Fire and Ice Anthology: Where the Shadows Lie / 66 North

Fire and Ice #1-2

by Michael Ridpath

'Michael Ridpath is on the war path, trouncing the Scandinavians on their home turf. This is international thriller writing at its best, fine characters, page turning suspense and a great, fresh location.' PETER JAMESThe first two Magnus Jonson mysteries brought together into one ebook volume.Where the Shadows LieAmid Iceland's wild, volcanic landscape, rumours swirl of an eight-hundred-year-old manuscript inscribed with a long-lost saga about a ring of terrible power. A rediscovered saga alone would be worth a fortune, but, if the rumours can be believed, there is something much more valuable about this one. Something worth killing for. Something that will cost Professor Agnar Haraldsson his life.Untangling murder from myth is Iceland-born, Boston-raised homicide detective Magnus Jonson. Seconded to the Icelandic Police Force for his own protection after he runs afoul of a drug cartel back in Boston, Magnus also has his own reasons for returning to the country of his birth for the first time in nearly two decades - the unsolved murder of his father.And as Magnus is about to discover, the past casts a long shadow in Iceland.66 NorthIn Iceland, the credit crunch is biting. The currency has been devalued, banks nationalized, savings annihilated, lives ruined. Grassroots revolution is in the air, as is the feeling that someone ought to pay... the blood price. And in a country with a population of just 300,000 souls, where everyone knows everybody, it isn't hard to draw up a list of exactly who is responsible.And then, one-by-one, to cross them off.As bankers and politicians start to die, at home and abroad, it is up to Magnus Jonson to unravel the web of conspirators before they strike again.

1061 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Before becoming a writer, Michael Ridpath used to work as a bond trader in the City of London. After writing several financial thrillers, which were published in over 30 languages, he began a crime series featuring the Icelandic detective Magnus Jonson. He has also written five stand-alone thrillers, the latest of which is The Diplomat’s Wife, published in February 2021. He lives in London.

And if you want a free copy of his novella, The Polar Bear Killing, and to sign up to his quarterly newsletter, just click this link: http://eepurl.com/dlzgFH

Reviews

[Graham Wadforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved both books. I have been to Iceland and to many of the places mentioned in them, though I did use Google maps occasionally to remind myself where places were. And I made notes to remind myself who all the protagonists were - all those Icelandic names!

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying the Fire & Ice series

[Yoshay Lindblom · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off really well but dwindled horribly towards the end. This could have been so much better. The setting is the only saving grace of this novel. Iceland - a cool place it seems to be. I have to say that this is just one of those books that didn't stand out for me. I was very excited about it in the beginning but as I read through more than half the book and nothing ever was happening; and that the protagonist is running away from his demons more than he is solving a murder mystery, I got really bored. Magnus Jonsson just wasn't one of those detectives that have crisp, cool, attitude about them. Had to give two stars for the setting though and how vividly it is presented.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Just had a problem pronouncing those Icelandic names. Also used Google maps to make sense of where the action was, together with some good videos on YouTube.