What do you think?
Rate this book
Helgi Trilogy #3
The Body in the Bath
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26From the bestselling author of The Mysterious Case of The Missing Crime Writer comes the next mystery featuring detective Helgi Reykdal.
“A master of the Icelandic thriller.”―New York Post
As snow blankets Reykjavík and Christmas approaches, young detective Helgi is looking forward to a quiet holiday―until those plans are torn away in a flash. One month after his girlfriend Aníta is killed in a car accident, he returns to work in Reykjavík, haunted by loss and rage. The driver―Helgi's ex-girlfriend Bergþóra, a violent alcoholic whose abuse he kept secret―insists Aníta's death was an accident and walks free.
To escape his mounting despair, Helgi throws himself into the unsolved disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda, a retired officer long presumed dead. But as he follows the traces she left behind, the lines between her past and his present begin to blur . . .
When Bergþóra is later found lifeless in her bath, suspicion falls squarely on Helgi. With his own colleagues turning against him, can he uncover the truth in time?
“A master of the Icelandic thriller.”―New York Post
As snow blankets Reykjavík and Christmas approaches, young detective Helgi is looking forward to a quiet holiday―until those plans are torn away in a flash. One month after his girlfriend Aníta is killed in a car accident, he returns to work in Reykjavík, haunted by loss and rage. The driver―Helgi's ex-girlfriend Bergþóra, a violent alcoholic whose abuse he kept secret―insists Aníta's death was an accident and walks free.
To escape his mounting despair, Helgi throws himself into the unsolved disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda, a retired officer long presumed dead. But as he follows the traces she left behind, the lines between her past and his present begin to blur . . .
When Bergþóra is later found lifeless in her bath, suspicion falls squarely on Helgi. With his own colleagues turning against him, can he uncover the truth in time?
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 10, 2026
About the author
Ragnar Jónasson
79 books4,202 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
Read
August 24, 2026I’d recommend this Icelandic mystery for fans of Agatha Christie and many of the authors Jonasson’s fictional policeman, Helgi, reads and rereads (including Dorthy Sayers and Ellery Queen). This series is very plot and dialogue driven, which makes each book a fast and entertaining read. I love Helgi and am sorry that he’s been dealt blow after blow in the last two books. It was very satisfying to know that his nemesis is finally dead, but things look pretty bleak for Helgi right now. I’m recommend starting with an earlier book in the series to get to know Helgi and the other characters for a more enhanced reading experience.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the third book featuring Icelandic detective Helgi Reykdal, known for his relatable struggles and dedication, in Death at the Sanatorium and The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer, the first and second, respectively. This time, Helgi is fighting for his freedom after being accused of a crime he didn't commit.
One month after the death of Anita, the love of his life, Helgi, feeling lost and burdened by grief, returns to work. Haunted by the belief that his former girlfriend, Bergpora, purposefully ran down Anita, Helgi tries to distract himself by digging into the disappearance of Hulda, a former detective who vanished and is presumed dead. But when Bergpora is found dead, and Helgi is suspected of killing her, his focus shifts from the cold case to saving himself from prison.
I enjoy this series, despite Jonasson's penchant for ending his books on a cliffhanger. All three of his books in this series feature compelling plots, and Helgi's personal struggles add depth. The well-translated Icelandic narratives beautifully showcase Iceland and its people. If you love Nordic noir crime thrillers, I highly recommend this series. 4.5/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is November 10, 2026.
One month after the death of Anita, the love of his life, Helgi, feeling lost and burdened by grief, returns to work. Haunted by the belief that his former girlfriend, Bergpora, purposefully ran down Anita, Helgi tries to distract himself by digging into the disappearance of Hulda, a former detective who vanished and is presumed dead. But when Bergpora is found dead, and Helgi is suspected of killing her, his focus shifts from the cold case to saving himself from prison.
I enjoy this series, despite Jonasson's penchant for ending his books on a cliffhanger. All three of his books in this series feature compelling plots, and Helgi's personal struggles add depth. The well-translated Icelandic narratives beautifully showcase Iceland and its people. If you love Nordic noir crime thrillers, I highly recommend this series. 4.5/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is November 10, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I hadn't read the prior books, but this stands alone. It's well written and plotted precisely for a grief stricken young police detective who goes back to work too soon after his girlfriend is murdered by his ex girlfriend. Told by multiple points of view, it just keeps getting worse and worse for Helgi, even though we know he is innocent, there is so much circumstantial evidence it looks like he's guilty to others. To keep his sanity from his grief he starts looking at old cases of his predecessor who had just disappeared. Fast read, taking place over 3 days, but gets resolved with a set up for another book, which I will look forward to reading. Appreciation to NetGalley for an early read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Helgi's life is a mess. Bergþóra, his former girlfriend and abuser, had "accidentally" mowed down his new girlfriend, killing her instantly. Despite making numerous threats to her and Helgi at both their home and Anita's workplace, the police believe that it is an accident and no charges were brought. He drags himself to work in an attempt to distract himself, but all his cases are practically solved. Instead, he gets permission to look into the disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda Hermannsdóttir. It helps a little, at least until two of his fellow police officers pick him up and have him remanded on suspicion of the death of Bergþóra. She had been found dead with a belly full of booze in her bathtub, which was in the flat where Helgi was still on the lease. None of this looks good for Helgi, even though he is completely innocent. The problem is, he had a motive. Several, actually. And the senior investigating officer does not care that he is also police - he thinks he has found his man.
This was tough to read. The tone of this book is just rather depressing. I felt so badly for Helgi. He's miserable, mourning Anita and then Bergþóra's death turns his life into hell. Then when Helgi is attempting to distract himself looking into Hulda's old cases, all of her male cohorts speak about her so poorly. Her former commanding officer who pushed her into early retirement said: "You obviously didn't know Hulda. No one would have bothered to murder her." I did have some hope as at the very end
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but I just prefer the author's other series more.
This was tough to read. The tone of this book is just rather depressing. I felt so badly for Helgi. He's miserable, mourning Anita and then Bergþóra's death turns his life into hell. Then when Helgi is attempting to distract himself looking into Hulda's old cases, all of her male cohorts speak about her so poorly. Her former commanding officer who pushed her into early retirement said: "You obviously didn't know Hulda. No one would have bothered to murder her." I did have some hope as at the very end
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but I just prefer the author's other series more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Body In The Bath is the third book in the Helgie trilogy by Ragnor Jonasson, and this the final book of the trilogy Helgie is still trying to get over the loss of his beloved Anita who was run over by his ex Berketore, who claims it was an accident he decides to go back to work so he can keep busy instead of sitting at home brooding over losing the love of his life this is how he comes to start searching for Helga the detective whose spot he took when she retired. He doesn’t make much headway when he learns he’s being arrested for the murder of his ex and with her killing Anita it certainly looks like he has motive. This is a long book we also get to see Helga’s investigation of the real body in the bath but I want to say this book had the biggest surprise twist… I mean don’t give me wrong is very good at the twist he puts in his books but I in no way was prepared for this one it was like what the actual freakazoid is happening but having said that I really thought this was going to be a series but since this is the last book I do want to say I love this author’s Writing is interesting and likable characters I can honestly say every book I’ve read by him I found hard to put down I just can’t say enough about the author I love his books and can’t wait to read more from him in the future. I would definitely read these books in order because it’s one overall arc story with little stories thrown in to keep it moving and boy does he keep it moving. I have never rated every book in a series and or trilogy five stars but I absolutely did with this one and it deserves every one of them. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While the third in the Helgi Reykdal mystery series this book can be read as a stand alone - but the first two are also so good I’d highly recommend reading these as well. This is a crime thriller set in Iceland around Christmas - if you are a reader who likes to have a Christmas reading list, consider adding this one (there’s lots of snow).
Helgi is recovering from the death of his girkfruend, Anita, killed in a traffic accident by Helgi’s abusive former girlfriend, Bergbóra Ulfsdóttir who in spite of being sober for a change said it was an accident and was not charged. To stave off his grief, Helgi investigates the disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda Hermansdóttir, But then Bergbóra is found dead in her bathtub, and with suspect elimination it looks like Helgi might have done it. The surprising end is quite interesting and very good.
I enjoy Scandinavian noir immensely - could be that like where I live sunlight is at a premium but there is such a droll and wry sense in the characters as they investigate that captivating. This too is in Jonassen’s book. It’s a slow starter for a short book but Helgi is grieving and I think the slowness adds to the intensity of Hegki’s search for meaning in Anita’s death. As to Hulga, Helgi’s search leads to a cliff hanger ending - can hardly wait for that next book.
Lovers of Scandinavian noir, Ragnar Jonassen or good crime thrillers should enjoy this one.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me access to this ARC.
Helgi is recovering from the death of his girkfruend, Anita, killed in a traffic accident by Helgi’s abusive former girlfriend, Bergbóra Ulfsdóttir who in spite of being sober for a change said it was an accident and was not charged. To stave off his grief, Helgi investigates the disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda Hermansdóttir, But then Bergbóra is found dead in her bathtub, and with suspect elimination it looks like Helgi might have done it. The surprising end is quite interesting and very good.
I enjoy Scandinavian noir immensely - could be that like where I live sunlight is at a premium but there is such a droll and wry sense in the characters as they investigate that captivating. This too is in Jonassen’s book. It’s a slow starter for a short book but Helgi is grieving and I think the slowness adds to the intensity of Hegki’s search for meaning in Anita’s death. As to Hulga, Helgi’s search leads to a cliff hanger ending - can hardly wait for that next book.
