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Helgi Trilogy #1
Death at the Sanatorium
Fresh off his career-changing standalone co-written with Icelandic PM, Reykjavík, #1 Icelandic bestseller Jonasson presents a riveting new thriller spinoff from The Darkness, soon to be a TV series.
1983
At a former sanatorium in the north of Iceland, now a hospital ward, an old nurse, Yrsa, is found murdered. Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir and her boss, Sverrir, are sent to investigate her death. There, they discover five the chief physician, two junior nurses, a young doctor, and the caretaker, who is arrested following false testimony from one of the nurses, but subsequently released.
Less than a week after the murder, the chief physician, is also found dead, having apparently fallen from a balcony. Sverrir, rules his death as suicide and assumes that he was guilty of the murder as well. The case is closed.
2012
Almost thirty years later, Helgi Reykdal, a young police officer, has been studying criminology in the UK, but decides to return to Iceland when he is offered a job at the Reykjavik police department—the job which detective Hulda Hermannsdottir is about to retire from.
He is also a collector of golden age detective stories, and is writing his thesis on the 1983 murders in the north. As Helgi delves deeper into the past, and starts his new job, he decides to try to meet with the original suspects. But soon he finds silence and suspicion at every turn, as he tries to finally solve the mystery from years before.
1983
At a former sanatorium in the north of Iceland, now a hospital ward, an old nurse, Yrsa, is found murdered. Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir and her boss, Sverrir, are sent to investigate her death. There, they discover five the chief physician, two junior nurses, a young doctor, and the caretaker, who is arrested following false testimony from one of the nurses, but subsequently released.
Less than a week after the murder, the chief physician, is also found dead, having apparently fallen from a balcony. Sverrir, rules his death as suicide and assumes that he was guilty of the murder as well. The case is closed.
2012
Almost thirty years later, Helgi Reykdal, a young police officer, has been studying criminology in the UK, but decides to return to Iceland when he is offered a job at the Reykjavik police department—the job which detective Hulda Hermannsdottir is about to retire from.
He is also a collector of golden age detective stories, and is writing his thesis on the 1983 murders in the north. As Helgi delves deeper into the past, and starts his new job, he decides to try to meet with the original suspects. But soon he finds silence and suspicion at every turn, as he tries to finally solve the mystery from years before.
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
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About the author
Ragnar Jónasson
51 books3,919 followersRagnar Jonasson is author of the award winning and international bestselling Dark Iceland series.
His debut Snowblind, first in the Dark Iceland series, went to number one in the Amazon Kindle charts shortly after publication. The book was also a no. 1 Amazon Kindle bestseller in Australia. Snowblind has been a paperback bestseller in France.
Nightblind won the Dead Good Reader Award 2016 for Most Captivating Crime in Translation.
Snowblind was called a "classically crafted whodunit" by THE NEW YORK TIMES, and it was selected by The Independent as one of the best crime novels of 2015 in the UK.
Rights to the Dark Iceland series have been sold to UK, USA, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, Poland, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Portugal, Croatia, Armenia and Iceland.
Ragnar was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he works as a writer and a lawyer. He also teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University and has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV-news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service.
He is also the co-founder of the Reykjavik international crime writing festival Iceland Noir.
From the age of 17, Ragnar translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic.
Ragnar has also had short stories published internationally, including in the distinguished Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in the US, the first stories by an Icelandic author in that magazine.
He has appeared on festival panels worldwide, and lives in Reykjavik.
His debut Snowblind, first in the Dark Iceland series, went to number one in the Amazon Kindle charts shortly after publication. The book was also a no. 1 Amazon Kindle bestseller in Australia. Snowblind has been a paperback bestseller in France.
Nightblind won the Dead Good Reader Award 2016 for Most Captivating Crime in Translation.
Snowblind was called a "classically crafted whodunit" by THE NEW YORK TIMES, and it was selected by The Independent as one of the best crime novels of 2015 in the UK.
Rights to the Dark Iceland series have been sold to UK, USA, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, Poland, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Portugal, Croatia, Armenia and Iceland.
Ragnar was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he works as a writer and a lawyer. He also teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University and has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV-news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service.
He is also the co-founder of the Reykjavik international crime writing festival Iceland Noir.
From the age of 17, Ragnar translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic.
Ragnar has also had short stories published internationally, including in the distinguished Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in the US, the first stories by an Icelandic author in that magazine.
He has appeared on festival panels worldwide, and lives in Reykjavik.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 957 reviews
September 12, 2024
A sanatorium from a horror movie
Having finished his studies, Helgi, a lover of whodunits, has returned to Iceland from the UK and is in the process of writing his MA dissertation on criminology.
His subject:
The murder of a nurse and an apparent suicide of the chief physician (or was it murder?) at an old TB sanatorium in northern Iceland in 1983.
The staff at the sanatorium at the time of the event (excepting the victims):
A nurse who often prevaricates or exaggerates.
A dejected caretaker who is marked as a scapegoat.
An ambitious physician with unsavory secrets.
An unhappily-married head-nurse.
The investigating officers:
A detective who wants to close the case as soon as possible and win points.
A disregarded assistant woman detective, whose opinion isn’t valued.
As he begins his research, Helgi finds himself more and more immersed in the case and is determined to solve the probable unsolved murders.
He is like an old-school detective. All he lacks is a trench-coat and a hat.
And he knows that if he turns stones and digs deeper, he will find the true murderer and the motive behind the killings.
The book goes back and forth in time between 2012, 1983 and 1950 and reads like a modern day whodunit.
And I loved the mystery, the short chapters and the overall dark atmosphere of the book.
Having finished his studies, Helgi, a lover of whodunits, has returned to Iceland from the UK and is in the process of writing his MA dissertation on criminology.
His subject:
The murder of a nurse and an apparent suicide of the chief physician (or was it murder?) at an old TB sanatorium in northern Iceland in 1983.
The staff at the sanatorium at the time of the event (excepting the victims):
A nurse who often prevaricates or exaggerates.
A dejected caretaker who is marked as a scapegoat.
An ambitious physician with unsavory secrets.
An unhappily-married head-nurse.
The investigating officers:
A detective who wants to close the case as soon as possible and win points.
A disregarded assistant woman detective, whose opinion isn’t valued.
As he begins his research, Helgi finds himself more and more immersed in the case and is determined to solve the probable unsolved murders.
He is like an old-school detective. All he lacks is a trench-coat and a hat.
And he knows that if he turns stones and digs deeper, he will find the true murderer and the motive behind the killings.
The book goes back and forth in time between 2012, 1983 and 1950 and reads like a modern day whodunit.
And I loved the mystery, the short chapters and the overall dark atmosphere of the book.
May 11, 2025
The mere idea of a decades-old murder in a partially abandoned tuberculosis sanatorium is fascinating, but it gets absolutely irresistible once that sanatorium is in Iceland. The mostly empty halls of a place that saw decades of suffering and death, all among the snowy chill — you can’t ask for a better setting.
But Jónasson focuses more on the characters than the setting. A brand-new criminologist Helgi working on a thesis about the unsolved murders in a former tuberculosis sanatorium in the 1980s — his efforts to interview the people involved for the thesis lead to old information being re-examined through new, less partial eyes, all while unsettling darkness lurks in the background of his personal life. A nurse at the sanatorium, Tinna, who is in the habit of exaggerating the events to seem more important and to pursue her own means — an example of little lies becoming a bigger menace. Not to mention a caretaker who’s easily singled out for being an easy target, a doctor with a shady past, another doctor whose suicide may be very convenient for the detectives, and three nurses, one of whom is the victim of the gruesome murder under investigation. Some are better drawn (Tinna is delightfully relatable and repugnant at the same time), some are bare sketches, but all together they feel like a classic murder mystery cast — which seems to be the point.
