Review of RED AS BLOOD by Lilja Sigurðardóttir

 4 Stars

This is the second installment in the Áróra Investigations series following Cold as Hell (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2022/01/review-of-cold-as-hell-by-lilja.html). 

Áróra, a financial investigator from the U.K. who specializes in finding hidden assets, has extended her stay in Iceland to continue the search for her sister Ísafold.  She becomes involved in a case involving a wealthy businessman named Flosi. 

Flosi arrives home to discover his wife Guðrún has been abducted.  A ransom note demanding €2 million is left with strict instructions not to involve the police or Guðrún will be killed.  Flosi contacts his accountant who asks Áróra to go and see Flosi.  She realizes that Flosi needs more help that she can provide so she contacts Daníel, the police detective who has been working on Ísafold’s case.  So as not to alert the kidnappers, a secretive police operation is set up.  Who is responsible for Guðrún’s disappearance?

The novel is well-plotted.  It quickly becomes obvious that Flosi keeps secrets about both his personal and professional life; at one point he is described as someone “’who has definitely hidden information and never offers anything unless it’s forced out of him.’”  Of course, he’s not the only suspect because there are a number of people who have plausible motives. 

The novel has four points of view:  that of Áróra, Daníel, Flosi, and Helena, one of Daníel’s colleagues.  This narrative approach works well for both plot and character development.  Certainly, Helena, who is described as reliable if “a little inexperienced and not as intuitive as she might be,” provides an interesting perspective.  She sees Daníel as a mentor so we learn about his investigative techniques which she tries to emulate. 

Áróra is a complex, authentic character – flawed but likeable.  She is intelligent and determined and I love her pride in her “troll-and-Viking blood.”  At times she seems cold and calculating, but we get to see her caring and vulnerable side as well.  She regrets her estrangement with her sister and feels guilty for not coming to help when Ísafold had asked; as a consequence, she is very much motivated by a need for atonement. 

It is not necessary to have read Cold as Hell, but I would definitely recommend starting there for background.  The relationship between Áróra and Daníel, for instance, can be better understood knowing what happens in the first book.  I especially enjoyed the reappearance of Lady Gúgúlú, “’the sexiest and also the most daring queen to be found north of the Alps.’” 

The book touches on several crimes:  abduction, extortion, assault, murder, intimidation, tax evasion, and money laundering.  People lie and cheat and steal and engage in violence.  So there is plenty of action and several twists.  And the short, snappy chapters just add to the quick pace. 

I’ve enjoyed both books in this series and will be next reading White as Snow, the third book which will be available in Canada on October 12.  Check back in three days for my review of it.