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bookguyinva2022's review against another edition
4.0
This was a tough, depressing story. There were enough twists to keep it interesting, but wow some people really suck.
jessorella's review against another edition
4.0
Ragnar Jónasson’s THE ISLAND is the second in the reverse trilogy about Icelandic police detective Hulda Hermannsdóttir. (If the term “reverse trilogy” confuses you then I can only advise you to read the first instalment, THE DARKNESS, otherwise we’re looking at spoiler territory!)
The story focuses on a trip to a remote island off the Icelandic coast, where four old friends are meeting after many years to commemorate the anniversary of the death of an old friend and sister of theirs. The island is wild and uninhabited, and one night a member of their troop goes out of the hut in which they are staying - and doesn’t come back. It’s Hulda’s responsibility to discover the truth, no matter where the signs are pointing.
I really enjoyed THE DARKNESS, the first book in this trilogy, and THE ISLAND was just as good. My only negative point is that the first third or so of the book focused on the setting-up of a bit of back story, and while this wasn’t a bad thing in itself, the chapters seemed to be lacking in time/date stamps, and there were points where I did get a bit confused about the direction of the timeline.
Other than that, the story was intriguing, and the sense of place in Iceland - as with the previous Jónasson book - was really striking and memorable. Hulda is an interesting character to follow and not the type of lead you’d expect, and that’s very refreshing to read. I very much look forward to the next book.
The story focuses on a trip to a remote island off the Icelandic coast, where four old friends are meeting after many years to commemorate the anniversary of the death of an old friend and sister of theirs. The island is wild and uninhabited, and one night a member of their troop goes out of the hut in which they are staying - and doesn’t come back. It’s Hulda’s responsibility to discover the truth, no matter where the signs are pointing.
I really enjoyed THE DARKNESS, the first book in this trilogy, and THE ISLAND was just as good. My only negative point is that the first third or so of the book focused on the setting-up of a bit of back story, and while this wasn’t a bad thing in itself, the chapters seemed to be lacking in time/date stamps, and there were points where I did get a bit confused about the direction of the timeline.
Other than that, the story was intriguing, and the sense of place in Iceland - as with the previous Jónasson book - was really striking and memorable. Hulda is an interesting character to follow and not the type of lead you’d expect, and that’s very refreshing to read. I very much look forward to the next book.
kate66's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't too sold on the first of this series. It seemed to lack something his other books have. Perhaps I just didn't fall in love with Hulda. So I was a little skeptical about the second in this trilogy but I had to stay awake for hours just to finish it. I was gripped. I didn't guess who did (but then I rarely do because I don't have a logical mind). I still didn't warm to Hulda but then she doesn't present as a particularly sympathetic character.
I am now looking forward to the final part of the series and hoping that all the niggling questions that Mr Jonasson has posed about Hulda, her family and her status in the police force will be answered. If they're not but we still get as gripping a novel as this one then I'll not lose sleep ... well, I will if I have to stay up and finish it!
Highly recommended.
I am now looking forward to the final part of the series and hoping that all the niggling questions that Mr Jonasson has posed about Hulda, her family and her status in the police force will be answered. If they're not but we still get as gripping a novel as this one then I'll not lose sleep ... well, I will if I have to stay up and finish it!
Highly recommended.
amn028's review against another edition
3.0
A good, easy read. There are enough clues provided to solve the mystery, but it works well to just read and enjoy the story as well.
pillywiggin's review against another edition
3.0
This series is much different than the Ari Thor Arason. The mystery is intriguing, and the writing is excellent, but many of the characters are morally bankrupt. There are Hulda's issues, which are fully exposed in the previous book "The Darkness." This one has a police officer who is convinced he knows who has committed a murder, but afraid he does not have enough evidence to convict, pressures another officer into lying. There is also the much repeated idea that Hulda is being discriminated against because of being a woman. After the events of "The Darkness," I really can't trust Hulda's perception of her treatment. Maybe she just isn't as good as she thinks she is.
I have enjoyed these books, and I find it interesting that the stationing of US and British troops in Iceland during and after WW II is considered an occupation. The foreshadowing of Hulda's distaste of being buried presented in "The Island" is especially impactful, knowing what happens at the end of "The Darkness."
I truly, truly hope Hulda is still alive, and the memorial service at the end of The Darkness" is a ruse, the serial killer is caught and brought to justice, and Hulda faces no consequences for her other (understandable) actions. I hope all of these issues are resolved in "The Mist."
I have enjoyed these books, and I find it interesting that the stationing of US and British troops in Iceland during and after WW II is considered an occupation. The foreshadowing of Hulda's distaste of being buried presented in "The Island" is especially impactful, knowing what happens at the end of "The Darkness."
