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chaotic_wholesome's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
raven88's review against another edition
5.0
Ragnar Jonasson’s quality as a crime writer need no further commendation from me, but truthfully, I would say that this has been my favourite of the series to date. I found the writing wonderfully understated, and the whole book exuded an air of English Gothic fiction, with women hurling themselves from cliffs, and the sinister backdrop of the all-seeing lighthouse, compounded by the revelations of very dark pernicious behaviour indeed. I found it tense, involving, and as usual there was a great harmony between the intensity of the criminal investigation itself, and the playing out of Ari’s domestic situation, and his eagerness to progress in his police career.
edgwareviabank's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
After a disappointing experience trying to get into Ragnar Jónasson's Hidden Iceland series, I was glad to come across Whiteout at the library, knowing that going back to the Dark Iceland series would be a safe bet. I've given up on reading it in any sort of order, other than what's available to borrow, and so this is the third Dark Iceland book for me (I read Snowblind and Nightblind before).
The aspects of Whiteout I enjoyed the most are very much the same as the other books. First and foremost, the mood and pace of the mystery, almost a modern twist on an Agatha Christie plot. When it comes to crime novels, my preferences lean heavily towards Nordic Noir; even so, there's only so many gory plots, sadistic killers and tormented detectives I can read about in a row. The Dark Iceland series is a welcome break from all this, even though long winters, breathtaking landscapes, isolation, and a plunge or two into the dark folds of the human mind are still key features. The latter is almost inevitable when fiction revolves around catching a murderer, and, to its credit, Whiteout never feels graphic or morbid (I will add a couple trigger warnings in case the specific flavours of trauma in some of the characters' pasts are a dealbreaker to anyone).
It's an advantage that the book is fairly fast-paced, as I was looking for a story I'd quickly become absorbed by. Being familiar with the main characters and wanting to know them better helped with that: even the relationship between Ari Thór and Kristín, which goes through rocky moments elsewhere in the series, feels settled enough in Whiteout that it's possible to see sides of them the other books didn't spend much time on.
That said, the plot goes a little too fast towards the end, and that's why this is a 3.5 and not a 4. I read the ebook on my phone, and page numbers weren't constantly within my sight as they'd have been with a physical book. In other words, I had no idea when I was approaching the final reveal. When it came, I felt it was too soon; most plot twists up to that point were easy to spot from chapters away, and the only one that felt major to me led to arresting the culprit within a few paragraphs. It also wasn't much of a surprise, and that's the risk when the pool of suspects is as narrow as it is in this book: a "closed room" mystery that could have done with a couple more guests before the doors were locked.
All in all, I enjoyed this, and will continue to look out for the Dark Iceland books I'm missing: the series is still one of the best I know in the contemporary crime and mystery genre, and still a resounding recommendation from me.
The aspects of Whiteout I enjoyed the most are very much the same as the other books. First and foremost, the mood and pace of the mystery, almost a modern twist on an Agatha Christie plot. When it comes to crime novels, my preferences lean heavily towards Nordic Noir; even so, there's only so many gory plots, sadistic killers and tormented detectives I can read about in a row. The Dark Iceland series is a welcome break from all this, even though long winters, breathtaking landscapes, isolation, and a plunge or two into the dark folds of the human mind are still key features. The latter is almost inevitable when fiction revolves around catching a murderer, and, to its credit, Whiteout never feels graphic or morbid (I will add a couple trigger warnings in case the specific flavours of trauma in some of the characters' pasts are a dealbreaker to anyone).
It's an advantage that the book is fairly fast-paced, as I was looking for a story I'd quickly become absorbed by. Being familiar with the main characters and wanting to know them better helped with that: even the relationship between Ari Thór and Kristín, which goes through rocky moments elsewhere in the series, feels settled enough in Whiteout that it's possible to see sides of them the other books didn't spend much time on.
That said, the plot goes a little too fast towards the end, and that's why this is a 3.5 and not a 4. I read the ebook on my phone, and page numbers weren't constantly within my sight as they'd have been with a physical book. In other words, I had no idea when I was approaching the final reveal. When it came, I felt it was too soon; most plot twists up to that point were easy to spot from chapters away, and the only one that felt major to me led to arresting the culprit within a few paragraphs. It also wasn't much of a surprise, and that's the risk when the pool of suspects is as narrow as it is in this book: a "closed room" mystery that could have done with a couple more guests before the doors were locked.
