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kmmi_booklover's review
4.0
I’ve been reading along with the Dark Iceland series and loving each one. These classic style crime stories pack a lot of characters and side stories into a relatively small book. It keeps you guessing until the very end. Ari Tabor, a young police officer, is a great main character. As with all the books in this series, the cold dark Iceland environment is almost a character in itself.
clair_82's review against another edition
5.0
Firstly I need to share some love for that cover – it is fabulous and so representative of both the story line and the setting. That red roof on the house on the edge of that tranquil but remote fjord is just brilliant.
Rupture is Jónasson’s 4th novel to be seemlessly translated (by Quentin Bates) into English following Snowblind, Nightblind and Blackout – although the books have not been translated in chronological order. Rupture is my favourite one of the series yet as I loved both the intriguing investigations and the relationship between the characters.
Siglufjörður is under quarantine following the mysterious death of a visitor to the town and no one is leaving their houses for fear of catching the mystery illness and being its next victim. As such, there isn’t much for Ari Thór and Tomas to do policing wise other than cover the shifts at the station so Ari Thór starts looking into the death of a woman in Hedinsfjörður back in the 1950’s. At the time it was documented as an accidental poisoning but there are suspicions as to whether it was suicide, or something more sinister.
It is great to see that Ísrún is back, I really like her character and her relationship with Ari Thór. This time she is helping Ari Thór get information regarding a photo which shows a mystery visitor in Hedinsfjörður by using her journalism to get it out to a wider audience. As is now synonymous with Jónasson’s writing, there is also a second story line running in parallel set during the present day, Ísrún gets deeply involved when a child goes missing in broad daylight and is desperate for the scoop. Once again, these 2 story lines are seemlessly woven together in an extremely tight plot, using the wonderful backdrop of Iceland. Iceland is as much of a character as the people themselves, I love the descriptions of the landscape and after each book I want to visit Iceland more and more!
Another wonderful example of Icelandic noir from Jónasson which is brilliantly atmospheric and claustrophobic – a series that I love and recommend to anyone who will listen!
Rupture is Jónasson’s 4th novel to be seemlessly translated (by Quentin Bates) into English following Snowblind, Nightblind and Blackout – although the books have not been translated in chronological order. Rupture is my favourite one of the series yet as I loved both the intriguing investigations and the relationship between the characters.
Siglufjörður is under quarantine following the mysterious death of a visitor to the town and no one is leaving their houses for fear of catching the mystery illness and being its next victim. As such, there isn’t much for Ari Thór and Tomas to do policing wise other than cover the shifts at the station so Ari Thór starts looking into the death of a woman in Hedinsfjörður back in the 1950’s. At the time it was documented as an accidental poisoning but there are suspicions as to whether it was suicide, or something more sinister.
It is great to see that Ísrún is back, I really like her character and her relationship with Ari Thór. This time she is helping Ari Thór get information regarding a photo which shows a mystery visitor in Hedinsfjörður by using her journalism to get it out to a wider audience. As is now synonymous with Jónasson’s writing, there is also a second story line running in parallel set during the present day, Ísrún gets deeply involved when a child goes missing in broad daylight and is desperate for the scoop. Once again, these 2 story lines are seemlessly woven together in an extremely tight plot, using the wonderful backdrop of Iceland. Iceland is as much of a character as the people themselves, I love the descriptions of the landscape and after each book I want to visit Iceland more and more!
Another wonderful example of Icelandic noir from Jónasson which is brilliantly atmospheric and claustrophobic – a series that I love and recommend to anyone who will listen!
monty_reads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Is an “Ari Thór Thriller” really an “Ari Thór Thriller” if Ari Thór only shows up for roughly half the book (thrilling though it might be)?
That the central dilemma of Ragnar Jónasson’s Dark Iceland series is one of branding is actually a good problem to have. Because here’s the thing: for two books now, it would be more appropriate to subtitle them “An Ari Thór and Ísrún Thriller.” The fact that the male police officer gets top billing over his female journalist counterpart is just another reason to topple the patriarchy.
I’m only being partially facetious, and it’s mainly to give credit to Jónasson’s deft hand with characterization. While Ari Thór, the cop at the center of this series of mysteries, is a fun character – compelling in his straitlaced, curmudgeonly attention to detail – it’s Ísrún’s sarcasm and rebellious ambition in the face of a male-dominated TV news culture that gives the series its spark.
In Rupture, the third in the series, Ari Thór and Ísrún are once again investigating separate cases. He’s trying to track down the truth behind a mysterious poisoning that occurred in the 1950s, while she’s looking into the connection between a child’s kidnapping and the hit and run death of the son of a prominent Icelandic politician.
While the cases don’t have much to do with each other – and, to be fair, they don’t really intersect at all – they act in some ways as three complementary mirror images (if such a thing is even possible and not some dumb physics thing I just made up). Jónasson is exploring how the sins of the past continue to reverberate in the present. That’s certainly not a new theme, but set against the backdrop of the Icelandic culture and pretty seamlessly alternating between the different storylines, he makes it SEEM new.
I know Jónasson’s not a household name. But if you’re a fan of traditional mysteries, where the emphasis is more on mental than physical exertion (think Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle), I think you’ll agree he should be.
Is an “Ari Thór Thriller” really an “Ari Thór Thriller” if Ari Thór only shows up for roughly half the book (thrilling though it might be)?
That the central dilemma of Ragnar Jónasson’s Dark Iceland series is one of branding is actually a good problem to have. Because here’s the thing: for two books now, it would be more appropriate to subtitle them “An Ari Thór and Ísrún Thriller.” The fact that the male police officer gets top billing over his female journalist counterpart is just another reason to topple the patriarchy.
