Cold Breath is the seventh novel in the fantastic detective Gunnhildur Gísladóttor series, set in the cold and vast expanse of Reykjavík, Iceland. A highly controversial and disliked human rights advocate has been invited to stay in Iceland by the countries Interior Minster but he will need the necessary protection. Gunna has been chosen as his close protection officer and is not too pleased to have to take time off from her police duties to keep this guy safe. As conflicting information slowly emerges about the high-profile visitor, the more likely the possibility of someone wishing to harm him. So, is he the harmless philanthropist he claims to be, or does he actually have blood on his hands?

As with all Quentin Bates books, the writing is solid and the story one that grips you from the first few pages right through to the explosive conclusion. This is an authentic and atmospheric addition to the series, with exciting characters and an ambiguous villain named Ali Osman who has had his fingers in all the pies! Told in third-person narrative from several different perspectives, it keeps you on your toes for the duration. As the POV changes frequently your concentration and attention is required to keep up with it all. Intelligently written, with wonderfully descriptive prose and a protagonist, Gunna, whose conscience is pricked by the possibility that she could be protecting the life of a man who's done some genuinely evil things. So, not only is she a strong, tenacious woman, but she also has a finely tuned moral compass. I look forward to seeing more from her in future books.

Many thanks to Constable for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Interesting addition to the Icelandic noir catalogue. I struggled a little with the names in terms of keeping characters clear in my mind but this is my ignorance/lack of familiarity of Icelandic culture and not the fault of the author

I loved Gunna the practical, sensible, strong, no nonsense cop and the isolation of the safe house is really quite claustrophobic

All in all a good read

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of Cold Breath, the seventh novel to feature Icelandic detective Gunnhildur Gísladóttor.

Gunna is tapped by her boss for a top secret close protection job on a controversial human rights advocate invited to stay in Iceland by the Interior Minister.

I enjoyed Cold Breath as I like spending time with the no-nonsense, eminently sensible Gunna. I am, however, struggling with my views on the novel itself. Firstly I will say that it seems extremely realistic and mostly believable in its portrayal of events. This does mean that in some ways it's rather nebulous and open to interpretation as is real life but I prefer straightforward information I can sink my teeth into. It is told in a third person narrative from several points of view, notably Gunna, journalist Skúli, tourists Carsten and Hanna and Ana who is up to no good. The point of view changes on a regular basis so a certain amount of concentration is required to keep up and try to work out how they fit in.

The novel is centred on the character of Ali Osman (if that's his name) and his agenda. Nobody, including the Security Services, is sure of anything about him. He offers Gunna an explanation towards the end of the novel but I still don't know if I believe him. This is the crux of the novel - it's a frustrating read with few establishable facts about him and yet utterly fascinating in the reactions he provokes. I love Skúli's investigation and Gunna's unease at the clandestine nature of the operation and solutions when things don't go according to plan.

Cold Breath is an extremely clever novel with plenty of pointed, accurate depictions of characters and scenarios so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

Cold Breath by Quentin Bates is the latest book in his Icelandic police series starring Gunnhildur his female police officer.

This time Gunna is assigned to bodyguard or babysit a high profile person who has a murky background and has some people who are looking to kill him.

The story is well written and maintained my interest throughout as the story developed.

This series is one of my favourites and Cold Breath did not let me down. Thoroughly recommended

Cold breath by Quentin Bates.
Hidden away in a secure house outside Reykjavík, Gunna and the high-profile stranger, a guest of the interiors minister, are thrown together - too close for comfort. They soon find they are neither as safe nor as carefully hidden as Gunna and her boss had thought. Conflicting glimpses of the man's past start to emerge as the press begin to sniff him out, as does another group with their own reasons for locating him. Gunna struggles to come to terms with protecting the life of a man who may have the lives of many on his conscience - or indeed may be the philanthropist he claims to be.
I really enjoyed this book. Lots of action too loved gunna. 4*.