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Preview
  • Chilled to the Bone

  • Gunnhildur Mystery, Book 3
  • By: Quentin Bates
  • Narrated by: Mel Hudson
  • Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (106 ratings)

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Chilled to the Bone

By: Quentin Bates
Narrated by: Mel Hudson
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Summary

When a shipowner is found dead, tied to a bed in one of Reykjavik's smartest hotels, sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladottir of the city police force sees no evidence of foul play but still suspects things are not as cut-and-dried as they seem. And as she investigates the shipowner's untimely - and embarrassing - demise, she stumbles across a discreet bondage society whose members are being systematically exploited and blackmailed.

But how does all this connect to a local gangster recently returned to Iceland after many years abroad, and the unfortunate loss of a government laptop containing sensitive data about various members of the ruling party? What begins as a straightforward case for Gunnhildur soon explodes into a dangerous investigation, uncovering secrets that ruthless men are ready to go to violent extremes to keep.

Although born in the UK, in 1962, through a series of coincidences Quentin Bates found himself working in Iceland in his gap year. The gap year then became 10 years, during which time he managed to get himself married, produce a family, and generally go native in Iceland. The family then moved back to the UK in 1990 where Quentin became a full-time journalist on a commercial fishing magazine.

Quentin and his (Icelandic) wife frequently return to Iceland, where they have many friends, including several in the Reykjavik police.

©2013 Quentin Bates (P)2013 Audible Ltd
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Critic reviews

Praise for Quentin Bates:"Superior crime fiction set in Iceland... this is a well constructed, well written and satisfying police procedural" (The Times.)
"A meticulously constructed thriller, peopled with exceptionally convincing characters and shot through with black humour. Frozen Out is as chilling as an Icelandic winter" (S.J. Bolton)
"[A] crackling fiction debut ... palpable authenticity." (Publishers Weekly)
"British author Bates captures the chilly spirit of Nordic crime fiction in what is the apparent start of a promising series with a distinctly appealing protagonist. Fans of Arnaldur Indridason's Reykjavík mysteries will want to add Bates to their reading lists" (Booklist)

What listeners say about Chilled to the Bone

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excellent listen

I was really amazed with this book - the story was good but Mel Hudson's reading was wonderful, so just looked for another Quentin Bates book in the hope that Mel Hudson would read.'

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Snow shuffle

As always it is nice to know what is happening with Gunna and her family, but the investigation was tediously plodding and the huge list of characters all with confusing Icelandic names. The surname and given names seem to be used most of the time but for me it only adds to the mystery of who, what, where and whys through this meandering story.

Of course I am a fan of this series but this was not one of the better ones in my opinion.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good read.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not particularly. The first three thirds of the book were great. Once you get used to the Icelandic names it was great. I really got into it. The characters were strong and the story was converging towards an ending where I had no idea how it would work out. The problem is that it simply didn't. The end seemed rushed and just thrown together. The meticulous and cunning baddie just stopped being meticulous and cunning and seemed to want to end it as quickly as the author... very disappointed with how it ended. But I could feel the tight thread of suspense becoming loose coming into the fourth quarter of the book. Shame really because it was really enjoyable up to that point.

What does Mel Hudson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Mel does a fantastic job in her narration. Really brings the characters to life

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Another good one

This is certainly well told, a good story with the believable and pleasant characters. It is so refreshing to have a lead character who behaves in a logical manner, doesn't have any hang ups, and isn't rude to her bosses nor to her subordinates.

A series that I am really enjoying.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Strange welsh accents!

I have tried three times to finish this book but the narration which is littered with strange accents and voices trying to be deeply male then prissy feminine that even a long car journey did not help!

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