Review *Murder Tide*

by Stella Blómkvist

Translated by Quentin Bates Cover Layout by Cade Roach

Published by Corylus Books

Who is ready for the next evolution from Stella Blómkvist?

Whether this is a welcome return to crime-related ventures with Stella or your very first meeting, this will be a great read, with intrigue & twists guaranteed. No fluff & ramble. Jump in & you're transported to Iceland.

The rough setting, with mysterious physical landscape + inevitably unfamiliar (to most) environment, is a character in itself, lending natural drama to an already tense collection of circumstances. *It’s a busy summer for razor-tongued, no-nonsense lawyer Stella. A young woman looking for a long-lost parent finds more than she bargained for. An old adversary calls from prison, looking for Stella to broker a dangerous deal with the police to put one of the city’s untouchable crime lords behind bars at long last. Is the mysterious medium right, warning that deep waters are waiting for Stella as well?

It’s trademark Stella Blómkvist, a tightly-plotted triple-decker rollercoaster of murder, revenge, betrayal – and the unexpected* As with her own personal life, criminal cases & investigations are never too smooth or uncomplicated in the world of Stella Blómkvist.

A triple bill of cases provides the canvas for this journey of mystery with an extra side dish of deception.

The Police don't have time for or even want to acknowledge a medium, even though she's adamant there's not much time left to find the man in imminent danger in her harrowing vision.

An element of surprise might be added to Stella's workload when someone she helped convict calls upon her skills - but this time it's to prove their innocence. Fitting anything extra into her frenetic work & personal framework seems to be an ongoing challenge.

With a strong, nagging curiosity about her own daughter's unknown father, a new case surfaces for Stella involving DNA sample requests & an emotional, maybe uncomfortable personal pull to help the daughter of a (now deceased) friend.

Of course, every human is unique but Stella's own idiosyncratic, unpredictable personality adds to the tumultuous layers that fuel the ongoing mission to do the right thing for justice.

An additional detail readers might enjoy seeing - a phrase from mother at the end of some chapters.

Author Stella Blómkvist: Cloaked in mystery & meticulously curated anonymity, this added element might attract a new & different audience but it is the seemingly effortless writing style that will trap people between the lines & immediately draw readers in.

Translator Quentin Bates: is considered a leading translator of Icelandic work as well as a highly regarded crime writer in his own right. Personally, I find the whole idea of translating novels completely fascinating. Having to be accurate whilst keeping the tone, character & style of the original language & writing must be such a challenging task.

I've experienced a few interesting Zooms that included Quentin Bates & it's always a joy to hear from people with such experience & skill. You can read more about & from the translator himself, in this excellent piece from Writing.ie. The focus is on one of the previous Stella Blómkvist titles. https://www.writing.ie/interviews/translating-stella-blomkvists-murder-at-the-residence-by-quentin-bates/

Thank you to Corylus Books for having me on another great tour. It's always a pleasure to let other people know about excellent translated writing & encourage the support of an independent publisher.

Murder Tide is the third Stella Blómkvist novel in the series to be translated into English. Previous titles: Murder at the Residence  Murder Under the Midnight Sun