Trap

Overview

An outstandingly original and sexy Nordic crime thriller, from one of the most exciting new names in crime fiction

Happily settled in Florida, Sonja believes she's finally escaped the trap set by unscrupulous drug lords. But when her son Tomas is taken, she's back to square one … and Iceland. Her lover, Agla, is awaiting sentencing for financial misconduct after the banking crash, and Sonja refuses to see her. And that's not all … Agla owes money to some extremely powerful men, and they'll stop at nothing to get it back. With her former nemesis, customs officer Bragi, on her side, Sonja puts her own plan into motion, to bring down the drug barons and her scheming ex-husband, and get Tomas back safely. But things aren't as straightforward as they seem, and Sonja finds herself caught in the centre of a trap that will put all of their lives at risk… Set in Reykjavik – still covered in the dust of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption and the aftermath of the banking crisis – Trap is an award-winning, deliciously dark and outstandingly original slice of Nordic Noir, from one of Iceland's finest crime writers.

Reviews

"Tense and pacey, this intriguing mix of white-collar and white-powder crime could certainly be enjoyed as a standalone, but I would suggest reading its excellent predecessor, Snare, first." —Guardian

"A taut, gritty, thoroughly absorbing journey into Reykjavik's underworld." —Booklist on Snare

"With its clever plot and brisk, tight pace, this hard-to-put-down Nordic thriller will be a treat for crime fiction fans." —Library Journal Online on Snare

"The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year." —New York Journal of Books on Snare

"Pacy and tense, Trap is full of delicious carnage that could translate well to the screen." —New Zealand Listener  

"Icelandic author Lilja Sigurdardottir weaves another complex web of tension. . . . A skillful combination of Nordic noir, hardboiled financial thriller and high-octane narco drama." —Crime Fiction Lover

"Trap is brutally real, the terse writing keeps the pace lively. . . . Lilja Sigurdardottir is the real deal, one of the reasons Icelandic crime fiction punches well above its weight. There is also a pronunciation guide at the front of the novel should you feel brave enough to give it a go. Superbly translated by Quentin Bates, who knows the language, people and crime writing intimately." —Nudge Books

"fans of Nordic noir will find plenty to like." --Publishers Weekly

Author Biography

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, with Snare, the first in the Reykjavik Noir series, hitting bestseller lists worldwide. Trap was published in 2018, and a Book of the Year in Guardian. The film rights for the series have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. Lilja lives in Reykjavík with her partner.