All in all, I enjoyed this, and will continue to look out for the Dark Iceland books I'm missing: the series is still one of the best I know in the contemporary crime and mystery genre, and still a resounding recommendation from me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Suicide
karlou's review against another edition
5.0
It's a bittersweet review today as this is the last book of the Dark Iceland series. I only read the first book, Snowblind a few months ago but certain books steal their way into your heart and Ragnar Jónasson's stories have done just that. The events in Whiteout occur between the previous book published in the UK, Rupture and the second book released here, Nightblind. It opens with one of the most memorable prologues I've ever read; in just a few lines the scene is set for an appalling tragedy as it recounts the last few moments of a little girl before she falls from a clifftop to her death. This bleak start is soon mirrored by a second tragedy when a second person, Ásta - the now adult sister of the first little girl who died - falls to her death from the same cliff. When it transpires that the girls' mother also died in an apparent suicide from the same place then questions need to be asked, and Ari Thór's old boss, Tómas is the man brought in to investigate. He asks for Ari Thór to assist him with the case and before long the pair are drawn into the dark secrets of the inhabitants of an impressive but lonely house in the remote former village of Kálfshamarvík.
What follows is, in many ways a contemporary tribute to the Golden Age of crime fiction as Ragnar Jónasson gives us his version of the closed circle mysteries that are perhaps most synonymous with Agatha Christie. Instead of an English country house, the setting here is a harsh Icelandic outcrop where the raging seas and high winds batter and shape the land, and which becomes a sort of metaphor for turbulent emotions that end up causing these grim tragedies. Was Ásta's death a suicide or does somebody have her blood on their hands? The suspects; the elderly brother and sister housekeepers, Óskar and Thóra, property owner and well-known businessman, Reynir Ákason and neighbour, Arnór all seem know more than they're letting on. A second death casts a further shadow over the proceedings and is especially poignant so near to Christmas. As the two police officers try to figure out the truth, Ari Thór must also confront his own past. He can't help but be struck by the similarities between himself and the tragic Ásta , both having lost their parents at a young age. Now about to become a father himself, this case proves to be an affecting one for Ari Thór as his fears about his imminent new role are juxtaposed with his sense of loss and the sudden realisation that his own father only had a few short years between the birth of his son and his death.
Ari Thór can't help but question whether he has been using his time as well as he could, something that becomes a theme in Whiteout as we learn more about the foiled hopes and dreams, and the wasted opportunities of the few inhabitants of this lonely area. The timeless quality to the novel continues as the officers are forced to wait for the results of forensic tests due to Kálfshamarvík's distance from Reykjavik, particularly with Christmas just days away. Although this is a modern police investigation, the scientific proof will have to be the final jigsaw pieces in a case that must be tackled the old fashioned way, through astute interviews and intuition. Red herrings abound as Tómas and Ari Thór look into the dark history of this oppressive house which seems to have cast a long shadow over its various inhabitants over the years. The contrast between the terrible events that have occurred here and the simple warmth and traditions of an Icelandic Christmas couldn't be more striking. I've loved each of the Dark Iceland books for the immersive sense of atmosphere that Ragnar Jónasson evokes and Whiteout is no different. It takes a very special writer to create something quite so beautiful, to capture the sense of place and to write with such empathy and insight. As with other books in the series this is a rather melancholy story and yet the haunting and beautiful prose completely captivated me. I felt such a mix of emotions when I reached the last page, the satisfaction of reading a novel that I'd become so engrossed in I lost track of time then the sad realisation that my time with Ari Thór has reached its conclusion. I will be returning to these books again of course but for now all I can do is thank Ragnar (and brilliant translator, Quentin Bates) for this truly wonderful book and series.
