Read the book and you'll long to go to Iceland. The landscape is harsh and brutal, but still beautiful and Indridason captures this perfectly. It's what makes the people who they are. Grief though is universal and he paints its pernicious persistence beautifully; the grasping at straws, the feeling of pointlessness and the way that logic disappears in the face of any faint hope.
There's a creepiness to the story. Part of this is the Icelandic setting and the time of year, but most of it is down to the story which is strikingly original – for large parts of the story I simply couldn't see how it could be resolved, but of course, it is and in startling fashion. It's one of those rare books which will improve with a second reading – the one where you spot the clues and work out how it was done.
The book is translated by Victoria Cribb and she produces a lyrical text which was a pleasure to read.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
If this book appeals , you might like to read an earlier book in the series which we enjoyed. 'Tainted Blood' is now published as [[Tainted Blood by Arnaldur Indridason|Jar City]]. I also enjoyed [[Black Skies by Arnaldur Indridason]].
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