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Shrouded
A retired, reclusive woman is found on a bitter winter morning, clubbed to death in Reykjavik's old graveyard.
Detectives Guðgeir and Elsa Guðrún face one of their toughest cases yet, as they try to piece together the details of Arnhildur's austere life in her Red House in the oldest part of the city.
Why was this solitary, private woman attending séances, and why was she determined to keep her severe financial difficulties so secret?
Could the truth be buried deep in her past and a long history of family enmity, or could there be something more?
A stranger keeps a watchful eye on the graveyard and Arnhildur's house. With the detectives running out of leads, could the Medium, blessed and cursed with uncanny abilities, shed any light on Arnhildur’s lonely death?
Detectives Guðgeir and Elsa Guðrún face one of their toughest cases yet, as they try to piece together the details of Arnhildur's austere life in her Red House in the oldest part of the city.
Why was this solitary, private woman attending séances, and why was she determined to keep her severe financial difficulties so secret?
Could the truth be buried deep in her past and a long history of family enmity, or could there be something more?
A stranger keeps a watchful eye on the graveyard and Arnhildur's house. With the detectives running out of leads, could the Medium, blessed and cursed with uncanny abilities, shed any light on Arnhildur’s lonely death?
- GenresMystery Thriller
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2024
42 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 24, 2024
I'm a big fan of Icelandic noir, and if it wasn't for Quentin Bates, who did a superb job of translating this book, I might not have come across Sólveig Pálsdóttir and this gripping series.
Shrouded is the fourth book featuring Reykjavík detectives Gudgeir and Elsa Gudrún. They're tasked with solving the murder of Arnhildur, whose body was discovered in a cemetery. She had last been seen at a séance three days previously.
The investigation leads the pair down many false trails, and uncovers a whole host of secrets and lies, and the abuse of a disabled woman in a care home.
There is a supernatural element running throughout the book, which adds to the already tense atmosphere.
Shrouded is dark and disturbing, with many unsavory characters, all of which combine to make it a thrilling read.
Shrouded is the fourth book featuring Reykjavík detectives Gudgeir and Elsa Gudrún. They're tasked with solving the murder of Arnhildur, whose body was discovered in a cemetery. She had last been seen at a séance three days previously.
The investigation leads the pair down many false trails, and uncovers a whole host of secrets and lies, and the abuse of a disabled woman in a care home.
There is a supernatural element running throughout the book, which adds to the already tense atmosphere.
Shrouded is dark and disturbing, with many unsavory characters, all of which combine to make it a thrilling read.
July 20, 2024
Arnhildur has a lot going on - pestering tenants, financial worries, a daughter with a brain injury, whose care home is far from ideal, an estranged sister after an old accident... She visits a medium and unfortunately meets with an untimely end on the way home.
But her spirit does not rest easy...
Poor Arnthor, the unsuspecting medium, discovers he's not such a fraud as he feared, because Arnhildur won't leave him alone! He's forced to go out and repeatedly retrace her final steps, which the tenants in her house find quite unsettling, and they report him to the police.
Guðgeir & Elsa Guðrún run up many blind alleys in their search for the truth and justice. There are a crop of characters who are all suspicious, so plenty for the reader to wrestle with, and getting to the surprising bottom of the knotty problem taxes our duo, who I'm delighted to be hearing from again.
A darkly unsettling story with buckets of twists and turns, a soupçon of the supernatural, and a sting in the tail - love it! Sólveig at her best, highly recommended!
But her spirit does not rest easy...
Poor Arnthor, the unsuspecting medium, discovers he's not such a fraud as he feared, because Arnhildur won't leave him alone! He's forced to go out and repeatedly retrace her final steps, which the tenants in her house find quite unsettling, and they report him to the police.
Guðgeir & Elsa Guðrún run up many blind alleys in their search for the truth and justice. There are a crop of characters who are all suspicious, so plenty for the reader to wrestle with, and getting to the surprising bottom of the knotty problem taxes our duo, who I'm delighted to be hearing from again.
A darkly unsettling story with buckets of twists and turns, a soupçon of the supernatural, and a sting in the tail - love it! Sólveig at her best, highly recommended!
August 3, 2024
A young woman is starting an apprenticeship at a hairdresser. Being a bitter winter’s morning, she opts for a short cut through Reykjavik's old graveyard and gets the shock of her life. There’s the body of an old woman, almost covered in snow, amongst the headstones.
Detectives Guðgeir and Elsa Guðrún discover that the woman has been beaten with a blunt object, so it’s murder. They learn that she is retired and is private to the point of being reclusive, so there is little to work on at the start of their investigation. The only clues they have are in her house there is a newspaper on the table, open at an advertisement, and she was returning from a séance the evening she was killed.
Two questions remain unanswered and bother the detectives; why would a reclusive old woman be spending her time attending séances and why did she live such an austere lifestyle. She lived in the ‘Red House’ situated in the oldest part of Reykjavik, she could easily downsize to a more manageable property and be comfortable. However, she would entertain no suggesting of selling; the upstairs is rented but the basement area is unoccupied. A tenant offered to help convert the basement, but Arnhildur flatly refused.
This is a great example of the tightly plotted police procedural that readers have come to expect from modern Icelandic crime fiction. It excels in the paradox of having a large sweeping landscape, yet a small cast of characters whose proximity brings a kind of intensity and almost a claustrophobia. The action centres on Reykjavik but we get enough hints at the wider barren landscape further afield, where journeys are undertaken in winter only if necessary. The population of Iceland is sparse, many European cities are more populous, so it is only natural that there are fewer characters and coincidences abound.
The novel is relatively short and so moves along at a rapid enough pace, whilst still being beautifully judged, packing in everything to plot needs but with brief interludes of family life to break up the intensity and bring a sense of reality.
The main storyline is a whodunnit, who killed Arnhildur, with enough suspects and odd behaviour (at times downright creepy) to keep the reader guessing until the end. The answers will only come from delving into the secrets of Arnhildur’s past. Interestingly this is done without resorting to flashbacks.
The introduction of the medium Valur Thór, the séances and elements of the supernatural, are used to brilliant effect. Events are curiously portrayed; some indicating that the ‘gift’ is faked and the whole explanation is hokum, whilst others appear to support the notion of spirits influencing reality. In the end it is left to the reader to decide if a sensitive mind be could contacted by spirits or is it man’s desire to make connections and find answers even if they are not there. Even Valur Thór himself is unsure, but in the end, it comes down to the actions of man. Add to this an entwined dark sub-plot, a time lag, a touch of misdirection and you have a wonderfully constructed procedural that will have you enthralled and guessing to the very end.
The theme through the story is family, the bonds that tie us and what happens when these bonds are broken. When communities are small these bonds are tighter and more numerous, to escape them would probably mean leaving Iceland altogether. In the end there is a sense of melancholy, what could have been if fate hadn’t intervened or if different decisions had been made.
The translation is excellent, managing read as if originally written in English whilst at the same time retaining a local flavour, Quentin Bates proving once again to be the go-to guy for Icelandic crime translation.
Detectives Guðgeir and Elsa Guðrún discover that the woman has been beaten with a blunt object, so it’s murder. They learn that she is retired and is private to the point of being reclusive, so there is little to work on at the start of their investigation. The only clues they have are in her house there is a newspaper on the table, open at an advertisement, and she was returning from a séance the evening she was killed.
Two questions remain unanswered and bother the detectives; why would a reclusive old woman be spending her time attending séances and why did she live such an austere lifestyle. She lived in the ‘Red House’ situated in the oldest part of Reykjavik, she could easily downsize to a more manageable property and be comfortable. However, she would entertain no suggesting of selling; the upstairs is rented but the basement area is unoccupied. A tenant offered to help convert the basement, but Arnhildur flatly refused.
This is a great example of the tightly plotted police procedural that readers have come to expect from modern Icelandic crime fiction. It excels in the paradox of having a large sweeping landscape, yet a small cast of characters whose proximity brings a kind of intensity and almost a claustrophobia. The action centres on Reykjavik but we get enough hints at the wider barren landscape further afield, where journeys are undertaken in winter only if necessary. The population of Iceland is sparse, many European cities are more populous, so it is only natural that there are fewer characters and coincidences abound.
The novel is relatively short and so moves along at a rapid enough pace, whilst still being beautifully judged, packing in everything to plot needs but with brief interludes of family life to break up the intensity and bring a sense of reality.
The main storyline is a whodunnit, who killed Arnhildur, with enough suspects and odd behaviour (at times downright creepy) to keep the reader guessing until the end. The answers will only come from delving into the secrets of Arnhildur’s past. Interestingly this is done without resorting to flashbacks.
The introduction of the medium Valur Thór, the séances and elements of the supernatural, are used to brilliant effect. Events are curiously portrayed; some indicating that the ‘gift’ is faked and the whole explanation is hokum, whilst others appear to support the notion of spirits influencing reality. In the end it is left to the reader to decide if a sensitive mind be could contacted by spirits or is it man’s desire to make connections and find answers even if they are not there. Even Valur Thór himself is unsure, but in the end, it comes down to the actions of man. Add to this an entwined dark sub-plot, a time lag, a touch of misdirection and you have a wonderfully constructed procedural that will have you enthralled and guessing to the very end.
The theme through the story is family, the bonds that tie us and what happens when these bonds are broken. When communities are small these bonds are tighter and more numerous, to escape them would probably mean leaving Iceland altogether. In the end there is a sense of melancholy, what could have been if fate hadn’t intervened or if different decisions had been made.
The translation is excellent, managing read as if originally written in English whilst at the same time retaining a local flavour, Quentin Bates proving once again to be the go-to guy for Icelandic crime translation.
July 7, 2024
Ive really been enjoying the Ice and Crime series by Sólveig Pálsdóttir, and it was great to catch back up with Guðgeir and Elsa Guðrún as they face up to this latest, and most puzzling, of murder mysteries. With elements of the supernatural, it is no wonder that our keen Detectives find themselves as a loss as to who may have wanted to murder the reclusive Arnhildur, or why they would leave her body in exposed to the elements in an old graveyard.
From the very beginning of this story you can feel the real sense of mystery - both the old fashioned Detective kind, and the slightly more unusual occult variety. Arnhildur is someone clearly down on her luck, but as much as we know she is hoping for some kind of miracle, I had to wonder just what is was that led to her meeting her maker, and, more importantly, what she was hoping to gain from attending a seance. Yep - that's the other kind of mystery I was referring to. The fact that she seems to have drawn all kind of attention as a result of the meeting just adds a number of suspects, and a whole host of questions to an already perplexing investigation.
I really liked the way in which the author slowly adds to the potential list of suspects, people who may have had cause to murder Arnhildur. from family to disgruntled tenants, even the strangers she met at the seance, each one is introduced in such a way that they pique the interest and create a kind of suspicion. It is not clear what motives may lay behind the murder, and there are several moments of tension, and potential misdirection, which sent my attention after one suspect or another, while all the time the killer hid in plain sight. I did guess one element of the story, but so much of what occured came as a complete surprise, Sólveig Pálsdóttir, keeping me guessing until almost the final page.
I really like the pairing of Guðgeir and Elsa Guðrún in this series. They work really well together, and with elements of their personal lives brought into the story as well, I find that I am as invested in their stories as I am the case they are investigating. In this book it is actually their boss, Særós who seems the more distracted, and it falls to Guðgeir to try to get to the source of this distraction. I like Guðgeir - he's a really good guy, a family man and a loyal friend. He has a desire for justice, and a frustration for how long it is taking to solve this case, but a real thread of compassion which makes it a joy to spend time with him.
Of the other characters in this book, it was the Medium, Valthór who I found fascinating. He is a tortured soul, but perhaps not for the reasons we might be expecting, and there are surprising things about his character which left me wondering just how much of his 'talent' was innate ability, and how much bluff. If you read the book, you will understand. I do love a story with a sense of the otherworldly, and there are so moments in this book that had me questioning whether there really was more to it than met the eye.