It’s slow and steady and is mostly moving along via interviews with former suspects and witnesses, which does not raise the level of suspense a lot — other than a couple of scenes (both with Tinna) that conveyed a very real sense of relatable unease. And there’s that something about the cadence of the narration (which, admittedly, may be an artifact of the translation) that gave it a different feel, more classic and timeless while at the same time creating a slight sense of a distance from the story. I was very aware of being a spectator in this, and yet it was not offputting whatsoever. But that sense of distance did somewhat diminish the emotional effect of it, making it a bit more clinical than visceral.
The impact of tuberculosis in Iceland was interesting for me to read. There indeed was a tuberculosis sanatorium in Akureyri during the time of “White Death” epidemic, and in such a small country thousands of people died.
This is the second book by Ragnar Jónasson I’ve read, and not the last. Although I didn’t quite fully love this one, there’s something about the mood and the rhythms of the narration that speaks to me, and I’m definitely going to try more.
3.5 stars.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
But Jónasson focuses more on the characters than the setting. A brand-new criminologist Helgi working on a thesis about the unsolved murders in a former tuberculosis sanatorium in the 1980s — his efforts to interview the people involved for the thesis lead to old information being re-examined through new, less partial eyes, all while unsettling darkness lurks in the background of his personal life. A nurse at the sanatorium, Tinna, who is in the habit of exaggerating the events to seem more important and to pursue her own means — an example of little lies becoming a bigger menace. Not to mention a caretaker who’s easily singled out for being an easy target, a doctor with a shady past, another doctor whose suicide may be very convenient for the detectives, and three nurses, one of whom is the victim of the gruesome murder under investigation. Some are better drawn (Tinna is delightfully relatable and repugnant at the same time), some are bare sketches, but all together they feel like a classic murder mystery cast — which seems to be the point.
It’s slow and steady and is mostly moving along via interviews with former suspects and witnesses, which does not raise the level of suspense a lot — other than a couple of scenes (both with Tinna) that conveyed a very real sense of relatable unease. And there’s that something about the cadence of the narration (which, admittedly, may be an artifact of the translation) that gave it a different feel, more classic and timeless while at the same time creating a slight sense of a distance from the story. I was very aware of being a spectator in this, and yet it was not offputting whatsoever. But that sense of distance did somewhat diminish the emotional effect of it, making it a bit more clinical than visceral.
The impact of tuberculosis in Iceland was interesting for me to read. There indeed was a tuberculosis sanatorium in Akureyri during the time of “White Death” epidemic, and in such a small country thousands of people died.
This is the second book by Ragnar Jónasson I’ve read, and not the last. Although I didn’t quite fully love this one, there’s something about the mood and the rhythms of the narration that speaks to me, and I’m definitely going to try more.
3.5 stars.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
September 13, 2025
I had read a couple of the author’s books prior to reading “The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer” and was always perplexed and frustrated by how abruptly his books always seemed to end!
I FINALLY understand why!
The endings are all cliffhangers, with many of the books and characters at least loosely connected!
When I picked up that book (which definitely CAN be read as a standalone) I had no idea that it was Helgi#2 and that the Detective’s story really began in THIS book. When I finished it, I initially started another book and realized that I wanted more details about what I had missed in Helgi #1, so I set my current book aside temporarily and picked this up instead…
This story is actually a spin-off from “The Darkness” but it isn’t necessary to read that series first either, because it is Inspector Hulda Hermannsdottir’s story, and the Detective in this series is the Detective who takes her place when she is forced into early retirement.
See what I mean? So, the stories do become complete-but it takes a few installments, like a series on TV.
But, I digress.
Back to THIS story…
2012
Helgi Reykdal is writing his Masters dissertation on the deaths that occurred at the Akureyri Sanatorium in 1983-with the focus on Criminological perspective of the case. As a lover of Golden Age mysteries, this almost feels like one, but as he begins his interviews with those still alive, he realizes that when viewed with a modern eye, there were some questions about the hasty conclusions that were drawn in the original Police Investigation, which relied on the statements made by an unreliable witness, a nurse named Tinna.
We also learn about the decision he needs to make regarding the job he has been offered upon graduation working in the CID (complex investigation department) for the Reykjavik Police, taking over for a Detective named Hulda-who is retiring, and about the complicated relationship he has with his live in partner, a woman named Bergthora.
1983
Our second timeline opens with Tinna finding her co-worker, Yrsa murdered, and Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir (passed over for a promotion she should have gotten) and her new boss, Sverrir, investigating the death. Because the Sanatorium which once housed TB patients is currently only used for research now, there are only five employees: the Chief Physician, a young Doctor, two nurses and a Caretaker.
One dead-the others as suspects.
1950
A third timeline, briefly visited, f0r the perspective of Asta- a Nurse who cared for the Tuberculosis patients-background on the Sanatorium and it’s original purpose.
By the end of the book, we do learn WHO was guilty of murder, as the timelines are woven together, but the book ends with two cliffhangers-one regarding Hulda and one regarding the fate of Helgi’s relationship with Bergthora.
I now know that Helgi #2 picks up just a short time after this book ends-giving us the answer to one of these cliffhangers right away.
I am glad that I circled back for this insight.
I learned that not only do I enjoy the atmosphere of Nordic Noir with the dark, dark nights, the rain and the chill, but I appreciate the plausibility of the crimes. There is a good balance of personal story and crime investigation with nothing being OTT in this author’s work.
I think I am becoming hooked!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both the written and Audiobook copies, which offered me the chance to toggle between the two for an immersive experience.
I FINALLY understand why!
The endings are all cliffhangers, with many of the books and characters at least loosely connected!
When I picked up that book (which definitely CAN be read as a standalone) I had no idea that it was Helgi#2 and that the Detective’s story really began in THIS book. When I finished it, I initially started another book and realized that I wanted more details about what I had missed in Helgi #1, so I set my current book aside temporarily and picked this up instead…
This story is actually a spin-off from “The Darkness” but it isn’t necessary to read that series first either, because it is Inspector Hulda Hermannsdottir’s story, and the Detective in this series is the Detective who takes her place when she is forced into early retirement.
See what I mean? So, the stories do become complete-but it takes a few installments, like a series on TV.
But, I digress.
Back to THIS story…
2012
Helgi Reykdal is writing his Masters dissertation on the deaths that occurred at the Akureyri Sanatorium in 1983-with the focus on Criminological perspective of the case. As a lover of Golden Age mysteries, this almost feels like one, but as he begins his interviews with those still alive, he realizes that when viewed with a modern eye, there were some questions about the hasty conclusions that were drawn in the original Police Investigation, which relied on the statements made by an unreliable witness, a nurse named Tinna.
We also learn about the decision he needs to make regarding the job he has been offered upon graduation working in the CID (complex investigation department) for the Reykjavik Police, taking over for a Detective named Hulda-who is retiring, and about the complicated relationship he has with his live in partner, a woman named Bergthora.
1983
Our second timeline opens with Tinna finding her co-worker, Yrsa murdered, and Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir (passed over for a promotion she should have gotten) and her new boss, Sverrir, investigating the death. Because the Sanatorium which once housed TB patients is currently only used for research now, there are only five employees: the Chief Physician, a young Doctor, two nurses and a Caretaker.
One dead-the others as suspects.
1950
A third timeline, briefly visited, f0r the perspective of Asta- a Nurse who cared for the Tuberculosis patients-background on the Sanatorium and it’s original purpose.
By the end of the book, we do learn WHO was guilty of murder, as the timelines are woven together, but the book ends with two cliffhangers-one regarding Hulda and one regarding the fate of Helgi’s relationship with Bergthora.
I now know that Helgi #2 picks up just a short time after this book ends-giving us the answer to one of these cliffhangers right away.
I am glad that I circled back for this insight.
I learned that not only do I enjoy the atmosphere of Nordic Noir with the dark, dark nights, the rain and the chill, but I appreciate the plausibility of the crimes. There is a good balance of personal story and crime investigation with nothing being OTT in this author’s work.
I think I am becoming hooked!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both the written and Audiobook copies, which offered me the chance to toggle between the two for an immersive experience.
February 23, 2025
We’re in Iceland, a northern town, in an old TB sanatorium – nowadays (2012) it only operates a small wing with a handful of staff performing research. There are six employees, the caretaker, two doctors, two nurses and a research assistant.