I’m only being partially facetious, and it’s mainly to give credit to Jónasson’s deft hand with characterization. While Ari Thór, the cop at the center of this series of mysteries, is a fun character – compelling in his straitlaced, curmudgeonly attention to detail – it’s Ísrún’s sarcasm and rebellious ambition in the face of a male-dominated TV news culture that gives the series its spark.
In Rupture, the third in the series, Ari Thór and Ísrún are once again investigating separate cases. He’s trying to track down the truth behind a mysterious poisoning that occurred in the 1950s, while she’s looking into the connection between a child’s kidnapping and the hit and run death of the son of a prominent Icelandic politician.
While the cases don’t have much to do with each other – and, to be fair, they don’t really intersect at all – they act in some ways as three complementary mirror images (if such a thing is even possible and not some dumb physics thing I just made up). Jónasson is exploring how the sins of the past continue to reverberate in the present. That’s certainly not a new theme, but set against the backdrop of the Icelandic culture and pretty seamlessly alternating between the different storylines, he makes it SEEM new.
I know Jónasson’s not a household name. But if you’re a fan of traditional mysteries, where the emphasis is more on mental than physical exertion (think Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle), I think you’ll agree he should be.
bookishprats's review against another edition
4.0
Another series by Ragnar Jónasson that I am loving! The books in this series are very character-driven and it keeps you wanting for more.
In this one, we have multiple storylines that were intricately and cleverly connected.
In Siglufjörður, Ari Thór is trying to investigate an old case where a woman had died in mysterious circumstances in an isolated fjord of Hedinsfjörður. He’s assisted by Ísrún, who in Reykjavik, is also investigating a case of her own.
As the story progressed, and the characters investigated the mysteries, I couldn't help but try to work out the connections between the several secondary characters introduced. And despite so many characters, I was not confused once. Jónasson impressively builds distinct characters with equally unique backstories.
I loved the pace at which the primary characters have grown and developed throughout the series.It was not at all hurried. With every book, I learn more about them and I like them more. I love Ari Thór and I am starting to like Ísrún too.
And the best part of these books is the setting. I had mentioned it before and I will mention it again I love Jónasson's descriptive writing. Atmospheric as always, this book transported me to Iceland with its vivid descriptions. The small town of Siglufjördur is in quarantine, thus cutting it off and adding to its claustrophobic feels. And one of the mysteries is set in a more isolated and deserted area and when Ari Thor visits it, I got the chills.
I cannot recommend this series enough! It is very beautifully written and translated.
In this one, we have multiple storylines that were intricately and cleverly connected.
In Siglufjörður, Ari Thór is trying to investigate an old case where a woman had died in mysterious circumstances in an isolated fjord of Hedinsfjörður. He’s assisted by Ísrún, who in Reykjavik, is also investigating a case of her own.
As the story progressed, and the characters investigated the mysteries, I couldn't help but try to work out the connections between the several secondary characters introduced. And despite so many characters, I was not confused once. Jónasson impressively builds distinct characters with equally unique backstories.
I loved the pace at which the primary characters have grown and developed throughout the series.It was not at all hurried. With every book, I learn more about them and I like them more. I love Ari Thór and I am starting to like Ísrún too.
And the best part of these books is the setting. I had mentioned it before and I will mention it again I love Jónasson's descriptive writing. Atmospheric as always, this book transported me to Iceland with its vivid descriptions. The small town of Siglufjördur is in quarantine, thus cutting it off and adding to its claustrophobic feels. And one of the mysteries is set in a more isolated and deserted area and when Ari Thor visits it, I got the chills.
I cannot recommend this series enough! It is very beautifully written and translated.
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
4.0
This is book 4 in the Dark Iceland series and thing are getting very dark indeed. At outbreak of a deadly virus is brought to the remote village putting them in a state of quarantine and panic, a child is abducted right from his pram at a cafe, a young man is ran down in the street, and Ari Thór is reopening an old case of a woman’s death on an isolated fjord. The quarantine impede’s Ari Thór’s investigation and he elicits the help of Ísrún, the journalist, for some legwork as she is free to move about. Very atmospheric thriller with a tense feeling of claustrophobia and isolation. The connections between the various events are smooth and flow naturally making this a quick paced read that is hard to put down. Another great book in the Dark Iceland series.
casvelyn's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
rachel_jozie's review against another edition
3.0
3.75/5
I know I've said this before, but Ragnar Jonasson is 100% the Icelandic (Male) Agatha Christie. I love it! He is really great at weaving different story lines together; while reading there are definitely 'WTF moments' where you're just confused about what X has to do with Z, but by the end he has made everything clear and it all makes perfect sense. These books could technically be stand alone since not much of each mystery/action story line bleeds from book to book other than the fact that they're all the same main characters, so if you like the characters I do recommend reading the whole series. The books are so engrossing they go too quickly!
I just need Minotaur to put out the next 2 books in the Dark Iceland series so I can read them!!!
I know I've said this before, but Ragnar Jonasson is 100% the Icelandic (Male) Agatha Christie. I love it! He is really great at weaving different story lines together; while reading there are definitely 'WTF moments' where you're just confused about what X has to do with Z, but by the end he has made everything clear and it all makes perfect sense. These books could technically be stand alone since not much of each mystery/action story line bleeds from book to book other than the fact that they're all the same main characters, so if you like the characters I do recommend reading the whole series. The books are so engrossing they go too quickly!
I just need Minotaur to put out the next 2 books in the Dark Iceland series so I can read them!!!
anastasiaf's review against another edition
4.0
Not a big crime reader, but wanted a quick book set in Iceland. Learned a lot!