Last Rituals

Last Rituals: An Icelandic Novel of Secret Symbols, Medieval Witchcraft, and Modern Murder by Yrsa Sigurdardottir is a rarity - a Scandinavian mystery novel with a witty protagonist. Reykjavik lawyer Thora Guomundsdottir finds herself in the middle of a murder case involving college students researching ancient Icelandic history and folklore. American readers will find this a clever traditional murder mystery and a look at a national culture both very much like ours and very different.

At a university in Reykjavík, the body of a young German student is discovered, his eyes cut out and strange symbols carved into his chest. Police waste no time in making an arrest, but the victim's family isn't convinced that the right man is in custody. They ask Thóra Gudmundsdóttir, an attorney and single mother of two, to investigate. It isn't long before Thóra and her associate, Matthew Reich, uncover the deceased student's obsession with Iceland's grisly history of torture, execution, and witch hunts. But there are very contemporary horrors hidden in the long, cold shadow of dark traditions. And for two suddenly endangered investigators, nothing is quite what it seems . . . and no one can be trusted.

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.

Distributor: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: 04-07-2009
Pages: 336
Measurements: 8in X 5.3125in X 0.756757in X 8.96oz