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Operation Napoleon by Arnaldur Indridason (view source)
Revision as of 17:17, 5 September 2011
, 17:17, 5 September 2011no edit summary
Kristin is a lawyer. She's not keen on the Icelandic wilderness, but she's determined to find out what has happened to her brother and to make sure that whoever is responsible pays for what they have done. It's not just a proactive approach either – when two men come to her flat and she comes close to being murdered she realises that she has to keep ahead of them and find out what has happened to her brother. But what can it be that the Americans are so keen to keep secret about the plane on the glacier? What can be so important after all these years? There are rumours of gold bullion, a hydrogen bomb or a deadly virus. There's also a wish amongst the Americans that the plane had remained hidden for ever.
I'm a fan of Arnaldur Indridason and particularly of his [[Outrage by Arnaldur Indridason|Detective Erlendur]] police procedurals so this pacey thriller was something of a diversion for me. I was particularly taken by the feisty heroine – it's usually a man in these situations – and the background to the presence of the Americans on Iceland which creates ambivalence towards the them amongst a number of Icelanders.
So, great heroine and good characterisation, but it's the plot that really stood out for me. I really couldn't see where it was going and was shocked as I turned the final pages. So obvious, so clever and so ingenious. Great stuff.