by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
Published by Hodder & Stoughton (March 2017)
Publisher's description
The murder was meant as a punishment - but what sin could
justify the method?
The only person who might have answers is the victim's
seven-year-old daughter, found hiding in the room where her mother died. And
she's not talking.
Newly promoted, out of his depth, detective Huldar turns to
Freyja and the Children's House for their expertise with traumatised young
people. Freyja, who distrusts the police in general and Huldar in particular,
isn't best pleased. But she's determined to keep little Margret safe.
It may prove tricky. The killer is leaving them strange
clues: warnings in text messages, sums scribbled on bits of paper, numbers
broadcast on the radio. He's telling a dark and secret story - but how can they
crack the code? And if they do, will they be next?
My verdict
I loved The Legacy, with its excellent writing, sharp plotting and compelling story, all taking place in an atmospheric Icelandic setting.
I hadn't read any of Yrsa Sigurdardottir's books before this one, so wasn't sure what to expect. But this book hit me hard - in a good way. It was a great introduction to the author's books, as The Legacy is the first in a new series, called the Children's House.
The Legacy focuses on child psychologist Freyja, policeman Huldar and a case involving a traumatised seven-year-old girl who may have just witnessed her mother's murder. It's a very dark read, with horrific death scenes that made me shudder - and it takes a lot to do that. Most of the descriptions weren't overly graphic (at least not for me), but the author's twisted imagination certainly left its mark.
The plot was filled with twists, turns, red herrings and surprises right until the end. It certainly kept me guessing all the way through. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series, which is being published next year.
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