Description

When Mekkin’s brother-in-law is found murdered in a society built to prevent violence, her investigation spirals into danger and secrecy, drawing her family into the center of a crime that should not exist … An utterly gripping standalone speculative mystery from the bestselling author of Cold as Hell…

**Shortlisted for Icelandic Crime Book of the Year**

“Icelandic crime-writing at its finest” –Shari Lapena

“Icelandic crime queen Lilja Sigur-ardóttir goes from strength to strength” –Financial Times

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Reykjavìk, 2052. Europe is peaceful, prosperous and almost crime-free, governed by Alfa, the artificial intelligence that manages infrastructure, safety and daily life. Mekkìn works at the Ministry, close to the core of the system that keeps society running. She lives with her partner, Sabìna, an artist.

When Sabìna’s brother Birkir, a committed dissident who lives beyond the reach of Alfa, is found brutally murdered, that fragile sense of order begins to fracture. Violent crime has effectively been eliminated, and Birkir’s death is not just shocking, but inexplicable. What was he involved in, and who would dare to commit murder in a world designed to prevent it?

As the investigation unfolds, Sabìna is drawn ever deeper into the case. Mekkìn’s position at the Ministry brings scrutiny she cannot escape, their relationship begins to fracture, and their teenage son’s recent integration into the system places him uncomfortably close to the forces now circling the family. As Sabìna pieces together Birkir’s final days, the answers begin to point far closer to home than either of them ever expected, forcing her to decide what she is prepared to sacrifice to uncover the truth…

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Read a sample here