When entrepreneur Flosi arrives home for dinner one night, he discovers that his house has been ransacked, and his wife Gudrun missing. A letter on the kitchen table confirms that she has been kidnapped. If Flosi doesn’t agree to pay an enormous ransom, Gudrun will be killed.
Forbidden from contacting the police, he gets in touch with Áróra, who specialises in finding hidden assets, and she, alongside her detective friend Daniel, try to get to the bottom of the case without anyone catching on.
Meanwhile, Áróra and Daniel continue the puzzling, devastating search for Áróra’s sister Ísafold, who disappeared without trace. As fog descends, in a cold and rainy Icelandic autumn, the investigation becomes increasingly dangerous, and confusing.
Chilling, twisty and unbearably tense, Red as Blood is the second instalment in the riveting, addictive An Áróra Investigation series, and everything is at stake…
It's such a pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for Red as Blood today. Many thanks to Lilja Sigurdardóttir, Orenda Books and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me and for my advance copy of the novel.
Red As Blood is the second book in Lilja Sigurdardóttir's An Áróra Investigation series and while it is a stand-alone, there is a narrative thread concerning Áróra's missing sister, Ísafold continued here and so I would recommend reading the previous book, Cold as Hell if possible – it's also a cracking read and was one of my favourite books of 2021, if you need any more reasons to treat yourself to it...!
Although Áróra is still searching for her sister, the main storyline in Red as Blood concerns the abduction of Guðrún Aronsdóttir, the wife of Flosi, a wealthy entrepreneur who receives a ransom demand and strict instructions not to involve the police. Instead he calls his accountant who in turn contacts Áróra who agrees she will travel to London to fetch his money. It's always interesting to discover a different sort of protagonist in crime fiction and Áróra is definitely that. She's a financial investigator who searches for lost money and as an intelligent woman, realises that despite the warnings to the contrary, the police have to be involved.
She joins forces again with Detective Daniel Hansson and the sparks that were in such evidence in Cold as Hell show no signs of abating here. The chemistry between the pair is undeniable but both have their fair share of emotional baggage which means they are reluctant to make the first move. As this is a criminal investigation, much of the storyline follows Daniel's perspective and he's an immensely likeable character. There's a moment where he is discussing learning through life experiences and muses that life's knocks 'make it easier to understand the circumstances others find themselves in'. There are some glimpses into his life here – the friendship he shares with his neighbour, Lady Gúgúlú is particularly touching – but I have a feeling there is more to discover about this thoughtful, kind man and I'm looking forward to seeing how his character is developed further as the series progresses.
Meanwhile, Áróra herself is an intriguingly complex woman. She was taught by her father to champion her 'troll-and-Viking blood' and to embrace her tall, muscular physique but even though she is doggedly determined, there is still a more vulnerable, lonely side to her. Her guilt over her sister's disappearance is painful and she has resisted telling her mother of her plans to relocate to Iceland. In Cold as Hell she was an outsider but she seems more at home now – although having been raised in Britain, still notices certain Icelandic quirks and habits. Having never been that fond of the country, it's fascinating to see the hold it has on her. The sense of place engendered through her eyes is excellent; the sights and smells in particular are vividly described throughout.
The family under such duress; Flosi, his adult daughter, Sara Sól, ex-wife Karen and other various friends and colleagues are no less interesting. With no clear indication as to who is responsible for Guðrún's disappearance, there are plenty of secrets and lies to be uncovered. Lilja Sigurdardóttir always excels at exploring contemporary issues and that's true again in Red as Blood; the complicated dynamics of blended families, global financial crimes and violence towards the LGBT community are all examined to a greater or lesser extent, as are the universal themes of jealousy, greed and deception. The introduction of some of Daniel's colleagues is welcome too, especially Helena whose unashamed desire for no-strings hook-ups is refreshing to see in a female character.
Red as Blood is a multilayered murder mystery with a cleverly woven, compelling plot that flows seamlessly throughout. The sensitive translation by Quentin Bates ensures none of the subtleties regarding tension, atmosphere and characterisation are lost, and the result is another first-rate, unmissable novel by one of my favourite authors. Very highly recommended.
Red as Blood is published by Orenda Books and can be purchased from their website or from bookshop.org, Hive, Waterstones or Amazon but please support independent bookshops whenever possible.
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