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katelindsay's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Snowblind by Ragnor Jónasson is the first in an Iceland noir series. Originally published in 2010, this book was translated and published in the United States in 2015. We follow our protagonist Ari Thor Arason from Reykjavik to a small town on the northern coast when he takes his first job as a police officer. When he arrives in town he’s told nothing ever happens there.
Not long after his arrive, an esteemed write and chairman of the town’s Dramatic Society appears to have fallen down the stairs. Ruled as an accident until a women is found close to death, bleeding in the snow, there may be more to the older man’s death than meets the eye. Without an ounce of delicacy, Ari Thor digs into the lives of townspeople who definitely do not trust the newcomer.
Jónasson uses the setting to create tension. Surrounded by mountains and the ocean, the town is only reachable by a small mountain tunnel. Snow falls frequently and the tunnel becomes cut off due to a small avalanche. Tensions rise as the down becomes isolated and everyone feels trapped with a murderer.
Nordic mystery novels have risen in popularity over the last decade. Although I’ve read a few short stories from a collection of Swedish crime stories, Snowblind is my first Nordic novel. Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie, this seemed like perfect foray into the genre. Unfortunately, I didn’t care for the story as much as I would have liked.
I appreciated that the plot and murders weren’t very dark or graphic, as well as the amount of information about the characters we received before the murders. However, I never felt invested in the story or characters. While the story was definitely well written, I prefer older mysteries and historical fiction mysteries.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
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