Lovers of Scandinavian noir, Ragnar Jonassen or good crime thrillers should enjoy this one.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is book 3 in the Helgi Reykdal series. You could read it as a standalone but I definitely recommend reading in order and if you haven’t read the first two books a spoiler incoming so stop reading now and move onto the next paragraph. Helgi has been on leave following the death of his girlfriend Aníta. She was killed by his former girlfriend Bergþóra and whilst he is convinced it was premeditated the police have accepted it was accidental and Bergþóra is free. Written in dual timeline this is a very Christie-esque style read, which I love.
Briefly, Helgi is having a quiet return to work looking into an unsolved disappearance. That of a retired police officer called Hulda Hermannsdóttir. But as his investigations continue Bergþóra is found dead in her apartment and Helgi is the prime suspect.
Although one officer seems to have some sympathy for Helgi, others seem intent on proving him guilty of murder and trying to prove his innocence from a police cell is not ideal! The story is full of suspense and I couldn’t not predict the outcome. A good, entertaining read with a great ending and a cliffhanger clearly leading to another book. I’m up for that! Great read.
Briefly, Helgi is having a quiet return to work looking into an unsolved disappearance. That of a retired police officer called Hulda Hermannsdóttir. But as his investigations continue Bergþóra is found dead in her apartment and Helgi is the prime suspect.
Although one officer seems to have some sympathy for Helgi, others seem intent on proving him guilty of murder and trying to prove his innocence from a police cell is not ideal! The story is full of suspense and I couldn’t not predict the outcome. A good, entertaining read with a great ending and a cliffhanger clearly leading to another book. I’m up for that! Great read.
Read
August 10, 2026A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the early review copy!
I really enjoyed the Icelandic setting of this novel and the mystery had me hooked from the first few pages. While I did not realize that this is part of a series, I didn't feel lost or confused.
My main critique is that the writing is a bit stilted and choppy. Lots of short sentences are used and the dialogue comes across as brisk and unnatural. Even the descriptions of the emotional turmoil the main character is going through feel simplistic and detached, despite the immense hardship he is going through. I wonder if this is a product of it being translated, but it made the story less impactful to me.
While the twist was good and surprising, I didn't feel as impacted by it as I would've liked due to the writing style.
Aside from that, the story was well-done and the cliffhanger ending left me very intrigued for the next book. A perfect read for the wintertime.
I really enjoyed the Icelandic setting of this novel and the mystery had me hooked from the first few pages. While I did not realize that this is part of a series, I didn't feel lost or confused.
My main critique is that the writing is a bit stilted and choppy. Lots of short sentences are used and the dialogue comes across as brisk and unnatural. Even the descriptions of the emotional turmoil the main character is going through feel simplistic and detached, despite the immense hardship he is going through. I wonder if this is a product of it being translated, but it made the story less impactful to me.
While the twist was good and surprising, I didn't feel as impacted by it as I would've liked due to the writing style.
Aside from that, the story was well-done and the cliffhanger ending left me very intrigued for the next book. A perfect read for the wintertime.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is such a quick, easy whodunnit. I read most of it when I spent the day at the spa and it was perfect for that environment. There’s nothing too heavy or tough to read. There is grief and loss but it doesn’t weigh you down - you can breeze through it.
This is the 3rd in the series and the only one I’ve read, but I didn’t feel disadvantaged by not reading the first two. I’d be curious to read those as well, as they both follow the same detective, Helgi.
A FUN little thing about this book is that it’s translated from Icelandic, so while I did google the pronunciation of certain names (looking at you, Bergþóra), the context/community/characters were refreshing and the dialogue in my mind had a Nordic accent! Would definitely recommend this as a light, fun page-turner.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This is the 3rd in the series and the only one I’ve read, but I didn’t feel disadvantaged by not reading the first two. I’d be curious to read those as well, as they both follow the same detective, Helgi.
A FUN little thing about this book is that it’s translated from Icelandic, so while I did google the pronunciation of certain names (looking at you, Bergþóra), the context/community/characters were refreshing and the dialogue in my mind had a Nordic accent! Would definitely recommend this as a light, fun page-turner.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
September 13, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
The opportunity to read this ARC came while I was actually touring Iceland so it was cool to read a book with Reykjavik and Akureyri as its setting.
This was book 3 in a series, all featuring Helgi, a young police detective. When we meet Helgi, his girlfriend has just been killed - as it turns out by his ex-girlfriend.
I know Helgi is grieving- but I found his character to be such a wet fish. There was not much about him that made me pull for him. The book did end with a bit of a cliffhanger that indicates he may have solved a mysterious disappearance of another police officer.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The opportunity to read this ARC came while I was actually touring Iceland so it was cool to read a book with Reykjavik and Akureyri as its setting.
This was book 3 in a series, all featuring Helgi, a young police detective. When we meet Helgi, his girlfriend has just been killed - as it turns out by his ex-girlfriend.
I know Helgi is grieving- but I found his character to be such a wet fish. There was not much about him that made me pull for him. The book did end with a bit of a cliffhanger that indicates he may have solved a mysterious disappearance of another police officer.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book picks up after the insane cliffhanger of the last book (but you do not have to read it to enjoy this one! I highly suggest you do though it’s a good book) but with a brand new mystery to solve.
There are multiple character POVs and plenty of guessing to be done
One of the mysteries IS solved before the end of this book while there is a cliff hanger leading to the next one (not as abrupt as the last one at least!)
This book picks up after the insane cliffhanger of the last book (but you do not have to read it to enjoy this one! I highly suggest you do though it’s a good book) but with a brand new mystery to solve.
There are multiple character POVs and plenty of guessing to be done
One of the mysteries IS solved before the end of this book while there is a cliff hanger leading to the next one (not as abrupt as the last one at least!)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Another great novel featuring Helgi. Although shorter than the previous books in the series, it packs a punch. In this one, Helgi is still reeling from the loss of his girlfriend Anita and he goes back to work to keep his mind off of her and get out of the house. Not really ready to work on fresh cases, he digs into the disappearance of his predecessor Hulda but he is waylaid when his ex is found dead in a bathtub and he becomes the main suspect. The plot is tight without any wasted passages which creates tension and keeps you flipping the pages to find out what happens next. While it is not completely necessary, I'd recommend reading the series from the beginning before jumping into this one. You could read it as a standalone but it would be far more enjoyable to start from the beginning. I highly recommend this and the other books in the series and I look forward to the next one.
Spoilers below:
Helgi is reviewing Hulda's old cases to see if he can find a connection to her disappearance. He is fascinated by an early case where she is called by a woman to say that she saw a dead woman in her bathtub that then disappeared. Hulda knows the woman through her mother so she originally believes her story. She starts researching missing persons cases to see if there is a woman matching the description of the body. As she does, the woman keeps calling Hulda saying that she is afraid of her partner, that he is abusive and that she thinks that he may be having an affair. She is worried that he killed the woman in the tub and that because she saw the body she is in danger too. Hulda goes to the woman's house to help her leave her partner and find a safe place to stay but she soon realizes that the woman knew about the affair and that she was the one to commit the murder and she was now trying to pin it on her partner. Before any sense can be made of how this case may or may not tie into Hulda's disappearance, Helgi is arrested for his ex-girlfriend's murder. It is not a secret that Helgi hates Bergbora since she abused him during their relationship, stalked him and his new girlfriend Anita, killed Anita by running her down in her car and got off by calling it an accident. So when Bergbora is found dead in her bathtub Helgi is the prime suspect, especially when they find Hulda's old case file in his flat. Two detectives, Alexander and Mani, interview and investigate Helgi. Mani is reluctant to believe that Helgi is guilty but Alexander is pushing his guilt, especially since Helgi was questioning his investigation, or lack thereof, into Hulda's disappearance. Alexander was the detective who had claimed that the disappearance of a young female migrant was suicide and Hulda questioned him about his investigation. Is Alexander dirty? Is he trying to stop Helgi from digging into both cases? Eventually Helgi is released when his mother admits that she killed Bergbora when she went to try to talk to her. Bergbora had called her drunk one night and admitted that she killed Anita and said that Helgi would be next so Helgi's mother tried to talk some sense into her but killed her when she would not listen to reason. She had to protect her son. The book ends on a cliffhanger when Helgi finds the place that Hulda went missing and makes a connection to someone from one of her cases. I hope that means that there will be another book in the series.
Spoilers below:
Helgi is reviewing Hulda's old cases to see if he can find a connection to her disappearance. He is fascinated by an early case where she is called by a woman to say that she saw a dead woman in her bathtub that then disappeared. Hulda knows the woman through her mother so she originally believes her story. She starts researching missing persons cases to see if there is a woman matching the description of the body. As she does, the woman keeps calling Hulda saying that she is afraid of her partner, that he is abusive and that she thinks that he may be having an affair. She is worried that he killed the woman in the tub and that because she saw the body she is in danger too. Hulda goes to the woman's house to help her leave her partner and find a safe place to stay but she soon realizes that the woman knew about the affair and that she was the one to commit the murder and she was now trying to pin it on her partner. Before any sense can be made of how this case may or may not tie into Hulda's disappearance, Helgi is arrested for his ex-girlfriend's murder. It is not a secret that Helgi hates Bergbora since she abused him during their relationship, stalked him and his new girlfriend Anita, killed Anita by running her down in her car and got off by calling it an accident. So when Bergbora is found dead in her bathtub Helgi is the prime suspect, especially when they find Hulda's old case file in his flat. Two detectives, Alexander and Mani, interview and investigate Helgi. Mani is reluctant to believe that Helgi is guilty but Alexander is pushing his guilt, especially since Helgi was questioning his investigation, or lack thereof, into Hulda's disappearance. Alexander was the detective who had claimed that the disappearance of a young female migrant was suicide and Hulda questioned him about his investigation. Is Alexander dirty? Is he trying to stop Helgi from digging into both cases? Eventually Helgi is released when his mother admits that she killed Bergbora when she went to try to talk to her. Bergbora had called her drunk one night and admitted that she killed Anita and said that Helgi would be next so Helgi's mother tried to talk some sense into her but killed her when she would not listen to reason. She had to protect her son. The book ends on a cliffhanger when Helgi finds the place that Hulda went missing and makes a connection to someone from one of her cases. I hope that means that there will be another book in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Body in the Bath by Ragnar Jónasson from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 3 ⭐
Note: I am posting this particular Book Report both for The Body in the Bath and Death at the Sanitorium, which are Nos. 3 and 1 in the Helgi Trilogy.
