Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This story had so much potential. First, it takes place in Iceland. Second, the murder victim was creepy as hell (pun intended) but has a very human and heartbreaking origin story. Finally, the lawyer-turned-detective seems like a woman I would enjoy hanging out with. But the book has an extremely high ratio of words to action, and characterization is almost non-existent. Why is the lawyer divorced? What are her kids' personalities?
The historical bits about witchcraft are presented verbosely but with little drama. I am no expert in writing, but even I know that the author could have thrown in some first-person passages from an ancient priest in a cave mulling over how to destroy magic spells, or perhaps some childhood diary entries from the German guy who mutilated his body to resemble a demon. Also, if any-or preferably all-of the suspects could have seemed menacing, that would have been fun.
The historical bits about witchcraft are presented verbosely but with little drama. I am no expert in writing, but even I know that the author could have thrown in some first-person passages from an ancient priest in a cave mulling over how to destroy magic spells, or perhaps some childhood diary entries from the German guy who mutilated his body to resemble a demon. Also, if any-or preferably all-of the suspects could have seemed menacing, that would have been fun.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Drug abuse, Murder
Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Pregnancy
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is an intriguing mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. I did not like the amount of focus on the personal life of the main character. I would have preferred if the book had only focused on solving the mystery, but this is an excellent book in any case.
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
I think I would have liked this more if I'd read it in 1-2 sittings. I found it hard to follow at times and it dragged a bit. Matthew, Harald, Thóra, Gunnar; dark magic + witchcraft. End tied up pretty neatly!
Goodreads says that this novel has been published in 30 countries--pretty impressive. One of the dust jacket blurbs remarks that this is "not the usual depressive Scandinavian detective story." Well, sorry, but I happen to really like depressive Scandinavian detectives (like Indridason's Erlendur). Yes, I did like the novel, especially the woman lawyer protagonist who suffers through various personal and domestic tribulations. However, the story suffers from a complete lack of suspense and emotional intensity. (The long, stupid subtitle should have been a hint.) But what do you expect when the major suspects are university faculty members and graduate students? *yawn* I fell asleep at least six times reading it, but managed finally to reach the end. Not even the exotic landscape of Iceland (poor, very poor Iceland nowadays) nor the promise of supernatural thrills are realized in this tepid detective story. If I wanted to be put to sleep, I'd simply get out my copy of "The Critique of Pure Reason." Readers should expect better of a mystery.
