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fionab_16's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
Wartime Reykjavik and the body of a young woman is found behind the National Theatre. Joining forces to solve the case are a local detective and a Canadian military policeman with Icelandic roots. There investigations lead to the linked death of another girl out in the north country and to a young student. In the present day retired detective Konrad is helping the police solve the murder of a 90-year man but his investigations lead to the wartime crimes and they cast doubt on the who was the real perpetrator.
Written between two time zones this novel juxtaposes crime-fighting past and present. Iceland was a major military base firstly for the British and then for the US, young woman were courted by soldiers and this was known as 'The Situation'. Descriptions for wartime Iceland were detailed and evocative and I loved the links to folklore as well. The plot was suitability labyrinthine and satisfied and the characters are developing nicely for further instalments.
Written between two time zones this novel juxtaposes crime-fighting past and present. Iceland was a major military base firstly for the British and then for the US, young woman were courted by soldiers and this was known as 'The Situation'. Descriptions for wartime Iceland were detailed and evocative and I loved the links to folklore as well. The plot was suitability labyrinthine and satisfied and the characters are developing nicely for further instalments.
slhandy45's review against another edition
4.0
The time shifts were confusing at times but interesting glimpses of Iceland during WWII and a satisfying story in the end.
latetotheparty's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Took me a while to adjust to the back-and-forth of the timelines. I liked the bite-size chapters. Didn't know about the UK, then US occupation of Iceland in WWII so this was informative in that respect.
papa6's review against another edition
2.75
A good plot, the story well told in non linear fashion, but it was not distracting. The problem was the translation. By the reviews and reputation of Arnaldur Indridason, I can’t possibly see his writing be so simplistic with short, unrealistic dialogue. I’ve also read that Victoria Cribb is a decent translator, but somewhere along the lines, things went astray. Still, I cared enough for the plot to plod through and finish. 2.75
annadiprimavera's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thain's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent mystery from one of the best current crime writers. Involves a modern-day murder connected to a case during WWII. Interesting bits about Icelandic history and folklore.
stinajohanns's review against another edition
4.0
Ég las þessa bók þegar hún kom út en var eiginlega alveg búin að gleyma út á hvað hún gengur svo ég ákvað að hlusta á hljóðbókina. Ég mundi að mér hafði líkað bókin og að mér hafði þótt hún best af bókunum í stríðsáraseríunni. Það hefur ekki breyst. Mér finnst hún áfram best og hún þoldi alveg að ég læsi hana aftur. Ég ætla hins vegar að segja nokkur orð um hljóðbókina. Almennt finnst mér metnaðurinn í íslenskum hljóðbókum mjög lítill og fæstir íslensku lesaranna reyna að gera raddir fólks mismunandi þannig að maður átti sig á því hver á að vera að tala. Ég hlusta mikið á enskar hljóðbækur og þar er þetta almennt vel gert en ekki hér heima, einhverra hluta vegna. Það sem var hins vegar verst við lesturinn að þessu sinni er að leikarinn ákveður að láta Thorson hafa amerískan framburð á íslenskunni. Þetta er alvond ákvörðun því Vestur-Íslendingar höfðu ekki amerískan framburð á þessum tíma. Íslenska samfélagið vestra talaði enn íslensku á þessum tíma, aðeins örfá ár voru liðin frá því síðustu vesturfarararnir settust þar að (vesturferðirnar voru alveg fram að fyrra stríði) og íslenska var því enn fyrsta mál langflestra Vestur-Íslendinga. Það þýðir að nær enginn í samfélaginu talaði ekki íslensku og enskan var því á engan hátt farin að hafa áhrif. Enn í dag er elsta kynslóð Íslendinga í Manitoba ekki með sterkan amerískan hreim og það er fólkið sem er fætt í kringum stríð. Það hefði verið gott ef lesarinn hefði aðeins kannað þetta áður en lestur hófst. A
katrinkirjat's review against another edition
3.0
Varjojen kujat oli samaan aikaan tosi hyvä, jännittävä, koukuttava ja yllättävällä tavalla homoseksuaalisuutta käsittelevä, ja kuitenkin aika heppoinen ja vähän kehno. Sellainen, että yritystä oli, taidot eivät riittäneet. Mutta ehdottomasti parempi kuin muutama muu kirjailijan teos.
Lukiessani muun muassa totesin, että: "160 sivulla kerrotaan se, minkä mä arvasin parin ekan sivun jälkeen... voi miten yllättävää."
Tämän jälkeen toistaiseksi enää yksi suomentamaton teos kirjailijalta lukematta. Aion lukea sen. Ja täytyy todeta, että näin 12 islantilaista dekkaria luettuani alan käsittää sitä, mikä dekkareissa koukuttaa :D
Lukiessani muun muassa totesin, että: "160 sivulla kerrotaan se, minkä mä arvasin parin ekan sivun jälkeen... voi miten yllättävää."
Tämän jälkeen toistaiseksi enää yksi suomentamaton teos kirjailijalta lukematta. Aion lukea sen. Ja täytyy todeta, että näin 12 islantilaista dekkaria luettuani alan käsittää sitä, mikä dekkareissa koukuttaa :D