I’m not sure about you, but I find the idea of an old, largely empty, TB sanatorium a bit spooky. It’s not just the old-style architecture, it’s the fact countless people died in these places over the years by the ravages of this highly contagious disease. TB was, and is, a terrible disease.
We don’t need to wait long for our first murder. One of the staff member’s is found slumped, sitting at a desk, with a couple of fingers missing, it’s 1983.
The police are unable to solve this crime for over two decades. Helgi, a criminologist with ambitions to join the police force, is authoring a dissertation on this case and is asking some tricky questions of the five-remaining staff. This, for a cold case some thought they would never hear about again.
Helgi, also has a mysterious, dark relationship with his partner. Bergthora. This is an interesting part of the story too and creates a nice little (murky) sideline to proceedings.
Whodunits are a genre I am not particularly fond of. However, I found this one engaging and a real page-turner. It spooked me a bit, and I was genuinely flummoxed regarding the identity of the murderer.
4 Stars
I’m not sure about you, but I find the idea of an old, largely empty, TB sanatorium a bit spooky. It’s not just the old-style architecture, it’s the fact countless people died in these places over the years by the ravages of this highly contagious disease. TB was, and is, a terrible disease.
We don’t need to wait long for our first murder. One of the staff member’s is found slumped, sitting at a desk, with a couple of fingers missing, it’s 1983.
The police are unable to solve this crime for over two decades. Helgi, a criminologist with ambitions to join the police force, is authoring a dissertation on this case and is asking some tricky questions of the five-remaining staff. This, for a cold case some thought they would never hear about again.
Helgi, also has a mysterious, dark relationship with his partner. Bergthora. This is an interesting part of the story too and creates a nice little (murky) sideline to proceedings.
Whodunits are a genre I am not particularly fond of. However, I found this one engaging and a real page-turner. It spooked me a bit, and I was genuinely flummoxed regarding the identity of the murderer.
4 Stars
March 1, 2024
“ The past is never dead, it’s not even done” William Faulkner.
In 2012 Helgi Reykdal returns to his native Iceland from the United Kingdom to complete the dissertation required for his masters degree in criminology. He chooses to base it on a 30-year-old crime that takes place in the old TB sanatorium in Akureyn in northern Iceland. There in 1983, a young newly qualified nurse Tinna Einarsdóttir discovers experienced nurse Ysra dead in her office and there’s nothing natural about her death. This is investigated by Detective Huldar Hermannsdóttir and her boss Sverri Eggertsson. The scene is set, an old sanitorium, one brutal murder, and five suspects in the last remaining employees. Two doctors, two nurses and the caretaker - all suspects. Although the case is quickly closed, Huldar for one is never satisfied with the outcome. Can Helgi use his research skills and his great love of golden age detective fiction to lay the case to rest?
I really like Ragnar Jónasson’s books and in this one he nails a modern version of a golden age detective novel. It has all the necessary ingredients from a very atmosphere backdrop in the creepy old sanatorium which looms above the ground dominating the landscape, to flawed characters and unreliable witnesses. The translation is excellent and so the storytelling really flows, which is especially praiseworthy because it’s told via several points of view though principally through Helgi. This approach works extremely well because they intensify the mystery reinforcing the sense of foreboding, claustrophobia, and even paranoia. There are moments of fear and plenty of suspense and tension. Helgi as a central character is a perfect choice, you can’t help but like him as he has a lot to put up with, as well as liking his taste in fiction of course!
It’s a very engaging read, I like the way the truth rises to the top slowly but surely with emerging links. It’s also well paced, with a good ending although I guess it’s possible to see it coming but it’s still comes as a shock.
If you like Scandi Noir or golden age style fiction, then this latest from the talented Ragnar Jónasson is well worth checking out.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
In 2012 Helgi Reykdal returns to his native Iceland from the United Kingdom to complete the dissertation required for his masters degree in criminology. He chooses to base it on a 30-year-old crime that takes place in the old TB sanatorium in Akureyn in northern Iceland. There in 1983, a young newly qualified nurse Tinna Einarsdóttir discovers experienced nurse Ysra dead in her office and there’s nothing natural about her death. This is investigated by Detective Huldar Hermannsdóttir and her boss Sverri Eggertsson. The scene is set, an old sanitorium, one brutal murder, and five suspects in the last remaining employees. Two doctors, two nurses and the caretaker - all suspects. Although the case is quickly closed, Huldar for one is never satisfied with the outcome. Can Helgi use his research skills and his great love of golden age detective fiction to lay the case to rest?
I really like Ragnar Jónasson’s books and in this one he nails a modern version of a golden age detective novel. It has all the necessary ingredients from a very atmosphere backdrop in the creepy old sanatorium which looms above the ground dominating the landscape, to flawed characters and unreliable witnesses. The translation is excellent and so the storytelling really flows, which is especially praiseworthy because it’s told via several points of view though principally through Helgi. This approach works extremely well because they intensify the mystery reinforcing the sense of foreboding, claustrophobia, and even paranoia. There are moments of fear and plenty of suspense and tension. Helgi as a central character is a perfect choice, you can’t help but like him as he has a lot to put up with, as well as liking his taste in fiction of course!
It’s a very engaging read, I like the way the truth rises to the top slowly but surely with emerging links. It’s also well paced, with a good ending although I guess it’s possible to see it coming but it’s still comes as a shock.
If you like Scandi Noir or golden age style fiction, then this latest from the talented Ragnar Jónasson is well worth checking out.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
September 5, 2024
3.5, rounded down for the very, very abrupt ending. So, I am not a fan of the "Nordic Noir" genre at all, but I ended up needing one to complete a reading challenge, so this was my choice for it & overall it was okay. I had not read the author before but it was set in my favorite place in the world, Iceland 🩵🩵🩵 (the fact that I spent a week in Reykavik last year & a day in Akureyi helped a lot too). I liked the call-backs here to the "Golden Age of Mysteries" as well, as I appreciate & know all those authors. The mystery was interesting, though rather simple and I liked the three time periods too (50's, 80's & 2012). MY biggest criticism was the extremely abrupt ending??🤯 Not sure if that was "lost in translation" or intended, but I did dock a half-star for it.
May 17, 2025
I read this during a very busy time, and because of that, I actually forget I read it at all. Picked it back up and read it again, and I did remember some parts. Was a bit surprised that the book was wholly unforgettable at first, but I liked it more the second time I read it. Luckily, it was a quick easy read, and the second time I was able to skim through a bit. This probably remains the only book I forgot that I read (and thus reread), which doesn’t really speak volumes about it. However, if you like books about abandoned buildings where bad things happened, I would recommend giving this one a go.
September 17, 2024
3.5⭐️
Straightforward, not as intense as other Nordic noir novels I've read, but I liked the MC and appreciated the nod to Golden Age detective fiction. Wasn't taken with the abrupt ending (which is why I'm rounding down).
Detailed review to follow.
Straightforward, not as intense as other Nordic noir novels I've read, but I liked the MC and appreciated the nod to Golden Age detective fiction. Wasn't taken with the abrupt ending (which is why I'm rounding down).
Detailed review to follow.
September 23, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
💀 TRIPLE timeline
💀 triple POV
💀 3rd person POV
💀 unsolved mysteries
I really love Ragnar Jonasson and was so excited to get my hands on his newest release 😁
With a lot of books that are multi-POV or multi-timelines it can sometimes get confusing trying to figure out what timeline or point-of-view you are currently reading, but with this one every chapter was clearly labelled with the date and the point-of-view, and I really really appreciate that!
The triple timeline and triple point-of-view did get a little chaotic switching back and forth 🤪 but I feel like it made for a very exciting story because we are never able to focus on one piece for too long without abruptly switching it up.
This was a little slower paced than I am used to from Jonasson, but I did not see the end coming! and that is one thing I really appreciate in a thriller book. And then that ending ending???? What was that????
Another very enjoyable read from Ragnar Jonasson. I can’t wait to read his next smash hit!
Read if you like:
💀 TRIPLE timeline
💀 triple POV
💀 3rd person POV
💀 unsolved mysteries
I really love Ragnar Jonasson and was so excited to get my hands on his newest release 😁
With a lot of books that are multi-POV or multi-timelines it can sometimes get confusing trying to figure out what timeline or point-of-view you are currently reading, but with this one every chapter was clearly labelled with the date and the point-of-view, and I really really appreciate that!
The triple timeline and triple point-of-view did get a little chaotic switching back and forth 🤪 but I feel like it made for a very exciting story because we are never able to focus on one piece for too long without abruptly switching it up.
This was a little slower paced than I am used to from Jonasson, but I did not see the end coming! and that is one thing I really appreciate in a thriller book. And then that ending ending???? What was that????
Another very enjoyable read from Ragnar Jonasson. I can’t wait to read his next smash hit!
July 17, 2025
Ragnar Jónasson's Death at the Sanatorium was an exciting and clever dual timeline mystery.
The ending was quite abrupt and left me scratching my head - and probably exactly as Jónasson intended. To say the least, it definitely left me pondering the "what if's" long after its conclusion.
Narrator Sam Woolf easily held my interest with his flawless and exciting performance.
The ending was quite abrupt and left me scratching my head - and probably exactly as Jónasson intended. To say the least, it definitely left me pondering the "what if's" long after its conclusion.
Narrator Sam Woolf easily held my interest with his flawless and exciting performance.
September 21, 2024
3.5 Stars
This was kind of the slow brooding atmospheric novel I have come to appreciate by this author. This is slow paced and suspenseful. I would classify this as more of a mystery than a thriller.
Personally, I found this one a bit too long and plodding. I wish it had been shorter but found the actual ending smart. I really appreciate how this author address mental health in his depictions of his characters.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for an atmospheric, character focused mystery.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was kind of the slow brooding atmospheric novel I have come to appreciate by this author. This is slow paced and suspenseful. I would classify this as more of a mystery than a thriller.
Personally, I found this one a bit too long and plodding. I wish it had been shorter but found the actual ending smart. I really appreciate how this author address mental health in his depictions of his characters.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for an atmospheric, character focused mystery.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 27, 2021
Ein altes Sanatorium. Ein entschlossener Ermittler. Ein ungelöstes Rätsel.
Ein neues Buch von Ragnar Jonasson und dann auch noch einer Fortsetzung der Hulda Trilogie? Da war natürlich klar, dass ich dieses Buch sofort lesen muss, da der neue Fall sich auch wirklich spannend anhört:
Helgi untersucht eines der größten Rätsel der isländischen Kriminalgeschichte, einen Cold Case: die Todesfälle im Tuberkulose-Sanatorium. 1983 waren dort, im eisigen Norden Islands, eine Krankenschwester und der Chefarzt umgekommen. Was ist 1983 wirklich geschehen? Und wurde die damalige Ermittlerin Hulda zum Schweigen gebracht?
In Frost lernen wir den Ermittler Helgi kennen, seinetwegen muss Hulda in Dunkel ihren Schreibtisch räumen. Die Geschichte setzt allerdings schon einige Zeit davor ein und läuft dann irgendwann parallel zu der Geschichte in Dunkel ab. Man braucht allerdings keine Vorkenntnisse, um das Buch lesen zu können, einiges wird dadurch aber noch intensiver. Die Geschichte wird auf zwei Zeitebenen erzählt, zum einen 1983 die Morde und die Ermittlungen in der Anstalt und dann Helgis aktuelle Ermittlungen zu dem Fall.
Helgi hat mir als Protagonist gut gefallen, vor allem mit seiner Liebe zu Büchern, aber auch seiner Beharrlichkeit und seine ruhige Art mochte ich sehr. Die Einblicke in sein Privatleben fand ich sehr interessant, dadurch lernen wir Helgi noch besser kennen und bekommen einen besseren Eindruck seines Charakters. Im Vergleich mit Hulda zieht Helgi aber ganz klar den Kürzeren, dennoch finde ich ihn als Figur sehr interessant und bin auch gespannt wie seine Geschichte weiter geht. Was ich schade fand, war das Hulda hier nur als Randfigur auftaucht, ich hätte mir hier mehr Interaktion zwischen den beiden Ermittlern erhofft, oder generell eine größere Rolle für sie.
Der Schreibstil konnte mich wieder von der ersten Seite an überzeugen, ich mag die Art wie der Autor seine Geschichten erzählt, sehr ruhig und clean, aber es gelingt ihm eine wunderbar düstere Atmosphäre zu erzeugen. Der Fall um die Morde an der Tuberkulose Anstalt hat mir richtig gut gefallen, da sich die Geschichte immer wieder dreht und wendet. Es macht richtig Spaß mitzurätseln, wer denn nun der Täter sein ist und konnte das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen. Die Enden in Dunkel, Insel und Nebel haben immer nochmal zu einem letzten Schlag in die Magengrube ausgeholt und dieser Schlag erwartet uns auch in Frost. Doch diesmal ist es ein Double Punch denn der Schlag trifft gleich zweimal, einmal für Hulda und einmal für Helgi.
Mit Frost ist Ragnar Jonasson eine tolle Fortsetzung der Krimi Reihe gelungen. Neben dem atmosphärischen Schreibstil konnte besonders der Fall überzeugen, aber auch Helgi macht als neuer Ermittler einen guten Job. Das Ende reist einem dann nochmal den Boden unter den Füßen weg und hat mich emotional nochmal richtig getroffen. Ich freu mich auf den nächsten Band. Von mir gibt es eine absolute Leseempfehlung für Frost, aber auch für die komplette Hulda Reihe.
5 von 5 Sternen
Ein neues Buch von Ragnar Jonasson und dann auch noch einer Fortsetzung der Hulda Trilogie? Da war natürlich klar, dass ich dieses Buch sofort lesen muss, da der neue Fall sich auch wirklich spannend anhört:
Helgi untersucht eines der größten Rätsel der isländischen Kriminalgeschichte, einen Cold Case: die Todesfälle im Tuberkulose-Sanatorium. 1983 waren dort, im eisigen Norden Islands, eine Krankenschwester und der Chefarzt umgekommen. Was ist 1983 wirklich geschehen? Und wurde die damalige Ermittlerin Hulda zum Schweigen gebracht?
In Frost lernen wir den Ermittler Helgi kennen, seinetwegen muss Hulda in Dunkel ihren Schreibtisch räumen. Die Geschichte setzt allerdings schon einige Zeit davor ein und läuft dann irgendwann parallel zu der Geschichte in Dunkel ab. Man braucht allerdings keine Vorkenntnisse, um das Buch lesen zu können, einiges wird dadurch aber noch intensiver. Die Geschichte wird auf zwei Zeitebenen erzählt, zum einen 1983 die Morde und die Ermittlungen in der Anstalt und dann Helgis aktuelle Ermittlungen zu dem Fall.
Helgi hat mir als Protagonist gut gefallen, vor allem mit seiner Liebe zu Büchern, aber auch seiner Beharrlichkeit und seine ruhige Art mochte ich sehr. Die Einblicke in sein Privatleben fand ich sehr interessant, dadurch lernen wir Helgi noch besser kennen und bekommen einen besseren Eindruck seines Charakters. Im Vergleich mit Hulda zieht Helgi aber ganz klar den Kürzeren, dennoch finde ich ihn als Figur sehr interessant und bin auch gespannt wie seine Geschichte weiter geht. Was ich schade fand, war das Hulda hier nur als Randfigur auftaucht, ich hätte mir hier mehr Interaktion zwischen den beiden Ermittlern erhofft, oder generell eine größere Rolle für sie.
Der Schreibstil konnte mich wieder von der ersten Seite an überzeugen, ich mag die Art wie der Autor seine Geschichten erzählt, sehr ruhig und clean, aber es gelingt ihm eine wunderbar düstere Atmosphäre zu erzeugen. Der Fall um die Morde an der Tuberkulose Anstalt hat mir richtig gut gefallen, da sich die Geschichte immer wieder dreht und wendet. Es macht richtig Spaß mitzurätseln, wer denn nun der Täter sein ist und konnte das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen. Die Enden in Dunkel, Insel und Nebel haben immer nochmal zu einem letzten Schlag in die Magengrube ausgeholt und dieser Schlag erwartet uns auch in Frost. Doch diesmal ist es ein Double Punch denn der Schlag trifft gleich zweimal, einmal für Hulda und einmal für Helgi.
Mit Frost ist Ragnar Jonasson eine tolle Fortsetzung der Krimi Reihe gelungen. Neben dem atmosphärischen Schreibstil konnte besonders der Fall überzeugen, aber auch Helgi macht als neuer Ermittler einen guten Job. Das Ende reist einem dann nochmal den Boden unter den Füßen weg und hat mich emotional nochmal richtig getroffen. Ich freu mich auf den nächsten Band. Von mir gibt es eine absolute Leseempfehlung für Frost, aber auch für die komplette Hulda Reihe.
5 von 5 Sternen
September 22, 2024
Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jónasson is a masterfully crafted Nordic noir that transports readers to the isolated, haunting landscape of northern Iceland. Set across three distinct timelines—1951, 1983, and 2012—the novel weaves a complex mystery that begins with the murder of a nurse at a former sanatorium and the apparent suicide of the chief physician shortly after. Nearly 30 years later, Helgi Reykdal, a young police officer, returns to Iceland to reopen the case, determined to dig up the truth that was hastily buried.
The novel stands out with its atmospheric setting. The cold, desolate Icelandic backdrop adds a sense of isolation and unease that permeates the entire story, drawing readers deeper into the mystery. This isn't a fast-paced, action-packed thriller, but rather a slow-burn police procedural where Jónasson takes his time to lay out intricate details, carefully unraveling the plot with subtle clues and red herrings. Fans of classic detective fiction, especially Agatha Christie-like whodunits, will appreciate this old-school approach.
Jónasson skillfully shifts between the different timelines, giving the story layers that enrich the mystery. The translation from Icelandic to English is seamless, capturing the essence of the original text while making it accessible and smooth for English-speaking audiences.
The characters are as intriguing as the plot itself, with Helgi at the center, an old-school detective navigating a modern-day cold case. Each character adds depth to the story, building suspense and making the eventual revelation even more satisfying. While it's not a twist-filled ending, it wraps up in a clever and gratifying way.
On the audiobook front, Sam Woolf’s narration adds an extra layer of immersion. His soothing voice, familiar from Call the Midwife and The Crown, is a perfect match for the atmospheric tone, though it occasionally falls a bit flat in more emotionally charged scenes. Still, it's an excellent listen overall and complements the methodical pace of the story.
If you’re a fan of Nordic noir, atmospheric mysteries, or enjoy a well-thought-out detective story that takes its time, Death at the Sanatorium is a great pick. Jónasson has once again proven why he’s one of the best at crafting clever, engaging mysteries that linger long after you’ve closed the book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy for review.
The novel stands out with its atmospheric setting. The cold, desolate Icelandic backdrop adds a sense of isolation and unease that permeates the entire story, drawing readers deeper into the mystery. This isn't a fast-paced, action-packed thriller, but rather a slow-burn police procedural where Jónasson takes his time to lay out intricate details, carefully unraveling the plot with subtle clues and red herrings. Fans of classic detective fiction, especially Agatha Christie-like whodunits, will appreciate this old-school approach.
Jónasson skillfully shifts between the different timelines, giving the story layers that enrich the mystery. The translation from Icelandic to English is seamless, capturing the essence of the original text while making it accessible and smooth for English-speaking audiences.
The characters are as intriguing as the plot itself, with Helgi at the center, an old-school detective navigating a modern-day cold case. Each character adds depth to the story, building suspense and making the eventual revelation even more satisfying. While it's not a twist-filled ending, it wraps up in a clever and gratifying way.
On the audiobook front, Sam Woolf’s narration adds an extra layer of immersion. His soothing voice, familiar from Call the Midwife and The Crown, is a perfect match for the atmospheric tone, though it occasionally falls a bit flat in more emotionally charged scenes. Still, it's an excellent listen overall and complements the methodical pace of the story.
If you’re a fan of Nordic noir, atmospheric mysteries, or enjoy a well-thought-out detective story that takes its time, Death at the Sanatorium is a great pick. Jónasson has once again proven why he’s one of the best at crafting clever, engaging mysteries that linger long after you’ve closed the book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy for review.
July 4, 2024
I enjoyed this latest offering from the brilliant Ragnar Jonasson. His Dark Iceland and Hidden Iceland series' are favourites.
Death at the Sanatorium is a multi-timeline mystery that begins with the death of one of the workers at a sanatorium that originally housed those suffering from TB. The main action takes place in 1983 when supervisor, Yrsa, is murdered. There is only one arrest and the case is closed after another death.
In 2012 Helgi, a criminalogist writing his dissertation on the murder in 1983 begins to interview the staff and uncovers some unsettling facts. As he tries to interview all the ex-staff members another murder occurs and Helgi puts aside his studies to look into the original murder and the new one.
It sounds a little complicated but it's far from it. I'm really useless at keeping up with the action and I had no trouble following what was going on.
As a little bonus we also meet Hulda Hermansdottir again a few times. She had been involved in the original investigation in 83 and now she is nearing retirement as the latest murder occurs.
Helgi is quite an unassuming chap but he listens more than he talks and I liked him as a character. I wish there'd been more Hulda because she was another character I really liked.
I enjoyed the slow unravelling of the old case with all it's secrets and the lies that were told. It's a clever story with a lot of interesting characters and I'd recommend this to any fans of Jonasson or as a stand alone novel. You certainly wouldn't need to have read any of his previous books to enjoy this murder mystery.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the advance review copy.
Death at the Sanatorium is a multi-timeline mystery that begins with the death of one of the workers at a sanatorium that originally housed those suffering from TB. The main action takes place in 1983 when supervisor, Yrsa, is murdered. There is only one arrest and the case is closed after another death.
In 2012 Helgi, a criminalogist writing his dissertation on the murder in 1983 begins to interview the staff and uncovers some unsettling facts. As he tries to interview all the ex-staff members another murder occurs and Helgi puts aside his studies to look into the original murder and the new one.
It sounds a little complicated but it's far from it. I'm really useless at keeping up with the action and I had no trouble following what was going on.
As a little bonus we also meet Hulda Hermansdottir again a few times. She had been involved in the original investigation in 83 and now she is nearing retirement as the latest murder occurs.
Helgi is quite an unassuming chap but he listens more than he talks and I liked him as a character. I wish there'd been more Hulda because she was another character I really liked.
I enjoyed the slow unravelling of the old case with all it's secrets and the lies that were told. It's a clever story with a lot of interesting characters and I'd recommend this to any fans of Jonasson or as a stand alone novel. You certainly wouldn't need to have read any of his previous books to enjoy this murder mystery.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the advance review copy.
July 10, 2024
In 1983, a nurse was murdered at a former TB sanatorium in northern Iceland. With a staff of only 5, who did it? When the chief physician appears to have jumped to his death, he is considered to have been the perpetrator and the case closed.
Twenty nine years later a criminology student who has served as a police officer is using the events for his graduate dissertation. As he reaches out to the surviving staff, all may not appear as it seemed back then and danger lurks.
This is the third book I have read by Jónasson and I have liked all of them. Told in three timelines from various POVs, this Nordic Noir is highly readable, atmospheric, and engrossing. And, oh that ending!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress #Minotaur for the DRC.
Twenty nine years later a criminology student who has served as a police officer is using the events for his graduate dissertation. As he reaches out to the surviving staff, all may not appear as it seemed back then and danger lurks.
This is the third book I have read by Jónasson and I have liked all of them. Told in three timelines from various POVs, this Nordic Noir is highly readable, atmospheric, and engrossing. And, oh that ending!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress #Minotaur for the DRC.
