Ice, Flower, Herbarium

'Snow-covered landscapes, secrets festering beneath the surface, deeply flawed characters and an ever-present sense that something is very wrong. The atmosphere is incredible, and the further I got into the story, the more it seemed to tighten its grip. Vincents is a brilliantly complicated protagonist: frustrating, vulnerable and impossible not to become invested in'  - @gothicbookworm

'I really enjoyed this and would recommend to fans of Nordic Noir. It is unique for a crime novel and explores family guilt, justice and the psychological impacts of neglect. There are some well fleshed out characters, particularly Jens, and the setting is wonderful in bringing out a sense of isolation and dread. A great book that I flew through in a few days.' - @carol_bookworm

“Dark and gritty Baltic Noir.”

This is a dark and disturbing story set in the town of Dansile in Latvia. It’s the middle of winter and the river is frozen with deep snow everywhere when a body is found by the side of the road in a sack; an elderly man later found to have died from natural causes.

Briefly, Dansile is a small remote town with just the one police officer, Vincents xxx. Whilst he wanted to follow the official route when the body was found a meeting of the leaders of the town decided they should store the body until the thaw then bury it. Shortly afterwards a local schoolteacher is reported as missing. A local man, Jens, with an intellectual disability is on the radar but Vincents wife thinks he has been singled out because he is a bit different and Vincents determines to follow the law and not get caught up in the local hysteria.

A complex book full of hidden secrets and guilt. I struggled to like any of the main characters and actively disliked some. I really wanted Vincents to grow a pair and tell just about everyone in the village a few home truths, including his domineering wife. Jens was a difficult character who appeared to be a product of his upbringing, never knowing and love or even human touch other than punishment. A dark gritty and emotional Baltic noir

• Lynda's Book Reviews

'With its gripping plot, elegant prose, and small town rendered in frost-sharp detail, 'Ice, Flower, Herbarium' is a chilling read! Each character felt nuanced and the twists of the story were darkly unsettling at every turn.' - Anna, Windsor Waterstones

'This is a thriller that creeps; makes you feel uncomfortable until you realise you are completely tangled up in the town and the secrets the people don't want to acknowledge. Deep, dark, unusual and very unsettling' - @andshe.reads

"The landscape feeds into the suffocating atmosphere. An unsettling read, with much darkness and peril. Perfect for dark, winter evenings.' - kazzalovesbooks

"The book is not so much a whodunnit as we find that out fairly early on. Instead it's more of a psychological thriller that gets to the heart of why people do what they do. I enjoyed my time with this one. It has a slower pace that heightens the sense of isolation and despair Vincents feels. This is one to read if you enjoy Baltic noir, quiet tension, and morally complex characters." - @erinreadstheworld