Isle of Vile by Hjorth & Thorsson is now out in Sweden, published by Norstedts.
The title is the first instalment in The Helga & Bjarki Series – a gripping Nordic noir blend of dark, atmospheric thriller and police procedural. Set in present-day Iceland, it merges the stark beauty and isolation of the Icelandic landscape with intricate suspenseful cases, dramatic relationships, and deep psychological exploration. The first four books in the series have already been sold to 10 territories!
A young woman is found dead, naked, in a stable outside Reykjavík. Helga, newly appointed to the police force, is entrusted with the investigation. By her side is Bjarki – taciturn, physically imposing, and whose mere presence has a sobering effect on those inclined toward crime. Together they pursue a calculatingly sadistic serial killer, a hunt that forces them into the depths of the Darknet. Well written, gripping and dramatic – a novel made for binge reading.
– Aftonbladet
When a woman is found dead in a stable, Helga Þóra Jónsdóttir of Iceland’s Violent Crimes Unit is put on the case. She learns that the victim had a ten-year-old son, but when she arrives at the boy’s home, he is nowhere to be found. The clues lead her deep into Iceland’s treacherous volcanic terrain, where she must seek help from Bjarki Guðmundsson – a respected yet reclusive motorcycle officer, known for his resemblance to the mythical Grettir from the Icelandic sagas.
As the investigation unfolds, Helga realises she is hunting a serial killer, and Bjarki becomes an unofficial member of the team. Their combined strengths – Helga’s sharp intellect and human expertise, and Bjarki’s physical prowess and fearless instinct – make them a formidable duo.
The first novel in this brand new series culminates in a dramatic chase across Iceland’s famous highlands, setting the stage for the next books, where Helga’s team expands, the criminal cases continue to push the police force to its limits, loyalties are tested, family tensions escalate, and the relationship between the two protagonists deepens.
