Lara's Missing. Something's Missing.
Nordic noir! I stumbled onto this genre a few years ago and really took to it. Best Selling Icelandic author Arnaldur Indridason was the first one to hook me with "The Darkness Knows," a slow moving, dark atmospheric wonder. The landscapes, the ice and snow, the understated aura flavored the read for me. Another leading Icelandic author, Ragnar Jonasson, released "Outside" last year and I was let down, particularly in its ending. He does have very devoted fans, however, and I looked forward to reading his new offering, "Reykjavik."
In 1956 a fourteen-year-old girl, Lara, suddenly quits her job as a maid on the sparsely inhabited island of Videy. She then disappears without a trace. The whole of Iceland is shocked and her disappearance ignites tabloid sales for decades. The story unfolds first through the eyes of the young police officer, then a reporter, then the reporter's sister, Sunna.
As a whodunit, it works pretty well. There are some obvious suspects and a few clever twists. The changing point of view did not quite work for me, however, particularly since it fell to Sunna to solve the mystery and wrap things up-- when she was such a bit player for the first two thirds of the book.
The qualities I love about the Nordic noir realm were not major strengths here. For one thing, the weather did not seem to be a character... it was not cold enough! Looking at other reviews from those more familiar with Jonasson's work, I get the sense that this is not one of his strongest offerings. "Reykjavik" was co-written with Katrin Jakobsdottir, who happens to be the Prime Minister of Iceland-- and this may have watered down Jonasson's style.
Three stars. "Reykjavik" was a pleasant enough read, it just lacked the atmosphere to make the story pop.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Nordic noir! I stumbled onto this genre a few years ago and really took to it. Best Selling Icelandic author Arnaldur Indridason was the first one to hook me with "The Darkness Knows," a slow moving, dark atmospheric wonder. The landscapes, the ice and snow, the understated aura flavored the read for me. Another leading Icelandic author, Ragnar Jonasson, released "Outside" last year and I was let down, particularly in its ending. He does have very devoted fans, however, and I looked forward to reading his new offering, "Reykjavik."
In 1956 a fourteen-year-old girl, Lara, suddenly quits her job as a maid on the sparsely inhabited island of Videy. She then disappears without a trace. The whole of Iceland is shocked and her disappearance ignites tabloid sales for decades. The story unfolds first through the eyes of the young police officer, then a reporter, then the reporter's sister, Sunna.
As a whodunit, it works pretty well. There are some obvious suspects and a few clever twists. The changing point of view did not quite work for me, however, particularly since it fell to Sunna to solve the mystery and wrap things up-- when she was such a bit player for the first two thirds of the book.
The qualities I love about the Nordic noir realm were not major strengths here. For one thing, the weather did not seem to be a character... it was not cold enough! Looking at other reviews from those more familiar with Jonasson's work, I get the sense that this is not one of his strongest offerings. "Reykjavik" was co-written with Katrin Jakobsdottir, who happens to be the Prime Minister of Iceland-- and this may have watered down Jonasson's style.
Three stars. "Reykjavik" was a pleasant enough read, it just lacked the atmosphere to make the story pop.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Although ReykjavÃk took some time to really get moving, authors Ragnar Jónasson and KatrÃn Jakobsdóttir created a character and a story that kept me reading and guessing.
The story begins in 1956 with fourteen-year-old Lára's disappearance and the young police officer who tried to find her. When journalist Valur Robertsson begins his own investigation thirty years later, he learns that the officer's inability to find Lára has haunted him throughout his career. I was rather surprised that both Valur and the police officer felt a bit stiff and lifeless even though both their roles were so important.
However, the story really shifted into high gear and grabbed my interest when Valur's sister, Sunna, arrived on the scene. Her grit and determination added fire and urgency to the story, and I found myself hoping that I would meet her again in a future book.
I can't say much about ReykjavÃk without giving away key plot points, but I was disappointed with my failure to deduce what was going on when all was revealed at the end. When you pick up a copy to read it for yourselves, make sure to read the authors' note at the end. You never know what writers will get up to in the middle of a pandemic!
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
The story begins in 1956 with fourteen-year-old Lára's disappearance and the young police officer who tried to find her. When journalist Valur Robertsson begins his own investigation thirty years later, he learns that the officer's inability to find Lára has haunted him throughout his career. I was rather surprised that both Valur and the police officer felt a bit stiff and lifeless even though both their roles were so important.
However, the story really shifted into high gear and grabbed my interest when Valur's sister, Sunna, arrived on the scene. Her grit and determination added fire and urgency to the story, and I found myself hoping that I would meet her again in a future book.
I can't say much about ReykjavÃk without giving away key plot points, but I was disappointed with my failure to deduce what was going on when all was revealed at the end. When you pick up a copy to read it for yourselves, make sure to read the authors' note at the end. You never know what writers will get up to in the middle of a pandemic!
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
