When Mekkin's brother-in-law is found murdered in a society built to prevent violence, her investigation spirals into danger and secrecy, drawing her family into the centre of a crime that should not exist … An utterly gripping standalone speculative mystery from the bestselling author of Cold as Hell…

**Shortlisted for Icelandic Crime Book of the Year**

'Icelandic crime-writing at its finest' Shari Lapena

'Riveting' A.J. Chowdhury

'Prescient and heartfelt' Doug Johnstone

'Chilling and highly plausible' Eve Smith

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A perfect system. An impossible murder.

Reykjavík, 2052. Europe is peaceful, prosperous and almost crime-free, governed by Ɐlfa, the artificial intelligence that manages infrastructure, safety and daily life. Mekkín works at the Ministry, close to the core of the system that keeps society running. She lives with her partner, Sabína, an artist.

When Sabína's brother Birkir, a committed dissident who lives beyond the reach of Ɐlfa, is found brutally murdered, that fragile sense of order begins to fracture. Violent crime has effectively been eliminated, and Birkir's death is not just shocking, but inexplicable. What was he involved in, and who would dare to commit murder in a world designed to prevent it?

As the investigation unfolds, Sabína is drawn ever deeper into the case. Mekkín's position at the Ministry brings scrutiny she cannot escape, their relationship begins to fracture, and their teenage son's recent integration into the system places him uncomfortably close to the forces now circling the family. As Sabína pieces together Birkir's final days, the answers begin to point far closer to home than either of them ever expected, forcing her to decide what she is prepared to sacrifice to uncover the truth…

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'Lilja captures character so brilliantly, you just have to keep reading … with its excellent twist, Ɐlfa is a well-timed reminder of the true limitations of this technology' James Oswald

'A taut, smart speculative thriller that brilliantly explores the human heart in the face of overwhelming technology' Doug Johnstone

'Lilja expertly blends a scary AI-run future, a terrifying murder and three wonderful relationships into a story that kept me totally hooked' A.J. Chowdhury

'Icelandic crime queen Lilja Sigurðardóttir goes from strength to strength' Financial Times

Praise for Lilja:

'Chilly and chilling' Tariq Ashkanani

'Tough, uncompromising and unsettling' Val McDermid

'Dark, twisty and pitch-perfect' Michael Wood

'A blast of Icelandic Air' The Times

'The writing is crisp and clear, plotting ingenious, and characterisation so vivid´ Liz Nugent

'Breathtakingly original' New York Journal of Books