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Fire and Ice #4.5
The Polar Bear Killing
When a polar bear is sighted in a sleepy Icelandic fishing village, then shot dead by local policeman Constable Halldór, it triggers a debate in the local community. Was Halldór a hero for killing the bear, or should the animal have been protected?
Animal rights activists in the area see the constable as a villain, and when days later the dead body of Halldór is discovered at a remote beauty spot, the activists are immediately under suspicion.
As Sergeant Magnus Ragnarsson and his colleague Detective Vigdís Audardótti begin to investigate the policeman's murder, they soon discover that things are not as clear-cut as might first appear. By degrees, Magnus and Vigdís are drawn into this small and complex community - one riven with rivalries and grudges - in search of a deadly killer...
Animal rights activists in the area see the constable as a villain, and when days later the dead body of Halldór is discovered at a remote beauty spot, the activists are immediately under suspicion.
As Sergeant Magnus Ragnarsson and his colleague Detective Vigdís Audardótti begin to investigate the policeman's murder, they soon discover that things are not as clear-cut as might first appear. By degrees, Magnus and Vigdís are drawn into this small and complex community - one riven with rivalries and grudges - in search of a deadly killer...
90 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2016
52 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Michael Ridpath
65 books312 followersBefore becoming a writer, Michael Ridpath used to work as a bond trader in the City of London. After writing several financial thrillers, which were published in over 30 languages, he began a crime series featuring the Icelandic detective Magnus Jonson. He has also written five stand-alone thrillers, the latest of which is The Diplomat’s Wife, published in February 2021. He lives in London.
And if you want a free copy of his novella, The Polar Bear Killing, and to sign up to his quarterly newsletter, just click this link: http://eepurl.com/dlzgFH
And if you want a free copy of his novella, The Polar Bear Killing, and to sign up to his quarterly newsletter, just click this link: http://eepurl.com/dlzgFH
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 11, 2018
A fun novella in the series.Recommended.
October 8, 2021
The Polar Bear Killing is a novella that sits within the Icelandic Fire and Ice series by Michael Ridpath. It’s a reasonable enough story, and highlights a minor police character from the main series. What I do really like about Ridpath’s writing though, is the time he takes to explain the geographic details, and other historic points of interest about the setting in which the story takes place.
The story is set in the remote Icelandic town of Raufarhöfn, the northernmost town on the Icelandic mainland, nestled on the eastern shore of Melrakkaslétta peninsula. Raufarhöfn is home to the Arctic henge, a massive stone circle on the hill just north of the town, 50m in diameter with four giant gates (representing the seasons) up to 7m in height. The monument is currently under construction and aims to explain the strong local beliefs in the mythology of the Edda poem Völuspá (Wise Woman’s Prophecy).
That was probably the highlight of the story for me - learning more about this remote place, adding it to the list of places I want to visit. I was also interested to get a sense of how polar bears manage to get to Iceland, floating on ice floes from Greenland.
So all in all a good little read and almost finishes off everything Ridpath has to offer in this series.
The story is set in the remote Icelandic town of Raufarhöfn, the northernmost town on the Icelandic mainland, nestled on the eastern shore of Melrakkaslétta peninsula. Raufarhöfn is home to the Arctic henge, a massive stone circle on the hill just north of the town, 50m in diameter with four giant gates (representing the seasons) up to 7m in height. The monument is currently under construction and aims to explain the strong local beliefs in the mythology of the Edda poem Völuspá (Wise Woman’s Prophecy).
That was probably the highlight of the story for me - learning more about this remote place, adding it to the list of places I want to visit. I was also interested to get a sense of how polar bears manage to get to Iceland, floating on ice floes from Greenland.
So all in all a good little read and almost finishes off everything Ridpath has to offer in this series.
April 17, 2018
It had been a long while since I last read anything by Michael Ridpath and his Magnus Iceland mysteries series, so had been a bit worried as to if anything would still feel familiar.
