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rox_12's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
flok's review against another edition
4.0
I happened to be halfway through watching season 2 of TV series "Trapped" when this became available from the library, so I was glad that the residents of Siglufjordur got some reprieve in this book!
The two previous novels in the series introduced us to new characters, with some of the action taking place in Reykjavik, as well as Siglufjordur. Here the two policemen, Ari Thor, and Tomas take center stage again as they meet to solve a case at a lighthouse in the remote north. It's the run up to Christmas, and a heavily pregnant Kristin joins Ari Thor on this trip.
A young woman is found dead at the bottom of a cliff - the same spot where both her mother and sister had died years earlier. Suicides? Accidents?
A bit of a huis-clos in this remote hamlet consisting of two households.
Once again, Jónasson does atmosphere beautifully, and in spite of the tiny pool of suspects it's never obvious what happened then and now.
The two previous novels in the series introduced us to new characters, with some of the action taking place in Reykjavik, as well as Siglufjordur. Here the two policemen, Ari Thor, and Tomas take center stage again as they meet to solve a case at a lighthouse in the remote north. It's the run up to Christmas, and a heavily pregnant Kristin joins Ari Thor on this trip.
A young woman is found dead at the bottom of a cliff - the same spot where both her mother and sister had died years earlier. Suicides? Accidents?
A bit of a huis-clos in this remote hamlet consisting of two households.
Once again, Jónasson does atmosphere beautifully, and in spite of the tiny pool of suspects it's never obvious what happened then and now.
ashley_kelmore's review against another edition
4.0
Best for: People who enjoyed his first three books.
In a nutshell: A young woman has fallen off (or jumped? Or been pushed from?) cliffs in the north of Iceland. The twist? Her sister and mother died at those same cliffs 25 years ago. So … what happened?
Why I chose it: I clearly have found a genre I love — Icelandic mysteries. And since something like 10% of the population of Iceland will write a book at some point, my guess is once I finish with his last book (sadness), I can move on to another similar author.
Review:
Asta has decided to return to the home she lived in when she was younger, when her father managed the lighthouse. When she was seven, her mother fell from the cliffs. Or perhaps was pushed? Then soon after, Asta’s sister falls from the same cliffs at only five years old. Asta’s father ends up in psychiatric care, and she is raised by an aunt.
At the home near the lighthouse, two older folks live, having kept the house for over 40 years, since their own mother was housekeeper there. The owner is a prominent businessman who inherited it from his father. A neighbor helps out as well, and all are together when it is revealed that Asta has died.
Was it an accident? Did she jump, following in her mother’s and sister’s footsteps? Was she pushed for what she may have known? Police officer Ari Thor and his wife travel to the town just before Christmas at the request of Ari’s former boss down in Reykjavik, as he needs help, and Ari doesn’t want to leave his pregnant girlfriend behind right at the holidays.
Really the only thing I didn’t enjoy in this book was the absence of Isrun, the journalist who has featured fairly prominently in the previous two books. But even with her missing, the book was a quick and enjoyable read.
In a nutshell: A young woman has fallen off (or jumped? Or been pushed from?) cliffs in the north of Iceland. The twist? Her sister and mother died at those same cliffs 25 years ago. So … what happened?
Why I chose it: I clearly have found a genre I love — Icelandic mysteries. And since something like 10% of the population of Iceland will write a book at some point, my guess is once I finish with his last book (sadness), I can move on to another similar author.
Review:
Asta has decided to return to the home she lived in when she was younger, when her father managed the lighthouse. When she was seven, her mother fell from the cliffs. Or perhaps was pushed? Then soon after, Asta’s sister falls from the same cliffs at only five years old. Asta’s father ends up in psychiatric care, and she is raised by an aunt.
At the home near the lighthouse, two older folks live, having kept the house for over 40 years, since their own mother was housekeeper there. The owner is a prominent businessman who inherited it from his father. A neighbor helps out as well, and all are together when it is revealed that Asta has died.
Was it an accident? Did she jump, following in her mother’s and sister’s footsteps? Was she pushed for what she may have known? Police officer Ari Thor and his wife travel to the town just before Christmas at the request of Ari’s former boss down in Reykjavik, as he needs help, and Ari doesn’t want to leave his pregnant girlfriend behind right at the holidays.
Really the only thing I didn’t enjoy in this book was the absence of Isrun, the journalist who has featured fairly prominently in the previous two books. But even with her missing, the book was a quick and enjoyable read.
snowflakeanddan's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
suzid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another great mystery, or perhaps I should say mysteries from this author. Again set in one of the colder months of the cold area in the cold country of Iceland, hence the title. This time I wondered at some of the decisions by Tomas, as does Ari Thor, he isn't having such a good time in Reykjavik so I hope he can come back to Siglufjordur soon, and with his wife who hopefully has got her wanderlust out of her system.
lunaseline's review against another edition
3.0
Äh. Jag tycker som vanligt.
Jonasson vet mycket om deckare, och har hittat ett sätt att skriva egna. Det är rätt simpelt, kantigt och osofistikerat. Intrigerna är inte särskilt pulshöjande, och karaktärernas liv beskrivs på sätt som aldrig riktigt engagerar.
Men. Det är avkopplande. Särskilt som jag går in i böckerna med lagom låga förväntningar, och medveten om att jag har ett par timmar av blaha framför mig; dock blaha med isländsk bakgrund.
I den här "spin offen" från serien ger även resten av böckerna en extra bakgrund, när huvudpersoner från tidigare utgivning intar biroller. Det funkar - för mig som, tydligen, envisas med att läsa det mesta killen skriver.
Jonasson vet mycket om deckare, och har hittat ett sätt att skriva egna. Det är rätt simpelt, kantigt och osofistikerat. Intrigerna är inte särskilt pulshöjande, och karaktärernas liv beskrivs på sätt som aldrig riktigt engagerar.
Men. Det är avkopplande. Särskilt som jag går in i böckerna med lagom låga förväntningar, och medveten om att jag har ett par timmar av blaha framför mig; dock blaha med isländsk bakgrund.
I den här "spin offen" från serien ger även resten av böckerna en extra bakgrund, när huvudpersoner från tidigare utgivning intar biroller. Det funkar - för mig som, tydligen, envisas med att läsa det mesta killen skriver.
helgamharb's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
Bleak and atmospheric
The body of a young woman is found at the bottom of a cliff in an isolated village in Iceland.
Initially the police assume either she committed suicide or it was an accident. But not for long, as further investigation reveals that the deceased’s mother and later her 5 year old sister have died in the same manner and at the same spot.
Are the three deaths connected to each other? What is the motive behind the deaths?
Bleak and atmospheric
The body of a young woman is found at the bottom of a cliff in an isolated village in Iceland.
Initially the police assume either she committed suicide or it was an accident. But not for long, as further investigation reveals that the deceased’s mother and later her 5 year old sister have died in the same manner and at the same spot.
Are the three deaths connected to each other? What is the motive behind the deaths?
thumbetina's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
3.5
ana_goulart66's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5