Lead Review (Betrayal)

• Book: Betrayal
• Location: Honduras, Washington DC
• Author: David Gilman

Review Author: tripfiction

Mystery set in REYKJAVIK
I always look forward to reading books by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, and Betrayal is up to her usual high standards. It is an absorbing read and the author isn’t afraid to tackle large topics, such as misogyny, trust and betrayal. Several ‘noir’ novels recently have featured characters with political careers, and this works particularly well in this instance. It is clear that the book is set in Reykjavik, with regular references to locations in the city and the usual cold and gloomy weather, but there are many elements of the story that mean it could only take place in Iceland. For example, the debate about the use of traditional Icelandic names when registering babies, and the reference to a hand-knitted Icelandic sweater that plays an important role in the story.

Úrsúla has worked for charities in challenging places and a times of crisis; in Liberia during the Ebola epidemic and in Syria during the conflict there. Now, she has decided to return to Iceland to prioritise her family life. Despite this, Úrsúla still thinks of herself as capable of taking on new challenges. When she is offered a new job – working for a year as Minister for the Interior, Justice and Transport in the Icelandic parliament – it looks like the ideal way for her to continue to help the underprivileged in society, and she accepts. On her first day she makes a promise to a woman that she will bring a rapist to justice, but her desire to help and the reality of what she can achieve rapidly diverge. It also becomes apparent that she has been brought in to the role to get some unpopular legislation passed and that she is expendable.

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Úrsúla is clear that her now role will be a challenge from the outset but she is determined to be resilient and confident. However, she bears the mental scars of her terrifying experiences and, in Iceland, there are more in store for her. In addition, as minister there are certain things she has to trust other people to achieve. And, of course, Trust is the flip side of Betrayal. Her experiences have hardened Úrsúla even to the extent that she feels unable to express her affection for her husband Nonni and their family, and the PTSD she barely acknowledges begins to cloud her judgement. She despises herself for this, especially when she finds someone else who releases all her pent-up emotions.

As minister, Úrsúla has her permanent secretary, Óðinn, to advise her and she has a support network of staff. At first she dismisses the idea of needing a driver – though she soon comes to rely on Gunnar as a vital part of her team. Then there’s the cleaner, Stella – who has her own challenges in life – who forms an unlikely friendship with the Minister as they smoke together on the fourth floor. Mostly however, it is far from clear how some of the characters fit in and whether they are a threat or a support to Úrsúla. The author also introduces a tramp, Pétur Pétursson, who seems to have known what is his interest in the Minister is, after so much time has gone by?

Mystery set in REYKJAVIKLilja uses all the skills she has at her disposal to keep the levels of tension bubbling away in this thoroughly entertaining book. She places the reader in the privileged position of knowing just a little more than her characters, but there are plenty of unknowns to keep us guessing. Very gradually, elements of the past lives of the cast are revealed, along with their motivations, and their reasons for betraying others. Rest assured, there are red herrings aplenty, as with all Lilja’s books, and great satisfaction in the ultimate resolution.

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