Thankfully some of the characters did ring a bell especially Detective Vigdis who is the main detective in this story, who has been called to a remote area of Iceland from Reykjavik to help work out who killed a local policeman.
Just days before the local policeman had killed a polar bear and there were some unhappy people about thanks to that.
In fact the initial scenes involving the polar bear were full of description, and I found it a real shame at the policy that lead to the death of a magnificent creature, no matter how dangerous they are.
This is s short novella that packs a good amount of story in, its straight to the point police work, set in a small Icelandic village, and I didn't figure out who had killed the policeman. I had my own theory but couldn't quite make it work, so glad I was wrong.
I love looking at how police forces work in different countries, especially with interviews having to be conducted in Icelandic no matter what other others languages everyone speaks. Was also good to see glimpses of Sergeant Magnus Ragnarssen who was the hero of the other books in the series.
I read this in just over an hour and was a good way to spend the time, trying to solve a murder before the police could. I'm really looking forward to the release of the next book in this series.
Thankfully some of the characters did ring a bell especially Detective Vigdis who is the main detective in this story, who has been called to a remote area of Iceland from Reykjavik to help work out who killed a local policeman.
Just days before the local policeman had killed a polar bear and there were some unhappy people about thanks to that.
In fact the initial scenes involving the polar bear were full of description, and I found it a real shame at the policy that lead to the death of a magnificent creature, no matter how dangerous they are.
This is s short novella that packs a good amount of story in, its straight to the point police work, set in a small Icelandic village, and I didn't figure out who had killed the policeman. I had my own theory but couldn't quite make it work, so glad I was wrong.
I love looking at how police forces work in different countries, especially with interviews having to be conducted in Icelandic no matter what other others languages everyone speaks. Was also good to see glimpses of Sergeant Magnus Ragnarssen who was the hero of the other books in the series.
I read this in just over an hour and was a good way to spend the time, trying to solve a murder before the police could. I'm really looking forward to the release of the next book in this series.
February 14, 2016
Michael Ridpath gives readers a welcome between-novels return to Iceland with an engaging novella involving Sergeant Magnus Ragnarsson and Detective Vigdís Audardóttir of the Reykjavik Violent Crimes Unit.
Constable Halldór splits his community, a tiny fishing village, when he guns down a polar bear. Some see his crack shot as heroic, dealing with a dangerous wild animal and saving a life. Others see it as a crime, killing a beautiful beast unnecessarily.
Things take an even darker turn when Constable Halldór is found a few days later, dead. Shot through the eye, just like the polar bear. Revenge from animal rights activists?
Vigdís, Iceland's only black cop, is sent from Reyjavik to investigate. The local police think they've already solved the case - they have two outsiders, animal rights activists, in custody. Vigdis isn't so sure though, and ends up complicating matters when she's attracted to one of the eco-warriors.
Ridpath delivers a satisfying whodunit with some interesting character development for fans of his 'Fire and Ice' series. Vigdis really comes to the fore. I particularly enjoyed the texture of Icelandic small-town village life with all it's familiarity, communal knowledge, and hidden grudges.
A quick read, but a very enjoyable one.
Read fuller review on Crime Watch: http://kiwicrime.blogspot.co.uk/2016/...
Constable Halldór splits his community, a tiny fishing village, when he guns down a polar bear. Some see his crack shot as heroic, dealing with a dangerous wild animal and saving a life. Others see it as a crime, killing a beautiful beast unnecessarily.
Things take an even darker turn when Constable Halldór is found a few days later, dead. Shot through the eye, just like the polar bear. Revenge from animal rights activists?
Vigdís, Iceland's only black cop, is sent from Reyjavik to investigate. The local police think they've already solved the case - they have two outsiders, animal rights activists, in custody. Vigdis isn't so sure though, and ends up complicating matters when she's attracted to one of the eco-warriors.
Ridpath delivers a satisfying whodunit with some interesting character development for fans of his 'Fire and Ice' series. Vigdis really comes to the fore. I particularly enjoyed the texture of Icelandic small-town village life with all it's familiarity, communal knowledge, and hidden grudges.
