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A review by jamestomasino
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir
3.0
This is my second or third Icelandic crime/horror story and it really fits the mold well. The author has a very comfortable use of chapter organization to make the story move swiftly. I read this over two evenings leisurely but the second half flies by with many very tiny chapters.
I think there's something nice about the unknown left at the end of the story, but the quick wrap-up also makes this feel a bit like a campfire ghost story designed for a thrill, but no real payoff. There's some bigger things hinted at which aren't explored at all. Would this have been better if it were longer and we spent more time going down those pathways? I'm really not sure. I think my desire for it comes from other fiction and genre works outside of the nordic horror-sphere. From my limited exposure, this choice seems to be a trend here.
I think there's something nice about the unknown left at the end of the story, but the quick wrap-up also makes this feel a bit like a campfire ghost story designed for a thrill, but no real payoff. There's some bigger things hinted at which aren't explored at all. Would this have been better if it were longer and we spent more time going down those pathways? I'm really not sure. I think my desire for it comes from other fiction and genre works outside of the nordic horror-sphere. From my limited exposure, this choice seems to be a trend here.