Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

Yrsa Sigurardoitter continues her Children’s House series without dropping a beat. I know of no other author who captures atmosphere so vividly yet still maintaining clouds of mystery. Her style is also so beautifully translated that you think it must be originally crafted in English. That being said Iceland is a character in this book not just a location.
A man is found hanging at an old execution site known as Gallows Rock. A child with no apparent connection is found in the deceased’s home. The mysteries unfurl so masterfully.
Truly mesmerising read, thoroughly enjoyable,
When’s the next one out?

Review hadn’t saved. Really enjoyed this one- writing what fantastic and drew me in, didn’t want it to end!

Firstly let me say I thought the translation was excellent and the plot gripping in this 4th installment of the YS Frejar and Hulder series (although I would have liked to see more Freyja in the story!). The atmosphere is beautifully drawn and the subject matter dark enough to send a few chills down the spine. Not perhaps as strong as his previous novels but still an interesting addition to the series. Next time, some more character/relationship development between Freyja and Hulder please!

Outside Reykjavik stands the Gallows Rock where a man has been found hanging. At first it is thought to be suicide until a nail embedded in his chest proves it otherwise.

When the police go to the victim's flat, a further mystery awaits then: a four-year-old boy has been left there. He doesn't appear to have any link with the victim, nor can his parents be traced.

This story follows Detective Huldar as he hunts the killer, and a child psychologist Freyja, who is responsible for the boy's welfare until his parents can be found. I love a Nordic noir story but this novel is a tad slow for me. When the conclusions come at the end, there is one bit that they seem not to have considered before, but suddenly this person is in the frame. Otherwise, the main perpetuator of the crime is well thought out.

Even though it's part of a series, with Huldar and Freyja as the main characters, it can be rad as a stand alone novel.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

Another brilliantly twisty thriller from the queen of Icelandic crime. Always a treat to have a new book from Yrsa Sigurdardottir

Gallows Rock it’s a fourth instalment in Freya and Huldar series and I was waiting with anticipation to start reading it.

In Yrsa’s latest book we follow the police team investigating a murder of a wealthy man but the case gets quickly complicated when they discover a young child alone in his flat. While searching for a killer they need to find boy’s parents who seemed disappear as well.

As expected with the author’s books the story is gripping and dark, incredibly well written and full of twists. It was a very absorbing read that kept my mind constantly busy trying to figure out a link between boy and the murdered man. The plot itself is definitely less gruesome and slower in pace than in the previous book but nonetheless still very engaging.

I only wished we could see more of Huldar and Freya’s relationship but I guess I have to wait till the next book in the series.

I love Yrsa’s books and and this one was no exception. Highly recommended.

With the Reykjavik police force detailed to cover the important visit of Chinese officials, the last thing that was needed was a hanging corpse in eyesight. Lena and her team are forced to curt the man down before they can start investigating but they get even more of a shock when they find a young boy alone in the dead man's flat, a boy who has no idea where he lives or how he came to be there. As the investigation hones in on the man's friends and their tawdry entertainment, the race is on to find little Siggi's family as well.
This is a cracking piece of dark crime fiction with a solid and quite modern plot. what I particularly love is the setting and the way the author integrates modern Icelandic life. The culture is very different and, unlike may books of its type, this one feels incredibly authentic. Given that the series is built around the interaction between a police officer and a social worker, there is also the child protection aspect which is dealt with sensitively.

An Icelandic noir story with so many twists and turns it keeps you in its thrall. A body is found at Gallows rock and is assumed initially to be suicide until a nail is found in the victims chest. A tale of revenge follows leading you through the realms of the dark web . The characters are well drawn and In the case of the suspects not all that they would appear to be. This is the fourth book in the series and obviously the continuing characters have history that is hinted at so although it can be creed as a stand-alone it could be advantageous to know what had gone before. Still an excellent read

There are cliffs known as Gallows Cliffs or Hanging Rocks in Iceland. According to an old folk story these were used to execute thieves captured from their hideout in a ravine. Now these are a tourist attraction and this is where Helgi Fredrikkson is found hanged, with a nail from a nail gun embedded in his chest, though the message that had been attached is nowhere to be found.

Not long afterwards, a young boy, Siggi, is found alone in a smart city apartment, following an anonymous complaint. The boy, who is in good health, only knows his own name and the first names of his parents…but has no idea what his address is or whose apartment he is in – or how he got there. When it transpires that the flat belongs to the murdered man, nothing is any clearer.

Freya from the Children’s House takes charge of Siggi as Huldar leads the investigation into Helgi’s death, with his boss Erla breathing down his neck as the pressure piles on to get this case solved. As ever with Sigurdardottir’s books, this is immaculately plotted with lots of smart thinking and a number of clever twisty details which add to the overall enjoyment.

This story has a number of layers to it and Huldar and the team have a major task in front of them to work out what is behind the murder. This allows us to enjoy much more of the interaction between Erla, Huldar and the others in the team, including the newcomer, Line, who is a serious young woman with a formidable brain and who Erla finds it impossible to be other than rude to.