I truly, truly hope Hulda is still alive, and the memorial service at the end of The Darkness" is a ruse, the serial killer is caught and brought to justice, and Hulda faces no consequences for her other (understandable) actions. I hope all of these issues are resolved in "The Mist."
windy_witch's review against another edition
4.0
When two young lovers set off for a romantic weekend break in the Scandinavian wilderness, neither of them imagine that such a trip would end in murder and tragedy.
Fast forward ten years and it is the anniversary of the death of Dagur’s sister and the remaining friends in the group decide to have a get together on a remote island in memory of her.
You just know that someone or all of them will not make off the island alive. The setting for this book is beautiful and bleak, I found it spellbinding.
I really enjoyed the suspense of this book and there were many twists in the story. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Fast forward ten years and it is the anniversary of the death of Dagur’s sister and the remaining friends in the group decide to have a get together on a remote island in memory of her.
You just know that someone or all of them will not make off the island alive. The setting for this book is beautiful and bleak, I found it spellbinding.
I really enjoyed the suspense of this book and there were many twists in the story. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
kaleenazagrzebski's review against another edition
4.0
The second book in the Hidden Iceland series takes us back to Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdottir’s early years as a detective.
Four friends take a trip to the isolated island of Ellinoaey to reminisce about their friend that was killed ten years ago. While the father was accused of killing his daughter, the daughter’s brother, who was also part of the friend group, doesn't believe it.
When one of the friends falls to her death on the island, Hulda begins to investigate. Each of the friends are hiding something, and Hulda is trying to get to the bottom of it to find out who the killer is, and if the right person was accused of the death ten years ago.
The second installment of the Hidden Iceland series did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the “locked room” mystery style of this book. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, I do recommend doing so first. While this book takes place chronologically before the first book, there are some pieces of Hulda’s life that are helpful to know.
Four friends take a trip to the isolated island of Ellinoaey to reminisce about their friend that was killed ten years ago. While the father was accused of killing his daughter, the daughter’s brother, who was also part of the friend group, doesn't believe it.
When one of the friends falls to her death on the island, Hulda begins to investigate. Each of the friends are hiding something, and Hulda is trying to get to the bottom of it to find out who the killer is, and if the right person was accused of the death ten years ago.
The second installment of the Hidden Iceland series did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the “locked room” mystery style of this book. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, I do recommend doing so first. While this book takes place chronologically before the first book, there are some pieces of Hulda’s life that are helpful to know.
marthaos's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.0
I really enjoyed this book which I picked up only because I was responding to a prompt, Nordic Noir, from a 2023 book challenge i am doing. I didn’t know before I read it that it was the 2nd part of a trilogy, but it worked fine as a stand-alone. However, by the end, I was interested in the character of Hulda and intrigued to find out what dark secrets were part of her past, as alluded to in this book. Interestingly, the trilogy goes backwards in time, the first book detailing the older age of Hulda, and third, a younger one.
While I don’t always love noir, or thriller sort of books, and find the plot can be over convoluted, or teeming with unnecessary characters, I found this surprisingly easy to follow and the story-telling was clear and to the point.
A girl murdered on an island during a weekend reunion with friends, was best friends with another murder victim from ten years earlier. Are the two murders connected and if so how? since the earlier was a closed case, the girls’ father believed to be the perpetrator. Hulda, believing there is something amiss, is determined to get to the bottom of it, knocking her arrogant colleague, who handled the case ten years previously, off his righteous throne.
I enjoyed this book. I found it pacy, interesting and well-crafted. I felt the sparse Icelandic setting lent itself greatly to the atmosphere and tone of the book and could see how Nordic noir could merit a genre all to itself.
While I don’t always love noir, or thriller sort of books, and find the plot can be over convoluted, or teeming with unnecessary characters, I found this surprisingly easy to follow and the story-telling was clear and to the point.
A girl murdered on an island during a weekend reunion with friends, was best friends with another murder victim from ten years earlier. Are the two murders connected and if so how? since the earlier was a closed case, the girls’ father believed to be the perpetrator. Hulda, believing there is something amiss, is determined to get to the bottom of it, knocking her arrogant colleague, who handled the case ten years previously, off his righteous throne.
I enjoyed this book. I found it pacy, interesting and well-crafted. I felt the sparse Icelandic setting lent itself greatly to the atmosphere and tone of the book and could see how Nordic noir could merit a genre all to itself.
skattkatten_'s review against another edition
4.0
Det finns ett tungsinne i isländska böcker som gör dem väldigt speciella och som jag alls inte ogillar. Ön är en lågmäld lite klurig historia som utspelar sig 15 år innan den första och Hulda får äntligen visa framfötterna.