I cannot die now. I’ve got to get home and hide the body.

When Gemma regains consciousness in the ICU after suffering a stroke, only one thought occupies her mind: the cursed body, which absolutely cannot remain where it is. But what can a half-paralyzed woman in her seventies possibly do in such a situation? She certainly can’t involve anyone else. And yet stubbornness and ingenuity can take a person surprisingly far … and sometimes life sends a woman in distress help from the most unexpected quarters.

Absolute Gem is the brand-new novel by Jonina Leosdottir, author of the popular Edda series. Jonina’s pitch-black sense of humor shines in this intricate yet warm story that never stops surprising.

“Explosively funny … Gem is the heart of the story and she is what drives the narrative forward. I was very pleased with this book.”
INGIBJORG IDA AUDUNSDOTTIR, KILJAN / NATIONAL TV

“The style is incredibly entertaining, nimble, and comic. And then there’s Gem. The character development is exceptionally successful. Gem is wonderful. She is independent and delightfully stubborn and headstrong; and then she finds herself in the position—as people do when they reach a certain age—where her children are trying to control her and the hospital is trying to control her, but she wants to be in control of herself.”
KOLBRUN BERGTHORSDOTTIR, KILJAN / NATIONAL TV

“This is not a traditional crime novel in the usual sense, even if a body is involved. There is no investigation here, no hunt for a killer; on the contrary, the tension lies in whether our protagonist can get away with hiding the crime. As in Jónína’s other books, the plot is driven by wonderful characters that immediately earn the reader’s empathy. Naturally, the story is also full of those priceless incidents that are a hallmark of her work—mishaps that may seem unlikely but could certainly happen in the reality of Icelandic life. Absolute Gem is pure entertainment from start to finish.”
LIFDU NUNA MAGAZINE

“Incredibly enjoyable novel. Gem is a wonderful character!”
FRIDRIKA BENONYSDOTTIR, LITERARY CRITIC

“The book lives up to its name — an absolute gem! Heartwarming, funny, and exciting.”
GYLFI MAGNUSSON, UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND FORMER MINISTER

“Another original voice from Iceland. Leosdottir brings wit, pace and a fantastic central character to her story-telling.”
ANN CLEEVES