A quick read, but a very enjoyable one.
Read fuller review on Crime Watch: http://kiwicrime.blogspot.co.uk/2016/...
March 29, 2022
3.5 stars
January 20, 2016
This short story set in Iceland features some characters from the author's series of novels.
Iceland has long had a policy of shooting polar bears. They're not indigenous but occasionally drift over from Greenland. So when Constable Halldor gets the call one has been spotted near a rural farm, he heads out to do his duty.
Confronting one of these animals up close is scary enough. When a little girl gets between him & the bear, he knows he'll have one chance before it all goes horribly wrong. Luckily, Halldor is a bit of a sharpshooter.
But when his body is found 4 days later, it's clear his luck ran out....one shot through the eye, just like the bear.
Reykjavik CID send up Det. Vigdis Audardottir, Iceland's only black cop, to help with the investigation. Local police are already sure they have their killer(s) in the form of 2 animal rights activists but Vigdis has her doubts.
What follows is a remarkably complete & satisfying story, especially considering it's just 68 pages. Along with a resolution of the case, we also get the skinny on Vigdis' history & personal life plus a healthy dose of Icelandic geography, culture & tradition. There's even a couple of red herrings tucked in to keep you guessing 'til the end.
So good on you, Mr. Ridpath. Entertaining, well written story for a princely $1.
Iceland has long had a policy of shooting polar bears. They're not indigenous but occasionally drift over from Greenland. So when Constable Halldor gets the call one has been spotted near a rural farm, he heads out to do his duty.
Confronting one of these animals up close is scary enough. When a little girl gets between him & the bear, he knows he'll have one chance before it all goes horribly wrong. Luckily, Halldor is a bit of a sharpshooter.
But when his body is found 4 days later, it's clear his luck ran out....one shot through the eye, just like the bear.
Reykjavik CID send up Det. Vigdis Audardottir, Iceland's only black cop, to help with the investigation. Local police are already sure they have their killer(s) in the form of 2 animal rights activists but Vigdis has her doubts.
What follows is a remarkably complete & satisfying story, especially considering it's just 68 pages. Along with a resolution of the case, we also get the skinny on Vigdis' history & personal life plus a healthy dose of Icelandic geography, culture & tradition. There's even a couple of red herrings tucked in to keep you guessing 'til the end.
So good on you, Mr. Ridpath. Entertaining, well written story for a princely $1.
February 2, 2016
Very short at 68 pages. Set in Iceland. A polar bear gets killed. A policeman gets killed. Outside sources are called in to investigate and to see if the two killings are related. At first I thought this was like the TV series "Fortitude" but I've changed my mind. The setting is the same but the story lines are very different. It's a good "whodunnit" with a little bit of police procedure thrown in. The local investigator thinks it's an "open and shut case" and thinks he's got his man (men) until the outside investigator gets there and says "hey, where's the evidence?"
October 26, 2018
4.5*
Rounded down because I felt the ending needed a more substantial conclusion and was rushed. The story overall is rather slow paced but intriguing but did not get the feeling of being in the setting as felt the description was lacking but overall intriguing
Rounded down because I felt the ending needed a more substantial conclusion and was rushed. The story overall is rather slow paced but intriguing but did not get the feeling of being in the setting as felt the description was lacking but overall intriguing
January 30, 2016
I liked how Michael had Vigdis go to Raufarhöfn to solve the murder. She makes a common blunder that Magnus would have made and then he solves the murder and solves Vigdis problem with Martin.
March 15, 2019
Esta é uma novella curtinha mas muito bem constituída e interessante, principalmente protagonizada por Vigdís. Magnus acaba por aparecer, lá mais para a frente e, claro, tem de ser ele a deslindar o caso LOL Gosto tanto do Magnus, da sua sagacidade e inteligência, de tudo, enfim.
