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Baptism of Ice: A Scandi Noir Crime Psychological Thriller
The first in an exciting new series of Scandi Noir thrillers featuring Detective Frida Skardet from the author of the Cold Secrets series, Tom Quiller. Pre-book the first in the NORSE KRIMOLOGI strand now.
THE MURDER OF INFANTS SEEMS TO BE CHILDSPLAY FOR THIS KILLER
When a child dies during its baptism, it is the first move in a deadly game of cat and mouse for Detective Frida Skardet, newly arrived in Trondheim with a limp from an encounter with Russian agents in a previous life, her teenage son, and a lot of mental baggage.
For lovers of Jo Nesbo, Stieg Larson, Jorn Lier Horst, Morgan Greene, Lilja Sigurdardóttir, J M Dalgliesh, Alex Smith and Satu Rämö.
What people are saying about TOM QUILLER and the FRIDA SKARDET novels:
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely fabulous storyline, can't wait for the next book and hope there'll be many more in this series."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What a wonderful book. Clever, insightful but sympathetic with a fantastic new protagonist. Can't wait for the next one."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A brilliant Nordic crime novel. "
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Seriously amazing... So many twists and turns; so many gloriously dark situations and characters. Frida Skardet is a great creation."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Quiller brings the characters to life brilliantly and the dialogue sings!"
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really enjoyed the pace and story telling - Tom can obviously write and I’m looking forward to the next ones.."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Every now and again the writing is elevated to near poetry. Love it."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really good, fast paced story line with great characters and plenty to keep me turning the pages."
THE MURDER OF INFANTS SEEMS TO BE CHILDSPLAY FOR THIS KILLER
When a child dies during its baptism, it is the first move in a deadly game of cat and mouse for Detective Frida Skardet, newly arrived in Trondheim with a limp from an encounter with Russian agents in a previous life, her teenage son, and a lot of mental baggage.
For lovers of Jo Nesbo, Stieg Larson, Jorn Lier Horst, Morgan Greene, Lilja Sigurdardóttir, J M Dalgliesh, Alex Smith and Satu Rämö.
What people are saying about TOM QUILLER and the FRIDA SKARDET novels:
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely fabulous storyline, can't wait for the next book and hope there'll be many more in this series."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What a wonderful book. Clever, insightful but sympathetic with a fantastic new protagonist. Can't wait for the next one."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A brilliant Nordic crime novel. "
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Seriously amazing... So many twists and turns; so many gloriously dark situations and characters. Frida Skardet is a great creation."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Quiller brings the characters to life brilliantly and the dialogue sings!"
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really enjoyed the pace and story telling - Tom can obviously write and I’m looking forward to the next ones.."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Every now and again the writing is elevated to near poetry. Love it."
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really good, fast paced story line with great characters and plenty to keep me turning the pages."
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2025
145 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 21, 2026
January 6th, interim thoughts: I chose to read this book because it is set in Trondheim, the second city I lived not far from for 6.5 years and am fairly familiar with. I'm not exactly sure what part of winter the story is grounded in but where's the copious snow that usually blankets the region from mid/end November to May each following year?
I'm getting irritated by the amount of descriptive narrative that fills the pages with superfluous details. I'd grasped that Frida's car is a 'police issue Volvo' after first mention, so I didn't need two more reiterations. Then there's the copious descriptions of the insides of buildings, especially the homes of the characters. Decor, furnishings, aspect. No need for all the waffle. I assume this was written for Norwegian and other Scandinavian readers before translation, who will be familiar with modern homes, so I wonder why the narrative dwells on detail as if one is reading an interior design magazine.
Anyway, I shall persevere as the storyline is intriguing...
January 21st: I read to the end despite the irritations. Too much repetition of descriptive words but maybe that's not the fault of the author. Maybe the translator could have picked alternative adjectives to make the text less lacking. Never mind. The story held my interest and unfolded at just the right pace. It dealt deftly with sensitive matters which were shocking and left nobody unaffected by the actions one very damaged person. It did, however, end on a bright note and positive promise of lives moving forward into the future.
