The Reykjavik Noir Trilogy (Books 1-3 in the dark, atmospheric, nail-bitingly fast-paced Icelandic series: Snare, Trap and Cage)


Book Description

Get ALL THREE books in the electrifying, unputdownable Reykjav&ík Noir Trilogy in one GREAT-VALUE Box Set! A young, single mother is lured into cocaine smuggling to keep custody of her son, as she eludes customs officers and the police, and tries to escape the clutches of the kingpins in Lilja Sigur&ðard&óttir's critically acclaimed, award-winning, international bestselling Reykjav&ík Noir Trilogy. A nerve-shredding, emotive Icelandic series by the co-writer of the Netflix hit Katla. 'Tough, uncompromising and unsettling' Val McDermid &‘Stylish, taut and compelling' Daily Express &‘Tense and pacey ... an intriguing mix of white-collar and white-powder' Guardian Snare (Book One) Set in a Reykjav&ík still covered in the dust of the Eyjafjallaj&ökull volcanic eruption, and with a dark, fast-paced and chilling plot and intriguing characters, Snare sees young mother Sonja become involved in cocaine-smuggling in and out of Iceland, under the suspicious eye of a customs officer ... An outstandingly original and sexy Nordic crime thriller, and a nail-biting game of cat and mouse! Trap (Book Two) When Sonja's son is kidnapped by her ruthless ex-husband, she's thrust back into the world of cocaine smuggling, but this time she's got a plan of her own, with an unexpected ally, and a complicated relationship on her conscience ... High-stakes jeopardy presides in this dark and original, breathtakingly fast-paced thriller... Cage (Book Three) A deadly threat to Sonja and her family sees her return to Iceland, where she needs to settle scores with longstanding adversaries if she wants to stay alive, while a group of businessmen tries to draw Agla into an ingenious fraud. Drugs, smuggling, big money and political intrigue rally with love, passion and murder in the masterful conclusion to the explosive Reykjav&ík Noir Trilogy. Praise for the Reykjavik Noir trilogy **Guardian and New York Journal of Books THRILLER of the Year** **WINNER of the Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year** **Longlisted for the CWA International Dagger** &‘A tense thriller with a highly unusual plot and interesting characters' Marcel Berlins, The Times &‘An emotional suspense rollercoaster on a par with The Firm, as desperate, resourceful, profoundly lovable characters scheme against impossible odds' Alexandra Sokoloff &‘Clear your diary. As soon as you begin reading ... you won't be able to stop until the final page' Michael Wood &‘A towering powerhouse of read and I gobbled it up in one intense sitting' LoveReading &‘Zips along, with tension building and building ... thoroughly recommend' James Oswald &‘With characters you can't help sympathising with against your better judgement, Sigurdardottir takes the reader on a breathtaking ride' Daily Express &‘Tense, edgy and delivering more than a few unexpected twists and turns' Sunday Times &‘Smart writing with a strongly beating heart' Big Issue &‘Deftly plotted though and with a forensic attention to the technicalities of stock exchange manipulations and drug-running techniques' Financial Times &‘The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year' New York Journal of Books &‘Compelling ... this is prime binge-reading' Booklist




Snare


Book Description

DIVA young mother resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland, as she struggles to keep custody of her son, with devastating results ... First in the addictive, award-winning Reykjavik Noir Trilogy by the Queen of Iceland Noir. ***Longlisted for the CWA International Dagger*** 'Stylist, taut and compelling' Daily Express 'Snare will ensnare you' Marie Claire 'A taut, gritty, thoroughly absorbing journey into Reykjavik's underworld' Booklist ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– After a messy divorce, 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' The Times 'Tense, edgy and delivering more than a few unexpected twists and turns' Sunday Times 'Sharp shocks of chapters hit with increasing energy ... a towering powerhouse of read and I gobbled it up in one intense sitting' LoveReading 'The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year' New York Journal of Books '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 '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' European Literature Network/div




Cold as Hell: The breakout bestseller, first in the addictive An Áróra Investigation series


Book Description

Áróra returns to Iceland when her estranged sister goes missing, and her search leads to places she could never have imagined. A chilling, tense thriller – FIRST in an addictive, nerve-shattering new series – from one of Iceland's bestselling authors... 'Icelandic crime writing at its finest ... immersive and unnerving' Shari Lapena 'Best-selling Icelandic crime-writer Sigurðardóttir has built a formidable reputation with just four novels, but here she introduces a new protagonist who is set to cement her legacy' Daily Mail 'Another bleak, unpredictable classic' Metro **Winner: Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year** –––––––––––––– Icelandic sisters Áróra and Ísafold live in different countries and aren't on speaking terms, but when their mother loses contact with Ísafold, Áróra reluctantly returns to Iceland to find her sister. But she soon realises that her sister isn't avoiding her ... she has disappeared, without trace. As she confronts Ísafold's abusive, drug-dealing boyfriend Björn, and begins to probe her sister's reclusive neighbours – who have their own reasons for staying out of sight – Áróra is led into an ever-darker web of intrigue and manipulation. Baffled by the conflicting details of her sister's life, and blinded by the shiveringly bright midnight sun of the Icelandic summer, Áróra enlists the help of police officer Daníel, as she tries to track her sister's movements, and begins to tail Björn – but she isn't the only one watching... Slick, tense, atmospheric and superbly plotted, Cold as Hell marks the start of a riveting, addictive new series from one of Iceland's bestselling crime writers. ––––––––––––––––– 'Lilja Sigurðardóttir doesn't write cookie-cutter crime novels. She is aware that "the fundamentals of existence are totally incomprehensible and chaotic": anything can and does happen ... Isn't that what all crime writers should aim for?' The Times 'Lilja is a standout voice in Icelandic Noir, and this book does not disappoint ... Cold as Hell is her best yet' James Oswald 'Domestic abuse, high-finance hanky-panky, and illegal immigration all figure in this arresting series launch ... sure to please Scandi noir fans' Publishers Weekly 'So atmospheric' Crime Monthly 'Intricate, enthralling and very moving – a wonderful crime novel' William Ryan 'Three things we love about Cold as Hell: Iceland's unrelenting midnight sun; the gritty Nordic murder mystery; the peculiar and bewitching characters' Apple Books 'Lilja Sigurðardóttir just gets better and better ... Áróra is a wonderful character: unique, passionate, unpredictable and very real' Michael Ridpath Praise for Lilja Sigurðardóttir 'Smart writing with a strongly beating heart' Big Issue 'Tough, uncompromising and unsettling' Val McDermid 'Tense and pacey' Guardian 'Deftly plotted' Financial Times 'An emotional suspense rollercoaster' Alexandra Sokoloff 'Tense, edgy and delivering more than a few unexpected twists and turns' Sunday Times 'The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year' New York Journal of Books 'Taut, gritty and thoroughly absorbing' Booklist 'A stunning addition to the icy-cold crime genre' Foreword Reviews For fans of Katrine Engberg, Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir, Arne Dahl and Sarah Vaughan




Trap


Book Description

DIVWhen Sonja's son is kidnapped by her ruthless ex-husband, she's thrust back into the world of cocaine smuggling, but this time she's got a plan of her own... High-stakes jeopardy presides in book two of the dark and original, nail-bitingly fast-paced Reykjavik Noir trilogy... 'Tense, edgy and delivering more than a few unexpected twists and turns' Sunday Times 'Tough, uncompromising and unsettling' Val McDermid 'Tense and pacey, this intriguing mix of white-collar and white-powder crime could certainly be enjoyed as a standalone, but I would suggest reading its excellent predecessor, Snare, first' `Guardian –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Happily settled in Florida, Sonja believes she's finally escaped the trap set by unscrupulous drug lords. But when her son Tomas is taken, she's back to square one ... and Iceland. Her lover, Agla, is awaiting sentencing for financial misconduct after the banking crash, and Sonja refuses to see her. And that's not all ... Agla owes money to some extremely powerful men, and they'll stop at nothing to get it back. With her former nemesis, customs officer Bragi, on her side, Sonja puts her own plan into motion, to bring down the drug barons and her scheming ex-husband, and get Tomas back safely. But things aren't as straightforward as they seem, and Sonja finds herself caught in the centre of a trap that will put all of their lives at risk... Set in Reykjavik – still covered in the dust of the EyjafjallajÖkull volcanic eruption and the aftermath of the banking crisis – Trap is an award-winning, deliciously dark and outstandingly original slice of Nordic Noir, from one of Iceland's finest crime writers. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Praise for the Reykjavik Noir Trilogy 'A tense thriller with a highly unusual plot and interesting characters' Marcel Berlins, The Times 'With characters you can't help sympathising with against your better judgement, Sigurdardottir takes the reader on a breathtaking ride ... Stylish, taut and compelling' Jon Coates, Daily Express 'Pacey and tense, Trap is full of delicious carnage that could translate well to the screen' New Zealand Listener 'This is a searing portrait of the less salubrious parts of the Icelandic psyche as well as a riveting thriller' Sunday Express 'Sharp shocks of chapters hit with increasing energy ... a towering powerhouse of read and I gobbled it up in one intense sitting' LoveReading 'The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year' New York Journal of Books 'The action is fast, helped by the short chapters switching us from one set of characters to another, the villains ruthless, and the undercover world of Iceland vividly evoked. A treat for fans’ Promoting Crime ‘Smart, ambitious and hugely satisfying’ Eva Dolan ‘Zips along with tension building and building’ James Oswald 'An emotional suspense rollercoaster on a par with The Firm’ Alexandra Sokoloff ‘Compelling … this is prime binge-reading’ Booklist ‘The suspenseful Trap takes full advantage of its fresh setting and is a worthy addition to the icy-cold crime genre popularized by Scandinavian noir novels’ Foreword Reviews/div




Encyclopedia of Pulp Fiction Writers


Book Description

Provides an introduction to American pulp fiction during the twentieth century with brief author biographies and lists of their works.




Snare


Book Description

A young mother resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland, as she struggles to keep custody of her son, with devastating results ... First in the addictive, award-winning Reykjavik Noir Trilogy by the Queen of Iceland Noir. ***Longlisted for the CWA International Dagger*** 'Stylist, taut and compelling' Daily Express ' Snare will ensnare you' Marie Claire 'A taut, gritty, thoroughly absorbing journey into Reykjavik's underworld' Booklist ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– After a messy divorce, 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' The Times 'Tense, edgy and delivering more than a few unexpected twists and turns' Sunday Times 'Sharp shocks of chapters hit with increasing energy ... a towering powerhouse of read and I gobbled it up in one intense sitting' LoveReading 'The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year' New York Journal of Books '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 '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' European Literature Network




The Storyteller's Thesaurus


Book Description

Writers, game designers, teachers, and students ~this is the book youve been waiting for! Written by storytellers for storytellers, this volume offers an entirely new approach to word finding. Browse the pages within to see what makes this book different:




Betrayal


Book Description

A stunning standalone thriller from the Queen of Iceland Noir. ***Shortlisted for the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel*** 'Tough, uncompromising and unsettling' Val McDermid When aid worker Úrsula returns to Iceland for a new job, she's drawn into the dangerous worlds of politics, corruption and misogyny ... a powerful, relevant, fast-paced standalone thriller. ____________________ Burned out and traumatised by her horrifying experiences around the world, aid worker Úrsula has returned to Iceland. Unable to settle, she accepts a high-profile government role in which she hopes to make a difference again. But on her first day in the post, Úrsula promises to help a mother seeking justice for her daughter, who had been raped by a policeman, and life in high office soon becomes much more harrowing than Úrsula could ever have imagined. A homeless man is stalking her – but is he hounding her, or warning her of some danger? And why has the death of her father in police custody so many years earlier reared its head again? As Úrsula is drawn into dirty politics, facing increasingly deadly threats, the lives of her stalker, her bodyguard and even a witch-like cleaning lady intertwine. Small betrayals become large ones, and the stakes are raised ever higher... ____________________ Praise for Lilja Sigurdardóttir 'Tense and pacey' Guardian 'Highly unusual' The Times 'Smart writing with a strongly beating heart' Big Issue 'Deftly plotted' Financial Times 'Breathtakingly original' New York Journal of Books 'Taut, gritty and thoroughly absorbing' Booklist 'A stunning addition to the icy-cold crime genre' Foreword Reviews