É uma questão interessante, o que devem as autoridades Islandesas fazer quando ursos polares dão à sua costa à boleia de icebergues da Gronelândia. Para mim, não há dúvida que matá-los é apenas uma medida de último recurso, em caso de ataque a pessoas. Tirando isso, usar dados tranquilizadores e devolvê-los ao seu país devia ser a medida principal.
Deixou-me intrigada que fosse referido mais de uma vez que Magnus estava na Islândia há vários anos. A ação decorre em maio, o livro anterior em abril, mas parece que com anos de intervalo, pois no livro anterior fazia um ano que Magnus tinha chegado à Islândia.
É uma questão interessante, o que devem as autoridades Islandesas fazer quando ursos polares dão à sua costa à boleia de icebergues da Gronelândia. Para mim, não há dúvida que matá-los é apenas uma medida de último recurso, em caso de ataque a pessoas. Tirando isso, usar dados tranquilizadores e devolvê-los ao seu país devia ser a medida principal.
Deixou-me intrigada que fosse referido mais de uma vez que Magnus estava na Islândia há vários anos. A ação decorre em maio, o livro anterior em abril, mas parece que com anos de intervalo, pois no livro anterior fazia um ano que Magnus tinha chegado à Islândia.
April 23, 2018
Ένα συμπαθητικό και γρήγορο στην ανάγνωσή του δίηγημα από τον Michael Ridpath που ανήκει σε εκείνους τους συγγραφείς που μολονότι οι ίδιοι δεν είναι Σκανδιναβαβικής προέλευσης, διαλέγουν πάντοτε ως τόπο εξέλιξης της πλοκής κάποια Σκανδιναβική χώρα και ακολουθούν, υφολογικά, τους κανόνες της συγκεκριμένης σχολής συγγραφής αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας. Ο, Άγγλος στην καταγωγή, Ridpath διαλέγει ως τόπο για τα μυθιστορήματα και διηγήματά του την ''χώρα της φωτιάς και του πάγου'', την μακρινή και απομονωμένη Ισλανδία. Είναι το πρώτο του έργο που διαβάζω και μου έκανε εντύπωση πως μέσα σε μια ιστορία 70-80 σελίδων κατάφερε να χωρέσει αρκετα ενδιαφέροντα στοιχεία για την Ισλανδία, γεγονός που καταδεικνύει την επισταμένη έρευνα -κοινωνικοπολιτική και όχι μόνο- για τη χώρα. Η ιστορία καθαυτή δεν είναι κάτι που θα σας μείνει αξέχαστο, αλλά, προσωπικά, μου κέντρισε το ενδιαφέρον αρκετά για να δοκιμάσω να διαβάσω το πρώτο μου βιβλίο στην σειρά ''Fire and Ice''.
ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ:3,5/5.
ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ:3,5/5.
December 20, 2020
For a change, I thoroughly enjoyed Vigdis being the lead feature on this one. It adds a lot of depth to her character. Reading this immediately after the previous novella "Edge of Nowhere", I found this a much better read as far as the plot is concerned. Also, as someone who has lived in Germany for four-and-a-half years (incidentally near Düsseldorf; and spent countless of hours in that city as well) and is currently residing in Austria, I love that Michael did get his facts right. Someone coming from Siegen can indeed fly out to Reykjavik from Düsseldorf. This was one complaint I had in one of Lee Child's books, where people were traveling from the United States to Hamburg on a direct Lufthansa flight, which to this date Hamburg has never had.
November 30, 2020
I really enjoy Michael Ridpath’s Icelandic series, and this novella is a great addition. Here it is Vigdis who sees most of the action; Magnus only arrives near the end. My sense of Vigdis as portrayed in the novels is as an interestingbut fairly two-dimensional secondary character. In the Polar Bear Killing we get to know her better, and that is a delight. The combination of a good mystery, a deeper focus on an interesting character, and a new setting (small isolated town in the rural North) make this a very satisfying story. Now if the author would only write faster .....
September 14, 2017
A cop shoots a stray polar bear. Days later the cop is found shot just as the polar bear had been. It was pretty obvious to me from practically the beginning who the killer had to be, but it was still an atmospheric and enjoyable read, filled with appealing characters. Will definitely read more in the series by this author. Read as the last book in the NYC Scandinavia House Nordic Summer Reading Challenge - a book set in Iceland.
