'Superb. . . chilling . . . This is the first volume in Jonasson's Hidden Iceland trilogy, which tells Hulda's story in reverse chronological order and establishes her as one of the great tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction' Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month

'Ragnar Jónasson writes with a chilling, poetic beauty - a must-read addition to the growing canon of Iceland Noir' Peter James, The Number One bestselling author of Love You Dead

'Crime fiction has never seen a character quite like Hulda Hermannsdóittir; nor a series launch so entirely willing to take risks and obliterate long-standing tropes . . . There is no doubt that The Darkness will rank as one of the most popular and powerful reading experiences of the year' Bolo Books Review

**Be the first to read the incredible, chilling first novel in the new Hulda crime series from Icelandic superstar Ragnar Jónasson by pre-ordering your copy now**

The body of a young Russian woman washes up on an Icelandic shore. After a cursory investigation, the death is declared a suicide and the case is quietly closed.

Over a year later Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir of the Reykjavík police is forced into early retirement. She dreads the loneliness, and the memories of her dark past that threaten to come back to haunt her. But before she leaves she is given two weeks to solve a single cold case of her choice.

She knows which one: the Russian woman whose hope for asylum ended on the dark, cold shore of an unfamiliar country. Soon Hulda discovers that another young woman vanished at the same time, and that no one is telling her the whole story. Even her colleagues in the police seem determined to put the brakes on her investigation. Meanwhile the clock is ticking.

Hulda will find the killer, even if it means putting her own life in danger.

Spanning the icy streets of Reykjavik, the Icelandic highlands and cold, isolated fjords, The Darkness is an atmospheric thriller fromone of the most exciting names in Nordic Noir.

Praise for Ragnar Jónasson

'Seductive . . . an old-fashioned murder mystery with a strong central character and the fascinating background of a small Icelandic town cut off by snow. Ragnar does claustrophobia beautifully' Ann Cleeves

'A classic crime story seen through a uniquely Icelandic lens . . . first rate and highly recommended' Lee Child on Snowblind

'A modern take on Agatha Christie-style mystery, as twisty as any slalom . . .' Ian Rankin on Snowblind

'His clues are traditional and beautifully finessed - and he keeps you turning the pages' The Independent on Snowblind

'Distinctive blend of Nordic noir and golden age detective fiction . . . atmospheric . . . economical and evocative prose' The Guardian on Nightblind

'Jónasson's books have breathed new life into Nordic noir . . . all the skilful plotting of an old-fashioned whodunit although it feels bitingly contemporary in setting and tone' Sunday Express

'The ending hits the reader like a kick in the stomach' Frettatiminn ****

'Out of all of Ragnar's books, this is the one I like the most . . . The book of his which reminds me most of Agatha Christie' Kiljan on The Island