White as Snow is the third instalment in the award-winning An Arora Investigation series.
Elin wakes in complete darkness, somewhere in the flat Sergei is talking on the phone. Is it his mother as he tells her it is? He speaks in Russian, Elin doesn’t speak Russian so why does he have to speak in another room? Elin is a chunky middle aged woman of forty seven. What does the volatile twenty seven year old Sergei see in her?
Daniel Hansson of the Icelandic CID is called to a crime scene, an early morning jogger has come across a twenty foot shipping container. This is the worst crime in his career that he has had to investigate. The corpses of five women are found inside the container. By the time Helena from CID arrives with the forensic team, Daniel has found that one of the women is still alive. Helena and Daniel are charged with the job of liaising with survivor.
Arora is in her flat in Reykjavik planning the next stage in the search for her sister Isafold, whose disappearance haunts her. Arora specialises in tracking hidden money. Daniel who worked on her sisters disappearance, has recommended her to the woman on the phone. Elin wants her to investigate Sergei she is having doubts about this volatile young man who wants to marry her.
Daniel and Helena visit the survivor, Bisi Babalola in intensive care. She has no idea why she is in Iceland. The narrative goes back in time throughout the book and slowly reveals her journey from Paris to Iceland.
We find that Elin is Daniels ex-wife. We also meet Lady Gugulu, a drag queen who lives in Daniels converted garage, she baby sits his children when they come to visit just as the investigation begins. Tanja and Tumi adore Lady Gugulu.
Daniel, Helena and Arora are on a quest to track down a brutal criminal gang. It is dangerous work for everyone concerned. Set against falling temperatures, constant darkness and snow, the story slowly twists and turns to its finale.
Translated by Quentin Bates.
