When entrepreneur Flosi arrives home for dinner he finds his house in shambles and his wife Gudrun missing. A letter is waiting for him on the kitchen table saying she has been kidnapped, and if Flosi doesn’t agree to pay an enormous ransom she will be killed. He cannot turn to the police, and after a few detours gets in touch with Aurora, who specializes in finding hidden assets, and  Daniel, a detective. Together they try to get to the bottom of it without anyone catching on. Could Gudrun’s kidnapping be connected to international organized crime and money laundering – or is the explanation closer to home: an affair and intense jelousy?

A stand-alone continuation of the story Cold As Hell with Aurora and Daniel as main characters, the tension between them no less intense this time around.

Sunday Times Best Crime Books of 2022
Shortlisted for the Petrona Award 2023, the best Scandinavian Crime Novel in the UK

REVIEWS

“The best crime books of 2022 …
cleverly poised between domestic drama and international conspiracy.
… A plethora of motives confuses the investigation in this claustrophobic novel.”
JOAN SMITH, SUNDAY TIMES

“… the most exciting voice in Icelandic noir
… The welcome return, after Cold as Hell, published last year, of financial investigator Arora and her detective sidekick, Daniel.
… Lilja Sigurdardottir is rapidly becoming my favourite Icelandic writer. She doesn’t waste a word as she creates her twisty mysteries and her sly sense of humour highlights her clead-eyed view of human nature.”
MARK SANDERSON, THE TIMES, UK

“The writing is sharp, intelligent and witty, and the characters authentic. Sigurdardottir surprises at every step with her exciting style, faultlessly brought into English by Quentin Bates.”
JURY OF THE PETRONA AWARD

“Arora establishes herself as a heroine to move the heart.”
DAILY MAIL

“Lilja is a stand-out voice in Iceland Noir.”
JAMES OSWALD

“Chilly and chilling … Lilja Sigurðardóttir’s terrific investigator Áróra is back for another tense and thrilling read. Highly recommended!”
TARIQ ASHKANANI

“One of my new favourite series … Áróra’s brains and brawn, combined with the super-cool Icelandic setting, is a winning combination.”
MICHAEL J. MALONE

FOUR AND A HALF STARFS OUT OF FIVE POSSIBLE
“Red as Blood is genuinely captivating.”
ALAIN MARCIANO, BENZINE MAGAZINE

FOUR STARS OUT OF FIVE POSSIBLE
“An entertaining and exciting crime novel …
a thrilling course of criminal events and betrayals, which seem to reach in the most unlikely directions, but like the spider masterfully weaves its web, Lilja pulls all the threads artfully together in end.”
STEINTHOR GUDBJARTSSON, MORGUNBLADID DAILY

“An incredibly spunky crime novel, a fantastically fun read full of entertaining characters …
took me by surprise.”
KOLBRUN BERGTHORSDOTTIR, KILJAN/NATIONAL TV

 “The story is nimbly written, the characters are interesting …
The plot is also well-constructed, as can be expected from Lilja. The reader is tricked into thinking they have the solution to the case a few times, but is always proved wrong. Red as Blood is a well-written and thrilling crime novel that keeps the reader engaged throughout.”
BRYNHILDUR BJORNSDOTTIR, FRETTABLADID DAILY

“Red as Blood must be considered an unusual crime novel due to the fact that it is lacking one important premise that is usually found in Icelandic crime fiction: there is no dead body. Once again, Lilja brings a fresh approach to the Icelandic crime novel that has, up until now, never before dealt with an organized abduction. She has willingly admitted that her inspiration for writing this book comes from the mysterious Hagen-case, which still goes unsolved. The Hagen-case concerns the abduction of the wife of Norwegian millionaire, Tom Hagen, who faced ransom demands of a few million paid in cryptocurrency. The case is extreme, to say the least, and almost farcical since abductions and ransoms are a rare occurrence in Scandinavia. …
One of Lilja’s great strengths lies in how she weaves her stories and creates a clear view of the world which readers can visit afresh in each new novel. …
From the very beginning she has clearly attempted to expand the horizon of Icelandic crime novels and set her sights on people with different backgrounds, classes and social groups. Her books reflect the diversity of modern Icelandic society and for that she deserves praise.”
BJORN HALLDORSSON, BOKMENNTIR.IS

“...another great read from Lilja Sigurdardottir.
…If you like your scandanvian crime, and sassy interesting characters then this is definitely a read for you.”
ACRIMEREADERSBLOG.COM, UK

“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.”
KAREN COLE, hairpastafreckle72.blogspot.com, UK

FIVE STARS OF FIVE POSSIBLE

“This novel would make a great movie. With themes of abduction, money laundering, infidelity, tax evasion, and missing persons, this book has a lot going on. All that, and the potential Áróra/Daníel backstory, make this both a thrilling and compelling read.
Highly recommended to all readers who enjoy a well executed crime thriller. I’m loving this series and look forward to the third installment.”
FICTIONOPHILE.COM, UK

“I’m interested in Arora as a character. She’s driven, both at work and in her quest to find her sister. I love her inner world, particularly the pull she has between the UK and Iceland. … The case is fascinating, with hints of dodgy money dealings and possible involvement with the Russian mafia. …This really is an intelligent thriller that will not only keep your attention but will keep you guessing all the way to the end.”
THE LOTUS READERS, UK

“Short chapters and different points of view really make this book a speedy read and keeps the suspense and tension moving. I love how the multi-narration really gives different insights into what’s going on, creating unreliable narratives and making me constantly question everyone and their motives.
This is a brilliant investigative story that is so well written and perfect for keeping the reader guessing and out of the loop. I became immersed and invested immediately and raced through it.”
LIKEHERDINGSCATSBLOG.WORDPRESS.COM, UK