The new novel from the internationally bestselling, prizewinning, queen of Icelandic crime.

All he wants is for them to say sorry.

The police find out about the crime the way everyone does: on Snapchat. The video shows the terrified victim begging for forgiveness. When her body is found, it is marked with a number 2...

Detective Huldar joins the investigation, bringing child psychologist Freyja on board to help question the murdered teenager's friends. Soon, they uncover that Stella was far from the angel people claim - but even so, who could have hated her enough to kill?

Then another teenager goes missing, and more clips are sent. Freyja and Huldar can agree on two things at least: the truth is far from simple. And the killer is not done yet.

A brilliantly suspenseful story about the dark side of social media, The Absolution will make you wonder what you should have said sorry for...

Praise for Yrsa Sigurdardottir

'Iceland's outstanding crime novelist' Daily Express
'A magnificent writer' Karin Slaughter
'The undisputed queen of Icelandic Noir' Simon Kernick
'Believe all the hype - this is crime at its best.' Heat

About the Author
Author of the bestselling Thora Gudmundsdottir crime series and several stand-alone thrillers, Yrsa Sigurdardottir was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1963 and works as a civil engineer. She made her crime fiction debut in 2005 with LAST RITUALS, the first instalment in the Thora Gudmundsdottir series, and has been translated into more than 30 languages. Her work stands 'comparison with the finest contemporary crime writing anywhere in the world' according to the Times Literary Supplement. The second instalment in the Thora Gudmundsdottir series, MY SOUL TO TAKE, was shortlisted for the 2010 Shamus Award. In 2011 her stand-alone horror novel I REMEMBER YOU was awarded the Icelandic Crime Fiction Award and was nominated for The Glass Key, and has been made intoa film starring Johannes Haukur by ZikZak Filmworks. In 2015 THE SILENCE OF THE SEA won the Petrona Award for the year's best Scandinavian crime novel, and THE LEGACY, the first novel in the Freyja and Huldar series, was nominated for The Glass Key and won the Icelandic Crime Fiction Award. All of her books have been European bestsellers. Victoria Cribb has translated over thirty-five books by Icelandic authors. Her translations of Moonstone and CoDex 1962 were both longlisted for the PEN America Translation Prize and in 2017 she received the Ordstir honorary translation award for services to Icelandic literature.

Reviews
Freyja and Huldar are one of the most intriguing crime detecting partnerships around and THE ABSOLUTION is a gripping, fascinating insight into the dark side of social media and children at risk. THE ABSOLUTION confirms Yrsa as a master storyteller with a satisfyingly slanted view of the world she recreates. -- William Ryan, author of A House of Ghosts
Yrsa Sigurdardottir gets better and better with each book. The relationships and the humour lighten the darkest plot. -- Liz Nugent, author of Skin Deep
Sigurdardottir doesn't shy away from the hideous effects of bullying, combining a tough novel about a grim social phenomenon with a fast-paced plot * The Sunday Times *
Praise for Yrsa Sigurdardottir's Freyja and Huldar series * . *
Yrsa is a magnificent writer. -- Karin Slaughter
One of the best books I've read for a long time: dark, creepy, and gripping from beginning to end. -- Stuart MacBride, author of the Logan McRae series
THE RECKONING is another chilling, atmospheric tale from the undisputed Queen of Icelandic Noir. I loved it. -- Simon Kernick
Iceland's outstanding crime novelist * Daily Express *
Yrsa Sigurdardottir has with her large-scale and genuinely intelligent stories attempted to find the core of Iceland's distinctive society, and thus pushed the Icelandic crime novel tradition many steps forward. -- Arne Dahl
A dark story by a brilliant author. A densely plotted, multifaceted and compelling book. Exceeds most novels in the thriller genre. -- Eric Axl Sund
If you like your crime fiction dark and engaging, look no further. THE LEGACY is as brutal as it gets. A cracking start to a new series by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. -- Mari Hannah, author of the DCI Kate Daniels series
There's no waffle in The Reckoning: it is brutal, baroque and ends with a brilliant last-minute twist. * Evening Standard *
It's addictive, bleak, and will give you thrills and chills in equal measures. * Cosmopolitan Magazine *
Yrsa remains the queen of Icelandic thriller writers. * Guardian *
Credited as the queen of Icelandic crime, Sigurdardottir's story about the dark side of school and social media is as gripping as it is grisly * Heat *



Book Information
ISBN 9781473621633
Author Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Format Paperback
Page Count 416
Imprint Hodder Paperback
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Weight(grams) 290g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 20mm