Reviews

Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indriðason

palomasstefani's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

henwer2203's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

peter_fischer's review against another edition

4.0

Indriðason writes great crime novels with a distinct Nordic character. I read the English translation by Bernard Scudder. I would love to read the Icelandic original but the language is just too difficult, although I read Scandinavian languages (much simpler) and German (similar level of inflection as Icelandic). I’m always amazed at Iceland’s literary tradition, given that fewer than half a million people speak Icelandic.

iriswildeboer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

wanderaven's review

4.0

I believe this is actually my first Scandinavian mystery ~ ?

I've read the Scandinavian mysteries are the darkest of them all, and based on this book I'd certainly have to agree. I'm sure you can get darker but since I don't necessarily plan to read [b:The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo|2429135|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)|Stieg Larsson|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327868566s/2429135.jpg|1708725], I'm going to say Indriðason may well be my most disturbing author so far. And I've read [a:George R.R. Martin|346732|George R.R. Martin|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1351944410p2/346732.jpg]; some people I know won't touch him because of the violence but I did okay. Maybe it's because of how domestic violence, as in this book, is so isolating, intimate, and could happen to any of us, unlike some scenarios in Martin's books?

In any case, I was engrossed, to the point I was reading the last quarter of the book while walking out to my car when leaving work. And at traffic lights. I even took it into the grocery store, and then was disappointed when I could just walk right up to the register without waiting in line.

Spoiler

I was so worried the book would end one way, particularly based on the actions of a certain character, and was very glad to see it end another.

pjroeder's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

afield's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

afield's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

berlin78's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.25

momsense03's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I felt so many emotions while reading it. It made me angry, there were parts where I cried a lot... especially when Grímur was beating his wife. That was hard to read. I enjoyed this book, but I don’t think I will be able to read it one more time.