Permit to say, right out of the gate, that I am kinda honked off at whoever is promoting these books by Ragnar Jónasson, because it wasn’t made clear that the first book in the Helgi series was the first, and now they’re saying this is a trilogy and y’all???
It had better not be, not with the cliffhanger ending of No. 3.
Ugh.
Here’s my guidance to you, fellow readers. Do, please, read these books in order, otherwise a whole lotta stuff won’t make a lick of sense. I started with No. 2 last year, picked up No. 3 last week and read a bit and thought: Wait a minute. Something’s off here.
Which, of course, it was, because it was throwing back to No. 1. So I put No. 3 down, read No. 1, and then read No. 3 all the way through.
Second, be prepared for relatively sedate reads. They’re not quite cozies, by any means, but the violence isn’t the sort that’ll get your gorge up or anything. (Well, let’s be honest: Your mileage may vary. I have a high tolerance for such.)
Third, and I really hate to say this, I saw the solution to the murder mystery coming from a mile away. Trope, trite, tripe? No, not tripe. I loathe tripe. And, yes, I’ve tried it multiple times over this long life I’ve had the good fortune to lead.
But definitely trope-ish.
Would read the next one (if there is a next one) tomorrow if it were already available.
DESCRIPTION
From the bestselling author of The Mysterious Case of The Missing Crime Writer comes the next mystery featuring detective Helgi Reykdal.
“A master of the Icelandic thriller.”—New York Post
As snow blankets Reykjavík and Christmas approaches, young detective Helgi is looking forward to a quiet holiday—until those plans are torn away in a flash. One month after his girlfriend Aníta is killed in a car accident, he returns to work in Reykjavík, haunted by loss and rage. The driver—Helgi's ex-girlfriend Bergþóra, a violent alcoholic whose abuse he kept secret—insists Aníta's death was an accident and walks free.
To escape his mounting despair, Helgi throws himself into the unsolved disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda, a retired officer long presumed dead. But as he follows the traces she left behind, the lines between her past and his present begin to blur . . .
When Bergþóra is later found lifeless in her bath, suspicion falls squarely on Helgi. With his own colleagues turning against him, can he uncover the truth in time
Received a complimentary copy of The Body in the Bath by Ragnar Jónasson from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 3 ⭐
Note: I am posting this particular Book Report both for The Body in the Bath and Death at the Sanitorium, which are Nos. 3 and 1 in the Helgi Trilogy.
Permit to say, right out of the gate, that I am kinda honked off at whoever is promoting these books by Ragnar Jónasson, because it wasn’t made clear that the first book in the Helgi series was the first, and now they’re saying this is a trilogy and y’all???
It had better not be, not with the cliffhanger ending of No. 3.
Ugh.
Here’s my guidance to you, fellow readers. Do, please, read these books in order, otherwise a whole lotta stuff won’t make a lick of sense. I started with No. 2 last year, picked up No. 3 last week and read a bit and thought: Wait a minute. Something’s off here.
Which, of course, it was, because it was throwing back to No. 1. So I put No. 3 down, read No. 1, and then read No. 3 all the way through.
Second, be prepared for relatively sedate reads. They’re not quite cozies, by any means, but the violence isn’t the sort that’ll get your gorge up or anything. (Well, let’s be honest: Your mileage may vary. I have a high tolerance for such.)
Third, and I really hate to say this, I saw the solution to the murder mystery coming from a mile away. Trope, trite, tripe? No, not tripe. I loathe tripe. And, yes, I’ve tried it multiple times over this long life I’ve had the good fortune to lead.
But definitely trope-ish.
Would read the next one (if there is a next one) tomorrow if it were already available.
DESCRIPTION
From the bestselling author of The Mysterious Case of The Missing Crime Writer comes the next mystery featuring detective Helgi Reykdal.
“A master of the Icelandic thriller.”—New York Post
As snow blankets Reykjavík and Christmas approaches, young detective Helgi is looking forward to a quiet holiday—until those plans are torn away in a flash. One month after his girlfriend Aníta is killed in a car accident, he returns to work in Reykjavík, haunted by loss and rage. The driver—Helgi's ex-girlfriend Bergþóra, a violent alcoholic whose abuse he kept secret—insists Aníta's death was an accident and walks free.
To escape his mounting despair, Helgi throws himself into the unsolved disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda, a retired officer long presumed dead. But as he follows the traces she left behind, the lines between her past and his present begin to blur . . .
When Bergþóra is later found lifeless in her bath, suspicion falls squarely on Helgi. With his own colleagues turning against him, can he uncover the truth in time
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Body in the Bath by Ragnar Jónasson
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I have to say, right out of the gate, I’m a little honked off at whoever is promoting this series because why was it not made clearer that The Body in the Bath is the third book in the Helgi Reykdal series?! I started this one after reading the second book and quickly realized something was missing, so I put it down, went back and read Death at the Sanatorium, and then returned to this one. And yes—read these books in order. There is a lot of character and plot history that will make considerably more sense if you do.
Once I had the pieces in place, I really enjoyed this latest installment. Helgi is grieving the devastating loss of his girlfriend, Aníta, while simultaneously dealing with the fallout from his abusive ex-girlfriend Bergþóra. When Bergþóra is subsequently found dead in her bathtub, Helgi becomes the prime suspect. Because apparently his life wasn't already complicated enough.
At the same time, Helgi throws himself into the disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda, a cold case that has clearly been haunting the series for some time. I enjoyed the way these two mysteries unfolded alongside each other, with the present-day murder investigation constantly competing with Helgi's determination to uncover what happened to Hulda. The Hulda storyline in particular kept me invested and had me wanting answers.
Jónasson also does a wonderful job creating that distinctly Icelandic atmosphere. The winter darkness, snow, isolation, and approaching Christmas give the story a wonderfully bleak backdrop, while Helgi's love of classic mystery novels adds a fun Golden Age mystery feel. This is definitely more quiet, atmospheric Nordic noir than blood-soaked thriller, so readers looking for relentless action may find the pace a little sedate. Personally, I enjoyed the slower burn.
My biggest issue was that I saw the solution to the murder mystery coming from a mile away. It wasn't exactly a shocking revelation for me, and some of the investigation felt a little too convenient. There are also moments where Helgi's grief becomes repetitive, which slows the story down even further.
And then there's that ending.
Ugh.
I understand wanting to leave readers eager for the next installment, but if this really is a trilogy, I'm going to have some words. 😂 After investing three books into the Hulda mystery, you cannot just leave me hanging like THAT and expect me to be okay.
Despite my complaints, I would absolutely read more from Jónasson and would happily follow Helgi into another investigation. His character, the Icelandic setting, the intertwined mysteries, and the understated style make this an enjoyable series for anyone who likes atmospheric crime fiction without needing constant gore or action.
Just please, publishers, make the series order VERY clear next time. And Ragnar, I need answers.
4 stars.
The Body in the Bath by Ragnar Jónasson
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I have to say, right out of the gate, I’m a little honked off at whoever is promoting this series because why was it not made clearer that The Body in the Bath is the third book in the Helgi Reykdal series?! I started this one after reading the second book and quickly realized something was missing, so I put it down, went back and read Death at the Sanatorium, and then returned to this one. And yes—read these books in order. There is a lot of character and plot history that will make considerably more sense if you do.
Once I had the pieces in place, I really enjoyed this latest installment. Helgi is grieving the devastating loss of his girlfriend, Aníta, while simultaneously dealing with the fallout from his abusive ex-girlfriend Bergþóra. When Bergþóra is subsequently found dead in her bathtub, Helgi becomes the prime suspect. Because apparently his life wasn't already complicated enough.
At the same time, Helgi throws himself into the disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda, a cold case that has clearly been haunting the series for some time. I enjoyed the way these two mysteries unfolded alongside each other, with the present-day murder investigation constantly competing with Helgi's determination to uncover what happened to Hulda. The Hulda storyline in particular kept me invested and had me wanting answers.
Jónasson also does a wonderful job creating that distinctly Icelandic atmosphere. The winter darkness, snow, isolation, and approaching Christmas give the story a wonderfully bleak backdrop, while Helgi's love of classic mystery novels adds a fun Golden Age mystery feel. This is definitely more quiet, atmospheric Nordic noir than blood-soaked thriller, so readers looking for relentless action may find the pace a little sedate. Personally, I enjoyed the slower burn.
My biggest issue was that I saw the solution to the murder mystery coming from a mile away. It wasn't exactly a shocking revelation for me, and some of the investigation felt a little too convenient. There are also moments where Helgi's grief becomes repetitive, which slows the story down even further.
And then there's that ending.
Ugh.
I understand wanting to leave readers eager for the next installment, but if this really is a trilogy, I'm going to have some words. 😂 After investing three books into the Hulda mystery, you cannot just leave me hanging like THAT and expect me to be okay.
Despite my complaints, I would absolutely read more from Jónasson and would happily follow Helgi into another investigation. His character, the Icelandic setting, the intertwined mysteries, and the understated style make this an enjoyable series for anyone who likes atmospheric crime fiction without needing constant gore or action.