February 12, 2022
Was für ein Buch! Bitte bitte bitte bitte bitte viel mehr davon! ❤❤
Read
July 21, 2025Listened. Sam Woolf was terrific.
I enjoyed this listen more than I enjoyed the story. The narrator's voice was soothing and incessant. By that I mean I felt urged on no matter how repetitive or silly the plot became at times.
I did so appreciate the red herrings, the misdirections, the shout-outs to great mysteries of times gone by. It was a good story, well-told, in a perfunctory, rational way.
It's too bad most of the characters' backstories were given short shrift, which made it hard to completely grasp their motivations and actions. I would have liked to have gotten to know a few of them more deeply.
Why was the sanatorium even in use? Did these people just sit at desks all day? I was confused by its very existence, present day-wise. Why would nurses even work there?
The ending gave me whiplash. Many loose ends remained fraying in the wind.
Iceland. That was my first visit. Shall I return?
I enjoyed this listen more than I enjoyed the story. The narrator's voice was soothing and incessant. By that I mean I felt urged on no matter how repetitive or silly the plot became at times.
I did so appreciate the red herrings, the misdirections, the shout-outs to great mysteries of times gone by. It was a good story, well-told, in a perfunctory, rational way.
It's too bad most of the characters' backstories were given short shrift, which made it hard to completely grasp their motivations and actions. I would have liked to have gotten to know a few of them more deeply.
Why was the sanatorium even in use? Did these people just sit at desks all day? I was confused by its very existence, present day-wise. Why would nurses even work there?
The ending gave me whiplash. Many loose ends remained fraying in the wind.
Iceland. That was my first visit. Shall I return?
November 18, 2024
Ragnar Jónasson’s latest English translation offering, Death at the Sanatorium is one of the best I’ve read of his for a little while now. It’s a return to a classic whodunnit style murder mystery, set both in the northern town of Akureyri, Iceland (1983) and then in Reykjavík (2013), allowing the story to be told on at least two timelines.
One thing I really liked is that the actual sanatorium that these fictional events are based on is a real place. Hælið – The Great white plague centre was indeed a tuberculosis sanatorium built in 1927, about 10km south of Akureyri. Nowadays it appears to be a bit of a museum, allowing visitors to get some sense of appreciation of the horrors of that time.
Death at the Sanatorium centres around two mysterious deaths (murders? suicides?) in 1983. At the time the sanatorium was a research facility and didn’t take patients so with only around 5 staff on site, the investigation could almost take on a closed door kind of mystery atmosphere. However, a bit of a botched investigation and some dodgy witness statements, meant that come 2013, when Helgi Reykdal, writing his criminology dissertation on the deaths from 1983, the case seems to crack open again, bit by bit.
The intriguing little thing that Jónasson has done in this one is to feature Hulda Hermannsdóttir, chief protagonist from the three book Hidden Iceland series. It’s actually very clever, ties the books together and brings an ominous presence to the book especially in the last few pages in particular. In fact, the book seems to lend itself to perhaps another in a series. Not sure if that will be the case but if it is I would definitely read it.
This was a 4 star read for me. A step up from the last two books that I have read of Jónasson’s and a revisit to some of his earlier ones.
One thing I really liked is that the actual sanatorium that these fictional events are based on is a real place. Hælið – The Great white plague centre was indeed a tuberculosis sanatorium built in 1927, about 10km south of Akureyri. Nowadays it appears to be a bit of a museum, allowing visitors to get some sense of appreciation of the horrors of that time.
Death at the Sanatorium centres around two mysterious deaths (murders? suicides?) in 1983. At the time the sanatorium was a research facility and didn’t take patients so with only around 5 staff on site, the investigation could almost take on a closed door kind of mystery atmosphere. However, a bit of a botched investigation and some dodgy witness statements, meant that come 2013, when Helgi Reykdal, writing his criminology dissertation on the deaths from 1983, the case seems to crack open again, bit by bit.
The intriguing little thing that Jónasson has done in this one is to feature Hulda Hermannsdóttir, chief protagonist from the three book Hidden Iceland series. It’s actually very clever, ties the books together and brings an ominous presence to the book especially in the last few pages in particular. In fact, the book seems to lend itself to perhaps another in a series. Not sure if that will be the case but if it is I would definitely read it.
This was a 4 star read for me. A step up from the last two books that I have read of Jónasson’s and a revisit to some of his earlier ones.
February 21, 2025
I truly enjoyed this Icelandic noire novel. There were few characters to like but they seemed authentic and some serious topics were covered such as domestic abuse.
Favourite quote:
"There was a definite hint of spring in the air, but it was still bitterly cold. He hadn't dressed warmly enough and now regretted not having put on his down jacket, but that would have been a mark of surrender, an admission that the Icelandic spring was no more than an illusion, no more than winter in fancy dress."
Favourite quote:
"There was a definite hint of spring in the air, but it was still bitterly cold. He hadn't dressed warmly enough and now regretted not having put on his down jacket, but that would have been a mark of surrender, an admission that the Icelandic spring was no more than an illusion, no more than winter in fancy dress."
November 16, 2025
I really enjoyed this trip to Iceland with Jonasson, my first foray into his writing. I loved the quiet darkness of the small town, which led to a feeling of both peacefulness and terror. I loved the references to local cuisine, architecture and culture. And I especially loved the many unreliable characters, especially that of young Tinna.
Helgi is a criminology student who is writing his final thesis on the infamous murders at the Sanatorium almost 30 years later. He re-interviews the witnesses and staff who were involved in the case and even questions the sergeant who was in charge of the investigation.
It seems that time and age has given perspective to the survivors, allowing them to reflect more candidly on the events of the time. Everyone has flaws and motive and no one is above speculation that the original case was botched. Even Helgi himself has complex domestic issues which seem to colour his research.
I was definitely ready to arrest the wrong person when the final chapters came around. Everything came together and fit like a jigsaw puzzle. Smart, entertaining and very satisfying.
Helgi is a criminology student who is writing his final thesis on the infamous murders at the Sanatorium almost 30 years later. He re-interviews the witnesses and staff who were involved in the case and even questions the sergeant who was in charge of the investigation.
It seems that time and age has given perspective to the survivors, allowing them to reflect more candidly on the events of the time. Everyone has flaws and motive and no one is above speculation that the original case was botched. Even Helgi himself has complex domestic issues which seem to colour his research.
I was definitely ready to arrest the wrong person when the final chapters came around. Everything came together and fit like a jigsaw puzzle. Smart, entertaining and very satisfying.
September 10, 2024
Death at the Sanatorium introduces a new detective into Ragnar Jónasson’s list of characters, one Helgi Reykdal. He’s a young man who has returned to Reykjavik after studying criminology in England. He only needs to complete his dissertation then make his final job decision, perhaps joining the CID of the city’s police. His dissertation plan: to look into a case from thirty years ago where two people died, one definitely a murder, at a former TB sanatorium in a small town north of Reykjavik. He will use a criminologist viewpoint. That case was concluded but not to everyone’s satisfaction at the time.
The sanatorium was not a working hospital in 1983, but had 2 doctors, 3 nurses and a custodian employed. The specialist tasks involved categorizing and organizing the records left behind from the facility’s many years of operation. The head nurse, Yrsa, was found dead, murdered, in her office early one morning. The lead police officer fixed his attention on the custodian, a man very different from the others who worked there. Then, within a week, the head doctor was discovered dead on the ground outside the building, an apparent suicide. Shortly thereafter the case was closed, with the assumption that this doctor was the killer. Will Helgi, working in 2012, find anything new as he interviews those who remain available? What did happen all those years ago?
If you’re familiar with Jonasson, I believe you’ll enjoy meeting Helgi. Like all of Jonasson’s characters, he’s distinctly human…and a lover of Golden Age mysteries (as is his creator). If you haven’t read Jonasson yet and you enjoy mysteries, you should give him a try.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
The sanatorium was not a working hospital in 1983, but had 2 doctors, 3 nurses and a custodian employed. The specialist tasks involved categorizing and organizing the records left behind from the facility’s many years of operation. The head nurse, Yrsa, was found dead, murdered, in her office early one morning. The lead police officer fixed his attention on the custodian, a man very different from the others who worked there. Then, within a week, the head doctor was discovered dead on the ground outside the building, an apparent suicide. Shortly thereafter the case was closed, with the assumption that this doctor was the killer. Will Helgi, working in 2012, find anything new as he interviews those who remain available? What did happen all those years ago?
If you’re familiar with Jonasson, I believe you’ll enjoy meeting Helgi. Like all of Jonasson’s characters, he’s distinctly human…and a lover of Golden Age mysteries (as is his creator). If you haven’t read Jonasson yet and you enjoy mysteries, you should give him a try.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
March 1, 2022
This really isn't a good book. The characters don't have personality or anything, the language is not exactly good, it's not well written, the translation is really bad. There are no descriptions of people, how they look who they are, other than some lined a child in preschool could have come up with. One does not follow a criminologist doing his work but a guy who walks around and talks to people. With one exception, basically, there are no clues to follow. That someone solves the mystery by asking questions is a very weird way to write an alleged thriller. There is no suspense in this book neither! There is not even anything in this book which tells the reader that it takes place on Iceland, other than mentioning Icelandic names. What irked me most, though, was that the main figure (not calling him a character!) emphasises how he is writing about a criminology approach to the old murder case. And then there is nothing, absolutely nothing, on criminology or how je applies the theory, or anything in the entire book.
Absolutely not recommended!
Absolutely not recommended!
August 4, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Sept. 10, 2024
“Death at the Sanatorium” is the new novel by Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson, a spinoff from his record-breaking, soon-to-be-TV-series, “The Darkness”. (Before reading on, please note that it is not necessary to have read “The Darkness”, or to even be familiar with it in any way, to enjoy “Sanatorium”.)
In 1983, at a former TB sanatorium in upper Iceland, a nurse is found dead. After being hastily investigated by police detectives Hulda and Sverrir, the caretaker, Broddi, is charged with the crime although he is quickly released when the sanatorium’s doctor is also found dead in an apparent suicide. In 2012, nearly thirty years later, Helgi, a former police officer who is now writing his dissertation on the deaths at the sanatorium all those years ago, thinks that maybe the crimes were solved too easily and the case isn’t really closed after all. His theory looks more plausible when a nurse by the name of Tinna, who also worked at the sanatorium, is found dead in her apartment after receiving multiple threats. Helgi feels that he has stirred up secrets in his recent investigation, and he is desperate to solve it before another body drops.
“Sanatorium” is told in three different time frames, 1983 and 2012, with a few brief segments from 1951 which seem unrelated at first but do play a role in the ending of the novel. There are many narrators, although Helgi remains the protagonist, so readers can experience the entire story from different perspectives. The story is translated from the original Icelandic, but the translation is spot on and the novel is well-written and creative.
“Sanatorium” centres around the TB pandemic, when people were quietly shuffled away to institutions to spend their last days. Now, the TB sanatorium has been turned into a research hospital, but the figurative ghosts of the TB days remain. The quiet, desolate, nearly abandoned sanatorium is spooky and it was the perfect setting for murders to take place.
Helgi is both a student, working on his dissertation, and a new police investigator, and he is also dealing with an extremely toxic relationship in his home life (which is hinted at, but the real truth of this does not come out until the final pages and it’s just as devastating as you’d expect). I thoroughly enjoyed Jonasson’s characters, Helgi included.
The ending was surprising, although not entirely unexpected, and Jonasson wrapped up all of the plot lines in a conclusive way. His personal relationship is left unresolved, however, and that wraps up in a way that precludes another novel in this series is forthcoming. “Sanatorium” was a gripping police procedural, with a twist, and I look forward to seeing more of Helgi in the future.
Expected publication date: Sept. 10, 2024
“Death at the Sanatorium” is the new novel by Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson, a spinoff from his record-breaking, soon-to-be-TV-series, “The Darkness”. (Before reading on, please note that it is not necessary to have read “The Darkness”, or to even be familiar with it in any way, to enjoy “Sanatorium”.)
In 1983, at a former TB sanatorium in upper Iceland, a nurse is found dead. After being hastily investigated by police detectives Hulda and Sverrir, the caretaker, Broddi, is charged with the crime although he is quickly released when the sanatorium’s doctor is also found dead in an apparent suicide. In 2012, nearly thirty years later, Helgi, a former police officer who is now writing his dissertation on the deaths at the sanatorium all those years ago, thinks that maybe the crimes were solved too easily and the case isn’t really closed after all. His theory looks more plausible when a nurse by the name of Tinna, who also worked at the sanatorium, is found dead in her apartment after receiving multiple threats. Helgi feels that he has stirred up secrets in his recent investigation, and he is desperate to solve it before another body drops.
“Sanatorium” is told in three different time frames, 1983 and 2012, with a few brief segments from 1951 which seem unrelated at first but do play a role in the ending of the novel. There are many narrators, although Helgi remains the protagonist, so readers can experience the entire story from different perspectives. The story is translated from the original Icelandic, but the translation is spot on and the novel is well-written and creative.
“Sanatorium” centres around the TB pandemic, when people were quietly shuffled away to institutions to spend their last days. Now, the TB sanatorium has been turned into a research hospital, but the figurative ghosts of the TB days remain. The quiet, desolate, nearly abandoned sanatorium is spooky and it was the perfect setting for murders to take place.
Helgi is both a student, working on his dissertation, and a new police investigator, and he is also dealing with an extremely toxic relationship in his home life (which is hinted at, but the real truth of this does not come out until the final pages and it’s just as devastating as you’d expect). I thoroughly enjoyed Jonasson’s characters, Helgi included.
The ending was surprising, although not entirely unexpected, and Jonasson wrapped up all of the plot lines in a conclusive way. His personal relationship is left unresolved, however, and that wraps up in a way that precludes another novel in this series is forthcoming. “Sanatorium” was a gripping police procedural, with a twist, and I look forward to seeing more of Helgi in the future.
July 29, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
This is my first Ragnar Jonasson and I must say it’s just very meh. It started off with such promise and I was excited to see the story develop between 1983 and 2012 but it suddenly just kind of stopped. The last quarter of the book was only from one POV and didn’t really need to be split into chapters. There wasn’t really a lot of character development and with the mix of characters there were, the author could have done so much with them which was a bit of a disappointment.
Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me 😞
This is my first Ragnar Jonasson and I must say it’s just very meh. It started off with such promise and I was excited to see the story develop between 1983 and 2012 but it suddenly just kind of stopped. The last quarter of the book was only from one POV and didn’t really need to be split into chapters. There wasn’t really a lot of character development and with the mix of characters there were, the author could have done so much with them which was a bit of a disappointment.
Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me 😞
October 16, 2024
3.5 stars.
In 2012 Reykjavik, a young police officer, Helgi Reykdal, is taking a Masters program in Criminology. He has a disruptive home life with a volatile partner.
Helgi is writing his dissertation, and has a standing offer from the Reykjavik police service to join their ranks, but he is dragging his feet on making a decision, unwilling to consign his future to life in . To deal with his stress, he enjoys reading Golden Age mysteries, and decides to focus his paper on a 1983 murder that occurred in northern Iceland at a sanatorium that used to be a treatment facility for TB patients, and was later transformed into a regular hospital.
One early morning in 1983, Yrsa, a senior nurse, was found brutally murdered by a junior nurse, Tinna Einars. Detective Sverrir and his subordinate Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir are sent to investigate, and Sverrir quickly decided, after speaking to Tinna, who because of her uneasiness with the man, points them to Broddi, the hospital's caretaker. Broddi is arrested, but released after questioning. A week later, the chief physician falls to his death, and Sverrir rules it a suicide, and closes the case, despite Hulda feeling that more should have done to investigate.
Helgi begins speaking with former suspects of the 1983 murder investigation. He soon determines that there were avenues that Sverrir never pursued, and that the detective married Tinna soon after closing the case. His questions clearly touch off the peace achieved with the closing of the case, as a new murder happens. Helgi persists, and manages to deduce the truth of what happened at the sanatorium in 1983.
I enjoyed this swiftly moving mystery. I'm not familiar with this author's work, but immediately liked the sidelined and soon to retire Hulda Hermannsdottir, and wished she could have played a larger part in this story. Nevertheless, Helgi proves himself to be an able investigator, treading the same path the earlier investigators did, but asking questions the lead never bothered to ask and who chose to simply accept the wilful lies and class snobberies of the suspects.
Though not familiar with this author's other works, of which this is related, I enjoyed this, and am now motivated to read the Hulda mystery series.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
In 2012 Reykjavik, a young police officer, Helgi Reykdal, is taking a Masters program in Criminology. He has a disruptive home life with a volatile partner.
Helgi is writing his dissertation, and has a standing offer from the Reykjavik police service to join their ranks, but he is dragging his feet on making a decision, unwilling to consign his future to life in . To deal with his stress, he enjoys reading Golden Age mysteries, and decides to focus his paper on a 1983 murder that occurred in northern Iceland at a sanatorium that used to be a treatment facility for TB patients, and was later transformed into a regular hospital.
One early morning in 1983, Yrsa, a senior nurse, was found brutally murdered by a junior nurse, Tinna Einars. Detective Sverrir and his subordinate Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir are sent to investigate, and Sverrir quickly decided, after speaking to Tinna, who because of her uneasiness with the man, points them to Broddi, the hospital's caretaker. Broddi is arrested, but released after questioning. A week later, the chief physician falls to his death, and Sverrir rules it a suicide, and closes the case, despite Hulda feeling that more should have done to investigate.
Helgi begins speaking with former suspects of the 1983 murder investigation. He soon determines that there were avenues that Sverrir never pursued, and that the detective married Tinna soon after closing the case. His questions clearly touch off the peace achieved with the closing of the case, as a new murder happens. Helgi persists, and manages to deduce the truth of what happened at the sanatorium in 1983.
I enjoyed this swiftly moving mystery. I'm not familiar with this author's work, but immediately liked the sidelined and soon to retire Hulda Hermannsdottir, and wished she could have played a larger part in this story. Nevertheless, Helgi proves himself to be an able investigator, treading the same path the earlier investigators did, but asking questions the lead never bothered to ask and who chose to simply accept the wilful lies and class snobberies of the suspects.
Though not familiar with this author's other works, of which this is related, I enjoyed this, and am now motivated to read the Hulda mystery series.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
February 16, 2025
O primeiro livro de uma nova trilogia do autor.
Duas mortes no passado que nunca ficaram bem resolvidas, um novo criminologista , Helgi, que vai substitui a Hulda devido à sua passagem para a reforma.
O final é um cliffhanger que me deixou com vontade de ler já o segundo (espero que não tarde)
Duas mortes no passado que nunca ficaram bem resolvidas, um novo criminologista , Helgi, que vai substitui a Hulda devido à sua passagem para a reforma.
O final é um cliffhanger que me deixou com vontade de ler já o segundo (espero que não tarde)
November 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this Icelandic crime novel, which gave strong Agatha Christie vibes. The cozy cover made me think I might not enjoy this as much as Jonasson's other books that I have read, but this had everything I needed from a murder puzzle. Great depth of characterisation, and a complex narrative voice which had me questioning most things, for most of the novel. Super pleased to see this is part of a new trilogy.
August 17, 2025
This is practically a love letter to whodunnit books and Agatha Christie. The mystery of the cold case was interesting; I really wasn't sure how it would end until Helgi wrapped it up.
It was a bit bittersweet ending, maybe we'll learn what happened in the next book he releases.
It was a bit bittersweet ending, maybe we'll learn what happened in the next book he releases.
November 19, 2024
I kind of wish I had known Death at the Sanatorium was a spinoff of The Darkness so I had thought to read that first, but for the most part this felt very much like a standalone where I wasn't necessarily missing anything. I have only read Ragnar Jónasson once before, but I love Nordic Noir and I kept seeing this all over Booksta, so obviously I had to read it. The multiple viewpoints on top of the time jumps confused me at first, but once I got a feel for things I was set! This was a very dark and mysterious read that kept me completely engaged from start to finish.
I can’t say I loved the audiobook, but I didn’t hate it, and overall, I thought Sam Woolf did a great job. The way he said Tina at first really distracted me, and I would have preferred a full cast, but these things wouldn’t keep me from recommending the audio if someone asked. The ending was quite shocking, and that last chapter was very WTF and abrupt which I didn’t love. Please give us a second book Jónasson! I will also say the audio did a really weird transition at the end so if you do decide to listen, make sure you have the book with you.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I can’t say I loved the audiobook, but I didn’t hate it, and overall, I thought Sam Woolf did a great job. The way he said Tina at first really distracted me, and I would have preferred a full cast, but these things wouldn’t keep me from recommending the audio if someone asked. The ending was quite shocking, and that last chapter was very WTF and abrupt which I didn’t love. Please give us a second book Jónasson! I will also say the audio did a really weird transition at the end so if you do decide to listen, make sure you have the book with you.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
June 2, 2025
This was a slightly odd novel. According to the Author's note at the end, Ragnar Jónasson sees it as being heavily influenced by Agatha Christie, whose work he has been reading and translating since childhood. I see some similarities: a remote setting, a limited suspect pool, and closely held secrets that don't necessarily point towards the killer. To my mind though, this story is too bleak to be a Golden Age Mystery. The harm done cuts deeper than polite, almost bloodless murders in the library. The almost abandoned sanatorium with the pain-soaked history was more like something from a Gothic horror story. Although, I found it more chilling than most horror stories because it was so firmly rooted in reality.
I found the writing a little dry. It felt as though the characters were being displayed behind glass, like butterflies pinned to a board for me to examine.
The two timelines the story was told on worked well. The 1983 murder investigation seemed convincingly slapdash. The 2012 story seemed to me a bloodless thing. I couldn’t connect with Helgi, the main character. I found it hard to believe that the police would see him as a star candidate to hire as a senior detective investigating serious crimes. He struck me as one of those eternal students who plods through academia by never fully engaging with real life. I found I didn't trust any of his observations Which may, of course, have been the point.
Puzzling out how the two timelines would eventually connect carried me through most of the story. The plot was both dark and twisty. I again failed to work out who the murderer was.
The ending was abrupt and strange. I don’t think either the abruptness or the strangeness improved the book.
I enjoyed the inclusion of Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir from the Dark Iceland series in both timelines. I liked seeing her when she was at the start of her career as a detective. The way her retirement was handled was sad but not surprising.
Sam Woolf's narration was easy on the ear. Although this worked fine as an audiobook, it wasn't improved by being one. Click on the YouTube link to hear a sample.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoQ56...
I found the writing a little dry. It felt as though the characters were being displayed behind glass, like butterflies pinned to a board for me to examine.
The two timelines the story was told on worked well. The 1983 murder investigation seemed convincingly slapdash. The 2012 story seemed to me a bloodless thing. I couldn’t connect with Helgi, the main character. I found it hard to believe that the police would see him as a star candidate to hire as a senior detective investigating serious crimes. He struck me as one of those eternal students who plods through academia by never fully engaging with real life. I found I didn't trust any of his observations Which may, of course, have been the point.
Puzzling out how the two timelines would eventually connect carried me through most of the story. The plot was both dark and twisty. I again failed to work out who the murderer was.
The ending was abrupt and strange. I don’t think either the abruptness or the strangeness improved the book.
I enjoyed the inclusion of Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir from the Dark Iceland series in both timelines. I liked seeing her when she was at the start of her career as a detective. The way her retirement was handled was sad but not surprising.
Sam Woolf's narration was easy on the ear. Although this worked fine as an audiobook, it wasn't improved by being one. Click on the YouTube link to hear a sample.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoQ56...
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