Publisher, author, translator Quentin Bates talks to Paul Burke about his Gunnhilder mysteries, Icelandic crime fiction, Stella Blómkvist, The Murder Pool, translating, publishing, and fantasy fiction.

The Murder Pool : Sometimes murder runs in the family. Or does it?

When a well-known artist is found in Snorri's Pool with an axe buried deep in his chest, Stella Blómkvist is immediately thrown in at the deep end, brought in to defend the apparently harmless young man the police have in their sights as the killer.

The man's mother had spent time prison, convicted of the killing of a personal trainer, despite her protestations of innocence. Stella can't help being drawn into both the cold case and this fresh murder, with a trail of guilt that stretches half-way around the world.

As if she doesn't have enough to keep her busy, Stella's pursuing a political high-flyer suspected of being a serial rapist, and defending a senior police officer on corruption charges that have all the hallmarks of a vendetta. But the toughest challenges Stella faces are among her own loved ones…

With a razor-sharp tongue and a moral compass all of her own, Stella Blómkvist has a talent for attracting trouble. Her trademark explosive mix of murder, intrigue and surprise has made this of Iceland's best-loved crime series.

Mentions:

Little Rebel - Jerome LeRoy, Arnaldur Indridason, Solveig Palsdottir - Icebears, Elsa Drucoff Rodolfo Walsh's Last Case, Jon Atli Jonasson - Broken, Toxic, Teresa Solano

Corylus Books

Stella Blómkvist Reviews

Paul Burke is editor of Aspects of Crime. His first book Spies on Screen: From Silent to Streaming will be published on September 24th.

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