Scan barcode
e_thom_73's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A great late addition to the Ari Thor series. I hope it continues.
killa2022's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
amypt46's review
3.0
3.5 stars. A good mystery series. I really enjoyed the growth of ari thor throughout and the variety in the mysteries. I also enjoyed a new backdrop to a crime series with the beauty of Iceland.
bookwrm526's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
melissamcelroy23's review
2.0
2.5 at best. got this for 99p on a kindle deal after looking at some good reviews but this was just disappointing. i hope a lot of the prose got lost in translation, because the prose was flat and...just a bit a-level rubbish. onwards n upwards!
booksbybindu's review
5.0
I find that I am somewhat bittersweet whilst writing this review since I know that this is the last book Ragnar is going to write in this series. I have loved Ari Thor and his life up on the northern most region of Iceland and the thought that there is no more evokes sadness. However, at the same time I am full of joy that I have got to spent some time within this world one last time. Bittersweet indeed.
‘Winterkill’ is truly a stunning conclusion to this tale, from a writer who is at his peak. It feels as if the prose is effortless yet is packed with so much emotion. We have seen Ari Thor develop from a young trainee policeman to one that is confident in his decisions, both professionally and personally. He has matured, loved and lost, become a father and has learned to love life in the remote north of Iceland. But we have also seen Iceland and Siglufjörður develop as well. From a town that used to be cut off for weeks at a time to a place which has seen the boom of the tourist dollar and become quite cosmopolitan as a result.
This time Ari Thor is looking forward to an Easter weekend of relaxation and fun as his son and ex girlfriend is coming from Sweden to visit. But before they arrive he is called to the death of a teenage girl in the middle of the night. It looks like suicide but Ari has an unsettled feeling that something isn’t right and it’s not just the imminent arrival of a blizzard. Then when a senile pensioner in the local care home writes ‘she was murdered’ all over his wall it’s clear that Ari has to look at this case a bit more closely.
The thing I appreciate with Ragnar’s beautiful writing is that he doesn’t rely on shock factors. It builds up slowly, creating layer upon layer of timings, characters, empathy, small actions that eclipse the ‘big moments’. For example, in this case it is one word written in the girls diary which makes Ari take stock and listen to the clues. Also Ragnar doesn’t make his lead character infallible, he has flaws but not the cliche male detective ones of alcoholism etc. It’s more I thought he should be more of a mentor to the new trainee in the station, especially when he has such a good relationship with his own mentor. He is quite individualist in his methods. He never really vocalises his thoughts and feelings. But I did love his personal resolution in ‘Winterkill’, it felt as if everything had come full circle.
I can’t say much more about the story without spoiling its beauty for the reader. It’s something that becomes personal in a way, reading the conclusion to something you have invested so much time and pleasure into. It’s a love letter to Siglufjörður and it’s people. ‘Winterkill’ is a celebration of all the great sections of this series amalgamated into this triumph of a book. A well deserved standing ovation is required.
‘Winterkill’ is truly a stunning conclusion to this tale, from a writer who is at his peak. It feels as if the prose is effortless yet is packed with so much emotion. We have seen Ari Thor develop from a young trainee policeman to one that is confident in his decisions, both professionally and personally. He has matured, loved and lost, become a father and has learned to love life in the remote north of Iceland. But we have also seen Iceland and Siglufjörður develop as well. From a town that used to be cut off for weeks at a time to a place which has seen the boom of the tourist dollar and become quite cosmopolitan as a result.
This time Ari Thor is looking forward to an Easter weekend of relaxation and fun as his son and ex girlfriend is coming from Sweden to visit. But before they arrive he is called to the death of a teenage girl in the middle of the night. It looks like suicide but Ari has an unsettled feeling that something isn’t right and it’s not just the imminent arrival of a blizzard. Then when a senile pensioner in the local care home writes ‘she was murdered’ all over his wall it’s clear that Ari has to look at this case a bit more closely.
The thing I appreciate with Ragnar’s beautiful writing is that he doesn’t rely on shock factors. It builds up slowly, creating layer upon layer of timings, characters, empathy, small actions that eclipse the ‘big moments’. For example, in this case it is one word written in the girls diary which makes Ari take stock and listen to the clues. Also Ragnar doesn’t make his lead character infallible, he has flaws but not the cliche male detective ones of alcoholism etc. It’s more I thought he should be more of a mentor to the new trainee in the station, especially when he has such a good relationship with his own mentor. He is quite individualist in his methods. He never really vocalises his thoughts and feelings. But I did love his personal resolution in ‘Winterkill’, it felt as if everything had come full circle.
I can’t say much more about the story without spoiling its beauty for the reader. It’s something that becomes personal in a way, reading the conclusion to something you have invested so much time and pleasure into. It’s a love letter to Siglufjörður and it’s people. ‘Winterkill’ is a celebration of all the great sections of this series amalgamated into this triumph of a book. A well deserved standing ovation is required.
chelleanne's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? No
3.5
I really enjoy the small town vibe of this series and its characters. I love watching Ari Thor grow as a character and slowly build his life in Siglufjörður. The crimes explored in this novel, are tragic but also very human and relatable. A good easy read
dabra's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
atlas_shruggs's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
My first attempt at reading Nordic noir (specifically Icelandic) did not go very well to say the least. Perhaps I should have started with the first book in the series, maybe that would've made the best experience more enjoyable, but I found the characters to be unbelievably flat and irritating. Ari didn't seem to give a shit about the case, his thoughts the entire time were either consumed by his ex or by Ugla. Like I get that he had a lot going on but Jesus. And then he kept saying that him and Kristín had broken up because he focused so much on work, but he barely focused on it at all.
I found the murder mystery to be lacking as well, I just didn't feel particularly keen to find out what happened.
Also I was promised a storm and it barely even made an appearance. I was hoping for a more locked room mystery vibe with the town closing down, but unfortunately that is not at all what I got.
I found the murder mystery to be lacking as well, I just didn't feel particularly keen to find out what happened.
Also I was promised a storm and it barely even made an appearance. I was hoping for a more locked room mystery vibe with the town closing down, but unfortunately that is not at all what I got.
hayleyscomment's review
3.0
This whole series was a super fast and fairly enjoyable read. Best elements: the setting and the mysteries, which felt like good old fashioned whodunits. Sometimes secondary plot lines feel a little random, but my eyes never rolled into the back of my head.
Unfortunately I didn’t fall in love past the first book because of ideas, characters, and plots that were left hanging. We honestly never find out the big mystery about Ari Thor’s family?!?? It was teased for six books and by the end I was tired of hearing about it but i at least expected a payoff. And I expected it to help me empathize with Ari Thor’s ambivalence about his partner and child.
Also, it could be related to the translation but the descriptions of people and places became very repetitive at some point. This goes for the protagonist as well, whose personality and professional style barely seem to develop over the series.
Unfortunately I didn’t fall in love past the first book because of ideas, characters, and plots that were left hanging. We honestly never find out the big mystery about Ari Thor’s family?!?? It was teased for six books and by the end I was tired of hearing about it but i at least expected a payoff. And I expected it to help me empathize with Ari Thor’s ambivalence about his partner and child.
Also, it could be related to the translation but the descriptions of people and places became very repetitive at some point. This goes for the protagonist as well, whose personality and professional style barely seem to develop over the series.