Last Rituals: Thora Gudmundsdottir Book 1: Thora Gudmundsdottir

I can see why so many people are enthusiastic about Yrsa's work. It's very engaging, fresh and exciting.
A grisly chiller set in the depths of winter ... Her mystery is absorbing and, untypically, instead of the usual gloomy middle-aged man, her sleuth is a young woman ... It's an accomplished debut, with credible characters and a personable heroine.
Dark, deep and icy as an Icelandic fjord; this is a rich and rewarding debut novel of ancient mysteries and very modern murder.
An intricately plotted tale that keeps the reader guessing whodunit, or indeed whether it was murder at all, right until the very end.
Given the dark subject matter, this is a surprisingly funny book... a quirky and interesting read.
a unique talent in the field... an exhilarating experience... [She] matches Tess Gerritsen and Kathy Reichs in the bloodchiller stakes.
very good... This is entertaining, well-plotted and cleverly combines the historical and macabre with Thora's life.
After its grisly opening, LAST RITUALS turns out to be a surprisingly light and playful novel, with a jaunty translation by the late Bernard Scudder.
Suspenseful, compelling and unique.

Yrsa SigurdardÓttir is an award-winning author of five children's novels and a division manager with one of Iceland's largest engineering firms. She lives with her family in Reykjavík, Iceland.