From amazon.co.uk - Thora peered at the floor, but couldn't see anything that could have frightened Markus that much, only three mounds of dust. She moved the light of her torch over them. It took her some time to realize what she was seeing-- and then it was all she could do not to let the torch slip from her hand. 'Good God,' she said. She ran the light over the three faces, one after another. Sunken cheeks, empty eye-sockets, gaping mouths; they reminded her of photographs of mummies she'd once seen in National Geographic. 'Who are these people?' 'I don't know,' said Markus...Bodies are discovered in one of the excavated houses at a volcanic tourist attraction dubbed 'The Pompeii of the North'. Markus Magnusson, who was only a teenager when the volcano erupted, falls under suspicion and hires attorney Thora Gudmundsdottir to defend him - but when his childhood sweetheart is murdered his case starts to look more difficult, and the locals seem oddly reluctant to back him up. The third crime novel from international bestseller Yrsa Sigurdardottir, and the third featuring her popular heroine Thora, ASHES TO DUST is tense, taut and terrifying. 'well-written, pacey and wonderfully atmospheric.' Guardian on MY SOUL TO TAKE

I bought this book on holiday in Iceland and was drawn to it as an alternative to the 'Scandanavian' police books that are on the go at the moment... the setting of the beautiful island attracted me and I must say I wasn't disappointed. The heroine, an attorney, is a very believable character and I liked her... the book is based around true events in the 1970s and Icelands stunning scenery and turbulent geology is definitely the star of the show... I will read more.