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 the death of her father in police custody so many years rears its head once again.
As Úrsula is drawn into dirty politics, facing increasingly deadly threats, the lives of her stalker, her bodyguard and even a witchlike cleaning lady intertwine. Small betrayals become large ones,
and the stakes are raised ever higher…
The award-winning internationally bestselling author Lilja Sigurðardóttir returns with Betrayal, a relevant, powerful, fastpaced thriller about the worlds of politics, police corruption and misogyny that feels just a little bit too real…
Amazon UK
I received a copy of this book from Orenda Books in return for an honest review.
My Thoughts…
The ethos and setting of this Icelandic noir novel is in itself fascinating reading. It’s so different from where I live and evokes both claustrophobic and isolation imagery in this reader. Ursula is a courageous woman driven to help others in famine and war zones, returning home to Iceland is an attempt to rekindle her relationship and allow her battered psyche time to heal. She takes an unexpected political appointment leading to a web of deceit and political manoeuvring.
Distinctive characters draw you into their stories, and an intricate plot with short pacy chapters keeps you guessing until the dramatic conclusion. This is a compelling, original tale of secrets and self-discovery with characters that resonate.
Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurdardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written four crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavik Noir trilogy, which have hit bestseller lists worldwide. The film rights have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner.
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