My thanks to NetGalley and publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, for the ARC.
This is a third book in a series, although I haven't read any of this author's work before, this read well as a standalone.
Teenager Stella receives a weird snap of herself in the kiosk of the cinema where she works, from someone called Just13. Ignoring it she continues checking the now-empty building's downstairs toilets before locking-up. Hearing footsteps she hides in a cubical and receives further snaps of the outside of the door - before it is battered-down by her murderer. Snaps of her last moments are sent to all her friends on Snapchat. A couple of days later her body is found in a deserted car park, but not before the police had been contacted by the recipients of the snaps the murderer took.
Erla and her team are tasked with the investigation. Detective Huldar calls in Freyja, a child psychologist, to assist in interviewing the many young people involved, and quickly determine that there could be some element of bullying involved, especially when a second teenager goes missing, leaving a trail of blood at his home.
This is a story of physical, psychological and cyber-bullying, but the question was whether this would ever lead to murder. Gradually the teenagers and parents give up their secrets.
For a crime thriller I was disappointed with the investigating team. Although Erla was the boss you knew very little about her except there was some harassment investigation involving her and Det.Huldar. The whole team appeared just as dysfunctional as the youngsters they were investigating.
I found the passages of individual characters' musings over their past or deliberations about the case, laborious and repetitive, and really only continued to finish the book for the sake of reaching the conclusion.
Having said that, it was a clever and well-thought-out plot, just no characters I could warm to, nor look forward to reading about again. Sorry.

The Absolution is the third in the “Children’s House” series of books from one if Iceland’s leading crime writers.

A teenager has been brutally murdered, with the perpetrator first capturing some kind of apology and then sharing the video to victim’s friends on Snapchat. The police race to capture the video while it’s still there and to try to understand why a seemingly popular girl should have been targeted.

Police detective Huldur is tasked with some responsibilities in the case, although he feels ostracised. A brief affair with his boss has gone wrong, and office politics are getting in the way. Freyja from child services gets involved because the police need a liaison when interviewing kids. Between them, the two begin to suspect that bullying might be involved.

Bullying is a very relevant theme, and given the magnitude of what can be done digitally, it’s not such a stretch to believe that it might be a rationale for murder.

I came to this series fresh, not having read either of the other books in the series, although I have read several of her Thóra Gudmundsdóttir series. Sigurðardóttir conveys enough backstory to get newer readers quickly up to speed, and ongoing storylines properly developed.

Icelandic crime writers do have plenty of challenges specific to that country to keep readers engaged. Collectively writers have created vastly more murder victims than the country actually has in 2017 there were a total of four murders, which was twice the usual rate. The country’s population is less than 340,000 which means that while everyone doesn’t literally know everyone else, it’s not far off. And then there’s the deCODE database, which famously featured in Arnaldur Indriðason's Jar City, which has DNA profile of a large proportion of the Icelandic population. As such, it’s a bit like mobile phones in horror films – you have to work around the problems that they can present.

This book is thoroughly engaging, and I shall go back to the previous two titles in the series.

The Absolution is the latest thriller by Icelandic author Yrsa Sigudardottir, whose very successful Thora Gudmunsdottir series has long been a favourite of mine. This is however the the most recent book in her more recent Children's House series .While it can be read as a standalone if you do so you'll get a lot more out of it if you've read the previous 2 books,there are some fairly tangled relationships amongst the main characters that are worth learning about before you get to this point in the series.
The plot is quite complex and addresses some important social issues,not least bullying and the use of social media in that bullying. While it's grim,with some very explicit violence and barely a likeable character in the whole book it is a great read and explores what are some pretty major problems in our society. If you're already a Sigurdardottir fan you'll know what to expect,otherwise be prepared for a trademark grim,gloomy but engrossing read.
An excellent book,big thanks to Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I was a little surprised to see this series is supposed to revolve around Freya and Huldar and is part of a series. Although there were some references to things that happened 'before', the story didn't struck me as being part of a series. Now, however, I'm curious as to the first two books.
Huldar and Freya play a role in this book, but for me, not the biggest role. Strange as it may sound, I think the biggest role is this book is being played by the team as a whole, as they try and find the killer of a teenage girl.
The plot of this story has many layers, and being a victim of bullying myself, I could relate to many of the feelings that are expressed during the developments. Let me say this: I'm happy social media didn't exist 50 years ago...
As I said, it feels as if the whole team plays one role together, and sadly not a happy one. Seldom have I read about a group of people that have so much problems working together. Not one of them is happy being there, not one of them sounds like they really want to do this job. Strange, very strange... and rather depressing at times.
The book earns the whole five stars because of the intricate and interesting plot and the fabulous writing of the author.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me a digital copy.

Really like this series of books. This one was a bit more predictable but still a fantastic read. . . .

2.5 stars


I really liked the idea of snap chat being used to show the victims,it was inventive,and it nicely pulled in the topic of how social media can influence bullying. Not like the old days where you could go home and forget for a few hours.
Despite being the third book,I didn't feel bogged down in trying to figure out back stories,they were explained neatly enough.
For some reason though,and I've no idea what,I was never really drawn in by the story or the characters.
I finished the book,but I didn't find it particularly memorable.

It was one of those books where I read just to see who had dunnit.

This is the third book in the wonderful Children’s House series featuring Freyja and Huldar and it’s a real stunner of a read. I just love Scandinavia noir/crime and this series really has lived up to all expectations and got better and better. The plot deals with the issues of bullying and is complex and exceptionally well put together making for a book that is difficult to put down and I flew through it. The characters as always well written and believable, the ongoing relationship between Freyja and Huldar is as tangled as ever and this also adds to the enjoyment of the book. It can be read as a standalone book but really I would recommend starting from book 1 as the series is so good and very well recommended, I loved it and many thanks to Yrsa Sigurdardottir
My thanks also to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tense and plausible thriller with a good cast of characters. The solving of the crime whilst plausible was not predictable, making for an absorbing read. My first Yrsa Sigardardottir which is great as it gives me her earlier titles to read.Thankyou Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for providing this ARC

Another page turner from Ysra Sigurdardottir here, part of the “Children’s House” series but easily read as a standalone. This title is due in April though so plenty of time to catch up- all of these are utterly compelling.

This time the children in danger are not particularly loveable – the author takes on the bullying issue in this novel, with thought provoking layers to an incredibly immersive mystery.

As well as that we have more on the tangled interpersonal relationships of the main protagonists, an intriguing lot they are too which only adds to the overall addictive nature of the story.

Beautifully written, unexpectedly plotted and ever fascinating in character and setting, The Absolution is another pure joy to read from the pen of Ysra Sigurdardottir.

Recommended.