Maverick lawyer Stella Blómkvist investigates and delivers justice in unexpected ways in this explosive mix of murder, intrigue and surprise.
Book blurb
It's New Year and Iceland is still reeling from the effects of the financial crash when a notorious financier is found beaten to death after a high-profile reception at the President's residence.
The police are certain they have the killer - or do they? Determined to get to the truth, maverick lawyer Stella Blómkvist isn't so sure.
A stripper disappears from one of the city's seediest nightspots, and nobody but Stella seems interested in finding her. A drug mule cooling his heels in a prison cell refuses to speak to anyone but Stella - although she has never heard of him. An old man makes a deathbed confession and request for Stella to find the family he lost long ago.
With a sharp tongue and a moral compass all of her own, Stella Blómkvist has a talent for attracting trouble and she's as at home in the corridors of power as in the dark corners of Reykjavík's underworld.
Stella Blómkvist delivers an explosive mix of murder, intrigue and surprise, and is one of Iceland's best-loved crime series.
My thoughts
Stella Blómkvist is a lawyer trying to get her finances back on track as Iceland itself is reeling from a financial scandal that is threatening a political crisis as a result. Protests are being held as the public are increasingly demanding answers.
Anyway, not to worry about that as the story open's on New Year's Eve 2009 when Stella is out for a good time and bills are not due for a while. She's finding her 'old friend' Jack Daniels is a better bet than finding a companion to ease her loneliness. Maybe motherhood, her daughter Sóley Árdís is being looked after by her cousin and his wife, or age is gaining on her either way it's late and time to get home.
After an unsavoury proposition after visiting the ladies in the basement of a club Stella is approached by one of the young woman she saw down there. Her friend Ilona is missing and no one will do anything. Stella agrees to listen to her and they are going towards the bar when she encounters three police officers Rósalind, Eiríkur and Glúmur. Anyway, putting that aside for the moment, she speaks with Dagnija who's from Latvia and works for at a notorious local strip joint owned by Sigvaldi Auðólfsson or Porno Valdi as he's called. Her friend Ilona has been missing nearly a week. Stella tells her to come to her office on Friday if Ilona hasn't returned. Which she does.
Stella's office is the ground floor of her home. She is assisted by Lísa Björk.
Called to Landakot hospital Stella is asked by a dying man, Hákon Hákonarson, to trace a child born on in May 1971 who in the summer of 1972 'disappeared'. He believes he's the the child's father her name was Ásthildur and he wants her to inherit his estate. He confesses to killing two men that summer and gives Stella an old cigar box. It contains information and instructions. This isn't at the top of things to do so she sends off a note and files the box away.
Stella is asked to act for a man, Robertas, who is suspected of bringing in drugs to Iceland. She doesn't know him yet he asked for her by name. The head of the drug squad, Gunnbjörn Hannesson, assures Stella that it was at Robertas request. He's 29 and from Lithuania so an interpreter, Svanhvít Daníelsdóttir, has been appointed. After interview as Stella is leaving he mentions Sergei. Sergei? Ludmilla's protector? Is there a link to her Latvian friend Ludmilla?
When Dagnija confirms that Ilona hasn't returned that investigation hots up and when Stella is given some information by Rósalind, one of the cops she encountered on New Years Eve, it seems to be turning into a difficult if not dangerous case.
She is asked by one of the political protesters Freyja Dögg Hrólfsdóttir, who is knocked down by a vehicle and has a broken arm, to act for her as she wants to sue the driver who, it seems, is Bjarni Bjarnason a senior officer of the Central Bank.
Stella is attending a christening with her daughter at a church in Álftanes near Bessastaðir, the official residence of Iceland's president. When they enter the church it seems that there has been a robbery, candlesticks have been stolen, when examining some vestments Stella uncovers a body. It's Benedikt Björgúlfsson a financier.
Then she gets the case of a young man who is charged with the murder of the man she found in the church everything seems to be convenient and when her request for copies of cctv tapes keeps being stalled Stella knows something is not right.
Stella has got a lot on her plate but it doesn't stop her from doing her utmost to represent each of her clients. Juggling all these cases Stella works steadily to ensure she is getting answers. She is helped when Rósalind comes forward with information on Ilona.
