The Quiet Mother - (Detective Konrad) by Arnaldur Indridason (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Retired detective Konrad returns to Reykjavik in The Quiet Mother by Arnaldur Indridason, "one of the most brilliant crime writers of his generation" -The Sunday Times (UK) A woman is found murdered in her Reykjavik home, her apartment ransacked. On her desk lies a note with retired detective Konrad's phone number. Days earlier, she had begged him to find the child she gave up nearly fifty years ago. But Konrad, reluctant to reopen old wounds, turned her away. Now, haunted by guilt, he vows to uncover the truth-for her and for himself. As Konrad digs into her tragic past, he is drawn into a web of secrets, lies, and betrayal. Each revelation points to a hidden life that connects her death to a decades-old murder-and to shadows from Konrad's own family history. The Quiet Mother is a masterful blend of human tragedy and relentless suspense, where every discovery comes at a cost. Arnaldur Indridason once again proves why he is the voice of Nordic Noir, delivering a harrowing tale of guilt and redemption"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Retired detective Konrad returns to Reykjavik in The Quiet Mother by Arnaldur Indridason, "one of the most brilliant crime writers of his generation" --The Sunday Times (UK)

A woman is found murdered in her Reykjavík home, her apartment ransacked. On her desk lies a note with retired detective Konrad's phone number. Days earlier, she had begged him to find the child she gave up nearly fifty years ago. But Konrad, reluctant to reopen old wounds, turned her away. Now, haunted by guilt, he vows to uncover the truth--for her and for himself.

As Konrad digs into her tragic past, he is drawn into a web of secrets, lies, and betrayal. Each revelation points to a hidden life that connects her death to a decades-old murder--and to shadows from Konrad's own family history.

The Quiet Mother is a masterful blend of human tragedy and relentless suspense, where every discovery comes at a cost. Arnaldur Indridason once again proves why he is the voice of Nordic Noir, delivering a harrowing tale of guilt and redemption.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Girl by the Bridge:

"Short, crisply written chapters move the action briskly along while keeping all the seemingly disparate pieces of the puzzle in the mix. Veteran Indridason weaves all these eerie elements together masterfully. Superb crime fiction from an acclaimed virtuoso." - Kirkus Reviews

"Indridason's storytelling flows as smoothly as ever here, and Konrád, introduced in The Darkness Knows (2021) establishes himself as a compelling truth-seeker." - Booklist

"An unnerving story of old crimes and their enduring reverberations, [with] a powerful and well-earned denouement. This a treat for fans of brainy, complex mysteries." - Publisher's Weekly

"What affected me most was the rueful tenderness of Indridason's prose.... Indridason's signature melancholy still wafts through the novel." - New York Times Book Review

"An outstanding work, an uncanny tale of evils past and present" - The Wall Street Journal