As they assiduously follow all the leads from CCTV through to questioning his friends, the picture slowly and painstakingly starts to become clearer and we get a sense of what this case may really be about. But that still doesn’t answer the question as to why Siggi is in the murdered man’s flat.

Though in this book the key player is Huldar, there is still a frisson between him and Freya, or at least Huldar thinks so and he uses what charm he has on her to try and get her to thaw a little towards him.He takes every opportunity to try and recover some of the ground that he opened up between them in previous books, as they consult over Siggi.

Freya, meantime is looking for new accommodation and what her brother comes up with has the potential to create all sorts of mayhem in future books!

Gallows Rock touches on some very dark themes (though less gory than in previous books – I still haven’t got over those first murders in The Legacy) as we begin to see how the two story lines are linked and the whole picture painted for us is a sorry tale of violence, masculine entitlement and depravity.

The pace is slow and methodical as the investigation begins, but gathers pace as new developments occur and the tension is palpable as each lead offers a new glimpse into the case. I was completely engrossed in the story and in awe of the way that it unfolded as layer after layer was revealed, leaving a chilling and authentic trail to the exciting conclusion.

Verdict: A truly impressive and deeply chilling plot with many layers set alongside lots of interplay and development which adds depth and emotional investment to characters whom we already have grown to know and like. Highly recommended.

A gripping and disturbing read, well written and entertaining.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
The plot is dark, full of twists and turns. The characters are well thought and interesting, the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! My first Yrsa Sigurdardóttir book and as a lover of Nordic noir in general, I was very pleased to receive a copy to read and review. I loved the investigative point of view and the general direction of the plot was very intriguing and entertaining to navigate and guess at! The book works well as a stand-alone however offers very little attachment to the characters, which I assume is established in earlier chapters of the series. As for the ending I felt it to be a little anti-climactic and while others enjoyed the twist (and I did too!) I had pretty much guessed most of it by the time it arrived. Not a bad read but not mind-blowing to me by any means. Looking forward to reading more of Sigurdardóttir’s work!

Three stars. I enjoyed the mustery but it took me a long time to get into the writing style of the author. Perhaps this was because i was reading her for the first time. Also, the arc of the interpersonal relationships between the lead characters was unknown to me. Perhaps i would have enjoyed it.more if i was familiar with the series.

100%, loved this.

I'm new to this sub genre of crime fiction, but scandinavian is now my go to when I need a new read.

This was not a disappointment in any way, I loved the continuation of the series. Revisiting Huldar and Freyja and their tumultuous relationship.

Not as gruesome as her previous books, Yrsa seems to reign in the gore factor here, with a hanging. Still quite uncomfortable to read but gripping all the same.

I loved this and can't wait for another.

I really do enjoy the Children's House series by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. Well ... enjoy might be the wrong way of phrasing it, but the blend of the dark line with excellent characters and plotlines that keep you absolutely gripped just work perfectly, even if those same plotlines also have the ability to make you feel wholly uncomfortable and bring forth a myriad of emotions towards some of the books victims, and I am not necessarily referring to those who are murdered. As you can guess, from the theme of Children's House, the sub-stories do not always make pleasant reading and there is a sense, at times, that the 'victims' are not necessarily the most sympathetic of characters. That is certainly so of the victim in this latest offering, Gallows Rock, but, to start with, we just don't know why.

Now I am used to the author's stories being full of quite graphic murders and scenes that make me either do a double take or audibly utter an ewww to my rather perplexed cats. By those standards the murder in this book is actually quite tame, but no less forgettable. A hanging at an Icelandic tourist spot which, as the name suggests, was formally used for executions. Suicide or foul play? Well - we know the answer to that, present as we are as the man is led to his death, but why would anyone want to kill him? And why has a young boy been left alone in his apartment? Needless to say that it sets all minds whirring as to just what the dead man may have been up to.

Now this is the next instalment in the Huldar and Freyja series but, in truth Freyja really takes a back seat in this tale, her interactions with the young boy key but only really secondary to what is happening. This story focuses more on Huldar and the police team as they try to get to the bottom of a very dark and complex case. There are so many layers in this investigation, so many seemingly unconnected events that seem to contradict each other and to bring so many things into question. The things we find out about the victim are quite disturbing, but the boy remains as the one things that really doesn't fit all of the things they are learning about him, the square peg in the deep and dark round hole. That uncertainty, the need to know what has really happened, kept me completely hooked to the story despite it being less gruesome than I have been accustomed too. Sometimes the most abhorrent acts don't have to come soaked in blood and gore to make an impact and that is certainly true here.

I do love the interaction between Huldar and Freyja, the chemistry that exists between them, and this time around there seems to be a slight thawing in relations. Not that there was ever an issue from Huldar's side, but Freyja definitely keeps him at arms length, and it always brings a smile to my face watching the ever optimistic Huldar making one more play. Even Freyja's family gang up on her this time around, her young niece taking a shine to the Detective, understandably so as he is a wonderful character. Dedicated, honourable (mostly) and fun and yet ultimately professional when he needs to be. And there is some much needed light relief in the story when it comes to Freyja's domestic situation. WIth her brother returning home she is in need of a new apartment and the one she finds comes with a rather unorthodox condition attached to it. It definitely has the potential to put the brakes on any budding romantic link with Huldar ...