As Stella digs up information it is fascinating to see how various leads bring connections and insights into the different cases she is looking into.
The threads from each case are skilfully brought together by the author into a satisfying whole. Each thread concluding in a fair and just way - justice as Stella or, perhaps, her mother would say was served.
Stella is a feisty, confident and smart woman a terrific character whose human qualities are shown in her relationship with her daughter, her desire to help her clients and her interactions with Ludmilla, Rósalind and with Lisa who also helps look after Sóley Árdis.
I really enjoyed reading Murder at the Residence by Stella Blómkvist. It has a great lead character who investigates with little fuss nor is there much violence and yet this is not a cosy mystery rather it a dark tale of murder, drugs and the sex trade with political intrigue and financial scandal thrown in any of which could have dire consequences for Stella all of which she faces with her steely determination, no nonsense attitude and wonderfully unique sense of fairness.
Stella's thoughts run through the book which brings a quirky sense of humour and view on the world along with her quick mind and sharp tongue this is a story told from her point of view throughout. Her recall of her mother's sayings brought a smile to my face.
It all adds up to my really looking forward to reading more from this author who has the same name as her main character Stella Blómkvist but that's one mystery that is unlikely to ever be solved!
As ever Quentin Bates has done a mighty fine job of translating this story and deserves our thanks, along with the publisher Corylus Books, for bringing this terrific book to life for the English reader.
Thanks
Many thanks to Ewa for inviting me to join this wonderful BlogTour and to Corylus Books for an eBook of Murder at the Residence by Stella Blómkvist for review purposes.
BlogTour
Why not take a look at the other terrific blogs who are taking part in the BlogTour?
#20Booksofsummer23
Murder at the Residence by Stella Blómkvist is my 14th book of the #20Booksofsummer23 challenge.
Information
Published: Corylus Books (28th August 2023) | ISBN 978-1-7392989-2-0
Buy: £9.99 - Murder at the Residence - paperback | Murder at the Residence - Kindle edition
I had never heard of Stella Blómkvist, but I guarantee, I'll never forget her!
Christoffer Petersen
Author
Stella Blómkvist has been a bestselling series in Iceland since the first book appeared in the 1990s and has attracted an international audience since the TV series starring Heiða Reed aired. This series features tough, razor-tongued Reykjavík lawyer Stella Blómkvist, with her taste for neat whiskey, a liking for easy money and a moral compass all of her own - and who is at home in the corridors of power as in the city's darkest nightspots.
The books have been published under a pseudonym that still hasn't been cracked. The question of Stella Blómkvist's identity is one that crops up regularly, but it looks like it's going to remain a mystery…
Series adapted for TV
One of Iceland's best-loved crime series (although the identity of the author remains a mystery), it has recently been adapted for TV, starring Heida Reed of Poldark fame (yes, she really is Icelandic!). You can catch at least one of the seasons on Amazon Prime with a trial subscription to Sundance Now.
Translator
Quentin Bates is a writer, translator and journalist. He has professional and personal roots in Iceland that run very deep. He worked as a seaman before turning to maritime journalism. He is an author of a series of nine crime novels and novellas featuring the Reykjavik detective Gunnhildur (Gunna) Gísladóttir. In addition to writing his own fiction, he has translated books by Guðlaugur Arason, Einar Kárason, and crème de la crème of the Icelandic crime fiction authors Lilja Sigurðardóttir, Óskar Guðmundsson, Jónína Leósdóttir, Sólveig Pálsdóttir and Ragnar Jónasson. Quentin was instrumental in launching Iceland Noir, the crime fiction festival in Reykjavik.
Quentin Bates (or Graskeggur 'grey beard' as he's affectionately known in Iceland) is the co-founder of the crime writing festival Iceland Noir with Yrsa Sigurdardottir and Ragnar Jonasson. He is one of the very few British authors who is writing Scandi Noir set in Iceland and who has a deep understanding of the place. He has been married to an Icelandic woman for 30 years and has spent nearly a decade living there. As someone who speaks the language and understands a lot of the subtext of what goes on there, he is more qualified than most to write about Iceland.
Quentin Bates is a translator and author in his own right you can find more information about him, his translations and his books on his website.
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