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A review by markhoh
The Mist by Ragnar Jónasson
5.0
Ragnar Jónasson’s The Mist, rounds out the reverse order Hidden Iceland trilogy featuring the tragic detective Hulda Hermannsdóttir. The Mist is the third book in this series and takes the reader back yet another ten years into Hulda’s life in the context of a stand alone dark Nordic Noir tale. Iceland is the perfect backdrop for this genre and Jónasson takes full advantage of a bleak winter, where the light is but for a few short hours a day, in the depths of the remote and rugged Icelandic countryside.
The reverse order concept is relatively new for me and Jónasson uses this really well. I had a number of ‘aha’ moments as I came to understand the events that unfolded for Hulda that fully explain the depth of her tragic circumstance. However, The Mist is not just about Hulda and in fact, front and centre of the story is the unfolding of events in remote dark Iceland on Christmas Eve where Jónasson skilfully weaves together a number of threads (including Hulda’s own tragic tale) to come up with a story that is absolutely riveting. I would say that this is my favourite of the three stories although I am feeling compelled to go back and read the first one (or should I say the last one) again, through a set of fresh eyes to see Hulda propelled twenty years into the future.
I must say, I absolutely love Ragnar Jónasson’s writing, falling in love with it in the Dark Iceland series set in the remote northern town of Siglufjörður.
As an Australian man with Icelandic blood in my veins, this story ticked all the boxes for me. 5 big stars!
The reverse order concept is relatively new for me and Jónasson uses this really well. I had a number of ‘aha’ moments as I came to understand the events that unfolded for Hulda that fully explain the depth of her tragic circumstance. However, The Mist is not just about Hulda and in fact, front and centre of the story is the unfolding of events in remote dark Iceland on Christmas Eve where Jónasson skilfully weaves together a number of threads (including Hulda’s own tragic tale) to come up with a story that is absolutely riveting. I would say that this is my favourite of the three stories although I am feeling compelled to go back and read the first one (or should I say the last one) again, through a set of fresh eyes to see Hulda propelled twenty years into the future.
I must say, I absolutely love Ragnar Jónasson’s writing, falling in love with it in the Dark Iceland series set in the remote northern town of Siglufjörður.
As an Australian man with Icelandic blood in my veins, this story ticked all the boxes for me. 5 big stars!