Cage

At the start of the lively conclusion to Sigurdardóttir’s sprawling trilogy (after 2018’s Trap), Agla, a former high-level bank executive finishing up a prison sentence for financial misconduct, tries to kill herself rather than consider the numerous choices awaiting once she’s eligible for parole. The unsuccessful suicide attempt lands Agla in the prison’s high-security wing, where she gets a surprise visit from a representative of a major drinks manufacturer who offers her a reason to live. The company, concerned about the rise in the cost of aluminum used in their cans, wants Agla to use her financial connections to learn who’s been removing large amounts of unregistered aluminum from circulation in recent years. After she’s released, Agla joins former adversary María, an irrepressible journalist, in an effort to uncover the culprit, an entrepreneur who has committed economic misdeeds and is prepared to go to great lengths to ensure his fortune remains intact. Sigurdardóttir prioritizes swift pacing over in-depth characterization. Fans already invested in this Nordic crime series will race through the pages. Agent: Valgerdur Benediktosdóttir, Forlagid, Iceland (U.K.). (Apr.)