:
When entrepreneur Flosi arrives home for dinner one night, he discovers that his house has been ransacked, & his wife Guðrún is missing. A letter on the kitchen table confirms that she has been kidnapped. If Flosi doesn’t agree to pay an enormous ransom, Guðrún will be killed.
Forbidden from contacting the police, he gets in touch with Áróra, who specialises in finding hidden assets, & she, alongside her detective friend Daníel, try to get to the bottom of the case without anyone catching on. Meanwhile, Áróra& Daníel continue the puzzling, devastating search for Áróra’s sister Ísafold, who disappeared without trace.
My review:
I’m a newcomer to the Icelandic fictional crime scene, & what a marvellous introduction I’ve had – thank you to Lilja & Orenda for inviting me along! Lilja is the winner of the Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year so I knew I was going to be in good hands from the start.
This is the second in the series, though it works perfectly well as a stand-alone read too, I certainly didn’t feel like I was missing out on a backstory by jumping straight into book two.
Opening with a no-messing ransom note threatening Guðrún’s life unless Flosi pays two million euros, you are thrust straight into the thick of it, with the tension pouring off each page as the story unfolds. Flosi’s predicament is interspersed with Arora’s own situation, as she meticulously scours the Icelandic lavafields with a drone in the search for her own sister.
Arora becomes involved via Flosi’s financial advisor, who recommends her as a safe pair of hands. In turn, Arora involves Daniel undercover, their investigative skills complement one another’s. As their investigations into Flosi’s personal life and business deepen, more suspects come to light. I found the book to be a complete page turner and a gripping read, with twists that I wasn’t expecting and revelations that made me reconsider what I thought might be going on again and again.
When entrepreneur Flosi arrives home for dinner one night, he discovers that his house has been ransacked, & his wife Guðrún is missing. A letter on the kitchen table confirms that she has been kidnapped. If Flosi doesn’t agree to pay an enormous ransom, Guðrún will be killed.
Forbidden from contacting the police, he gets in touch with Áróra, who specialises in finding hidden assets, & she, alongside her detective friend Daníel, try to get to the bottom of the case without anyone catching on. Meanwhile, Áróra& Daníel continue the puzzling, devastating search for Áróra’s sister Ísafold, who disappeared without trace.
My review:
I’m a newcomer to the Icelandic fictional crime scene, & what a marvellous introduction I’ve had – thank you to Lilja & Orenda for inviting me along! Lilja is the winner of the Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year so I knew I was going to be in good hands from the start.
This is the second in the series, though it works perfectly well as a stand-alone read too, I certainly didn’t feel like I was missing out on a backstory by jumping straight into book two.
Opening with a no-messing ransom note threatening Guðrún’s life unless Flosi pays two million euros, you are thrust straight into the thick of it, with the tension pouring off each page as the story unfolds. Flosi’s predicament is interspersed with Arora’s own situation, as she meticulously scours the Icelandic lavafields with a drone in the search for her own sister.
Arora becomes involved via Flosi’s financial advisor, who recommends her as a safe pair of hands. In turn, Arora involves Daniel undercover, their investigative skills complement one another’s. As their investigations into Flosi’s personal life and business deepen, more suspects come to light. I found the book to be a complete page turner and a gripping read, with twists that I wasn’t expecting and revelations that made me reconsider what I thought might be going on again and again.
February 2, 2025
This is the second in the trilogy I bought together on a deal and it was as good as the first in the series ! I always wait a while in-between instalments and don't do the binge thing so I will be onto book 3 in a month or so.....
I am wondering why Grimur, the odd neighbour hasn't been spoken to more regarding the missing sister as I am sure he was still around at the end of book 1 but hopefully they'll maybe revisit him in book 3.
Once again the author helpfully includes the Icelandic pronunciation guide in the front....though I have to say that each and every time Gudrun was written in the story it caught my eye as it has a little mark on the d and I found myself wiping the screen or blowing on it on the Kindle before realising it was that accent !! Hehehe.....
I did one character in this story a massive disservice cos' I assumed they were the baddie of the tale and the truth was far from it ! I had little sympathy for Flosi-he came across as a selfish, stupid idiot to me that for some reason seemed to attract lovely women who didn't deserve him. Perhaps his money made him more attractive, cos' other than that I didn't see any redeeming features in him !
Once again a sterling translation job and I noticed hardly any errors. I'd have written discomfited not discomforted and there were a couple of missed-off question marks and apostrophes and that was it.
I'd never happened upon a State Alcohol Monopoly before so googled it. Probably something we ought to have here in the UK !
I'm looking forward to how things progress for Daniel and Arora and her search. Loved the idea of using the drone and its footage. That was a genius use of the technology !
I'd greatly recommend this series though I think you really ought to read them in order for them to make proper sense. Not sure why people don't read a series in its order in the first place but know many do that....
I am wondering why Grimur, the odd neighbour hasn't been spoken to more regarding the missing sister as I am sure he was still around at the end of book 1 but hopefully they'll maybe revisit him in book 3.
Once again the author helpfully includes the Icelandic pronunciation guide in the front....though I have to say that each and every time Gudrun was written in the story it caught my eye as it has a little mark on the d and I found myself wiping the screen or blowing on it on the Kindle before realising it was that accent !! Hehehe.....
I did one character in this story a massive disservice cos' I assumed they were the baddie of the tale and the truth was far from it ! I had little sympathy for Flosi-he came across as a selfish, stupid idiot to me that for some reason seemed to attract lovely women who didn't deserve him. Perhaps his money made him more attractive, cos' other than that I didn't see any redeeming features in him !
Once again a sterling translation job and I noticed hardly any errors. I'd have written discomfited not discomforted and there were a couple of missed-off question marks and apostrophes and that was it.
I'd never happened upon a State Alcohol Monopoly before so googled it. Probably something we ought to have here in the UK !
I'm looking forward to how things progress for Daniel and Arora and her search. Loved the idea of using the drone and its footage. That was a genius use of the technology !
I'd greatly recommend this series though I think you really ought to read them in order for them to make proper sense. Not sure why people don't read a series in its order in the first place but know many do that....
June 30, 2025
🌊 Blodrött hav
av Lilja Sigurðardóttir
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 av 5 stjärnor)
💥 Lilja Sigurðardóttir slår till igen!
Med en säregen stil och fingertoppskänsla för tempo, relationer och isländsk kyla bjuder Blodrött hav på en andlös fortsättning i Áróra-serien. Här kastas vi direkt in i ett kidnappningsdrama där tiden tickar och hotet känns verkligt – men som alltid med Lilja så döljer sig fler lager under ytan.
🔍 Det bästa?
– En parallell intrig om den fortfarande olösta försvinnandet av Áróras syster Ísafold håller tråden vid liv från första boken.
– Mysteriet är inte bara en fråga om vem – utan varför.
– Boken lyckas vara både psykologisk och kriminalteknisk, utan att kännas överlastad.
💬 Din reflektion:
Det var en förvirrar inslaget med den ryska maffian. Den känns nästan som en dimridå, och man undrar om den verkligen hade en plats – eller om det är en teaser inför del 3. 🤷🏻♀️ Men det hindrar inte helhetsupplevelsen från att vara lysande.
💡 Och att mördaren från del 1 inte återkommer?
Genialt. Det är så uppfriskande att Lilja vågar lämna trådar hängande för att ge plats åt något helt nytt, samtidigt som det långsamma sökandet efter systern ändå pågår i bakgrunden – precis som ett verkligt trauma gör.
✍️ Beröm:
Språket är precist men levande. Karaktärerna är trovärdiga, med skavanker, tvivel och kraft. Áróra växer för varje sida – inte som superhjälte, utan som människa. Och miljöerna! Det känns verkligen som att man står mitt på ett vindpinat klipputsprång med havet rytande under sig.
📦 Summering:
Blodrött hav är inte bara en värdig uppföljare – det är ett bevis på att Lilja Sigurðardóttir vet exakt hur man bygger en bokserie som håller. Du lägger inte ner den för att du vill, du lägger ner den för att du måste andas.
🩸 Varning: Sluka ej i ett svep utan snacks. Risk för kallsvett.
📚 Nu väntar vi bara på del 3...
av Lilja Sigurðardóttir
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 av 5 stjärnor)
💥 Lilja Sigurðardóttir slår till igen!
Med en säregen stil och fingertoppskänsla för tempo, relationer och isländsk kyla bjuder Blodrött hav på en andlös fortsättning i Áróra-serien. Här kastas vi direkt in i ett kidnappningsdrama där tiden tickar och hotet känns verkligt – men som alltid med Lilja så döljer sig fler lager under ytan.
🔍 Det bästa?
– En parallell intrig om den fortfarande olösta försvinnandet av Áróras syster Ísafold håller tråden vid liv från första boken.
– Mysteriet är inte bara en fråga om vem – utan varför.
– Boken lyckas vara både psykologisk och kriminalteknisk, utan att kännas överlastad.
💬 Din reflektion:
Det var en förvirrar inslaget med den ryska maffian. Den känns nästan som en dimridå, och man undrar om den verkligen hade en plats – eller om det är en teaser inför del 3. 🤷🏻♀️ Men det hindrar inte helhetsupplevelsen från att vara lysande.
💡 Och att mördaren från del 1 inte återkommer?
Genialt. Det är så uppfriskande att Lilja vågar lämna trådar hängande för att ge plats åt något helt nytt, samtidigt som det långsamma sökandet efter systern ändå pågår i bakgrunden – precis som ett verkligt trauma gör.
✍️ Beröm:
Språket är precist men levande. Karaktärerna är trovärdiga, med skavanker, tvivel och kraft. Áróra växer för varje sida – inte som superhjälte, utan som människa. Och miljöerna! Det känns verkligen som att man står mitt på ett vindpinat klipputsprång med havet rytande under sig.
📦 Summering:
Blodrött hav är inte bara en värdig uppföljare – det är ett bevis på att Lilja Sigurðardóttir vet exakt hur man bygger en bokserie som håller. Du lägger inte ner den för att du vill, du lägger ner den för att du måste andas.
🩸 Varning: Sluka ej i ett svep utan snacks. Risk för kallsvett.
📚 Nu väntar vi bara på del 3...
October 27, 2022
I loved the first book in this series (An Áróra Investigation) and this was just as good. Reads well as a stand-alone but from the previous book Áróra is still continuing to search for her sisters body in the Icelandic lava fields whilst the mutual attraction with Daniels remains unresolved. I adore this authors writing style and her storyline as always is suitably twisted enough to keep you guessing to the end.
Briefly, when wealthy businessman Flosi arrives home to find his wife missing and a ransom demand he asks Áróra to investigate and with Flosi’s agreement she contacts Detective Daniel. Other detectives are bought in to help, taking care that they are not spotted if the house is being watched. But the more they investigate the more questions are raised and there is clearly more going on than originally thought…
As the book progresses the simple case grows strands leading off in all directions but happily they all come together to prove a satisfying conclusion. Fast paced and full of suspense this was an exciting page turner which had me hooked from the opening chapter to the last. So descriptive you can feel the cold as Autumn passes and the bitter Icelandic winter comes creeping in. Áróra is a fabulous protagonist, brilliant with figures, a very clever financial investigator, but although she often comes across as cold, as she isn’t used to sharing her emotions, it’s clear that she has a caring side. A fabulous and thrilling read. Loved it!
Briefly, when wealthy businessman Flosi arrives home to find his wife missing and a ransom demand he asks Áróra to investigate and with Flosi’s agreement she contacts Detective Daniel. Other detectives are bought in to help, taking care that they are not spotted if the house is being watched. But the more they investigate the more questions are raised and there is clearly more going on than originally thought…
As the book progresses the simple case grows strands leading off in all directions but happily they all come together to prove a satisfying conclusion. Fast paced and full of suspense this was an exciting page turner which had me hooked from the opening chapter to the last. So descriptive you can feel the cold as Autumn passes and the bitter Icelandic winter comes creeping in. Áróra is a fabulous protagonist, brilliant with figures, a very clever financial investigator, but although she often comes across as cold, as she isn’t used to sharing her emotions, it’s clear that she has a caring side. A fabulous and thrilling read. Loved it!
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