Cold Comfort

Gunnhildur Mystery, Book 2

By: Quentin Bates

Narrated by: Mel Hudson

Detective Gunnhildur sets to investigate two seemingly separate cases, but uncovers some disturbing links. Top class crime writing set in Icleand. Following her promotion and working now from Reykjavik, Gunnhildur is given responsibility for two cases - the first in tracking down an escaped convict who's keen to settle old scores, and the other, the murder of a TV fitness presenter in her city centre apartment.

With the police short staffed and underfunded following the financial crash, Gunnhildur and her team set about delving into the backgrounds of both, where they uncover some unwelcome secrets and some influential friends of both who have no wish to be in the public eye. Set in an Iceland that is coming to terms with the deepening recession, Gunnhildur has to take stock of the whirlwind changes that have taken place as she investigates criminals at opposite ends of the social scale as some uncomfortable links appear between the two cases.

©2012 Quentin Bates (P)2013 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

'Superior crime fiction set in Iceland... this is a well constructed, well written and satisfying police procedural.' (Marcel Berlins, The Times)

Praise for Frozen Out: 'A meticulously constructed thriller, peopled with exceptionally convincing characters and shot through with black humour. Frozen Out is as chilling as an Icelandic winter.' (S.J. Bolton)

'[A] crackling fiction debut ... palpable authenticity.' ( Publishers Weekly)

'British author Bates captures the chilly spirit of Nordic crime fiction in what is the apparent start of a promising series with a distinctly appealing protagonist. Fans of Arnaldur Indridason's Reykjavík mysteries will want to add Bates to their reading lists.' ( Booklist)

'Gunna is an admirable protagonist: sensible, intelligent and determined....I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can recommend it very highly as a flying start to what seems to be shaping up to be a superb new series.' ( Eurocrime.)

'Well written and absorbing.' ( Women's Voice)

Good Story, but those Islandic Names!

Good story and character development, but those names! They could have helped us lame English speaking folk by replacing the names in the audible version with Greta, Lars and Gunthur. I basically could only keep track of one or two characters by name.

Not enough iceland

Other than the amazing names and mention of cold these stories (read 2 of them) could be anywhere. Love main character but everyone else is one dimension. Hoping for more.