Just please, publishers, make the series order VERY clear next time. And Ragnar, I need answers.
4 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have to thank NetGalley for introducing me to Helgi. I first read The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer through them and loved it so much that I immediately bought Death at the Sanatorium. Now, after finishing The Body in the Bath, I can happily say I recommend all three books in the Helgi series.
This story opens with Helgi, a young Reykjavík detective, still reeling from the recent death of his girlfriend Aníta. It’s only been a month, and although everyone around him thinks he should take more time, he’s pushed himself back to work. He is still grieving for Anita and angry too, especially because the driver responsible was his abusive ex Bergþóra, who insists it was an accident and has walked away without consequences.
Helgi has always carried a bit of guilt about Hulda Hermannsdóttir (who incidentally as her own series of books), the detective who was made to retire early so he could take her place. She later vanished and is presumed dead. To try to distract himself from his thoughts and memories, Helgi throws himself into investigating Hulda’s disappearance. As he traces her final steps, her past begins to tangle with his present. Then Bergþóra is found dead in her bath, and suspicion lands squarely on Helgi. With colleagues quick to assume the worst, he’s left fighting to clear his name while trapped in a police cell.
This book felt like the most personal one yet. Helgi’s whole world has been shaken, and when he’s charged with Bergþóra’s murder, he genuinely believes his life might be over. I really felt for Helgi as his colleagues appeared to need little encouragement to think the worst of him. They consider him guilty before beginning any investigation and it seemed as though Helgi was having to do as much investigating as the detectives despite being held in a police cell.
I enjoyed the different points of view for the chapters, and I love how spare the writing is. Even with that simplicity, I could picture every character and the stark, beautiful Icelandic landscape. I even found myself shivering at one point even though I was reading in the sun! The only thing that surprised me was a description of Helgi himself. I always imagined him as slightly built probably as he is quiet and reflective, but it turns out he is quite the opposite.
If you prefer your detective stories fast and action heavy, this series might not be for you. But if you enjoy quieter, more thoughtful mysteries that still manage to be tense and atmospheric, Helgi’s story is well worth reading.
You could read this as a standalone, but I’d really recommend starting from the beginning - the emotional weight lands so much harder when you’ve been with Helgi through everything.
And that ending… I’m already eager for the next book and to see where Helgi goes from here.
This story opens with Helgi, a young Reykjavík detective, still reeling from the recent death of his girlfriend Aníta. It’s only been a month, and although everyone around him thinks he should take more time, he’s pushed himself back to work. He is still grieving for Anita and angry too, especially because the driver responsible was his abusive ex Bergþóra, who insists it was an accident and has walked away without consequences.
Helgi has always carried a bit of guilt about Hulda Hermannsdóttir (who incidentally as her own series of books), the detective who was made to retire early so he could take her place. She later vanished and is presumed dead. To try to distract himself from his thoughts and memories, Helgi throws himself into investigating Hulda’s disappearance. As he traces her final steps, her past begins to tangle with his present. Then Bergþóra is found dead in her bath, and suspicion lands squarely on Helgi. With colleagues quick to assume the worst, he’s left fighting to clear his name while trapped in a police cell.
This book felt like the most personal one yet. Helgi’s whole world has been shaken, and when he’s charged with Bergþóra’s murder, he genuinely believes his life might be over. I really felt for Helgi as his colleagues appeared to need little encouragement to think the worst of him. They consider him guilty before beginning any investigation and it seemed as though Helgi was having to do as much investigating as the detectives despite being held in a police cell.
I enjoyed the different points of view for the chapters, and I love how spare the writing is. Even with that simplicity, I could picture every character and the stark, beautiful Icelandic landscape. I even found myself shivering at one point even though I was reading in the sun! The only thing that surprised me was a description of Helgi himself. I always imagined him as slightly built probably as he is quiet and reflective, but it turns out he is quite the opposite.
If you prefer your detective stories fast and action heavy, this series might not be for you. But if you enjoy quieter, more thoughtful mysteries that still manage to be tense and atmospheric, Helgi’s story is well worth reading.
You could read this as a standalone, but I’d really recommend starting from the beginning - the emotional weight lands so much harder when you’ve been with Helgi through everything.
And that ending… I’m already eager for the next book and to see where Helgi goes from here.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Body in the Bath is the third novel in the Helgi Reykdal series and picks up one month after the end of the previous novel which saw Helgi’s girlfriend, Anita, murdered by his crazy ex. Bergþora has seemingly got away with this crime but when she is found dead in her flat, Helgi soon comes under suspicion.
Set once again in the brutal Icelandic winter, just before Christmas, Jonasson once again weaves his magic to bring the reader straight into the isolation of this part of the world, creating an atmosphere where you can practically feel the biting chill and ominous grey skies overhead.
The book starts with Helgi being held in suspicion of Bergþora’s murder and we are soon taken back to the days immediately prior to this where we learn Helgi has continued his investigation of Hulda’s disappearance (if you have read the previous two novels then this will make perfect sense) to give him something to do whilst mourning the death of his partner.
The grief doesn’t quite translate though, as it isn’t long before Helgi appears to be setting his sights on one of Anita’s friends. This doesn’t appear to be very believable. Jonasson states more than once that Anita was the love of Helgi’s life and he can’t imagine feeling that way again. Thinking of moving on to someone else a month after losing someone who means so much doesn’t quite make the emotional arc come across as well as it should and pretty much makes a mockery of the relationship.
A lot of the book is also spent trying to chase Hulda’s disappearance but once again we are left with no answers and another cliff hanger. I also saw Bergþora’s killer coming a mile off which meant that I wasn’t invested in this part of the plot as much as I wanted to be. Some of the investigative dead ends also felt more like narrative padding than actual plot progression.
The Body in the Bath is a solid, middle of the road procedural which is sometimes let down by the translation – the writing comes across as too simple for the subject matter making it feel more like a cosy crime book rather than an outright thriller.
Having said that, if you have read the previous books in the series, this is an enjoyable and quick read that doesn’t need a lot of concentration to follow. If you are into standard Nordic noir and fans of the author then this book is a worthy addition to the canon and I will most likely pick up the next in the series to see where Helgi goes next.
The Body in the Bath is the third novel in the Helgi Reykdal series and picks up one month after the end of the previous novel which saw Helgi’s girlfriend, Anita, murdered by his crazy ex. Bergþora has seemingly got away with this crime but when she is found dead in her flat, Helgi soon comes under suspicion.
Set once again in the brutal Icelandic winter, just before Christmas, Jonasson once again weaves his magic to bring the reader straight into the isolation of this part of the world, creating an atmosphere where you can practically feel the biting chill and ominous grey skies overhead.
The book starts with Helgi being held in suspicion of Bergþora’s murder and we are soon taken back to the days immediately prior to this where we learn Helgi has continued his investigation of Hulda’s disappearance (if you have read the previous two novels then this will make perfect sense) to give him something to do whilst mourning the death of his partner.
The grief doesn’t quite translate though, as it isn’t long before Helgi appears to be setting his sights on one of Anita’s friends. This doesn’t appear to be very believable. Jonasson states more than once that Anita was the love of Helgi’s life and he can’t imagine feeling that way again. Thinking of moving on to someone else a month after losing someone who means so much doesn’t quite make the emotional arc come across as well as it should and pretty much makes a mockery of the relationship.
A lot of the book is also spent trying to chase Hulda’s disappearance but once again we are left with no answers and another cliff hanger. I also saw Bergþora’s killer coming a mile off which meant that I wasn’t invested in this part of the plot as much as I wanted to be. Some of the investigative dead ends also felt more like narrative padding than actual plot progression.
The Body in the Bath is a solid, middle of the road procedural which is sometimes let down by the translation – the writing comes across as too simple for the subject matter making it feel more like a cosy crime book rather than an outright thriller.
Having said that, if you have read the previous books in the series, this is an enjoyable and quick read that doesn’t need a lot of concentration to follow. If you are into standard Nordic noir and fans of the author then this book is a worthy addition to the canon and I will most likely pick up the next in the series to see where Helgi goes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been (IMPATIENTLY) EAGERLY awaiting THIS installment of the detective Helgi Reykdal series, since the moment I finished “The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer”, and it didn’t disappoint!
I don’t want to reveal *spoilers* for the previous book, or book # 1 of this series-Death At The Sanatorium-but this is what I can share…
A Few Day Before Christmas 2012:
When Bergþóra Úlfsdóttir, Helgi’s ex-girlfriend, is found dead in her home just before Christmas, Helgi is brought in for questioning-a suspect in her MURDER. He has just returned to work after the tragic events that occurred in the last book, and just when he didn’t think his World could get any darker-THIS! Not even his love of reading Golden Age Detective novels can distract him from his pain.
He can’t work on an active case while he is under investigation but Helgi can continue to look into the disappearance of Hulda Hermannsdóttir; the woman whose office he took over when he was hired. She was forced into early retirement and her colleagues are convinced that her disappearance was a Suicide and they have let her case go COLD-but Helgi has his doubts. He brings home the files from cases she worked on, to get a feel for his predecessor.
The story alternates between HELGI 2012 and HULDA 1980-when she was investigating the case of “THE BODY IN THE BATH”.🛀
Each suspenseful timeline had me riveted and I finished the book in one day!
When I first started reading this author, I was shocked when the book seemed to end abruptly, without tying up all of the loose ends. But now I UNDERSTAND that each book is like an episode of a favorite TV program where some storylines advance to their conclusion, while others are left open ended and will be continued in the next installment, so I am prepared for that. We got ONE answer in this one-and came VERY CLOSE to getting another but it looks like we will get a 4th book in this series-and I am all for it!
Just don’t keep me waiting too long, please!
In the meantime, I am going to circle back to the 3 book HIDDEN ICELAND series (Hulda’s cases) which also has a 4th book coming. That will hold me over until I can continue on here…I am definitely becoming addicted to Nordic Noir.
The author fills in the blanks of what happened in the earlier books nicely, so this CAN be read as a standalone but since the stories all build on one another, you probably want to read the others first. All are under 300 pages and are quick, entertaining reads.
This installment comes out on November 10, 2026
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
I don’t want to reveal *spoilers* for the previous book, or book # 1 of this series-Death At The Sanatorium-but this is what I can share…
A Few Day Before Christmas 2012:
When Bergþóra Úlfsdóttir, Helgi’s ex-girlfriend, is found dead in her home just before Christmas, Helgi is brought in for questioning-a suspect in her MURDER. He has just returned to work after the tragic events that occurred in the last book, and just when he didn’t think his World could get any darker-THIS! Not even his love of reading Golden Age Detective novels can distract him from his pain.
He can’t work on an active case while he is under investigation but Helgi can continue to look into the disappearance of Hulda Hermannsdóttir; the woman whose office he took over when he was hired. She was forced into early retirement and her colleagues are convinced that her disappearance was a Suicide and they have let her case go COLD-but Helgi has his doubts. He brings home the files from cases she worked on, to get a feel for his predecessor.
The story alternates between HELGI 2012 and HULDA 1980-when she was investigating the case of “THE BODY IN THE BATH”.🛀
Each suspenseful timeline had me riveted and I finished the book in one day!
When I first started reading this author, I was shocked when the book seemed to end abruptly, without tying up all of the loose ends. But now I UNDERSTAND that each book is like an episode of a favorite TV program where some storylines advance to their conclusion, while others are left open ended and will be continued in the next installment, so I am prepared for that. We got ONE answer in this one-and came VERY CLOSE to getting another but it looks like we will get a 4th book in this series-and I am all for it!
Just don’t keep me waiting too long, please!
In the meantime, I am going to circle back to the 3 book HIDDEN ICELAND series (Hulda’s cases) which also has a 4th book coming. That will hold me over until I can continue on here…I am definitely becoming addicted to Nordic Noir.
The author fills in the blanks of what happened in the earlier books nicely, so this CAN be read as a standalone but since the stories all build on one another, you probably want to read the others first. All are under 300 pages and are quick, entertaining reads.
This installment comes out on November 10, 2026
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *The Body in the Bath* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I really enjoyed *The Body in the Bath*. It is the third book in the Helgi Reykdal series, and this one feels especially personal for Helgi. Just a month after his girlfriend Aníta is killed, he is still dealing with grief and anger when his abusive ex-girlfriend Bergþóra is found dead in her bath — and suddenly Helgi himself becomes the main suspect.
What worked best for me was the way the murder investigation and Helgi’s personal life are so closely connected. He is not approaching this case as an emotionally detached detective; he has every reason to hate Bergþóra, which makes the suspicion around him feel believable and gives the story much more tension. At the same time, he is still trying to uncover what really happened to his missing predecessor, Hulda Hermannsdóttir, so there are several mysteries unfolding alongside each other.
I also really like Helgi as a character. He is quiet, complicated and clearly struggling, but he remains determined to find the truth even when his own colleagues begin turning against him. His love of classic crime fiction is a lovely touch too, especially because it fits so naturally with the old-fashioned mystery feel underneath the Nordic noir setting.
The Icelandic winter atmosphere is excellent. Reykjavík in the run-up to Christmas feels cold, isolated and slightly bleak, which suits Helgi’s emotional state perfectly. The pacing is fairly measured rather than relentlessly fast, but I enjoyed the slower investigation and the gradual way the different pieces started connecting.
I do think this book benefits from having read the earlier Helgi novels, particularly because so much of the emotional impact comes from previous events and the ongoing Hulda storyline. Some of the connections may not mean quite as much to a completely new reader. But as a continuation of the series, it feels satisfying and well constructed.
Overall, *The Body in the Bath* was an atmospheric, intelligent and gripping Icelandic mystery. I enjoyed the combination of Helgi trying to clear his own name, the cold-case investigation and the emotional weight of everything he has already lost. A strong instalment in the series and one that left me very invested in Helgi’s story.
I really enjoyed *The Body in the Bath*. It is the third book in the Helgi Reykdal series, and this one feels especially personal for Helgi. Just a month after his girlfriend Aníta is killed, he is still dealing with grief and anger when his abusive ex-girlfriend Bergþóra is found dead in her bath — and suddenly Helgi himself becomes the main suspect.
What worked best for me was the way the murder investigation and Helgi’s personal life are so closely connected. He is not approaching this case as an emotionally detached detective; he has every reason to hate Bergþóra, which makes the suspicion around him feel believable and gives the story much more tension. At the same time, he is still trying to uncover what really happened to his missing predecessor, Hulda Hermannsdóttir, so there are several mysteries unfolding alongside each other.
I also really like Helgi as a character. He is quiet, complicated and clearly struggling, but he remains determined to find the truth even when his own colleagues begin turning against him. His love of classic crime fiction is a lovely touch too, especially because it fits so naturally with the old-fashioned mystery feel underneath the Nordic noir setting.
The Icelandic winter atmosphere is excellent. Reykjavík in the run-up to Christmas feels cold, isolated and slightly bleak, which suits Helgi’s emotional state perfectly. The pacing is fairly measured rather than relentlessly fast, but I enjoyed the slower investigation and the gradual way the different pieces started connecting.
I do think this book benefits from having read the earlier Helgi novels, particularly because so much of the emotional impact comes from previous events and the ongoing Hulda storyline. Some of the connections may not mean quite as much to a completely new reader. But as a continuation of the series, it feels satisfying and well constructed.
Overall, *The Body in the Bath* was an atmospheric, intelligent and gripping Icelandic mystery. I enjoyed the combination of Helgi trying to clear his own name, the cold-case investigation and the emotional weight of everything he has already lost. A strong instalment in the series and one that left me very invested in Helgi’s story.
October 4, 2026
The Body in the Bath by Ragnar Jónasson is a highly recommended mystery set in Iceland. This is the third book in the series featuring Detective Helgi Reykdal.
On 12/20/2012 Detective Helgi Reykdal is heading to Litla-Hraun prison by colleagues Mani and Alexander under suspicion for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Bergþóra Úlfsdóttir. A month earlier Helgi's girlfriend Anita was deliberately run over and killed by Bergþóra, a violent, abusive alcoholic. Bergþóra claims it was an accident and is not charged. After a month off, Helgi has finally returned to work in Reykjavík on 12/14/2012. To distract himself, Helgi begins investigating the unsolved case of his predecessor, Hulda Hermannsdóttir. She disappeared and it was presumed to be a suicide but Helgi is unconvinced. He has begun to read Hulda's case files, starting back in 1980, but before he determines anything certain, Bergþóra is found dead in her bath and suspicion immediately falls on Helgi.
This is a well-written, very tightly-plotted mystery. From the prologue readers know right at the start what is going to happen to Helgi soon after he returns to work, so that tension is ever present and overwhelming until additional information can be found. At the same time we follow Helgi looking into an old case of Hulda's, where a young woman Rúna, claims that she found a body in her bathtub but after she ran off, it disappeared. There are questions, intrigue, and tension rising based on both cases, present and past, although Helgi's current situation will weigh heavy on you.
The book opens with a reading list of Helgi and Hulda, featuring classic whodunits. Helgi's love of reading mysteries is well known and mentioned frequently in the plot. The classic plots are an inspiration for parts of the novels. Readers perhaps would benefit from reading the previous novel before the current one. The series is: Death at the Sanatorium, The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer, and The Body in the Bath. Also, be forewarned that The Body in the Bath ends on a cliffhanger. I am assuming that the trilogy will continue with a fourth novel.
The Body in the Bath is a great choice for those who enjoy tightly plotted mysteries and fans of Agatha Christie. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
https://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/...
On 12/20/2012 Detective Helgi Reykdal is heading to Litla-Hraun prison by colleagues Mani and Alexander under suspicion for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Bergþóra Úlfsdóttir. A month earlier Helgi's girlfriend Anita was deliberately run over and killed by Bergþóra, a violent, abusive alcoholic. Bergþóra claims it was an accident and is not charged. After a month off, Helgi has finally returned to work in Reykjavík on 12/14/2012. To distract himself, Helgi begins investigating the unsolved case of his predecessor, Hulda Hermannsdóttir. She disappeared and it was presumed to be a suicide but Helgi is unconvinced. He has begun to read Hulda's case files, starting back in 1980, but before he determines anything certain, Bergþóra is found dead in her bath and suspicion immediately falls on Helgi.
This is a well-written, very tightly-plotted mystery. From the prologue readers know right at the start what is going to happen to Helgi soon after he returns to work, so that tension is ever present and overwhelming until additional information can be found. At the same time we follow Helgi looking into an old case of Hulda's, where a young woman Rúna, claims that she found a body in her bathtub but after she ran off, it disappeared. There are questions, intrigue, and tension rising based on both cases, present and past, although Helgi's current situation will weigh heavy on you.
The book opens with a reading list of Helgi and Hulda, featuring classic whodunits. Helgi's love of reading mysteries is well known and mentioned frequently in the plot. The classic plots are an inspiration for parts of the novels. Readers perhaps would benefit from reading the previous novel before the current one. The series is: Death at the Sanatorium, The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer, and The Body in the Bath. Also, be forewarned that The Body in the Bath ends on a cliffhanger. I am assuming that the trilogy will continue with a fourth novel.
