GIVEAWAY – 3 copies of Deadly Dancing at the Seaview Hotel: SCARBOROUGH
Crime mystery set in REYKJAVIK
13th November 2025
Black As Death by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, crime mystery set in REYKJAVIK
TR: Lorenza Garcia
Black As Death is the final book in the thrilling Áróra Investigates series by Lilja Sigurðardóttir. It is not necessary to have read the preceding volumes before embarking on Black As Death, but I would recommend it in order to get the most value out of the book. The series is set in Reykjavik, Iceland. In this episode, the protagonist, Áróra, already knows the fate of her sister, Ísafold, but not how or why she was murdered and cast into a crevasse in a remote location. Suspicion falls on Ísafold’s boyfriend, but he is also dead, so the authorities are a bit stumped. Áróra’s search for her sister – and now for her murderer – have become an obsession. Chapters of the book concerning Áróra’s investigation alternate with flashbacks narrated by Ísafold recounting her final days until the whole final scenario is revealed.
Áróra’s boyfriend, Daníel, tries to distract her for her own good by getting her to put her skills as a forensic financial wizard to good use with a case he is working on. This storyline forms the subplot, which involves a suspected money-laundering operation. Áróra agrees to help, to fill the time until further evidence is available in Ísafold’s case. She calls in a few favours and uses her somewhat unconventional methods to begin uncovering a trail that will lead to the key players in the suspected financial fraud. Imagine her surprise when clues begin to suggest that there are links between this case and her sister’s death. Can she unmask the fraudsters and perhaps also discover who is responsible for one or more murders?
The setting for the novel is integral to the story: not just the landscape but the way of life of the Icelanders themselves. So we have physical descriptions of Reykjavik city centre, and the stunning contrast with mountainous countryside around the city. In addition, Lilja considers themes such as the modern, multicultural nature of the capital and the disadvantages of tourism. I loved that the Nordic habit of coffee drinking is so engrained in the culture that it is part of the plot!
Black As Death is right up there with the very best that Noir novels can offer and is a more than satisfying conclusion to Lilja’s series of novels. It is a pleasure to renew our acquaintance with the larger-than-life characters as they reach the end of their own stories. Highly recommended, especially for those who have read the previous books.
Sue for the TripFiction Team
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