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quixoticreader13's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure that I would have picked this up if not for my fascination with Iceland and the fun of reading descriptions of places I've visited, but it wasn't a bad little mystery title.
amn028's review against another edition
4.0
The book was a nice, quick read by one of my favourite authors. While I did miss the broody Erlendur and his sidekicks, the new characters are as enjoyable to follow.
irish_bookfairy's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
What immediately attracted me to this book was the fact that part of it takes place in the past, the other in the present.
While investigating the death of an elderly man, retired police officer Konrád believes his death might not have been natural, as assumed because of the man's age. It takes him back to an unsolved case from around WW2, which is when the narrative passes from Konrád to Flóvent and Thorson.
Whatever happened in both timelines stays a mystery for 80% of the book, after that I started to get a good idea of what actually happened but still managed to get sidetracked.
The whole story is well paced and the only difficulty I had with the book, were all the Icelandic names (of both people and places). I tended to skip trying to read names, which sometimes made it unclear in which timeline the current chapter was taking place.
It was a nice who-done-it story with surprising twists.
While investigating the death of an elderly man, retired police officer Konrád believes his death might not have been natural, as assumed because of the man's age. It takes him back to an unsolved case from around WW2, which is when the narrative passes from Konrád to Flóvent and Thorson.
Whatever happened in both timelines stays a mystery for 80% of the book, after that I started to get a good idea of what actually happened but still managed to get sidetracked.
The whole story is well paced and the only difficulty I had with the book, were all the Icelandic names (of both people and places). I tended to skip trying to read names, which sometimes made it unclear in which timeline the current chapter was taking place.
It was a nice who-done-it story with surprising twists.
mikime's review against another edition
3.0
Un'indagine iniziata ai tempi della seconda guerra mondiale e ripresa ai nostri giorni perché collegata a un delitto recente. Il romanzo alterna vicende contemporanee e flashbacks, in parallelo gli investigatori odierni scoprono il percorso investigativo dei colleghi del passato. Gli intrecci sono molteplici, l'ambientazione islandese assume tratti internazionali per il coinvolgimento dei soldati e investigatori americani. La suspence non la fa da padrona perché le minacce sono per lo più nel passato e chi legge sa già l'esito finale, se non colpevoli e modalità. Non mi ha appassionato molto.
nickyxxx's review
1.0
Yeah. Uhm. Ik heb hier niet zo veel positiefs over te zeggen.
Het hele verhaal schreeuwt: ik ben plot driven, maar het is op geen enkel moment spannend. Heden en verleden wisselen elkaar zeer regelmatig af. De gebeurtenissen in het verleden zijn nauwelijks interessant te noemen en het familieschandaal dat er gevolg van is, interesseert me eigenlijk helemaal niet. De auteur doet weinig moeite om gevoel in het verhaal te leggen.
Op diezelfde manier zijn de personages weergegeven: weinig diepgaand en afstandelijk. Zelfs van het hoofdpersonage Konrad weten we vrijwel niets af, behalve dat hij gepensioneerd politieman is. De personages hadden echt veel meer uitgewerkt moeten zijn, dat had zoveel meer diepgang gegeven aan het verhaal. Want waarom kiest Konrad ervoor om juist deze zaak te onderzoeken? En waarom kan Thorson de zaak niet laten rusten? Het is allemaal erg oppervlakkig en dat is jammer, want nu is er niets wat het boek enigszins de moeite waard maakt.
Het hele verhaal schreeuwt: ik ben plot driven, maar het is op geen enkel moment spannend. Heden en verleden wisselen elkaar zeer regelmatig af. De gebeurtenissen in het verleden zijn nauwelijks interessant te noemen en het familieschandaal dat er gevolg van is, interesseert me eigenlijk helemaal niet. De auteur doet weinig moeite om gevoel in het verhaal te leggen.
Op diezelfde manier zijn de personages weergegeven: weinig diepgaand en afstandelijk. Zelfs van het hoofdpersonage Konrad weten we vrijwel niets af, behalve dat hij gepensioneerd politieman is. De personages hadden echt veel meer uitgewerkt moeten zijn, dat had zoveel meer diepgang gegeven aan het verhaal. Want waarom kiest Konrad ervoor om juist deze zaak te onderzoeken? En waarom kan Thorson de zaak niet laten rusten? Het is allemaal erg oppervlakkig en dat is jammer, want nu is er niets wat het boek enigszins de moeite waard maakt.
harparey's review against another edition
3.0
Dæmigerður Arnaldur. Rennur ljúft í gegn og fátt sem kemur á óvart.
fastasashark's review against another edition
4.0
Like always with Indridason, it's not just about the mystery but atmosphere and characters. Erlendur will always be my favourite, but I enjoyed Flovent, Thorson and Konrad a lot as characters. I always find Indridason's books oddly cathartic.
daniel_mc_adam's review against another edition
5.0
The first book in a fantastic new series from a real master in Nordic Noir.
I finished this marvellous book in two sittings it really was that good.
Looking forward to the Next instalment of this brilliant series.
Definitely on my To Read Again List.
I finished this marvellous book in two sittings it really was that good.
Looking forward to the Next instalment of this brilliant series.
Definitely on my To Read Again List.
bookgardendc's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
caraloveskitties's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this, a random pickup from my local train station. Interesting premise, never read anything based in Iceland before.