I'll probably read more by this author.
I'm getting irritated by the amount of descriptive narrative that fills the pages with superfluous details. I'd grasped that Frida's car is a 'police issue Volvo' after first mention, so I didn't need two more reiterations. Then there's the copious descriptions of the insides of buildings, especially the homes of the characters. Decor, furnishings, aspect. No need for all the waffle. I assume this was written for Norwegian and other Scandinavian readers before translation, who will be familiar with modern homes, so I wonder why the narrative dwells on detail as if one is reading an interior design magazine.
Anyway, I shall persevere as the storyline is intriguing...
January 21st: I read to the end despite the irritations. Too much repetition of descriptive words but maybe that's not the fault of the author. Maybe the translator could have picked alternative adjectives to make the text less lacking. Never mind. The story held my interest and unfolded at just the right pace. It dealt deftly with sensitive matters which were shocking and left nobody unaffected by the actions one very damaged person. It did, however, end on a bright note and positive promise of lives moving forward into the future.
I'll probably read more by this author.
February 28, 2025
Amazing crime novel
Seriously amazing book. So many twists and turns; so many gloriously dark situations and characters. Frida Skardet is a great creation. Wounded, physically and mentally, she’s put through the wringer here as she tries to solve an insidious spate of child deaths. As a fan of crime above all else, this is my favourite Tom Quiller so far. Read it now! Thank me later.
Seriously amazing book. So many twists and turns; so many gloriously dark situations and characters. Frida Skardet is a great creation. Wounded, physically and mentally, she’s put through the wringer here as she tries to solve an insidious spate of child deaths. As a fan of crime above all else, this is my favourite Tom Quiller so far. Read it now! Thank me later.
June 10, 2025
Clever story with strong central characters, but the book could have done with a proofread to cut out confusing mistakes (eg the wrong character's name!) and to edit out the estate agent style descriptions of places (I suspected the use of AI a few times).
Otherwise, it's a good read, and I'd like to try the next in the series.
Otherwise, it's a good read, and I'd like to try the next in the series.
January 28, 2026
I have found a new detective to follow!
I enjoyed discovering these characters very much. Very interesting plot and story.
I would have rated this book as 5 stars, but there were several times that descriptive elements were repeated unnecessarily, and glaring editorial errors. I am hoping that those will decrease in future books by the author.
I enjoyed discovering these characters very much. Very interesting plot and story.
I would have rated this book as 5 stars, but there were several times that descriptive elements were repeated unnecessarily, and glaring editorial errors. I am hoping that those will decrease in future books by the author.
October 11, 2025
A murder puzzle
Babies are being killed and no one could figure out how or why. Frida was given the case and she tasted it down like a dog after a. Bone. This was a very interesting murder mystery and I recommend it to all murder mystery readers.
Babies are being killed and no one could figure out how or why. Frida was given the case and she tasted it down like a dog after a. Bone. This was a very interesting murder mystery and I recommend it to all murder mystery readers.
November 19, 2025
I enjoyed the book and I want to read the next one.
My only complaint is that at the start Frida had spiky dark hair which somehow morphed into long blonde hair at the finish. But maybe I read that incorrectly.
My only complaint is that at the start Frida had spiky dark hair which somehow morphed into long blonde hair at the finish. But maybe I read that incorrectly.
April 9, 2025
Stunning
What a wonderful book. Clever, insightful but sympathetic and well researched with a fantastic new protagonist. Can't wait for the next one. A brilliant nordic crime novel
What a wonderful book. Clever, insightful but sympathetic and well researched with a fantastic new protagonist. Can't wait for the next one. A brilliant nordic crime novel
January 12, 2026
Kindle Unlimited-Detective Skardet, mysterious infant deaths, Norway
January 26, 2026
A good story and the ending was wrapped up nicely but I struggled throughout with the writing style. Far too many descriptive repetitions.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews