BLOG TOUR: Snowblind: 10th Anniversary Edition, including NEW Dark Iceland series mystery, FADEOUT - Ragnar Jónasson

I'm delighted to repost my review from 2016 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Snowblind by Ragnar Jónasson.  This is still one of my favourite books EVER and this fabulous new edition is a good excuse to reread it, especially as it comes with a brand new prequel, Fadeout.

 

SNOWBLIND

Siglufjörður: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors – accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thór Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik – with a past that he's unable to leave behind. When a young woman is found lying half-naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life.

 

An avalanche and unremitting snowstorms close the mountain pass, and the 24-hour darkness threatens to push Ari over the edge, as curtains begin to twitch, and his investigation becomes increasingly complex, chilling and personal. Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness – blinded by snow, and with a killer on the loose.

 

Taut and terrifying, Snowblind is a startling debut from an extraordinary new talent, taking Nordic Noir to soaring new heights.

 

FADEOUT – NEW!

When Ari Thór Arason receives a staggeringly high bill for a foreign credit card that was taken out in his name, his life takes a turn he never anticipated. The bill in question belongs to his namesake – his father, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances when Ari was only a child.

 

Seeking answers, Ari Thór travels to London to investigate, hoping to learn the truth about what happened to his father all those years ago, and discovering far more than he could ever have imagined…

What did I think (in 2016)?

I've been following Orenda Books on Twitter for quite some time and it's always great to see the excitement caused by the release of a new book.  I thought at one point that Snowblind was going to break Twitter as there were so many tweets about it.  So I listened to my learned fellow book bloggers and headed straight over to Amazon to secure a copy for my Kindle.  I even have to admit that at the time I purchased Snowblind, I didn't even have a Kindle so what a good excuse to buy one!

Ari Thór accepts a job offer which results in him moving North on his own, leaving behind his girlfriend.  His girlfriend doesn't seem that upset, to be honest; she seems colder than the snow up north.  When he arrives in Siglufjörður he's told that it's a quiet village and nothing ever happens there, so there's no need to even lock doors at night.  Then a famous author, now part of the dramatic society at the local theare, falls to his death.  Was it an accident or was he pushed?  It's Siglufjörður, so surely he just fell down the stairs...at least that's what the police think until Ari Thór disturbs an intruder in his house one night and a young woman is found bleeding to death in the snow.  Things have certainly started happening in quiet peaceful Siglufjörður.  Has the snow brought this madness or are there some underlying secrets just bursting to be revealed?

Snowblind is so very atmospheric that I had to put an extra warm layer of clothes on just to read it.  I felt as if Ari Thór was the only normal person in the village and all of the villagers had hidden agendas.  They do all have secrets to some degree, which is no mean feat in a town where everybody knows everybody's business.  I found the snow to be a perfect setting, it almost absorbed all of the background noise giving the story a good pace without it being too busy and over-worked.  

I've also got to mention an excellent idea that Ragnar Jónasson has now introduced to me through reading Snowblind.  Ari Thór has a Christmas tradition of receiving a new book as a gift on Christmas Eve and reading it late into the night.  I'm definitely adopting this tradition!

My rating:

Buy it from:

Orenda Books

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Dark as Night (An Áróra Investigation Book 4) - Lilja Sigurðardóttir

When Áróra receives a call telling her that a child she’s never met is claiming to be her missing sister reincarnated, she is devastated … as ridiculous as the allegations might seem. For three years she has been searching for her sister without finding a single clue, and now this strange child seems to have new information.

On the same day, Icelandic detective Daníel returns home to find a note from his tenant, drag queen Lady Gúgúlú, giving notice on her flat and explaining that she has to leave the country. Daníel is immediately suspicious, and when three threatening men appear, looking for Lady, it’s clear to him that something is very wrong…

And as Iceland’s long dark nights continue into springtime, that is just the very beginning…

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness I couldn't read this brilliant book fast enough!  I was completely hooked from  the start, even though I've jumped straight into this already established series at book four.  I definitely want to read the earlier books now that I have read this one as I loved the characters of Áróra and Daníel.

The Icelandic setting is fantastic and I really felt as if I was there as the writing is so vivid that I could easily visualise the volcanic landscape.  There's a double mystery to solve with Áróra continuing her search for her missing sister and Daníel's tenant suddenly leaving under suspicious circumstances.

I really felt for Áróra when a child claims to be the reincarnation of her sister Ísafold.  To accept the child really is Ísafold is to accept that Ísafold is dead but her body has never been found so Áróra still has a tiny bit of hope left.  Surely Áróra is being conned, but for what purpose?  The reincarnation subject is handled very sensitively and, whether or not you believe in reincarnation, it's certainly very thought-provoking. 

Perfectly plotted and beautifully written, Dark as Night is my first Lilja Sigurðardóttir novel and it definitely won't be my last as I already have my eye on the earlier books in the series.  Lorenza Garcia's translation is so flawless that it feels as if the book was originally written in English.  Very highly recommended, even if you're new to the series.

I received a digital ARC for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Bestselling crime-writer Lilja Sigurðardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written ten crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavík Noir trilogy, and her standalone thriller Betrayal, all of which have hit bestseller lists worldwide and been long- and shortlisted for multiple awards. The film rights for the Reykjavík Noir trilogy have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California, and the An Áróra Investigation series is now in production for a major TV series. Cold as Hell was published in the UK in 2021 and reprinted twice, followed by Red as Blood and White as Snow, both number-one digital bestsellers. Lilja lives outside of Reykjavík with her partner and a brood of chickens. 

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The Girl Who Died - Ragnar Jónasson

'TEACHER WANTED ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD . . .'

Una knows she is struggling to deal with her father's sudden, tragic suicide. She spends her nights drinking alone in Reykjavik, stricken with thoughts that she might one day follow in his footsteps.

So when she sees an advert seeking a teacher for two girls in the tiny village of Skálar - population of ten - on the storm-battered north coast of the island, she sees it as a chance to escape.

But once she arrives, Una quickly realises nothing in city life has prepared her for this. The villagers are unfriendly. The weather is bleak. And, from the creaky attic bedroom of the old house where she's living, she's convinced she hears the ghostly sound of singing.

Una worries that she's losing her mind.

And then, just before midwinter, a young girl from the village is found dead. Now there are only nine villagers left - and Una fears that one of them has blood on their hands . . .

What did I think?

In his first standalone thriller, The Girl Who Died, Ragnar Jónasson shows once again why he is considered one of today's greatest crime writers.  After that amazing first line ('Teacher wanted at the edge of the world') the story builds up like layers of snow, at first seeming soft and gentle but getting more dangerous as times goes on.

Skálar is the village on the edge of the world that troubled teacher Una is drawn to.  This really is a village where everybody knows everybody as there is only a population of ten with two children in the school.  When Una arrives in Skálar there is a creepy welcome from a girl at the window dressed in white; she thinks it must be the little girl who lives in the house...but is it?

As Una gets to know people in the village they make their feelings for her quite clear: apart from Salka who requested a teacher for her daughter Edda, none of them want her there.  With creepy singing in her ear at night and such a frosty welcome, it's no wonder that Una turns to alcohol and this throws a shadow of doubt on her reliability.  With a ghost, a death, a missing person and an historic crime thrown into the mix, there are a couple of mysteries to solve and I love how they are woven together so seamlessly to create a hugely intriguing page-turner.  

I actually exclaimed (WTF?!?) out loud at one point as I got such a shock because of the way that Ragnar Jónasson's hypnotic prose seems to lull us into a false sense of security before pulling the rug out from under us.  It's absolutely stunning writing from Ragnar Jónasson and fantastic translation by Victoria Cribb.         

Claustrophobic, atmospheric and simply brilliant, The Girl Who Died is a masterclass in crime writing from Ragnar Jónasson.  Very highly recommended and one I will definitely read again.  

I received an ARC from the publisher and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Winterkill (Dark Iceland 6) - Ragnar Jónasson

 

A blizzard is approaching Siglufjörður, and that can only mean one thing…

When the body of a nineteen-year-old girl is found on the main street of Siglufjörður, Police Inspector Ari Thór battles a violent Icelandic storm in an increasingly dangerous hunt for her killer … The chilling, claustrophobic finale to the international bestselling Dark Iceland series.

Easter weekend is approaching, and snow is gently falling in Siglufjörður, the northernmost town in Iceland, as crowds of tourists arrive to visit the majestic ski slopes.

Ari Thór Arason is now a police inspector, but he’s separated from his girlfriend, who lives in Sweden with their three-year-old son. A family reunion is planned for the holiday, but a violent blizzard is threatening and there is an unsettling chill in the air.

Three days before Easter, a nineteen-year-old local girl falls to her death from the balcony of a house on the main street. A perplexing entry in her diary suggests that this may not be an accident, and when an old man in a local nursing home writes ‘She was murdered’ again and again on the wall of his room, there is every suggestion that something more sinister lies at the heart of her death…

As the extreme weather closes in, cutting the power and access to Siglufjörður, Ari Thór must piece together the puzzle to reveal a horrible truth … one that will leave no one unscathed.

Chilling, claustrophobic and disturbing, Winterkill is a startling addition to the multi-million-copy bestselling Dark Iceland series and cements Ragnar Jónasson as one of the most exciting and acclaimed authors in crime fiction.

What did I think?

I have not read a Ragnar Jónasson book that was anything less than brilliant and Winterkill is no exception.  Winterkill, translated by David Warriner, is the stunning conclusion to the fantastic Dark Iceland series and although I'm sad to say goodbye to Ari Thór Arason, I'm mindful that it's only au revoir as I plan to read this amazing series all over again.

You could definitely read Winterkill as a standalone novel as the storyline is brilliant and the characters are so well developed, however, reading the earlier books explains the foibles of Ari Thór's character.  Ari Thór is a bit of an odd character but I really like him; he's not very proactive in life, expecting things to fall in his lap with little effort which is how he's living alone and stuck in Siglufjörður, dreaming of a future life in Reykjavík.

Ari Thór looks like he has a simple case of suicide after a teenager plunges to her death from a balcony.  As it's not her home, the only loose end is the question of what she was doing there.  The case becomes more complicated when a resident in a nursing home writes a message on his wall after overhearing his carers talking about the girl's suicide: 'She was murdered'.  What does the old man know that Ari Thór doesn't?  

With such a razor sharp plot, I hope Ragnar Jónasson didn't cut himself when writing Winterkill.  It's just brilliant from start to finish, impossible to second-guess and even more impossible to put down.  Ragnar Jónasson is one of the best crime writers I have ever read; his writing cleverly builds layer upon layer of suspense in keeping with the snow falling in Siglufjörður.  I am completely in awe of Ragnar Jónasson's writing talent and I am delighted that the Dark Iceland series has been optioned for TV; I can't wait to see Ari Thór on my screen.

Winterkill is tense, ominous and chilling so wrap up warm, put the kettle on and sit down with one of the best books you'll read this year.  Very highly recommended and once again Ragnar 'Five Star' Jónasson is awarded my highest possible rating.

I received an ebook to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Icelandic crime writer Ragnar Jónasson was born in Reykjavík, and currently works as a lawyer, while teacher copyright law at the Reykjavík University Law School. In the past, he’s worked in TV and radio, including as a news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. 

Before embarking on a writing career, Ragnar translated fourteen Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic, and has had several short stories published in German, English and Icelandic literary magazines. Ragnar set up the first overseas chapter of the CWA (Crime Writers’ Association) in Reykjavík, and is co-founder of the International crime-writing festival Iceland Noir. 

Ragnar’s debut thriller, Snowblind became an almost instant bestseller when it was published in June 2015 with Nightblind (winner of the Dead Good Reads Most  Captivating Crime in Translation Award) and then Blackout, Rupture and Whiteout following soon after. To date, Ragnar Jónasson has written five novels in the Dark Iceland series, which has been optioned for TV by On the Corner. He lives in Reykjavík with his wife and two daughters.

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BLOG TOUR: The Mist - Ragnar Jónasson

 

1987. An isolated farm house in the east of Iceland.

The snowstorm should have shut everybody out. But it didn't.

The couple should never have let him in. But they did.

An unexpected guest, a liar, a killer. Not all will survive the night. And Detective Hulda will be haunted forever . . .

What did I think?

STOP! Don't read my review - just buy the book!  It's THAT good.  Or more seriously, read my review really fast until you reach the buy links near the bottom, click to buy and wait until one of the BEST books you'll read this year lands on your doormat.

I absolutely love Ragnar Jónasson's Dark Iceland series starring police officer Ari Thór Arason, but I completely missed that he had published this Hidden Iceland series starring Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdottir.  The Mist is the third book in the series but you can totally read it as a standalone, while you wait for your order of the previous two books to arrive, as you'll want to read them as soon as you've read The Mist.

The prologue is set in February 1988 with Hulda Hermannsdottir returning to work after some time off.  My little antenna of curiosity stood to attention as I desperately wanted to know what had happened to Hulda and I thought I'd made a terrible mistake in jumping in at the third book in the series, but fear not because Ragnar Jónasson rolls back the clock a few months and Hulda's JAW DROPPING story will be revealed within this very book.  So get your reading skates on as there's some speed reading to do!

Oh my word, Ragnar Jónasson's magnificent writing is an absolute pleasure to read.  Impeccably translated from Icelandic to English by Victoria Cribb, you can't tell at all that it's a translated book.  The prose is exquisite, building tension layer upon layer just like the snow falling during the storm.  Snow that you can 'feel' without having to look outside.  How true is that?  It's like we have a sixth sense that makes us draw back the curtains to find that our street has been coated in blanket of snow.

I'm going to say very little about the plot so that I don't spoil it, but I previously mentioned Hulda's very intriguing story and this gives us a dual storyline in between the murders that she is investigating.  Both storylines have little cliffhangers at the end of their chapters so that you are compelled to keep reading, so brew a big pot of coffee as you'll be up all night reading The Mist.  The Mist is so good, it's a read it in one-sitting book; I definitely wasn't going to go to sleep until I'd finished it!

It was through reading Ragnar Jónasson's books that I found out about Jólabókaflóðið, the Icelandic Christmas book flood, and there's another fabulous Icelandic tradition mentioned in The Mist: buying new clothes to ward off 'The Christmas Cat'.  According to Icelandic legend, this is an evil cat that eats children who don't get any new clothes for Christmas.  Although we don't have a similar British equivalent, it perhaps explains why we get horrific knitted jumpers from our grandparents when we're young!

Brilliant from beginning to end, The Mist is one of the best books I've read this year.  Perfectly plotted, fast paced and completely addictive, The Mist is an exceptional thriller that is impossible to put down.  This is such an outstanding book that a five star rating feels woefully inadequate; I really can't recommend it highly enough.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a gifted book to read and review; all opinions are my own. 

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

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COVER REVEAL: The Girl Who Died - Ragnar Jónasson

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the cover reveal of the new Ragnar Jónasson book today.  The Girl Who Died is Ragnar's first standalone novel and it's being published on 29 April 2021.  I can barely contain my excitement so let's have a look at the cover before I burst!!

This cover really sets the scene for what I'm sure will be an AWESOME book, it's dark, snowy and isolated - I've got chills already!  You can read the synopsis of the book below, where you can also find out more about the author and most importantly, click on that preorder link.

Here's a little bit about the book:

Una is devastated after the suicide of her father. So when she sees an advert seeking a teacher for two girls in Skálar on the storm-battered north coast of the island, she sees it as a chance to escape.

But once she arrives, Una quickly realises nothing in city life has prepared her for this. The villagers are unfriendly. The weather is bleak. And, from the creaky attic bedroom in the old house she's living, she's convinced she hears the ghostly sound of singing.

Una worries that she's losing her mind. And then, just before Christmas, there's a death in the village…

About the author:

RAGNAR JÓNASSON was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he works as a writer and a lawyer. He also teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University, and has worked as a TV news reporter for Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. He is the author of the DARK ICELAND series (Snowblind, Nightblind, Blackout, Rupture and Whiteout) and the HIDDEN ICELAND series (The Darkness, The Island, The Mist).

Ragnar is the co-founder of Iceland Noir, Iceland’s first crime fiction festival. From the age of 17, Ragnar translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic; a practice that has inspired his own writing. 

Follow him on Twitter @Ragnarjo

Preorder link:

Waterstones

BLOG TOUR: Storytellers - Bjørn Larssen

Today as part of the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour for Storytellers by Bjørn Larssen, I have my review and a giveaway for you, so do remember to scroll right down to enter.

In March 1920 Icelandic days are short and cold, but the nights are long. For most, on those nights, funny, sad, and dramatic stories are told around the fire. But there is nothing dramatic about Gunnar, a hermit blacksmith who barely manages to make ends meet. He knows nobody will remember him – they already don’t. All he wants is peace, the company of his animals, and a steady supply of his medication. Sometimes he wonders what it would feel like to have a story of his own. He’s about to find out.

Sigurd – a man with a plan, a broken ankle, and shocking amounts of money – won’t talk about himself, but is happy to tell a story that just might get Gunnar killed. The blacksmith's other “friends” are just as eager to write him into stories of their own – from Brynhildur who wants to fix Gunnar, then marry him, his doctor who is on the precipice of calling for an intervention, The Conservative Women of Iceland who want to rehabilitate Gunnar’s “heathen ways” – even the wretched elf has plans for the blacksmith.

As his defenses begin to crumble, Gunnar decides that perhaps his life is due for a change – on his own terms. But can he avoid the endings others have in mind for him, and forge his own?

What did I think?

I've always been fascinated by the Northern Lights so I have to draw your attention to the amazing cover of Storytellers.  If I thought that was good, there's a passage describing the aurora borealis that really took my breath away.  The story isn't about the night sky though; it's just an added bonus as the scenery of Iceland is depicted by the colourful words of Bjørn Larssen.

I really like the character of Gunnar; he's a solitary chap who brews his own moonshine (his medicine) and can happily do without human interaction, after all he has his trusty dog, Ragnar, and a crazily slow moving horse with a mind of her own named Karl.  Gunnar's solitude is brought to an end when he finds a man with a broken ankle and brings him home to recuperate.  To pass the time, Sigurd tells Gunnar the story of Arnar who returns from America with his love Juana to set up home in Iceland.  What starts as a harmless story soon takes on a sinister edge as the past and present collide.

I had no idea of the direction in which the story was going to go and, although I was a bit confused with the Icelandic character names, I have to say that I rather enjoyed it.  It had an aura of possibility where anything could happen under the dancing lights of the sky; even a ginger elf started to appear and talk to Gunnar - his moonshine must be pretty potent stuff.  Gunnar trying to escape the clutches of Brynhildur amused me; she has really set her sights on him and she's not a woman you can easily say no to.  Other women you can't say no to are The Conservative Women of Iceland who descend on Gunnar with their bibles and crosses.  No wonder the poor man drinks!

Storytellers is a very cleverly plotted dual storyline novel that shifts and blurs reality like the aurora borealis.  Bjørn Larssen's words paint such a vivid picture that I had clear pictures in my mind as I was reading the book; his amazing imagination has been transferred to the page beautifully with an added sprinkling of humour that caused quite a few giggles as I was reading.  If you're looking for an unusual book that doesn't fit solely in any one genre, then you've found it in Storytellers.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon UK or Amazon US



About the author:

Bjørn Larssen was made in Poland. He is mostly located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, except for his heart which he lost in Iceland. Born in 1977, he self-published his first graphic novel at the age of seven in a limited edition of one. Since then his short stories and essays were published in Rita Baum Art Magazine, Writer Unboxed, Inaczej Magazine), Edurada.pl, Homiki.pl, and Holandia Expat Magazine. He is a member of Alliance of Independent Authors and Writer Unboxed.

Bjørn has a Master of Science degree in mathematics, worked as a graphic designer, a model, and a blacksmith. He used to speak eight languages (currently down to two and a half). His hobbies include sitting by open fires, dressing like an extra from Vikings, installing operating systems, and dreaming about living in a log cabin in the north of Iceland, even though he hates being cold. He has only met an elf once. So far.

Social Media Links –

www.twitter.com/bjornlarssen

www.facebook.com/bjornlarssenwriter

GIVEAWAY

Giveaway to Win 5 x copies of “Iceland: Making Memories” (INT)

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Rupture (Dark Iceland #4) - Ragnar Jónasson

1955. Two young couples move to the uninhabited, isolated fjord of Hedinsfjörður. Their stay ends abruptly when one of the women meets her death in mysterious circumstances. The case is never solved. Fifty years later an old photograph comes to light, and it becomes clear that the couples may not have been alone on the fjord after all…

In nearby Siglufjörður, young policeman Ari Thór tries to piece together what really happened that fateful night, in a town where no one wants to know, where secrets are a way of life. He’s assisted by Ísrún, a news reporter in Reykjavik, who is investigating an increasingly chilling case of her own. Things take a sinister turn when a child goes missing in broad daylight. With a stalker on the loose, and the town of Siglufjörður in quarantine, the past might just come back to haunt them. 

Haunting, frightening and complex, Rupture is a dark and atmospheric thriller from one of Iceland’s foremost crime writers. 

What did I think?

Rupture is another of the Dark Iceland series that is set before Book 2, Nightblind.  Again, I do wish I had read them in the order that they were written rather than the order in which they were translated (and bought), as if I needed such a brilliant excuse to read the whole series again!

I loved the Agatha Christie feel to this book, with Ari Thór investigating a cold case from 50 years ago, all based around an intriguing old photograph.  It has the added menace of a deadly virus outbreak which leads to Siglufjörður being on lockdown, so with nobody being able to get in our out, Ari Thór can concentrate on solving this murder from the 1950's.  I do love the character of Ari Thór; he is such a cool iceman who has no thought for people's feelings and just says what he thinks.  

With the reintroduction of Ísrún, the reporter we met in Blackout, another layer is added as Ari Thór utilises her investigative skills.  Ísrún is investigating a missing child so we have two mysteries to solve in Rupture and I loved untangling the threads of both of these brilliant 'whodunnit' storylines.

Like I have said before, Ragnar Jónasson has the ability to conjure such detailed images in the readers' minds through his impeccable writing.  The scenery is breathtakingly described and I have such a vivid image of Siglufjörður in my head that every time I read a Dark Iceland book, I feel like I am actually there.  I love the pace and length of these books, they pack such a lot into their short length and this is most definitely a case of quality over quantity.  As dark as they are, they always leave me looking forward to my next visit to Siglufjörður.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Blackout (Dark Iceland 3) - Ragnar Jónasson

On the shores of a tranquil fjord in Northern Iceland, a man is brutally beaten to death on a bright summer’s night. As the 24-hour light of the arctic summer is transformed into darkness by an ash cloud from a recent volcanic eruption, a young reporter leaves Reykajvik to investigate on her own, unaware that an innocent person’s life hangs in the balance. Ari Thór Arason and his colleagues on the tiny police force in Siglufjörður struggle with an increasingly perplexing case, while their own serious personal problems push them to the limit. What secrets does the dead man harbour, and what is the young reporter hiding? As silent, unspoken horrors from the past threaten them all, and the darkness deepens, it’s a race against time to find the killer before someone else dies…

What did I think?

The fantastic cover of Blackout gives some hint of the creeping darkness in this third instalment of the Dark Iceland series - I bought an ebook but I think it would have looked even better 'in the flesh'.

As an ash cloud threatens to turn the country into darkness, a brutal murder is committed in Iceland.  I used to want to visit Iceland, but I'm having second thoughts after all the murders portrayed in Ragnar Jónasson's books; they are so very realistic that you forget they are fiction.  I even think of Ari Thór as an old friend, one who's annoying at times but he is a cool iceman after all.

I felt like there were a lot of characters in Blackout, and being set before book 2, Nightblind, it didn't take much to confuse me.  As much as I didn't know who was who at times, it didn't stop me enjoying the story but I do wish that I had read Blackout before Nightblind.  As I've come to expect with Ragnar's books, the elements are painted as characters in their own right and there was nothing more menacing than an ash cloud from a volcanic eruption.  

I particularly loved the new character of Isrún, a young journalist, who is determined to get her story before the darkness descends.  We dig a little into Isrún's family history which was my favourite part of the story, being almost a dual storyline and the thread which kept me turning page after page.

The whole Dark Iceland series is set to be a classic series for crime fiction lovers.  You don't get much darker than Icelandic Noir and Blackout will have you turning the pages until all its dark and chilling secrets are revealed.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Whiteout (Dark Iceland #5) - Ragnar Jónasson

Two days before Christmas, a young woman is found dead beneath the cliffs of the deserted village of Kálfshamarvík. Did she jump, or did something more sinister take place beneath the lighthouse and the abandoned old house on the remote rocky outcrop? 

With winter closing in and the snow falling relentlessly, Ari Thór Arason discovers that the victim's mother and young sister also lost their lives in this same spot, twenty-five years earlier. As the dark history and its secrets of the village are unveiled, and the death toll begins to rise, the Siglufjordur detectives must race against the clock to find the killer, before another tragedy takes place. 

Dark, chilling and complex, Whiteout is a haunting, atmospheric and stunningly plotted thriller from one of Iceland's bestselling crime writers.

What did I think?

A new book from Ragnar Jónasson causes such excitement in the reading community as so many readers, myself included, eagerly await the next adventure of Ari Thór Arason.  I was shivering in anticipation of the chilly temperatures and the chilling storyline I might find in this latest instalment of the Dark Iceland series.  As with it's predecessors, Whiteout is set before the events of Nightblind but I wasn't confused at having read Nightblind much earlier, it just felt like it slotted in nicely to fill in a few blanks.

Whiteout has chills throughout from the snowy cover to the almost ghostly feel as 3 women from the same family are compelled to throw themselves over the cliffs at the same spot but several years apart.  Ásta is the latest victim: her death appears to be suicide but the police think something more sinister could be at play when they find out that both her sister and her mother perished after falling from the very same cliffs.  

Tómas is still settling into the Reykjavik police force and feels like he has something to prove so he calls on his ex-colleague, Ari Thór Arason, to help him with this case.  Ari Thór has recently been reunited with his girlfriend, Kristín, and he won't make the same mistake twice about accepting a job without consulting her.  Kristín, even in her current state and so close to Christmas, is surprisingly amenable and agrees to accompany Ari Thór to the eerie semi-deserted village of Kálfshamarvík.  With few people still living there, the ones that remain all happen to have been there at the time of all three deaths.  Certain that the killer is among them, Tómas and Ari Thór have no intention of declaring Ásta's death a suicide so they can get home in time for Christmas.  

After feeling a little overwhelmed with characters and Icelandic place names in Blackout and Rupture, I felt that Whiteout brings us back to the old-fashioned whodunnit murder mystery style of Snowblind and Nightblind.  There were just the right number of characters for me to keep track of and I loved the coastal location.  I could just imagine the craggy headland with the lighthouse standing proud and aloof, seeing everything with its bright eye and holding all the village secrets in its locked tower.

Although I do love the main character of Ari Thór, I don't think he is the easiest guy to get along with; he doesn't seem to let people get too close to him.  I'm sure there is a good reason for this and there is perhaps a hint of why this could be at the end of Whiteout which left us with a nice little teaser to keep us on tenterhooks until the next instalment...which I hope is in the not too distant future!

Whiteout is another superb instalment of what is turning out to be a majestic crime series and it's one of those series that is so atmospheric that, even though you know the ending, you could read it over again and enjoy it every bit as much as the first time.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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