The Man Who Died


Book Description

DIVWhen Finnish mushroom entrepreneur Jaakko discovers that he has been slowly poisoned, he sets out to find his would-be murderer ... with dark and hilarious results. The critically acclaimed standalone thriller from the King of Helsinki Noir... ***Shortlisted for the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year*** ***Shortlisted for the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award*** 'Right up there with the best' Times Literary Supplement 'Deftly plotted, poignant and perceptive in its wry reflections on mortality and very funny' Irish Times 'Told in a darkly funny, deadpan style ... The result is a rollercoaster read in which the farce has some serious and surprisingly philosophical underpinnings' Guardian ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A successful entrepreneur in the mushroom industry, Jaakko Kaunismaa is a man in his prime. At just thirty-seven years of age, he is shocked when his doctor tells him that he's dying. What's more, the cause is discovered to be prolonged exposure to toxins; in other words, someone has slowly but surely been poisoning him. Determined to find out who wants him dead, Jaakko embarks on a suspenseful rollercoaster journey full of unusual characters, bizarre situations and unexpected twists. With a nod to Fargo and the best elements of the Scandinavian noir tradition, The Man Who Died is a page-turning thriller brimming with the blackest comedy surrounding life and death, and love and betrayal, marking a stunning new departure for the King of Helsinki Noir. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 'The deadpan icy sensibility of Nordic noir is combined here with warm-blooded, often surreal, humour. Like the death cap mushroom, Tuomainen's dark story manages to be as delicious as it is toxic' Sunday Express 'An offbeat jewel ... relentlessly funny' Don Crinklaw, Publishers Weekly 'A bizarre, twisty, darkly comic novel about a man investigating his own murder ... a tightly paced Scandinavian thriller with a wicked sense of humour' Foreword Reviews 'Smart, sensitive, and engaging, and guaranteed to be unlike anything else in your crime fiction library ... the perfect blend of thrills, investigation, character development, and comedy' Crime by the Book 'Hugely entertaining and satisfying ... like Carl Hiassen transported to Finland. It's full of black comedy and has an unlikely hero in Jaakko, who you'll root for to the very end' Kevin Wignall, author of A Death in Sweden 'A delightful mad caper of a story, which will make readers snort out loud with laughter and would have made an excellent 1930s screwball comedy directed by Frank Capra' Crime Fiction Lover 'Combines a startlingly clever opening, a neat line in dark humour and a unique Scandinavian sensibility. A fresh and witty read' Chris Ewan, author of Safe House 'Dark and thrilling, funny and intelligent, this Fargo-like novel contains lethal doses of humour ... and mushrooms' Sofi Oksanen, author of Purge ‘A book I will never forget’ Matt Wesolowski ‘This one is a winner right from the first sentence’ Booklist ‘Antti Tuomainen is a wonderful writer, whose characters, plots and atmosphere are masterfully drawn’ Yrsa Sigurðardóttir ‘An original and darkly funny thriller with a Coen Brothers-esque feel & tremendous style’ Eva Dolan/div




Viking Fire


Book Description

A Times Book of the Year 'A literary, intelligent read from a masterful storyteller' In 1035, a young fifteen year old Viking is dragged wounded from the battle. Left for dead, for the next twenty years his adventures lead him over mountains, down the length of Russia and ultimately to Constantinople and the Holy City of Jerusalem. Drawn into political intrigue he will be the lover of Empresses, the murderer of an emperor; he will hold the balance of power in the Byzantine Empire in his hands, and then give it all up for a Russian princess and the chance to return home and lead his own people, where he must fight the demons of his past, his family and his countrymen in a long and bitter war for revenge and power. Told in his own voice, this is the astonishing true story of the most famous warrior in all Christendom: Harald Hardrada, the last Viking.