Although a bit slower in pace than the previous books, and certainly less gruesome, this book still kept me rapt. There is such a skill to the author's writing, the way in which she creates tension and atmosphere and uses setting to bring and edge to the story, that it is difficult to put down. And she brings such a range of emotions out in me as a reader that I feel slightly battered myself when I finish reading. In this story it is often that which is undisclosed that has the highest impact, the idea of sacrifice and family and the bond between parents and child that means they will do anything to protect or avenge them. Truly powerful storytelling and characters I have come to love. What more can you ask for?

Another episode in the Freyer and Huldur series of Icelandic thrillers. An apparent suicide quickly becomes a murder investigation made more complex by the discovery of a young boy alone in the victim’s flat. With no connection to the victim and his parents missing there are two investigations running in tandem in this complicated tale that races along with moments of humour mixed with graphic assaults and a shock twist to finish off.

I love this series and it just gets better and better with this instalment being the fourth book and it’s a belter !!
A man is found hanging at a place called Gallows Rock which is a tourist attraction and at first this seems like a suicide but when a bolt is found with a note pinned to his chest it clearly is a murder and Huldar is one if the first to the scene.
Meanwhile Freya is is investigating a report of a child left alone in a luxury flat, and it seems somehow these two different storylines are connected and form the basis of the book. The book focuses mainly on Huldar and I was a little disappointed as I have to admit Freya is my favourite character of the series but I still loved the book and the humour especially Freya and the snake. It’s a fabulously translated book and all credit to Victoria Cribb for that. The plot is well crafted and I look forward to reading more in this wonderful series it’s one that I can highly recommend it has everything you would want in an excellent mystery thriller.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for honest opinion.

Having long been a fan of Yrsa Sigurdardottir’s writing, this new book in the ‘Children’s House’ series further cements her reputation as master of the dark, gripping ‘Nordic Noir’ genre. The book begins with a murder and an apparent kidnap and adds further disappearances and intrigue, taking the reader through the twists and turns of police investigations and coming to a brilliantly unpredictable resolution. Every character is convincingly drawn, and every one is real and believable, whether likeable or not. The descriptions of place are also compelling, making the bleak Icelandic landscapes clearly visible. The plot is complex but always clear and engaging, keeping the reader gripped throughout. The translator (from the original Icelandic) Victoria Cribb must also share in this praise, as the writing is excellent throughout, with a deadpan character which suits the style and content superbly. Although this book stands very well on its own, reading the other books in the series first would help supply background and give the reader a chance to be gripped by even more of this exceptional writer’s work.

A really great police procedure story set in an amazing country. Loved it. Exciting and tense And suspense filled. Great writing too x

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for sending me a reading copy.

When a man is found hanging at a tourist attraction named Gallows Rock, suicide is ruled out when a nail is found embedded in his chest.
A further mystery awaits when the police find a four year old boy abandoned in the dead man’s flat. His parents can’t be found and he has no link to the dead man ...

This is the fourth in the Freyja and Huldar series but the first book I've ever read by Yrsa Siggurdardottir. However, you can read it as a standalone story - I was aware that there were back stories between the characters, but not knowing them didn't lessen any of the pleasure of reading it for me.

It might be my first introduction to Yrsa Siggurdardottir but it certainly won't be my last (I've already ordered a copy of her first book) as I was hooked from the very first page and enthralled and completely drawn in throughout the book

I had my thoughts on where several of the directions the book was heading but in the majority, most of them completely took me by surprise. And that to me, is was makes the perfect crime fiction novel.

This is a story which builds and weaves perfectly. It's so twisty. The end chapters in particular are so twisty that you really don’t know where the story is heading. And just when everything seems nicely tied up - BAM! - another genius twist is added. Ending on an open note that leaves you wanting more, but not so open that you don’t feel sated.

A fantastic cast of characters. It was clear that there had been links and relationships between the characters that I knew nothing of (having not read the previous titles) but I soon got the gist of where the land lies between everyone.
I liked Huldar despite his clear inability to form long-lasting relationships but I feel like I didn't quite get the full measure of Freyja.
One of the minor characters - the ever eager and punctilious Lina, the student on work experience - was actually my favourite character and I'd love to see her character developed further and for her to feature more in future books.
But of course, the main spotlight has to shine on the formidable Erla. Terrifying as she is, she’s also at the centre of some of the more darkly humorous moments in the book - when she’s interviewing a suspect named Tomas and also a scene which had me laughing out loud involving her colleagues obvious fear of her - "Huldar doubted the staff in IT had exactly been competing for the job of discussing porn with Erla. They’d probably drawn straws and this poor sod had lost".

Twists galore and a surprising ending, this is a book you'll want to devour in one sitting.