Reviews

Hyytävä kylmyys by Arnaldur Indriðason

sm_almon's review against another edition

3.0

Pretty good, but not my favourite in this series. I thought the previous book in the series, Arctic Chill, was bleak, but this one almost matches it. I think I missed Elinborg and Sigurdur Oli being involved in Erlendur's cases, as they weren't really present in this book and without them, the story was pretty dark.

lektorstrikk's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

3.5

miamia1's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-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? It's complicated

3.25

Read for book group. Didn’t realise it’s the 6th book in a series therefore felt that something was lacking. Ok read though 

msjoanna's review against another edition

2.0

I liked the way that this book slowly built the clues and the reader and the detective basically discovered them at the same time. That said, I felt like I knew where the book was going from the beginning. I also could have done without the italicized chapters that gave voice to the victim.

I loved reading all the place names and character names for Iceland, though. I have no familiarity with Icelandic and have never been to the country, so I'm sure there were subtle references that I totally missed. Still, the general foreigness of the names and places helped set the scene for me.

This is probably a 2.5 star book for me. I'd be interested to read another book from this series -- maybe [b:Jar City|280366|Jar City|Arnaldur Indriðason|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173382030s/280366.jpg|1127182].

therealbookaholic's review against another edition

4.0

I love the style of Indridason, but I sometimes wish he would resolve his stories a little more crisply. It is probable that his style is more authentic than the quick fix mysteries we've been consuming here in the West. I am quite fascinated with this Icelandic world and really enjoy the main sleuth Erlendur

culturenator's review against another edition

5.0

I really love this series and for me this didn't disappoint. The way it seems like such a non-crime initially. But deep down you know there's something there, and like a child with a scabby knee, Erlendur is going to keep picking until he uncovers the truth - regardless of whether it results in any justice, for him it's just important to going. This felt like a slightly more mellow paced book from others in the series, but that might just be the nature of the investigations. As usual, Indriðason is spot on at making you feel like you're almost there in Iceland alongside the characters, feeling the chill.

lbrex's review against another edition

5.0

Another exciting volume in Indridason's series, this one focused on the afterlife and attempts to learn about it that sometimes try to cheat death (think of the movie _Flatliners_). Readers of Indridason's earlier Erlendur novels will be surprised to find Erlendur cut off from his colleagues in this volume, largely solving crimes that resonate with his own losses as a child and, at times, cutting corners and avoiding regulations in pursuit of the truth. The bizarre coherence of the story, while some might attribute it to a lack of craftsmanship, actually signals a shift in Erlendur's thinking such that all of his interests have morphed into obsessions; the professional has become indistinguishable from the personal. At points I started to wonder how stable he was as a main character and investigator, leading to comparisons with Ishiguro's _When We Were Orphans_.

The topic of this mystery was more exciting than the last books in the series, with a mysterious suicide and reports of seances, but the book also signals Erlendur's continued (worrisome) evolution. I recommend it.

margeryk101's review against another edition

4.0

A good read, really enjoyed this slice of Icelandic mystery. It focused more on Elendur than the other officers. A woman is found hanged at her holiday cottage. Suicide, but our man is intrigued. Meanwhile his relationship with his children is played out. Loved the father-daughter Sunday drive, especially when they blank a young girl passenger on a passing car who waves eagerly at them. Will happily read another Indridason. (which is handy as I have 'Voices' from the library)!

renee_pompeii's review against another edition

4.0

A great, engrossing page turner with all the twists and complex relationships you'd expect from Arnaldur. Awesome!

msoblong's review against another edition

3.0

I won a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
This is the first Erlendur Sveinsson book I have read and Im curious to learn more about him. I'll be taking a look around for his other books to get some more background information on the character.
I did enjoy it but it was rather slowly paced. It took me twice as long to read than it normally takes me to finish a novel of its size. There was a lot going on but so much of the book took place in the past that there wasnt anything immediate to keep me from putting the book down.