A big thank you to translator, Quentin Bates, who has once aain done a brilliant job in bringing the story to life in English meaning that I can continue to enjoy the series. This is only the fourth of the seven that has been translated into English, so I am hoping this means we have many more of the Ice and Crime series yet to come. A recommended read for anyone who loves Icelandic fiction, or who just fancies a dip into a new series.
From the very beginning of this story you can feel the real sense of mystery - both the old fashioned Detective kind, and the slightly more unusual occult variety. Arnhildur is someone clearly down on her luck, but as much as we know she is hoping for some kind of miracle, I had to wonder just what is was that led to her meeting her maker, and, more importantly, what she was hoping to gain from attending a seance. Yep - that's the other kind of mystery I was referring to. The fact that she seems to have drawn all kind of attention as a result of the meeting just adds a number of suspects, and a whole host of questions to an already perplexing investigation.
I really liked the way in which the author slowly adds to the potential list of suspects, people who may have had cause to murder Arnhildur. from family to disgruntled tenants, even the strangers she met at the seance, each one is introduced in such a way that they pique the interest and create a kind of suspicion. It is not clear what motives may lay behind the murder, and there are several moments of tension, and potential misdirection, which sent my attention after one suspect or another, while all the time the killer hid in plain sight. I did guess one element of the story, but so much of what occured came as a complete surprise, Sólveig Pálsdóttir, keeping me guessing until almost the final page.
I really like the pairing of Guðgeir and Elsa Guðrún in this series. They work really well together, and with elements of their personal lives brought into the story as well, I find that I am as invested in their stories as I am the case they are investigating. In this book it is actually their boss, Særós who seems the more distracted, and it falls to Guðgeir to try to get to the source of this distraction. I like Guðgeir - he's a really good guy, a family man and a loyal friend. He has a desire for justice, and a frustration for how long it is taking to solve this case, but a real thread of compassion which makes it a joy to spend time with him.
Of the other characters in this book, it was the Medium, Valthór who I found fascinating. He is a tortured soul, but perhaps not for the reasons we might be expecting, and there are surprising things about his character which left me wondering just how much of his 'talent' was innate ability, and how much bluff. If you read the book, you will understand. I do love a story with a sense of the otherworldly, and there are so moments in this book that had me questioning whether there really was more to it than met the eye.
A big thank you to translator, Quentin Bates, who has once aain done a brilliant job in bringing the story to life in English meaning that I can continue to enjoy the series. This is only the fourth of the seven that has been translated into English, so I am hoping this means we have many more of the Ice and Crime series yet to come. A recommended read for anyone who loves Icelandic fiction, or who just fancies a dip into a new series.
July 24, 2024
The book opens with our introduction to Arnhildur, an elderly retired woman, hunched over her dining room table squinting at an employment advert. Even at her advanced age, it seems she is looking for work. She has difficulty making out the fine print without her eyeglasses, struggles to grasp the requirements of the position, and notices the stiffness in her joints brought on by the cold weather and the ache in her shoulders.
The scene, the woman’s age, and that she doesn’t seem in the best of health poses the question of why she is seeking employment. Perhaps she is facing financial difficulties. It appears she lives alone as the opening scene communicates a feeling of loneliness and desperation. In just a short narrative of a few pages, I already felt sympathy for Arnhildur and was curious to know more about her and her circumstances, which appears bleak.
In the next scene, Arnhildur attends a seance along with six other people, which surprised me. Having already formed an impression about Arnhildur, she didn’t seem the type. The story continues to unfold in third person, giving us the benefit of multiple viewpoints from the various characters. When the seance ends, Arnhildur walks home in the bitterly cold evening, but doesn’t make it. Along the way, shockingly, someone attacks and murders her. Enter our main characters, Guðgeir Fransson and Elsa Guðrún of Reykjavik CID, called to the scene to investigate.
I last met Guðgeir Fransson and Elsa Guðrún while reading the novel Harm. I really like these characters. I think because they aren’t flashy, just two rather ordinary, but competent police officers who work well together and go about their business professionally. It makes them seem more real and engaging.
After identifying Arnhildur through her mobile, the investigators visit her flat, interview other tenants who live in the building, and begin building a picture of the victim, the first step in any homicide investigation. Clues are thin, but the investigators tease out enough details from them to keep the investigation moving forward. This gives the novel satisfying pacing.
Midway through the book, I felt sure I had identified the killer, but was wrong. That’s because Sólveig Pálsdóttir presents the reader with several viable suspects and does an excellent job hiding the true killer in plain sight until the very end. Along the way, Guðgeir Fransson and Elsa Guðrún, uncover a separate but related crime and quickly identity the perpetrator, which makes for an interesting side piece in the story.
I truly enjoy Sólveig Pálsdóttir’s straightforward writing style, with never a wasted word. An excellent storyteller, she creates engaging characters, keeps the suspense building, and effectively uses the cold, often dark, forbidding atmospheric setting of Iceland to great effect. In this novel she captured my attention and imagination quickly and held it until the last pages, where she offers one last unexpected but shocking twist.
Shrouded is perfect for those who enjoy great Icelandic crime fiction and should appeal to any fan of solid mystery and detective novels. Quentin Bates had done his usual fabulous and impeccable job of providing English speakers with a smooth translation of another entertaining Icelandic crime tale.
The scene, the woman’s age, and that she doesn’t seem in the best of health poses the question of why she is seeking employment. Perhaps she is facing financial difficulties. It appears she lives alone as the opening scene communicates a feeling of loneliness and desperation. In just a short narrative of a few pages, I already felt sympathy for Arnhildur and was curious to know more about her and her circumstances, which appears bleak.
In the next scene, Arnhildur attends a seance along with six other people, which surprised me. Having already formed an impression about Arnhildur, she didn’t seem the type. The story continues to unfold in third person, giving us the benefit of multiple viewpoints from the various characters. When the seance ends, Arnhildur walks home in the bitterly cold evening, but doesn’t make it. Along the way, shockingly, someone attacks and murders her. Enter our main characters, Guðgeir Fransson and Elsa Guðrún of Reykjavik CID, called to the scene to investigate.
I last met Guðgeir Fransson and Elsa Guðrún while reading the novel Harm. I really like these characters. I think because they aren’t flashy, just two rather ordinary, but competent police officers who work well together and go about their business professionally. It makes them seem more real and engaging.
After identifying Arnhildur through her mobile, the investigators visit her flat, interview other tenants who live in the building, and begin building a picture of the victim, the first step in any homicide investigation. Clues are thin, but the investigators tease out enough details from them to keep the investigation moving forward. This gives the novel satisfying pacing.
Midway through the book, I felt sure I had identified the killer, but was wrong. That’s because Sólveig Pálsdóttir presents the reader with several viable suspects and does an excellent job hiding the true killer in plain sight until the very end. Along the way, Guðgeir Fransson and Elsa Guðrún, uncover a separate but related crime and quickly identity the perpetrator, which makes for an interesting side piece in the story.
I truly enjoy Sólveig Pálsdóttir’s straightforward writing style, with never a wasted word. An excellent storyteller, she creates engaging characters, keeps the suspense building, and effectively uses the cold, often dark, forbidding atmospheric setting of Iceland to great effect. In this novel she captured my attention and imagination quickly and held it until the last pages, where she offers one last unexpected but shocking twist.
Shrouded is perfect for those who enjoy great Icelandic crime fiction and should appeal to any fan of solid mystery and detective novels. Quentin Bates had done his usual fabulous and impeccable job of providing English speakers with a smooth translation of another entertaining Icelandic crime tale.
July 23, 2024
Shrouded is the fourth book from Sólveig Pálsdóttir to be translated from Icelandic by Quentin Bates. Having reviewed and enjoyed The Fox , Silenced and Harm , I was very much anticipating another satisfying outing with detectives Guðgeir Fransson and Elsa Guðrún, and Shrouded did not disappoint…
Once again, Pálsdóttir has produced an outstanding police procedural with a supernatural twist, and overall a superb rumination in the character of Arnhildur on loneliness and emotional trauma. As the plot unfolds, Fransson and Guðrún, slowly uncover a tale of familial estrangement with its roots in events many years previously, showing the reader how strongly the past reverberates in the present. The plotting is perfectly weighted, as she introduces the spiritualism element to great effect. We come to see that there are forces beyond our understanding through the character of the medium, Valthor, haunted by Arnhildur’s death and leading to some unexpected revelations as the plot unfolds. There are certainly darker elements in this book focusing on abuse, greed and jealousy, which all feeds into an engaging and tangled plotline, where the reveals are perfectly placed, and a satisfying final revelation that I most definitely didn’t see coming.
What really sells this series to me overall is the character of detective Guðgeir Fransson, who unlike many fictional detectives is never too quick to judge or to be overly impulsive in his assessment of the facts. He demonstrates an empathetic nature, be it towards suspects, victims or his work colleagues, and works stealthily to build up rapport with the people he encounters in the course of the investigation. This sense of affability, masking his sharp intellect, makes him an extremely effective detective. He sometimes goes off-piste to satisfy his own train of thought, and leads to his meticulous assessment of the facts as they are presented to him, but equally demonstrating his capacity to keep an open mind. I particularly liked the care and concern he exhibits for his boss, who is obviously struggling with an emotional issue, and the empathy and open-mindedness he displays as she slowly opens up to him about what is going on in her private life. Equally this capacity for being unprejudiced allows him to be more receptive to the medium Valthor, as those who connect with the spiritual world are often disbelieved and unfairly judged. In striving to unravel this investigation he maintains a clear-sighted focus and a genuine desire to connect, appreciating that this will aid the case, and allow the truth to come to the surface…
As someone who reads a great deal of Scandinavian crime fiction, I am a confirmed fan of Sólveig Pálsdóttir’s books, and really enjoy the stealthy and compelling way she unfolds the narrative, and how she adds a little more grist and interest to her central characters in each of the books. As always, Quentin Bates, the go-to guy for Icelandic translation, works his usual magic, and the small interludes of dry humour come across perfectly in tandem with the pitch perfect translation. An excellent series and Shrouded is another great addition to it. Recommended.
August 6, 2024
Shrouded by Sólveig Pálsdóttir translated from Icelandic by Quentin Bates is published by Corylus Books, a young and dynamic publishing house that until now never disappointed me. It was my third book by Pálsdóttir after Fox and Harm and I was delighted to meet again the ingenious team of investigators of Guðgeir Fransson and Elsa Guðrún.
Arnhildur, a recluse woman of habit is suddenly found dead in a cemetery, following a séance at a medium of compromised reputation. Survived by her disabled daughter, her case may challenge the investigators on one side, by her completely insignificant life and lack of social interactions of any kind, off- or online, but also by the mystery of her last day of life. What was she doing at a medium?
Why she had her newspaper left open at a specific ad?
Estranged by her remaining family, stubborn, lonely. Arnhildur´s death will remain a mystery for several months, and the final solution - don´t hurry up to conclusions until you read the last line of the book - are example of how strong feelings may lead to dramatic decisions. Everything stays in balance at the border between control and lack thereof.
The solution is made of small fragments of truth spread over the story. Written in short installments, the novel unfolds as a roulette, with different characters, with more or less episodic presence within the story, being put on trial as potential culprits. Thanks to the investigators, more elements are added, and some terrible discovery will actually reveal hidden explanations of behavior, but will also bring on the forefront new potential suspects.
The spiritual/medium part plays its own role in the story, although people who don´t believe in such out-of-this world connections may consider it overrated, but it definitely its important for the overall development.
´Shrouded´ means both wrapping for burial and concealing from view and both meanings do fit very well this story. What I also feel was special about the story was how it distributed the police team not only as characters assigned to solve the case, but as individuals with their own choices, emotional burden and family and relationship choices.
Shrouded is just another unique example of Icelandic noir, revealing the banality of everyday crime investigations. You should not be a serial killer to get your place at the table, as more often than not, crimes are committed and shrouded by all the ´normal´ reasons: your every hate, revenge, envy. A recommended summer read for the lovers of Noir, and curious to get another look into everyday challenges of human existence.
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Arnhildur, a recluse woman of habit is suddenly found dead in a cemetery, following a séance at a medium of compromised reputation. Survived by her disabled daughter, her case may challenge the investigators on one side, by her completely insignificant life and lack of social interactions of any kind, off- or online, but also by the mystery of her last day of life. What was she doing at a medium?
Why she had her newspaper left open at a specific ad?
Estranged by her remaining family, stubborn, lonely. Arnhildur´s death will remain a mystery for several months, and the final solution - don´t hurry up to conclusions until you read the last line of the book - are example of how strong feelings may lead to dramatic decisions. Everything stays in balance at the border between control and lack thereof.
The solution is made of small fragments of truth spread over the story. Written in short installments, the novel unfolds as a roulette, with different characters, with more or less episodic presence within the story, being put on trial as potential culprits. Thanks to the investigators, more elements are added, and some terrible discovery will actually reveal hidden explanations of behavior, but will also bring on the forefront new potential suspects.
The spiritual/medium part plays its own role in the story, although people who don´t believe in such out-of-this world connections may consider it overrated, but it definitely its important for the overall development.
´Shrouded´ means both wrapping for burial and concealing from view and both meanings do fit very well this story. What I also feel was special about the story was how it distributed the police team not only as characters assigned to solve the case, but as individuals with their own choices, emotional burden and family and relationship choices.
Shrouded is just another unique example of Icelandic noir, revealing the banality of everyday crime investigations. You should not be a serial killer to get your place at the table, as more often than not, crimes are committed and shrouded by all the ´normal´ reasons: your every hate, revenge, envy. A recommended summer read for the lovers of Noir, and curious to get another look into everyday challenges of human existence.
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2024
On a bitterly Cold February morning in Reykjavik, Detectives Guogeir Frannsson and Elsa Gudren are called out to a crime scene in an old Sourgata graveyard,where they meet with Mar Braganan , the newest member of the Forensic Team . An old woman appears to have been bludgeoned to death and left out in the open for several days ..Arhildor Drifa Friothjofasditir had seemed to have lived a quiet , frugal life ...Her husband had left her many years ago ,she was estranged from her sister who she had not spoken to in years ...Arnhildor's daughter,who was her world lives in a care home after a brain injury ...Arnhildor was a bit of a recluse and a loner ...but who could have wanted the old woman dead ? In the Red house where Arnhildor had lived there are tidbits about her life along with precious photographs..And when they retrace her last steps , they find on the night she died she had been to see a medium ..Valthor ,the medium has not slept since the night Arnholdor died ...He is haunted by her presence...but is Valthor a charlatan or is Arnhildor trying to tell him something?Someone is watching The Red House ...As Guogeir probes gently into the old woman's past life ,and Elsa gathers as much information as possible...it soon becomes clear this will be no easy case to solve .Sad in parts , with deception,a web of lies ..and a touch of the supernatural..Shrouded,the fourth book in the series will hold you in its grasp to the very end ...5 stars ....Stunning
August 9, 2024
I’ve really enjoyed the latest in the Ice and Crime series.
It deeply explores people and their reasons for doing, or not doing things. But, more interestingly it explains the reactions of those around them. It tentatively explores the relationship a senior police officer is having and how she is trying to keep others from guessing her sexuality and from her actions every other possible assumption is made. Such a clever way of expressing how we as humans look at situations and can make a situation fit our personal narrative when we choose to ignore the other things around.
The main mystery in the book was very well written and I enjoyed the story very much, right up to the last twist.
With thanks to Ewa Sherman, Corylus and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
It deeply explores people and their reasons for doing, or not doing things. But, more interestingly it explains the reactions of those around them. It tentatively explores the relationship a senior police officer is having and how she is trying to keep others from guessing her sexuality and from her actions every other possible assumption is made. Such a clever way of expressing how we as humans look at situations and can make a situation fit our personal narrative when we choose to ignore the other things around.
The main mystery in the book was very well written and I enjoyed the story very much, right up to the last twist.
With thanks to Ewa Sherman, Corylus and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
August 10, 2024
This is the fourth book translated into English to feature Detectives Guogeir and Guorun, for me the best to date
This was a wholly compelling read with a killer twist, I found the opening pages to be full of intrigue and perfectly set up what was to follow, which was a mystery mired in suspense
The book is superbly character driven, the author creates protagonists complex with a quality that makes them come alive on the page, a standout for me was the medium Valthor, there is someone clearly troubled such depth to his persona, I always admire the way that the landscape plays a vital role in Icelandic crime fiction, you get a real sense of place, it adds another dimension to the story
A read where the past with its murky secrets very much informs the present, but that journey to get there is superbly drawn out, the book is slickly plotted, with layers which are slowly unravelled.
As a police procedural the book works on many levels as a detective Guogeir is unlike many, he has a quite caring and epathetic nature not only to those around him but those he investigates as well, in fact the whole feel,of the investigation feels different to others.
I always find the winter setting with its dark night and long days perfect for this type of read, the author really captures this and plays on it to add to overall feel for the book creating wondetfully atmospheric scenes
The way that the author draws you in,the quality and depth of the writing compels you to take in each word, the ending is sublime the way the author builds the intensity then hits you with a killer punch.
Classic Icelandic noir, a deeply atmospheric read, the plot does have a slightly disturbing quality about it, for me though this only heightened my expectations and reading experience. the book very much plays on familiy and the bonds that tie us together, it explores a dark side to human psychology
Plaudits need to go Quentin Bates for another translation which really captures the feel and tone of the book and ensures an enthralling read
This was a wholly compelling read with a killer twist, I found the opening pages to be full of intrigue and perfectly set up what was to follow, which was a mystery mired in suspense
The book is superbly character driven, the author creates protagonists complex with a quality that makes them come alive on the page, a standout for me was the medium Valthor, there is someone clearly troubled such depth to his persona, I always admire the way that the landscape plays a vital role in Icelandic crime fiction, you get a real sense of place, it adds another dimension to the story
A read where the past with its murky secrets very much informs the present, but that journey to get there is superbly drawn out, the book is slickly plotted, with layers which are slowly unravelled.
As a police procedural the book works on many levels as a detective Guogeir is unlike many, he has a quite caring and epathetic nature not only to those around him but those he investigates as well, in fact the whole feel,of the investigation feels different to others.
I always find the winter setting with its dark night and long days perfect for this type of read, the author really captures this and plays on it to add to overall feel for the book creating wondetfully atmospheric scenes
The way that the author draws you in,the quality and depth of the writing compels you to take in each word, the ending is sublime the way the author builds the intensity then hits you with a killer punch.
Classic Icelandic noir, a deeply atmospheric read, the plot does have a slightly disturbing quality about it, for me though this only heightened my expectations and reading experience. the book very much plays on familiy and the bonds that tie us together, it explores a dark side to human psychology
Plaudits need to go Quentin Bates for another translation which really captures the feel and tone of the book and ensures an enthralling read
December 15, 2024
it was okay. Been a while since I read the first three so I'd lost of the character of the characters.
It's a good police procedural with our heros doing one step at a time. they could have asked me as I almost had it.
Lots of twists and turns, more than a few red herrings thrown up for you to consider, but all in all it was a good read.
I don't think #5 is anywhere on the horizon, so probably done with this series.
It's a good police procedural with our heros doing one step at a time. they could have asked me as I almost had it.
Lots of twists and turns, more than a few red herrings thrown up for you to consider, but all in all it was a good read.
I don't think #5 is anywhere on the horizon, so probably done with this series.
May 17, 2025
Fun to read but a lot of holes. I would have liked some realistic explanations of the mystical stuff. Also there were several characters, like Markus, who were in the plot a significant amount and whose story was not explained adequately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2025
A great read with twists and turns until the very last sentence!
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