Sér grefur gröf is Yrsa's second crime novel about the attorney Thora Guðmundsdóttir.
From the book:
The masseuse hurried back in and began removing the stones from Thóra’s back. Thóra tried to conceal her relief by taking an interest in the telephone call. ‘Is anything wrong? Don’t worry about me; I’m all done, líke I said.’
The woman was working quickly. ‘Something’s happened. Something terrible. Really terrible.’
Thóra propped herself up. ‘Really?’ she asked, not needing to feign curiosity this time. ‘Is it something to do with the ghosts?’
An expression of horror spread across the woman’s face and she put her hand over ther mouth. ‘Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. A body’s been found on the beach. Vigdís from reception thinks it’s someone from here, and the police have arrived to talk to Jónas.’
Thóra leaped naked from the bench and reached for a gown. She quickly pulled it on, never having been in the habit of going around nude in the company of strangers, although she was not ashamed of her body. ‘You get going - I’ll take care of myself.’ She tightened the flannel belt round her waist and tied a knot. ‘Was it an accident?’
‘I don’t know,’ the masseuse said, shifting impatiently from one foot to the other. Clearly she was itching to go and find out more.
‘I’ll get my things together and leave,’ Thóra said, shooing the woman off. ‘I promise not to steal any stones.’
The woman didn’t need telling twice. She turned on her heel and rushed out into the corridor. Thóra went up to the screen she’d undressed behind and began putting her clothes back on. Her mobile rang in her bag and she fished it out. ‘Hello,’ she said, trying to put on a sock with one hand. The connection was appalling and the line crackled.
‘Hello, Thóra.’ It was Matthew. ‘I’m still waiting for a reply to my email.’
‘Oh, yes,’ Thóra said in German, abandoning her struggle with the sock. ‘I’m just about to answer.’
‘Name the date. I’ll do the rest,’ said Matthew. He clearly intended to come no matter what. ‘Give me the green light and I’ll be there.’
‘It’s rather inconvenient at the moment,’ Thóra answered reluctantly. ‘I’m working and somehing’s cropped up.’
‘What has?’ asked Matthew, clearly unconvinced. ‘Tell me.’
‘Yes, well, it’s all rather peculiar,’ Thóra said, racking her brain to remember the German work for ‘ghost’. ‘I’m working on a case connected with ghosts, but it seems as though it may be getting more complicated. The police have found a body and it may stir things up.’
‘Where are you?’ asked Matthew.
‘Me?’ Thóra replied foolishly. ‘I’m in the countryside.’
‘Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be there tomorrow night.’ His voice was solemn.
‘Wait, it’s all right. Don’t come here,’ Thóra gabbled. ‘There’s no murder, only a body.’ She hesitated. ‘As far as I know, anyway.’
‘I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow,’ said the voice from the handset.
‘But you don’t even know where I am, and I’m not going to tell you. Wait a few days and let me find a better time. I promise. I want to see you too. Just not right now.’
‘You don’t have to tell me where you are. I’ll find you. Auf Wiedersehen.’
Thóra couldn’t argue any more. Matthew had hung up.
(pp. 48-50)