What follows is, in many ways a contemporary tribute to the Golden Age of crime fiction as Ragnar Jónasson gives us his version of the closed circle mysteries that are perhaps most synonymous with Agatha Christie. Instead of an English country house, the setting here is a harsh Icelandic outcrop where the raging seas and high winds batter and shape the land, and which becomes a sort of metaphor for turbulent emotions that end up causing these grim tragedies. Was Ásta's death a suicide or does somebody have her blood on their hands? The suspects; the elderly brother and sister housekeepers, Óskar and Thóra, property owner and well-known businessman, Reynir Ákason and neighbour, Arnór all seem know more than they're letting on. A second death casts a further shadow over the proceedings and is especially poignant so near to Christmas. As the two police officers try to figure out the truth, Ari Thór must also confront his own past. He can't help but be struck by the similarities between himself and the tragic Ásta , both having lost their parents at a young age. Now about to become a father himself, this case proves to be an affecting one for Ari Thór as his fears about his imminent new role are juxtaposed with his sense of loss and the sudden realisation that his own father only had a few short years between the birth of his son and his death.
Ari Thór can't help but question whether he has been using his time as well as he could, something that becomes a theme in Whiteout as we learn more about the foiled hopes and dreams, and the wasted opportunities of the few inhabitants of this lonely area. The timeless quality to the novel continues as the officers are forced to wait for the results of forensic tests due to Kálfshamarvík's distance from Reykjavik, particularly with Christmas just days away. Although this is a modern police investigation, the scientific proof will have to be the final jigsaw pieces in a case that must be tackled the old fashioned way, through astute interviews and intuition. Red herrings abound as Tómas and Ari Thór look into the dark history of this oppressive house which seems to have cast a long shadow over its various inhabitants over the years. The contrast between the terrible events that have occurred here and the simple warmth and traditions of an Icelandic Christmas couldn't be more striking. I've loved each of the Dark Iceland books for the immersive sense of atmosphere that Ragnar Jónasson evokes and Whiteout is no different. It takes a very special writer to create something quite so beautiful, to capture the sense of place and to write with such empathy and insight. As with other books in the series this is a rather melancholy story and yet the haunting and beautiful prose completely captivated me. I felt such a mix of emotions when I reached the last page, the satisfaction of reading a novel that I'd become so engrossed in I lost track of time then the sad realisation that my time with Ari Thór has reached its conclusion. I will be returning to these books again of course but for now all I can do is thank Ragnar (and brilliant translator, Quentin Bates) for this truly wonderful book and series.
chronicles_of_cait's review against another edition
4.0
This book was my very first venture into the Dark Iceland series and I feel like I was missing out on a lot. The Iceland that Ragnar Jonasson describes is breathtaking and makes me want to visit. The plot of the story surrounds the death of a young woman, Asta, who appears to have died in a manner similar to her sister and mother, but it occurs years later. For the short details that we learned about Asta in the beginning, I certainly liked her character. There were a few great plot twists and I was left guessing until the end who the murderer was, which is something that I truly enjoy. There were also a few aspects of the story that I did not see coming at all. This is definitely a series that I will have to continue.
buriedinmybooks's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
During the darkest days of winter, Officer Ari Thór investigates a mysterious death with similarities to the past. Remote location, quirky suspects
❄️
Not Part of the Review: I thought this was the final book in the series, but @ragnarjo dropped a 6th installment and I am on a book buying ban! 🤦🏻♀️
❄️
Not Part of the Review: I thought this was the final book in the series, but @ragnarjo dropped a 6th installment and I am on a book buying ban! 🤦🏻♀️
suspensethrill's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 STARS
As per my usual with these books, I would like to start off by giving you what I feel is the best reading order for chronological consumption of this series. It gets a little tricky as we are at the mercy of the order of translation, but for those who have been holding off on reading the Dark Iceland series, you now have enough buffer material to avoid major spoilers being revealed before their time. Below is my current (as of November 2017) recommended reading order:
[b:Snowblind|25067569|Snowblind (Dark Iceland #1)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432024220s/25067569.jpg|14716938]
[b:Blackout|29562395|Blackout (Dark Iceland #3)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458513755s/29562395.jpg|49873860]
[b:Rupture|33257659|Rupture (Dark Iceland #4)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480949184s/33257659.jpg|53978242]
[b:Whiteout|35917285|Whiteout (Dark Iceland 5)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501937835s/35917285.jpg|26224459]
[b:Nightblind|27248849|Nightblind (Dark Iceland #2)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445431789s/27248849.jpg|43168376]
Now, as for [b:Whiteout|35917285|Whiteout (Dark Iceland 5)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501937835s/35917285.jpg|26224459] in particular... Wow! Another fantastic entry in the series. I found this one to have a slightly different format than the previous books I have read featuring Ari Thor; [b:Whiteout|35917285|Whiteout (Dark Iceland 5)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501937835s/35917285.jpg|26224459] actually features the characters pertaining to the individual case for quite some time before jumping in with our reoccurring cast, a switch-up that I quite enjoyed. I also found that, even though I knew some of the outcomes because I have already read [b:Nightblind|27248849|Nightblind (Dark Iceland #2)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445431789s/27248849.jpg|43168376] (such as Kristin's pregnancy and the outcome, Tomas' relationship with his wife, and the new chief of police in Siglufjorder (spelling?!) ) it still didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story.
I don't like to discuss specific plot details when it comes to sequels, but I will say that if you've enjoyed the previous novels in the series you will very likely enjoy this one as well. There was an intriguing balance of the heavy, dark atmosphere weighing against the light, hopeful anticipation of Christmas, among other things (see spoiler above). One of my favorite things about this book was how we get to learn more about Kristin and who she is. Previously, I felt that she was a little cold and judgmental, but after reading this installment I've come to really appreciate her character in an entirely new light. If you enjoy nordic crime fiction with slow building suspense, mystery, and characters who are easy to grow fond of, please give this series a try! Highly recommended!
I received a copy from the publisher for review purposes.
As per my usual with these books, I would like to start off by giving you what I feel is the best reading order for chronological consumption of this series. It gets a little tricky as we are at the mercy of the order of translation, but for those who have been holding off on reading the Dark Iceland series, you now have enough buffer material to avoid major spoilers being revealed before their time. Below is my current (as of November 2017) recommended reading order:
[b:Snowblind|25067569|Snowblind (Dark Iceland #1)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432024220s/25067569.jpg|14716938]
[b:Blackout|29562395|Blackout (Dark Iceland #3)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1458513755s/29562395.jpg|49873860]
[b:Rupture|33257659|Rupture (Dark Iceland #4)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480949184s/33257659.jpg|53978242]
[b:Whiteout|35917285|Whiteout (Dark Iceland 5)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501937835s/35917285.jpg|26224459]
[b:Nightblind|27248849|Nightblind (Dark Iceland #2)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445431789s/27248849.jpg|43168376]
Now, as for [b:Whiteout|35917285|Whiteout (Dark Iceland 5)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501937835s/35917285.jpg|26224459] in particular... Wow! Another fantastic entry in the series. I found this one to have a slightly different format than the previous books I have read featuring Ari Thor; [b:Whiteout|35917285|Whiteout (Dark Iceland 5)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501937835s/35917285.jpg|26224459] actually features the characters pertaining to the individual case for quite some time before jumping in with our reoccurring cast, a switch-up that I quite enjoyed. I also found that, even though I knew some of the outcomes because I have already read [b:Nightblind|27248849|Nightblind (Dark Iceland #2)|Ragnar Jónasson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445431789s/27248849.jpg|43168376] (such as
I don't like to discuss specific plot details when it comes to sequels, but I will say that if you've enjoyed the previous novels in the series you will very likely enjoy this one as well. There was an intriguing balance of the heavy, dark atmosphere weighing against the light, hopeful anticipation of Christmas, among other things (see spoiler above). One of my favorite things about this book was how we get to learn more about Kristin and who she is. Previously, I felt that she was a little cold and judgmental, but after reading this installment I've come to really appreciate her character in an entirely new light. If you enjoy nordic crime fiction with slow building suspense, mystery, and characters who are easy to grow fond of, please give this series a try! Highly recommended!
I received a copy from the publisher for review purposes.
lassinthelibrary's review against another edition
5.0
This book is certainly a slow burner but it all comes spilling out at terrific speed at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of the characters a bit deeper. The author really paints a stunning visual of Iceland which is what drew me to this series initially. Now I just have to wait for the next instalment.
bibliophilebookclub's review against another edition
5.0
I have been waiting (im)patiently for Whiteout ever since I finished reading Rupture. I’m pretty sure everyone knows by now how much of a big fan I am of this series. So you can imagine my absolute glee in getting to read Whiteout before publication!
