The Reykjavik Noir Trilogy

Reykjavík Noir Trilogy #1-3

by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, Quentin Bates (Translator)

From Book 1:

First in the Reykjavik Noir Trilogy

After a messy divorce, attractive young mother Sonia is struggling to provide for herself and keep custody of her son. With her back to the wall, she resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland, and finds herself caught up in a ruthless criminal world. As she desperately looks for a way out of trouble, she must pit her wits against her nemesis, Bragi, a customs officer, whose years of experience frustrate her new and evermore daring strategies. Things become even more complicated when Sonia embarks on a relationship with a woman, Agla. Once a high-level bank executive, Agla is currently being prosecuted in the aftermath of the Icelandic financial crash.
Set in a Reykjavík still covered in the dust of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption, and with a dark, fast-paced and chilling plot and intriguing characters, Snare is an outstandingly original and sexy Nordic crime thriller, from one of the most exciting new names in crime fiction.


'A tense thriller with a highly unusual plot and interesting characters' Times

'This first novel of a planned trilogy is stylish, taut and compelling and a film adaptation is in the pipeline. With characters you can’t help sympathising with against your better judgement, Sigurdardottir takes the reader on a breathtaking ride’ Daily Express

‘Snare will ensnare you’ Marie Claire

A taut, gritty, thoroughly absorbing journey into Reykjavik’s underworld’ Christine Tran, Booklist

‘Lilja Sigurdardottir delivers a diabolically efficient thriller with an ultrarealistic plot … We cannot wait for Sonja’s next adventure’ L’Express

‘A smart, ambitious, and hugely satisfying thriller. Striking in its originality and written with all the style and poise of an old hand. Lilja is destined for Scandi super stardom’ Eva Dolan

‘For a small island, Iceland produces some extraordinary writers, and Lilja is one of the best. Snare is an enthralling tale of love and crime that stays with you long after you have turned the last page’ Michael Ridpath

‘Zips along, with tension building and building … thoroughly recommended’ James Oswald

‘Crisp, assured and nail-bitingly tense, Snare is an exceptional read, cementing Lilja’s place as one of Iceland’s most outstanding crime writers’ Yrsa Sigurdardottir

‘Clear your diary. As soon as you begin reading Snare, you won’t be able to stop until the final page’ Michael Wood

‘Snare is a great read and the finale is both shocking and unexpected … a Wizard-of-Oz ending, without the laughs. Terrific and original stuff' Max Easterman, European Literature Network

854 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2021

About the author

Lilja´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.

Reviews

[Luis Moreno · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, I am a giant fan of Scandinavian Noir, and although the Iceland type stories are a bit different, I've enjoyed them as well. One aspect of Scandinavian Noir that attracts me the most, is the flawed anti-hero. And here, our author hits it out of the park. Both of the female protagonists (as well as a third) that the trilogy focuses on are extremely flawed and desperately weak in their own ways. The book starts off slowly, but by midway through the second "book" was evolving into a real page turner. But then two things happened: the story took on some rather unrealistic turns (straining the reader's suspension of belief), and then the stereotypical (bordering on racist) portrayal of Mexican, Latin American characters. The third story, although still maintaining interest was ultimately anti-climatic. So two and half out of five stars seems justified, I just expected a bit more.
Turns out this Scandinavian Noir novel was just as flawed as some of the characters.

[Patrick T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very good. There's something about Scandinavian authors that really tickles me, although tickle seems like the wrong word considering everything is so dark. Lilja balances out dark subject matter with clever hilarious dialogue and character development and the end result is a tie for first place with my other favorite author Jo.

Spoiler: What happened to the package above the bathroom stall? Just a red herring?

[DC Bull · Rating 3 out of 5]

good look at banksters in Iceland

This is a good trilogy, solid character development and two main plot lines that converge throughout all three books, but I was hoping it would have more of the dark Nordic Noir elements that I really enjoy. This isn’t a police procedural, instead it looks at the lives of people caught in the wake of a financial crisis and also in the drug trade. It’s a door read, but not enough noir for my tastes.

[Bronwyn Hegarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snare is an excellent thriller. I love the short chapters and the way the author has three parallel plots going. Two run together early on but the last one doesn't meet until near the end. Sentences are crisp and characters well developed - love the writing.
Exciting and hard to put down. Can't wait for the second in the trilogy - Cage.

[Marianne Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected as Scandinavia triology

Very unusual Icelandic trilogy. The 2 main characters are not what you expect. Lots of illegal money laundering and drug smuggling by these characters. Not your happy ever after novels. Nevertheless enjoyable. Different.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy, whose central plots were drug smuggling and money laundering. I found that I cared for the main protagonists, Sonja and Agla, despite their involvement in these shady goings on.
Lilja Sigurðardóttir is on my list of favourite Icelandic authors.

[Anthony Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page turner indeed!

It is disruptive enough when you encounter a gripping pageturner, and household chores must wait while finishing the novel, but this is a veritable page-turning TRIlogy, and household chores have been much neglected!

[Jan Butchart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series

Really enjoyed this series. I thoroughly liked the complexities of the main characters and how they and their circumstances evolved throughout the 3 novels. Also loved the fact that these 3 women took on the "old boy's club" and made it their own. Well done!!!

[Anne-Marijn Küthe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining.

[Ann Boettcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

too graphic. so much violence

Thought it would tame down but became more intense. Hard to believe how Sonja just got in deeper, willingly it seemed. Wish I hadntread

[donna hennebury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read enjoyed all three books in the trilogy. Well Worth a look.

[jane godfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too fantastical for me. I didn't believe in the stoty

[Vicki Wainwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

great trilogy

I very much enjoyed these books. I was hooked from the start! Highly recommend this trilogy to everyone! Well written!