December 26, 2019
THE POLAR BEAR KILLING is an engrossing novella in Michael Ridpath's Iceland series. Vignis, a rare black Icelander (her American serviceman father was Black) is a police detective in Reykjavik, seconded to a fishing hamlet in NE Iceland on the investigation of the local police officer's killing. Fantastic scenic backdrop, wonderful characterization, puzzling plot, and a backstory of animal-rights activism combine into a compelling story.
April 21, 2018
My rating is 31/2 because of the killing of a defenseless polar bear. I wasn’t sure about reading this as a polar bear is killed, but once I got past that, i was anxious to see who did it, and then I enjoyed this short story.
I would be interested in reading more of this author in a full length story.
I would be interested in reading more of this author in a full length story.
April 22, 2023
A short story in the series about Detective Sergeant Magnus Ragnarsson set in Iceland. This story features mainly his colleague Detective Vidgis, the only black policewoman in Iceland. I thought that maybe the author was looking to develop her character and eventually give her her own series, that may yet happen. A solid story which develops well and keeps you guessing until the end.
May 9, 2024
An eye for it.
A novella, but a cracking good story. Plot is policeman shoots starving polar bear and ends up later shot in similar way. Vigdis, the only black policewoman in Iceland is sent to investigate. She does. Then shared a kiss which gets her into load of trouble. Magnus Ragnarsson comes to the rescue. A three star, but an enjoyable read. Recommended.
A novella, but a cracking good story. Plot is policeman shoots starving polar bear and ends up later shot in similar way. Vigdis, the only black policewoman in Iceland is sent to investigate. She does. Then shared a kiss which gets her into load of trouble. Magnus Ragnarsson comes to the rescue. A three star, but an enjoyable read. Recommended.
January 3, 2018
Vigdis takes a central role in this novella. I liked it a lot.
August 10, 2018
Short but very entertaining.
March 3, 2019
Love the characters and the way Ridpath weaves them into the story.
December 14, 2019
It was good. Well written and held interest.
September 18, 2021
Another short story which seems to exist on the edge of the author's Icelandic series. Based on a true event.
October 30, 2021
A delightful short story that builds nicely on the book series’ principal characters.
An enjoyable read.
An enjoyable read.
April 16, 2024
A nice long short story, nice to discover more on Iceland
July 21, 2024
Set in Iceland, a short book with quite an impact. Intend to read more by this author.
February 20, 2025
Great characters and a strong story.
Very good series of books/
Very good series of books/
February 10, 2016
Michael Ridpath....Iceland The Polar Bear Killing. 2016 iBook. Short story.
Why do people not teach children to respect and keep good distance from wild animals!? It was standard when I grew up on the Canadian prairie. And killing a bear! Well, it's in the name.... I simply cannot believe country people being so dense! Then why do people drink so much alcohol ....alone! Vodka! But it was a story with some charm despite being a bit strange.
Why do people not teach children to respect and keep good distance from wild animals!? It was standard when I grew up on the Canadian prairie. And killing a bear! Well, it's in the name.... I simply cannot believe country people being so dense! Then why do people drink so much alcohol ....alone! Vodka! But it was a story with some charm despite being a bit strange.
January 20, 2016
Enjoyable short read
Michael Ridpath has delivered another good short read bringing the character of Vigdis to life. Although the plot itself is a bit predictable it is very entertaining and atmospheric.
Michael Ridpath has delivered another good short read bringing the character of Vigdis to life. Although the plot itself is a bit predictable it is very entertaining and atmospheric.
January 10, 2016
A short but compelling tale
Set in a small Icelandic town, Michael Ridpath's satisfying story pits animal rights activists against the police, children against their payments & some of the police force against others.
Set in a small Icelandic town, Michael Ridpath's satisfying story pits animal rights activists against the police, children against their payments & some of the police force against others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews