The Quiet Mother
Published on 7. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-1-78730-463-5 (ISBN)
Description
'Arnaldur Indridason is a literary phenomenon - and it's easy to see why' HARLAN COBEN
'Indridason writes crime novels that are as chilling as the landscape where they're set' ANN CLEEVES
'The undisputed King of the Icelandic Thriller' Guardian
A lifetime of secrets. A murder that will expose the truth.
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 the woman's 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.
'One of the greats of modern crime fiction' Sunday Times
'A work of genius' Steinthor Gudbjartsson, Iceland Monitor Daily
'Comprehensive proof that the crown rests securely on King Arnaldur's head' Financial Times
*OVER 20 MILLION BOOKS SOLD WORLDWIDE*
'Indridason writes crime novels that are as chilling as the landscape where they're set' ANN CLEEVES
'The undisputed King of the Icelandic Thriller' Guardian
A lifetime of secrets. A murder that will expose the truth.
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 the woman's 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.
'One of the greats of modern crime fiction' Sunday Times
'A work of genius' Steinthor Gudbjartsson, Iceland Monitor Daily
'Comprehensive proof that the crown rests securely on King Arnaldur's head' Financial Times
*OVER 20 MILLION BOOKS SOLD WORLDWIDE*
Reviews / Votes
Indridason writes crime novels that are as chilling as the landscape where they're set -- Ann Cleeves From the very first page it's clear we are in the hands of a master... The Quiet Mother is a gripping tale about the coincidences that rule our lives and how they both create life and destroy it * The Times * The Quiet Mother is vintage Indridason... [and] solid proof that the crown [of Scandinavian crime writers] rests securely on King Arnaldur's head * Financial Times *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
438 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78730-463-5 (9781787304635)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
08/2025
Vintage Digital
€8.99
Available for download
Persons
Arnaldur Indridason (Author)
Arnaldur Indridason worked for many years as a journalist and critic before he began writing novels. His books have since sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Outside Iceland, he is best known for his crime novels featuring Erlendur and Sigurdur Oli, which are consistent bestsellers across Europe. The series has won numerous awards, including the Nordic Glass Key and the CWA Gold Dagger.
The Shadow District - the first book in the Reykjavik Wartime Mystery series - won the Premio RBA de Novela Negra, the world's most lucrative crime fiction prize.
Philip Roughton (Translator)
Philip Roughton was born in the US and now lives in Iceland. He is an award-winning translator of modern Icelandic literature, having translated works by numerous Icelandic writers, including the Nobel prize-winning author Halldor Laxness.
Arnaldur Indridason worked for many years as a journalist and critic before he began writing novels. His books have since sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Outside Iceland, he is best known for his crime novels featuring Erlendur and Sigurdur Oli, which are consistent bestsellers across Europe. The series has won numerous awards, including the Nordic Glass Key and the CWA Gold Dagger.
The Shadow District - the first book in the Reykjavik Wartime Mystery series - won the Premio RBA de Novela Negra, the world's most lucrative crime fiction prize.
Philip Roughton (Translator)
Philip Roughton was born in the US and now lives in Iceland. He is an award-winning translator of modern Icelandic literature, having translated works by numerous Icelandic writers, including the Nobel prize-winning author Halldor Laxness.