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.
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