In Whiteout, we are back with Ari Thór and Tómas, both of whom are tasked with investigating the circumstances in which a young woman ends up at the bottom of the cliffs at Kálfshamarvík. Only a couple of days before Christmas, the men must work quickly and effectively to try to find out what has happened and how the woman ended up dead.
Whiteout is a really well-written mystery. With a large cast of characters, it really makes the reader work hard to try to figure things out alongside Ari Thór. I love Ragnar Jónasson’s writing style. There is something almost poetic in the way he describes the Icelandic location. The stunning visual imagery is second to none in terms of creating a clear location in the reader’s mind.
The author has assembled a really interesting cast of characters for this one. There are many of them, all with their own secrets that they are holding close to their chest. I found myself suspecting everyone at one time or another, such is the unreliable nature of the narrative Jónasson has created in Whiteout.
There is a haunting element to Whiteout as well. The cliffs, the lighthouse and the old abandoned house almost seem to become characters as well due to how well the author describes them. This creates a sense of foreboding as the reader gets drawn more into the story. It is quietly chilling and there seems to be a sinister element in the background when they are investigating in and around Kálfshamarvík.
I don’t want to say any more because the joy of reading these books is often found in unravelling the mystery alongside Ari Thór. Whiteout is another superb instalment in the Dark Iceland series. It has left me wanting more, and has also made some questions arise. So Ragnar, if you’re reading this, you and I need to have a bit of a chat...
I cannot recommend this series, and this book highly enough. Always atmospheric, often chilling and with plenty to keep the reader turning the pages, Whiteout is definitely a book to add to your TBR. The whole series is though, to be honest. If you haven’t read them, then you really should get on it!
I could keep rattling on about how much I enjoyed Whiteout. And the whole series in general. But I would be here all day, and still not do justice to my fave Icelander and his awesome books.
So yeah, Whiteout is all kinds of brilliant. Great characters, a gripping plot and a hauntingly atmospheric location. Another book added to my all time favourites list.
Highly recommended.
All the stars, always.
#AriThór
In Whiteout, we are back with Ari Thór and Tómas, both of whom are tasked with investigating the circumstances in which a young woman ends up at the bottom of the cliffs at Kálfshamarvík. Only a couple of days before Christmas, the men must work quickly and effectively to try to find out what has happened and how the woman ended up dead.
Whiteout is a really well-written mystery. With a large cast of characters, it really makes the reader work hard to try to figure things out alongside Ari Thór. I love Ragnar Jónasson’s writing style. There is something almost poetic in the way he describes the Icelandic location. The stunning visual imagery is second to none in terms of creating a clear location in the reader’s mind.
The author has assembled a really interesting cast of characters for this one. There are many of them, all with their own secrets that they are holding close to their chest. I found myself suspecting everyone at one time or another, such is the unreliable nature of the narrative Jónasson has created in Whiteout.
There is a haunting element to Whiteout as well. The cliffs, the lighthouse and the old abandoned house almost seem to become characters as well due to how well the author describes them. This creates a sense of foreboding as the reader gets drawn more into the story. It is quietly chilling and there seems to be a sinister element in the background when they are investigating in and around Kálfshamarvík.
I don’t want to say any more because the joy of reading these books is often found in unravelling the mystery alongside Ari Thór. Whiteout is another superb instalment in the Dark Iceland series. It has left me wanting more, and has also made some questions arise. So Ragnar, if you’re reading this, you and I need to have a bit of a chat...
I cannot recommend this series, and this book highly enough. Always atmospheric, often chilling and with plenty to keep the reader turning the pages, Whiteout is definitely a book to add to your TBR. The whole series is though, to be honest. If you haven’t read them, then you really should get on it!
I could keep rattling on about how much I enjoyed Whiteout. And the whole series in general. But I would be here all day, and still not do justice to my fave Icelander and his awesome books.
So yeah, Whiteout is all kinds of brilliant. Great characters, a gripping plot and a hauntingly atmospheric location. Another book added to my all time favourites list.
Highly recommended.
All the stars, always.
#AriThór