The Body in the Bath is a great choice for those who enjoy tightly plotted mysteries and fans of Agatha Christie. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
https://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 Stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of The Body in the Bath, which I had been eagerly anticipating. Its author is Ragnar Jónasson, my favourite writer of books in the Nordic Noir category. He is Icelandic, and his books are written in Icelandic and have been translated into English. I have read and enjoyed all his translated books, which are set in Iceland. There have been two award-winning/best-selling series: Dark Iceland and Hidden Iceland. This is the third book by Jonasson featuring Detective Helgi, a dedicated, competent, and likeable crime investigator.
In the past, Helgi's home life was toxic. He lived with Bergpora, who was a heavy drinker and abused him both mentally and physically. He was ashamed to be a male victim of domestic violence caused by a woman and kept quiet about it. He escaped the situation, fell in love, and planned for a future with Anita, who brought him peace and affection.Bergpora killed Anita by hitting her with an automobile, but was never charged with this deliberate act. Helgi was left devastated.
Christmas was approaching, and he planned to spend the holiday season with his mother, who helps calm his nerves. He also finds solace in his collection of Golden Age Detective books that distract and inspire him. He has been too upset to return to active duty, but when he does, he is unable to work on active cases. He chooses to investigate the cold case of Detective Hulda. He now has her work office. She was forced to retire and disappeared. Her body was never found, and the police believe she committed suicide. Helgi concentrates on Hulda's fate, suspecting she may have been murdered.
Helgi is accused of killing Bergpora, whose body was found in a bathtub. He had a motive for revenge and is charged with her murder. This is a short, straightforward, concise book, without unnecessary fillers and packed with tension and suspense, and plenty of cliffhangers. There was less vivid Icelandic atmosphere described than in previous books, and I found myself having to remind myself of the setting. There are two timelines: 1980 and 2012. The story is multi-layered.
I was very surprised to learn about Bergpora's actual killer at the book's conclusion, but some threads were left open-ended and inconclusive. The ending is a cliffhanger, and I am hoping for a further book in the Detective Helgi series.
In the past, Helgi's home life was toxic. He lived with Bergpora, who was a heavy drinker and abused him both mentally and physically. He was ashamed to be a male victim of domestic violence caused by a woman and kept quiet about it. He escaped the situation, fell in love, and planned for a future with Anita, who brought him peace and affection.Bergpora killed Anita by hitting her with an automobile, but was never charged with this deliberate act. Helgi was left devastated.
Christmas was approaching, and he planned to spend the holiday season with his mother, who helps calm his nerves. He also finds solace in his collection of Golden Age Detective books that distract and inspire him. He has been too upset to return to active duty, but when he does, he is unable to work on active cases. He chooses to investigate the cold case of Detective Hulda. He now has her work office. She was forced to retire and disappeared. Her body was never found, and the police believe she committed suicide. Helgi concentrates on Hulda's fate, suspecting she may have been murdered.
Helgi is accused of killing Bergpora, whose body was found in a bathtub. He had a motive for revenge and is charged with her murder. This is a short, straightforward, concise book, without unnecessary fillers and packed with tension and suspense, and plenty of cliffhangers. There was less vivid Icelandic atmosphere described than in previous books, and I found myself having to remind myself of the setting. There are two timelines: 1980 and 2012. The story is multi-layered.
I was very surprised to learn about Bergpora's actual killer at the book's conclusion, but some threads were left open-ended and inconclusive. The ending is a cliffhanger, and I am hoping for a further book in the Detective Helgi series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2026
My thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review 'The Body in the Bath' by Ragnar Jónasson.
My review contains spoilers.
This was my first time reading a book written by Ragnar Jónasson. I wasn't aware going into it that this is the third instalment in a series so my review may not resonate with those who have read previous instalments.
As a new to the series reader I didn't connect with the main character Helgi. Suffering the horrific loss of his girlfriend (previous book) Helgi is depressed and struggling to come to terms with his grief. Deciding to return to work sooner than he should have, he decides to casually investigate the disappearance of his office predecessor - Hulda. One day, he receives a visit from two police officers who ask him to go with them, he does without really asking any questions, and then he finds himself in prison on suspicion of the murder. The book is split between Hulda's investigation of the disappearance of a dead body in a bathtub (which was a much more intriguing side story) and Helgi's own arrest for the apparent murder of his ex-girlfriend (the one who hit his current, now deceased, girlfriend with her car in the last book.)
A lot of time in the book is given to introspective chapters which were dull and highly repetitive. The case built up against Helgi seemed suspiciously personal but I am not sure if this was on purpose - if the lead detective, Alexander, had some beef with Helgi from a previous book - or if he was just an awful human being.
I skimmed most of the book and only really got into it at the very end when Helgi "potentially" found where Hulda was buried. And of course as soon as things got interesting, the book ended on a cliffhanger.
I think one of the key issues with the book was at the start you think you are reading a noir style murder but as the book progressed it became more of a lazy murder mystery. The pacing was off throughout which led to a clunky and disjointed read.
Not a series I would personally return to. I think a lot was lost in translation.
My review contains spoilers.
This was my first time reading a book written by Ragnar Jónasson. I wasn't aware going into it that this is the third instalment in a series so my review may not resonate with those who have read previous instalments.
As a new to the series reader I didn't connect with the main character Helgi. Suffering the horrific loss of his girlfriend (previous book) Helgi is depressed and struggling to come to terms with his grief. Deciding to return to work sooner than he should have, he decides to casually investigate the disappearance of his office predecessor - Hulda. One day, he receives a visit from two police officers who ask him to go with them, he does without really asking any questions, and then he finds himself in prison on suspicion of the murder. The book is split between Hulda's investigation of the disappearance of a dead body in a bathtub (which was a much more intriguing side story) and Helgi's own arrest for the apparent murder of his ex-girlfriend (the one who hit his current, now deceased, girlfriend with her car in the last book.)
A lot of time in the book is given to introspective chapters which were dull and highly repetitive. The case built up against Helgi seemed suspiciously personal but I am not sure if this was on purpose - if the lead detective, Alexander, had some beef with Helgi from a previous book - or if he was just an awful human being.
I skimmed most of the book and only really got into it at the very end when Helgi "potentially" found where Hulda was buried. And of course as soon as things got interesting, the book ended on a cliffhanger.
I think one of the key issues with the book was at the start you think you are reading a noir style murder but as the book progressed it became more of a lazy murder mystery. The pacing was off throughout which led to a clunky and disjointed read.
Not a series I would personally return to. I think a lot was lost in translation.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I know in the eyes of the people, a mystery is not considered to be fun, but it’s hard to describe how I feel when I read a mystery any other way. The Body in the Bathtub was no different; it is a fun read. It’s so easy to immerse yourself in the story and take on that detective role!
So, you bet I put on my detective cap when Helgi, a young investigator, is suspected of being responsible for the death of his abusive ex-girlfriend!
First of all, the author gives you no other option than to immediately feel for Helgi. The story takes place shortly after his girlfriend was tragically killed in a car accident, and, of course, it’s Christmas time, a time to spend with family and friends. And to make matters worse, Helgi’s ex-girlfriend was behind the wheel, and she claims it was an accident and walks free. So, when Bergþóra is found lifeless in her bath, Helgi is the prime suspect.
Honestly, a whirlwind of emotions in the beginning of this story, but I was 100% on Helgi’s side, ready to defend him to the bitter end. But, of course, he wants to prove his innocence, but that never goes as planned when suspects take matters into their own hands, so… did he have something to do with his ex-girlfriend's death? He has motive. He's acting quite suspicious. All odds are against him! I had whiplash from being 100% confident to maybe a bit suspicious.
While I was tackling the detective work, Helgi was keeping himself busy and not out of trouble with an unsolved disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda, a retired officer long presumed dead.
This was a short, fast-paced mystery packed with surprises and great characters. My emotions were all over the place. As much as I love to put on my detective cap, I don’t have a great record of solving these mysteries. But, I am proud to say, even though my thoughts were tossed in all directions, I solved the crime. Yes, it was a heartbreaking end to the tale but worth every second.
If you love a good short mystery, add The Body in the Bathtub to your TBR!
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader's Copy.
Publication Date: November 10, 2026
So, you bet I put on my detective cap when Helgi, a young investigator, is suspected of being responsible for the death of his abusive ex-girlfriend!
First of all, the author gives you no other option than to immediately feel for Helgi. The story takes place shortly after his girlfriend was tragically killed in a car accident, and, of course, it’s Christmas time, a time to spend with family and friends. And to make matters worse, Helgi’s ex-girlfriend was behind the wheel, and she claims it was an accident and walks free. So, when Bergþóra is found lifeless in her bath, Helgi is the prime suspect.
Honestly, a whirlwind of emotions in the beginning of this story, but I was 100% on Helgi’s side, ready to defend him to the bitter end. But, of course, he wants to prove his innocence, but that never goes as planned when suspects take matters into their own hands, so… did he have something to do with his ex-girlfriend's death? He has motive. He's acting quite suspicious. All odds are against him! I had whiplash from being 100% confident to maybe a bit suspicious.
While I was tackling the detective work, Helgi was keeping himself busy and not out of trouble with an unsolved disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda, a retired officer long presumed dead.
This was a short, fast-paced mystery packed with surprises and great characters. My emotions were all over the place. As much as I love to put on my detective cap, I don’t have a great record of solving these mysteries. But, I am proud to say, even though my thoughts were tossed in all directions, I solved the crime. Yes, it was a heartbreaking end to the tale but worth every second.
If you love a good short mystery, add The Body in the Bathtub to your TBR!
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader's Copy.
Publication Date: November 10, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received an Advanced Reader Copy from Netgalley!!
This book was absolutely unputdownable. With every page, my curiosity grew stronger, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next.
A compelling blend of detective fiction, police procedural, and suspense, the story places Detective Helgi at the centre of a murder investigation while he is still struggling to process Anita's death. Helgi is an unusual protagonist: reserved, introspective, and happiest when reading mystery novels. At several points, I genuinely wondered if he might have harmed Bergþóra out of anger and grief. Yet the author keeps you guessing until the very end. Helgi may not be as sweet and straightforward as he appears, but that's what makes him such an intriguing character.
Set during the Christmas season, this is the perfect winter mystery to curl up with alongside a cup of hot chocolate. The author vividly captures the atmosphere of southern Iceland in the weeks leading up to Christmas, creating a setting that feels both cosy and haunting.
While trying to rebuild his life after Anita's death, Helgi uncovers details about Hulda's disappearance and the cases she investigated during her career. Through these discoveries, we learn about Hulda's determination, resilience, and the devastating personal losses she endured after the deaths of her husband and daughter.
What I particularly enjoyed was the nostalgic undertone woven throughout the story. As Helgi reflects on his childhood and the future he had imagined with Anita, the emotional depth beautifully balances the tension of the investigation.
The writing is direct, engaging, and fast-paced. Multiple perspectives provide insight into the lives of various characters without slowing the plot's momentum. While the story occasionally ventures into heavier emotional territory, it never loses its grip on the reader.
A cozy mystery with emotional depth, strong character development, and enough twists to keep you hooked from start to finish.
I will definitely be picking up more of Ragnar Jónasson's work.
This book was absolutely unputdownable. With every page, my curiosity grew stronger, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next.
A compelling blend of detective fiction, police procedural, and suspense, the story places Detective Helgi at the centre of a murder investigation while he is still struggling to process Anita's death. Helgi is an unusual protagonist: reserved, introspective, and happiest when reading mystery novels. At several points, I genuinely wondered if he might have harmed Bergþóra out of anger and grief. Yet the author keeps you guessing until the very end. Helgi may not be as sweet and straightforward as he appears, but that's what makes him such an intriguing character.
Set during the Christmas season, this is the perfect winter mystery to curl up with alongside a cup of hot chocolate. The author vividly captures the atmosphere of southern Iceland in the weeks leading up to Christmas, creating a setting that feels both cosy and haunting.
While trying to rebuild his life after Anita's death, Helgi uncovers details about Hulda's disappearance and the cases she investigated during her career. Through these discoveries, we learn about Hulda's determination, resilience, and the devastating personal losses she endured after the deaths of her husband and daughter.
What I particularly enjoyed was the nostalgic undertone woven throughout the story. As Helgi reflects on his childhood and the future he had imagined with Anita, the emotional depth beautifully balances the tension of the investigation.
The writing is direct, engaging, and fast-paced. Multiple perspectives provide insight into the lives of various characters without slowing the plot's momentum. While the story occasionally ventures into heavier emotional territory, it never loses its grip on the reader.
A cozy mystery with emotional depth, strong character development, and enough twists to keep you hooked from start to finish.
I will definitely be picking up more of Ragnar Jónasson's work.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Like most Americans, when it comes to mysteries and thrillers, I’m more familiar with the top selling writers in the U.S. Sure, we know and love Agatha Christie and a few more golden age writers and a few writers outside the States that have made their way on The New York Times Bestselling list. But mostly, we have stayed with those from our homeland.
Man, have we been missing out!
Over the last year, I have been consuming mysteries and thrillers from the UK. I have found some of the best mysteries I have ever read and have started working my way through their back catalog. This summer, I have been checking out some Icelandic thrillers. These have been so good.
“The Body in the Bath” is my introduction to Icelandic writer Ragnar Jonasson’s work and his series featuring detective Helgi Reykdal. This won’t be my last. This series is Jonasson’s nod to the golden age of mysteries. However, to me, it feels a little too dark to be classified truly in the same vein.
Don’t read that wrong. It isn’t really dark, but it just felt darker than the writings of Christie, Wentworth, Sayers, or Marsh.
Helgi is grieving the loss of his girlfriend. To complicate things, she was killed by his ex-girlfriend. The police have deemed it an accident and the ex has walked free. That is until she is found dead in a bathtub. His peers are not showing favoritism to Helgi. Quite the opposite. They think he did it.
This not only interrupts his grieving and his celebration of Christmas, it also halts his investigation into what happened to his predecessor.
Both mysteries are really good. There have been some Icelandic writers that there is an issue with translation, and the sentences don’t always flow. This is not one of those novels. Everything was smooth for me.
Branch out and join me in checking out this series. You won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Man, have we been missing out!
Over the last year, I have been consuming mysteries and thrillers from the UK. I have found some of the best mysteries I have ever read and have started working my way through their back catalog. This summer, I have been checking out some Icelandic thrillers. These have been so good.
“The Body in the Bath” is my introduction to Icelandic writer Ragnar Jonasson’s work and his series featuring detective Helgi Reykdal. This won’t be my last. This series is Jonasson’s nod to the golden age of mysteries. However, to me, it feels a little too dark to be classified truly in the same vein.
Don’t read that wrong. It isn’t really dark, but it just felt darker than the writings of Christie, Wentworth, Sayers, or Marsh.
Helgi is grieving the loss of his girlfriend. To complicate things, she was killed by his ex-girlfriend. The police have deemed it an accident and the ex has walked free. That is until she is found dead in a bathtub. His peers are not showing favoritism to Helgi. Quite the opposite. They think he did it.
This not only interrupts his grieving and his celebration of Christmas, it also halts his investigation into what happened to his predecessor.
Both mysteries are really good. There have been some Icelandic writers that there is an issue with translation, and the sentences don’t always flow. This is not one of those novels. Everything was smooth for me.
Branch out and join me in checking out this series. You won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Classic 20th century whodunnit nerd and Reykjavik CID detective Helgi Reykdal finds himself embroiled in an all too personal murder drama when his abusive ex-girlfriend, Bergþora, is found dead in her bathtub, shortly after she has gotten away with murdering Helgi’s true love, Anita. Stunned by his grief after Anita’s death and unable to cope with his new reality, Helgi is trying to distract himself by investigating the unsolved disappearance of his police predecessor, Hildur, who went missing several months previously, a few days before she was due to retire from the police force. And then suddenly, when on what seems like a routine visit to Litla Hraun prison, Helgi is arrested and accused of Bergþora’s murder and his quiet, book-loving life implodes around him.
Who murdered Bergþora and how can Helgi prove his innocence when even his colleagues on the CID don’t believe him? And who will find closure for Hildur if he is serving a life sentence for a crime he did not commit? The Body in the Bath answers some of the questions but there are still many loose strings hanging at the end and so, hopefully, we will be looking forward to another Helgi novel in the near future - in the meantime I am going to reacquaint myself with the previous two books in the series to see if I can find some hidden clues.
I really enjoyed The Body in the Bath, the atmospheric Icelandic Christmas timescale and the prevailing dark tension of the narrative made it a great reading experience for any fans of Ragnar Jonasson. I wouldn’t recommend it for a one-off read, however - it needs to be read in conjunction with the other books in the series to really get the most of the story, so 4 stars for this book, 5 stars for the Helgi Reykdal series.
Many thanks to all concerned for allowing me to read and review this terrific novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read book 1 in this series, and enjoyed it, but found this one very disappointing. It didn't matter that I hadn't read number 2, any relevant details are explained enough.
It's very short, and written with a light touch, which makes for a quick and enjoyable read. Short chapters that alternate between different strands of the story, each one usually finishing with a little cliff hanger to keep you hooked throughout. Despite the themes of depression and domestic violence, the book is written with a light tone that never gets too heavy, or delves into those themes too deeply, the way some more gritty novels might.
The focus is very much on the interrogation, with much of the book spent in the interview room, going over the main character's questioning. It's entertaining enough, and I really wanted to enjoy it - for most of the book, I was going to give it 3 stars as an enjoyable if simple read. But then came the ending, completely out of the blue, and I got really annoyed. I won't give it away, but given how much the author likes to say he's inspired by Agatha Christie, and trying to emulate her, which I think he did quite well in the first book, in this one, he lays out loads of clues and suspects, only to decide they're all irrelevant, and he introduces the actual culprit very late in the book, just in time for the reveal. I don't think I missed anything, there was no mention of the character or any clues to suggest they might have been involved prior to that, so it felt like a massive cheat.
Having said that, it seems like that hasn't bothered most of the other people who've read this, so if you like detective novels that are short and not too gritty, and you're not bothered about following the clues, then it's just fine.
Thanks to Penguin and Net Galley for a pre publication copy in return for an honest review.
It's very short, and written with a light touch, which makes for a quick and enjoyable read. Short chapters that alternate between different strands of the story, each one usually finishing with a little cliff hanger to keep you hooked throughout. Despite the themes of depression and domestic violence, the book is written with a light tone that never gets too heavy, or delves into those themes too deeply, the way some more gritty novels might.
The focus is very much on the interrogation, with much of the book spent in the interview room, going over the main character's questioning. It's entertaining enough, and I really wanted to enjoy it - for most of the book, I was going to give it 3 stars as an enjoyable if simple read. But then came the ending, completely out of the blue, and I got really annoyed. I won't give it away, but given how much the author likes to say he's inspired by Agatha Christie, and trying to emulate her, which I think he did quite well in the first book, in this one, he lays out loads of clues and suspects, only to decide they're all irrelevant, and he introduces the actual culprit very late in the book, just in time for the reveal. I don't think I missed anything, there was no mention of the character or any clues to suggest they might have been involved prior to that, so it felt like a massive cheat.
Having said that, it seems like that hasn't bothered most of the other people who've read this, so if you like detective novels that are short and not too gritty, and you're not bothered about following the clues, then it's just fine.
Thanks to Penguin and Net Galley for a pre publication copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
A chilling mystery that blends classic Christie charm with Jónasson’s signature Icelandic noir, delivering a clever, atmospheric puzzle fans will devour.
Ragnar Jónasson continues to prove why he’s one of the most reliably compelling voices in modern crime fiction. The Body in the Bath delivers his signature blend of crisp plotting, quiet tension, and that unmistakable Icelandic atmosphere...but what really delighted me as a longtime fan were the clever nods to Agatha Christie woven throughout the narrative. They’re never heavy‑handed; instead, they feel like affectionate winks to readers who appreciate classic mystery structure and the elegance of a well‑constructed puzzle.
There’s also a subtle thrill in how Jónasson ties this book into another of his series (I won’t spoil which one!) but fans will recognize the crossover threads immediately. It’s done with restraint and respect, adding depth without distracting from the central mystery. The story itself is brisk, layered, and satisfying. Jónasson balances the investigative tension with emotional undercurrents, including a thoughtful exploration of a mother’s love, though it’s more of a quiet motif than a dominant theme. It adds warmth to the otherwise icy landscape of the crime.
If you’re already a Jónasson devotee, this one is absolutely worth picking up. And if you’re new to him, The Body in the Bath is a smart, atmospheric entry point that showcases his talent for blending classic mystery sensibilities with modern Nordic noir.
A chilling mystery that blends classic Christie charm with Jónasson’s signature Icelandic noir, delivering a clever, atmospheric puzzle fans will devour.
Ragnar Jónasson continues to prove why he’s one of the most reliably compelling voices in modern crime fiction. The Body in the Bath delivers his signature blend of crisp plotting, quiet tension, and that unmistakable Icelandic atmosphere...but what really delighted me as a longtime fan were the clever nods to Agatha Christie woven throughout the narrative. They’re never heavy‑handed; instead, they feel like affectionate winks to readers who appreciate classic mystery structure and the elegance of a well‑constructed puzzle.
There’s also a subtle thrill in how Jónasson ties this book into another of his series (I won’t spoil which one!) but fans will recognize the crossover threads immediately. It’s done with restraint and respect, adding depth without distracting from the central mystery. The story itself is brisk, layered, and satisfying. Jónasson balances the investigative tension with emotional undercurrents, including a thoughtful exploration of a mother’s love, though it’s more of a quiet motif than a dominant theme. It adds warmth to the otherwise icy landscape of the crime.
If you’re already a Jónasson devotee, this one is absolutely worth picking up. And if you’re new to him, The Body in the Bath is a smart, atmospheric entry point that showcases his talent for blending classic mystery sensibilities with modern Nordic noir.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
You can always rely on a Ragnar Jonasson thriller!
I know it's translated, and some translated novels can lose their nuances, but this felt right, even in English. It felt effortless to read and fully engaging.
It covers two timelines, and I'm a big fan of multiple timelines and POVs - as long as they're done well - and he has handled both very well.
I found it a bit chaotic at times but I mean that in a positive way. It adds to the confusion over the whodunnit and it really gives another level of mystery.
I completely glossed over the fact that this is in the same Helgi series as his other books Death at the Sanatorium and The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer, but I don't think you need to read those to enjoy this one. Yes you will probably get more out of it if you do, but it's completely readable as a standalone.
I found some of the dialogue to be a bit stilted but I'm not a huge dialogue fan so that could just be me. There's not much character depth but that could be because it's the third book and we should know the characters already from the previous books.
It's not quite a cosy crime but it doesn't hit the extremes of a thriller. It's more sedate, calm, more about the goings-on around the crime rather than the crime itself.
At first I thought it would need to be longer to get everything you need for a thriller, but now I've finished it I think it's quite right. If it was much longer it would have lots its impact.
I loved the twist and the cliff-hanger has made me excited for the next instalment.
You can always rely on a Ragnar Jonasson thriller!
I know it's translated, and some translated novels can lose their nuances, but this felt right, even in English. It felt effortless to read and fully engaging.
It covers two timelines, and I'm a big fan of multiple timelines and POVs - as long as they're done well - and he has handled both very well.
I found it a bit chaotic at times but I mean that in a positive way. It adds to the confusion over the whodunnit and it really gives another level of mystery.
I completely glossed over the fact that this is in the same Helgi series as his other books Death at the Sanatorium and The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer, but I don't think you need to read those to enjoy this one. Yes you will probably get more out of it if you do, but it's completely readable as a standalone.
I found some of the dialogue to be a bit stilted but I'm not a huge dialogue fan so that could just be me. There's not much character depth but that could be because it's the third book and we should know the characters already from the previous books.
It's not quite a cosy crime but it doesn't hit the extremes of a thriller. It's more sedate, calm, more about the goings-on around the crime rather than the crime itself.
At first I thought it would need to be longer to get everything you need for a thriller, but now I've finished it I think it's quite right. If it was much longer it would have lots its impact.
I loved the twist and the cliff-hanger has made me excited for the next instalment.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advance copy for review.
This is a strong conclusion to the Icelandic Helgi trilogy, and well worth investing your time in.
Police Detective Helgi Reykdal is in mourning for his girlfriend, killed by his previous partner just before Christmas. Helgi tries to occupy himself by investigating what happened to his missing predecessor, Detective Hulda (the main character in the earlier series Hidden Iceland), and looks into her old cases. But the present day keeps intruding, and Helgi cannot hide from it. Strange parallels appear between the current and the past.
Ragnar Jónasson writes with a beautiful light touch that cunningly misdirects you away from the underlying darkness of the story. And this is indeed dark in places, with themes of grief and domestic abuse. But at the heart of it is a good man trying to find a way through. Helgi is a strong, believable character, and I love his appreciation for golden age crime fiction such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers.
Although this can be enjoyed as a standalone, I do recommend reading the other two books on the trilogy first - Death at the Sanatorium and especially The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer. Both those books ended in cliffhangers and the major plot points of this book link directly to these. Essentially the three books form a single story when it comes to Helgi’s personal life.
Overall, this is ideal for anybody who likes Scandi Noir such as Jo Nesbo. All three in the series are recommended for a satisfying read.
This is a strong conclusion to the Icelandic Helgi trilogy, and well worth investing your time in.
Police Detective Helgi Reykdal is in mourning for his girlfriend, killed by his previous partner just before Christmas. Helgi tries to occupy himself by investigating what happened to his missing predecessor, Detective Hulda (the main character in the earlier series Hidden Iceland), and looks into her old cases. But the present day keeps intruding, and Helgi cannot hide from it. Strange parallels appear between the current and the past.
Ragnar Jónasson writes with a beautiful light touch that cunningly misdirects you away from the underlying darkness of the story. And this is indeed dark in places, with themes of grief and domestic abuse. But at the heart of it is a good man trying to find a way through. Helgi is a strong, believable character, and I love his appreciation for golden age crime fiction such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers.
Although this can be enjoyed as a standalone, I do recommend reading the other two books on the trilogy first - Death at the Sanatorium and especially The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer. Both those books ended in cliffhangers and the major plot points of this book link directly to these. Essentially the three books form a single story when it comes to Helgi’s personal life.
Overall, this is ideal for anybody who likes Scandi Noir such as Jo Nesbo. All three in the series are recommended for a satisfying read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the advanced review copy of The Body in the Bath, another Helgi Reykdal mystery by Ragnar Jónasson.
The Body in the Bath earns ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me and is my favorite of the Helgi trilogy. I love that the story picks up right where The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer left off. While Helgi faces his own grief and an unexpected struggle for personal justice, he continues to seek answers for the missing Hulda Hermannsdottir. One of the reasons I enjoyed The Body in the Bath is its alternating timeline as Helgi uses his detective skills and love of classic (and seasonal) whodunnits to review some of Hilda’s past cases.
I’ve always appreciated how Helgi and Hulda’s story’s have intertwined. I was sad when her story came to end, but I’m pleased Helgi is still interested in finding out the truth of her disappearance.
Ragnar Jonasson’s stories are always compelling and provide satisfying conclusions while leaving you looking forward to the next book.
I’m an avid Ragnar Jonasson fan having read all of his books (those translated into English). His Dark Iceland series actually inspired my trip to Iceland last summer and I visited Haelid, the great white plague center, in Akureyri. The museum includes stories and artifacts from the hospital that inspired Helgi’s first book, Death at the Sanatorium. Having been to Iceland, it makes reading Jonasson’s books even more fun.
The Body in the Bath earns ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me and is my favorite of the Helgi trilogy. I love that the story picks up right where The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer left off. While Helgi faces his own grief and an unexpected struggle for personal justice, he continues to seek answers for the missing Hulda Hermannsdottir. One of the reasons I enjoyed The Body in the Bath is its alternating timeline as Helgi uses his detective skills and love of classic (and seasonal) whodunnits to review some of Hilda’s past cases.
I’ve always appreciated how Helgi and Hulda’s story’s have intertwined. I was sad when her story came to end, but I’m pleased Helgi is still interested in finding out the truth of her disappearance.
Ragnar Jonasson’s stories are always compelling and provide satisfying conclusions while leaving you looking forward to the next book.
I’m an avid Ragnar Jonasson fan having read all of his books (those translated into English). His Dark Iceland series actually inspired my trip to Iceland last summer and I visited Haelid, the great white plague center, in Akureyri. The museum includes stories and artifacts from the hospital that inspired Helgi’s first book, Death at the Sanatorium. Having been to Iceland, it makes reading Jonasson’s books even more fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews