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He can deny it all he likes, but everyone knows Viking warlord Unnthor Reginsson brought home a great chest of gold when he retired from the longboats and settled down with Hildigunnur in a remote valley. Now, in the summer of 970, adopted daughter Helga is awaiting the arrival of her unknown siblings: dark, dangerous Karl, lithe, clever Jorunn, gentle Aslak, henpecked by his shrewish wife, and the giant Bjorn, made bitter by Volund, his idiot son.
And they're coming with darkness in their hearts.
The siblings gather, bad blood simmers and old feuds resurface as Unnthor's heirs make their moves on the old man's treasure - until one morning Helga is awakened by screams. Blood has been shed: kin has been slain.
No one confesses, but all the clues point to one person - who cannot possibly be the murderer, at least in Helga's eyes. But if she's going to save the innocent from the axe and prevent more bloodshed, she's got to solve the mystery - fast . . .
And they're coming with darkness in their hearts.
The siblings gather, bad blood simmers and old feuds resurface as Unnthor's heirs make their moves on the old man's treasure - until one morning Helga is awakened by screams. Blood has been shed: kin has been slain.
No one confesses, but all the clues point to one person - who cannot possibly be the murderer, at least in Helga's eyes. But if she's going to save the innocent from the axe and prevent more bloodshed, she's got to solve the mystery - fast . . .
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 3, 2018
Unnthor Reginsson is now sixty two and lives in the valley, where he farms, with his wife, Hildigunnur. He is rumoured to have a treasure chest buried somewhere on his land, but denies having any such wealth. On the farm, he is helped by Einar Jakason, and his father, as well as Helga Finnsdottir, who is the adopted daughter of Unnthor and Hildigunnur. Life in the valley goes on much as usual, tied to the seasons, with little news of the outside world. However, now there is to be a family reunion and Unnthor and Hildigunnur’s grown children are returning home.
This is essentially a murder mystery and, although it is set in a longhouse, and there are Viking names, you could almost equally change the characters names and put them into a country house, if you changed the period. Helga is something of an outsider, as the adopted daughter, so she sees the characters more objectively. There are an assortment of relatives – three sons, a daughter, their partners and children. Along with the characters are a number of different secrets, resentments, passions and sheer greed, which lead, ultimately to murder.
This is something of a mixed read, to be honest. I thought the writing was good, the mystery interesting and the characters a little stereotypical, but saved by Helga, who is intelligent and insightful. I did feel the dialogue, though, was very modern and did not help with the sense of place and time. As I said, this mystery could have been transplanted anywhere, with a few tweaks, and so there was no real sense of this being a ‘Viking’ mystery. Still, I would give the series a second try (a second book is forthcoming) to see whether it improves.
This is essentially a murder mystery and, although it is set in a longhouse, and there are Viking names, you could almost equally change the characters names and put them into a country house, if you changed the period. Helga is something of an outsider, as the adopted daughter, so she sees the characters more objectively. There are an assortment of relatives – three sons, a daughter, their partners and children. Along with the characters are a number of different secrets, resentments, passions and sheer greed, which lead, ultimately to murder.
This is something of a mixed read, to be honest. I thought the writing was good, the mystery interesting and the characters a little stereotypical, but saved by Helga, who is intelligent and insightful. I did feel the dialogue, though, was very modern and did not help with the sense of place and time. As I said, this mystery could have been transplanted anywhere, with a few tweaks, and so there was no real sense of this being a ‘Viking’ mystery. Still, I would give the series a second try (a second book is forthcoming) to see whether it improves.
June 21, 2023
Another day another book read in less than 24 hours. This is a really fast paced Viking murder mystery that kept me turning the pages right to the very end.
There are a lot of characters in the story and to start with I did have to keep going back and checking who was married to who but that seemed to settle down once the first murder kicked in. Having said that the author did manage to give each one their own personality certainly with the brothers and sisters in Unnthor's brood. I hope the follow up will start to unravel who Helga is, where she came from and what happened to her family. There's definitely a mystery there that needs solving.
I liked Helga, she was quite a well rounded character, intelligent and I liked the ways she tried to unravel the murders in the book. There's little of my imagined Vikings here, it's truly a crime story set in Viking times with everyone either too old now to go pillaging or engaged in farming and trading and I think that gave it a nice touch.
Overall I really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next one
Free arc from netgalley
There are a lot of characters in the story and to start with I did have to keep going back and checking who was married to who but that seemed to settle down once the first murder kicked in. Having said that the author did manage to give each one their own personality certainly with the brothers and sisters in Unnthor's brood. I hope the follow up will start to unravel who Helga is, where she came from and what happened to her family. There's definitely a mystery there that needs solving.
I liked Helga, she was quite a well rounded character, intelligent and I liked the ways she tried to unravel the murders in the book. There's little of my imagined Vikings here, it's truly a crime story set in Viking times with everyone either too old now to go pillaging or engaged in farming and trading and I think that gave it a nice touch.
Overall I really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next one
Free arc from netgalley
April 29, 2019
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/04/29/...
I’ve wanted to read Snorri Kristjansson for a while, and I’ve had his Valhalla Saga on my reading list ever since I first heard it described as a Viking historical fantasy replete with longships plowing the glorious waves and lots of bloody axe battles. So when I found out about Kin, the first book of his Helga Finnsdottir series, I was a little surprised at the departure. No epic clashes on the battlefield here, nor bloodstained tales of Vikings burning, raiding, and pillaging their enemies. Instead, what we get is this rather moody and domestic little murder mystery taking place on a quiet 10th century Icelandic homestead, and well, I can’t say I’ve ever read anything of its kind before. It’s undoubtedly an unusual direction to take when it comes to the topic of Vikings, but I can’t say it wasn’t interesting or refreshing. In fact, I had a very good time with the novel and found it to be a fun and engaging read.
At the center of Kin is a somewhat dysfunctional family headed by retired Viking warlord Unnthor Reginsson. He and his wife Hildigunnar have four grown children who have left home and are establishing their own lives and families, but they have also adopted a girl named Helga who still lives with them. Along with Unnthor’s right hand man Jaki and his son Einar, Helga helps out around the farm. On any average day, it is just the five of them, but very soon, things are about to get a lot more crowded and busy. Unnthor has invited his children back for a reunion, and the book begins as, one by one, they arrive at the farm with their families.
First is eldest son Karl, who is short-tempered and aggressive, arriving with his wife Agla and their teenaged daughter Gytha. Then there’s second son Bjorn, who is a giant of a man but much less volatile than his older brother, though the two of them have never gotten along. Bjorn and his wife Thyri have a son, Volund, whom they believe to be a bit simple-minded. Next is clever and feisty Jorunn, Unnthor and Hildigunnar’s only daughter by birth. She arrives with her husband Sigmar, a Swede and hence viewed by the rest of the family as an outsider. And last but not least is youngest son Aslak, considered the meekest of the siblings, who arrives with his thorny wife Runa and their two little children Bragi and Sigrun.
At first, the house is full of cheer and joy with the family all under one roof again, but unfortunately the mood doesn’t last. Soon, bitter resentment and old rivalries are brought to light again, causing plenty of tension and fighting. Karl is confrontational with his crude and offensive ways, and Bjorn, ever competitive with his brother, was never one to let him get away with it. Jorunn and Sigmar are crafty and manipulative, keeping mostly to themselves. Aslak, who just wants to build a happy home is nonetheless unhappy with his family’s situation. And in the middle of this is Helga, watching Unnthor and Hildigunnar trying in vain to settle their children and smooth over conflicts. As if that weren’t enough, all of them have also heard of rumors that their father is sitting on a big hoard of hidden treasure, and each one wants a piece of it. It’s only a matter of time until this uneasy situation boils over, and sure enough, one morning Helga is awoken by a terrified scream to discover one of the family members dead, murdered in the night.
It’s true there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but if you enjoy family drama, then this will be your type of book. I suppose that’s what drew me in. This isn’t a fast-paced story by any means and there’s not much action to speak of, and yet I found myself hanging on every word. First of all, throw all your preconceived notions about family reunions out the window—this isn’t going to be anything like you expect. It isn’t a gathering full of laughter or happy tears from seeing your kin again after so many years apart. In contrast, they’re all ready to jump down each other’s throats at the slightest provocation, and keeping an eye out to take advantage of any signs of weakness. In fact, it’s crossed my mind to wonder if anyone in this strange little family actually like one another. The time and place of this novel is a whole different world from what we know, so don’t be expecting the characters to fall into conventional family roles or for any of them to act in a certain way, because chances are, you’ll be surprised. And this feeling of not being able to predict anything is what kept me turning the pages.
In many ways, a book like Kin shouldn’t have worked for me, but it did. Kristjansson presents a very strong sense of place and the atmosphere is underscored by the isolation of the setting. While there are a limited number of suspects, the narrative is no less intense or troubling because we know it had to be someone in the family—and kin or not, the justice meted out will be swift and merciless. I also loved the prose as it is very readable and easy to get into, and trust me, you’ll appreciate that you won’t have to struggle with the writing style once you realize how many characters there are to keep track of, not to mention all the possible motives.
All things considered, I’m glad I finally got to read Kin. The author’s unique handling of Vikings was a pleasant surprise for me, and I found I greatly enjoyed the story’s compelling blend of historical fiction and crime mystery, so if you’re a fan of these genres you should take a look. As the novel’s protagonist, Helga Finnsdottir was a joy to follow and I look forward to seeing her again in the series’ next book, Council.
I’ve wanted to read Snorri Kristjansson for a while, and I’ve had his Valhalla Saga on my reading list ever since I first heard it described as a Viking historical fantasy replete with longships plowing the glorious waves and lots of bloody axe battles. So when I found out about Kin, the first book of his Helga Finnsdottir series, I was a little surprised at the departure. No epic clashes on the battlefield here, nor bloodstained tales of Vikings burning, raiding, and pillaging their enemies. Instead, what we get is this rather moody and domestic little murder mystery taking place on a quiet 10th century Icelandic homestead, and well, I can’t say I’ve ever read anything of its kind before. It’s undoubtedly an unusual direction to take when it comes to the topic of Vikings, but I can’t say it wasn’t interesting or refreshing. In fact, I had a very good time with the novel and found it to be a fun and engaging read.
At the center of Kin is a somewhat dysfunctional family headed by retired Viking warlord Unnthor Reginsson. He and his wife Hildigunnar have four grown children who have left home and are establishing their own lives and families, but they have also adopted a girl named Helga who still lives with them. Along with Unnthor’s right hand man Jaki and his son Einar, Helga helps out around the farm. On any average day, it is just the five of them, but very soon, things are about to get a lot more crowded and busy. Unnthor has invited his children back for a reunion, and the book begins as, one by one, they arrive at the farm with their families.
First is eldest son Karl, who is short-tempered and aggressive, arriving with his wife Agla and their teenaged daughter Gytha. Then there’s second son Bjorn, who is a giant of a man but much less volatile than his older brother, though the two of them have never gotten along. Bjorn and his wife Thyri have a son, Volund, whom they believe to be a bit simple-minded. Next is clever and feisty Jorunn, Unnthor and Hildigunnar’s only daughter by birth. She arrives with her husband Sigmar, a Swede and hence viewed by the rest of the family as an outsider. And last but not least is youngest son Aslak, considered the meekest of the siblings, who arrives with his thorny wife Runa and their two little children Bragi and Sigrun.
At first, the house is full of cheer and joy with the family all under one roof again, but unfortunately the mood doesn’t last. Soon, bitter resentment and old rivalries are brought to light again, causing plenty of tension and fighting. Karl is confrontational with his crude and offensive ways, and Bjorn, ever competitive with his brother, was never one to let him get away with it. Jorunn and Sigmar are crafty and manipulative, keeping mostly to themselves. Aslak, who just wants to build a happy home is nonetheless unhappy with his family’s situation. And in the middle of this is Helga, watching Unnthor and Hildigunnar trying in vain to settle their children and smooth over conflicts. As if that weren’t enough, all of them have also heard of rumors that their father is sitting on a big hoard of hidden treasure, and each one wants a piece of it. It’s only a matter of time until this uneasy situation boils over, and sure enough, one morning Helga is awoken by a terrified scream to discover one of the family members dead, murdered in the night.
It’s true there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but if you enjoy family drama, then this will be your type of book. I suppose that’s what drew me in. This isn’t a fast-paced story by any means and there’s not much action to speak of, and yet I found myself hanging on every word. First of all, throw all your preconceived notions about family reunions out the window—this isn’t going to be anything like you expect. It isn’t a gathering full of laughter or happy tears from seeing your kin again after so many years apart. In contrast, they’re all ready to jump down each other’s throats at the slightest provocation, and keeping an eye out to take advantage of any signs of weakness. In fact, it’s crossed my mind to wonder if anyone in this strange little family actually like one another. The time and place of this novel is a whole different world from what we know, so don’t be expecting the characters to fall into conventional family roles or for any of them to act in a certain way, because chances are, you’ll be surprised. And this feeling of not being able to predict anything is what kept me turning the pages.
In many ways, a book like Kin shouldn’t have worked for me, but it did. Kristjansson presents a very strong sense of place and the atmosphere is underscored by the isolation of the setting. While there are a limited number of suspects, the narrative is no less intense or troubling because we know it had to be someone in the family—and kin or not, the justice meted out will be swift and merciless. I also loved the prose as it is very readable and easy to get into, and trust me, you’ll appreciate that you won’t have to struggle with the writing style once you realize how many characters there are to keep track of, not to mention all the possible motives.
All things considered, I’m glad I finally got to read Kin. The author’s unique handling of Vikings was a pleasant surprise for me, and I found I greatly enjoyed the story’s compelling blend of historical fiction and crime mystery, so if you’re a fan of these genres you should take a look. As the novel’s protagonist, Helga Finnsdottir was a joy to follow and I look forward to seeing her again in the series’ next book, Council.
March 31, 2018
* I was sent this for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review *
This book is quite a small book for a fantasy story, and it's also one focused on Vikings which is a little different from most of the works I have previously tried. I was, therefore, eager to see if this one could live up to the stunning cover art and deliver a thrilling, bloody tale I would enjoy.
Unfortunately, I didn't love this one as much as I hoped to. It's actually a lot more of a murder mystery than it is a focus on Viking fantasy, and I didn't ever feel like the Viking nature was fully carried through the story. Of course, I don't personally know of any Vikings, and so I can't ask them if this would have been how they handled family feuds, but something about this just felt a bit too contrived and forced for me.
We begin the story following Helga, and adoptive daughter to the Viking family who are all due to reunite after more than a decade apart. Helga is fairly young, but she's observant and witty and she sees a lot more than those around her may think. She knows of her extended adoptive family, but most of them she's never met before, so when she hears they are all coming she's intrigued about how it will all go down.
I think the most interesting part of this was the mystery for me. Around the halfway mark we see one of the characters brutally murdered in the night, and so begins the investigation into what really happened. I think this was where the book started to draw me in a bit more as up to that point it was mostly speculation and hearsay.
Overall, I think this is an okay read, but it didn't really wow me or give me an emotional connection to the characters or the world. I feel like there is the potential for a great story, but it never quite got there and so I came away from the story a little cold and detached. It also felt like it was quite an abrupt ending to me, although I know there is a sequel due. 2.5*s from me.
This book is quite a small book for a fantasy story, and it's also one focused on Vikings which is a little different from most of the works I have previously tried. I was, therefore, eager to see if this one could live up to the stunning cover art and deliver a thrilling, bloody tale I would enjoy.
Unfortunately, I didn't love this one as much as I hoped to. It's actually a lot more of a murder mystery than it is a focus on Viking fantasy, and I didn't ever feel like the Viking nature was fully carried through the story. Of course, I don't personally know of any Vikings, and so I can't ask them if this would have been how they handled family feuds, but something about this just felt a bit too contrived and forced for me.
We begin the story following Helga, and adoptive daughter to the Viking family who are all due to reunite after more than a decade apart. Helga is fairly young, but she's observant and witty and she sees a lot more than those around her may think. She knows of her extended adoptive family, but most of them she's never met before, so when she hears they are all coming she's intrigued about how it will all go down.
I think the most interesting part of this was the mystery for me. Around the halfway mark we see one of the characters brutally murdered in the night, and so begins the investigation into what really happened. I think this was where the book started to draw me in a bit more as up to that point it was mostly speculation and hearsay.
Overall, I think this is an okay read, but it didn't really wow me or give me an emotional connection to the characters or the world. I feel like there is the potential for a great story, but it never quite got there and so I came away from the story a little cold and detached. It also felt like it was quite an abrupt ending to me, although I know there is a sequel due. 2.5*s from me.
March 14, 2018
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Agatha Christie meets the Vikings, with some anachronisms along the way.
I really liked the premise of this book. There's something rather irresistible about the Vikings, so a murder-mystery set in this time period sounded like a real winner. However, I struggled to connect with it, and I'm wondering if the anachronistic language, not to mention the lack of exciting 'Vikingness', killed it for me.
Helga is the adopted daughter of Hildigunnur (a kick-ass matriarch) and Unnthor Reginsson, a war-lord. They decide to have a family get-together, inviting their sons; Karl, Aslak and Bjorn, and their daughter Jorunn.
Helga is naturally excited, as is Einar, the handsome farm-help. However, this family get-together is fraught from the start. Karl is an uber-aggressive git, who keeps casting pervy eyes in Helga's direction. Aslak is a hen-pecked husband, and Bjorn is horribly mean to his son, Volund.
None of the siblings seem to care for one another that much, so it's not surprising when one ends up dead, closely followed by another. The big question is - who did it? And what secrets are lurking in the heart of the Reginsson family?
Okay - so let's start with what I did enjoy. I liked the whole Agatha Christie vibe, especially the twist of setting it in the Viking era; that was fun. There were also certain dynamics between the characters that I appreciated too - I really liked Hildigunnur's strong, no-nonsense attitude, and the fact that none of the women were pathetic little wallflowers. They were all strong and feisty... my sort of female!
However, for me, there were two major issues with this book. The first was the setting itself. It was all set in Unnthor's home, and as such, this made it feel a bit stodgy and immobile. The characters themselves weren't enough to carry the action fully, and my attention duly wandered at certain points in the book.
My second big bugbear was the language. I appreciate that these sort of books can't be written in authentic language of the time, as we wouldn't be able to understand them. However, using expressions like 'that's crap' and 'poncing around' - which are both relatively modern, really jarred with me. There was a lot of this, and I think the book would have benefited more from sticking to more 'timeless' phrases that didn't sit so awkwardly with the era.
As always, I'm fully prepared to admit this might have been an 'it's not you, it's me' thing; and that I just missed the whole point of the book. That has happened in the past! But for me, this wasn't a book I totally loved, although the author is clearly an excellent writer. As always, many thanks to the publisher / author for the chance to read it.
Agatha Christie meets the Vikings, with some anachronisms along the way.
I really liked the premise of this book. There's something rather irresistible about the Vikings, so a murder-mystery set in this time period sounded like a real winner. However, I struggled to connect with it, and I'm wondering if the anachronistic language, not to mention the lack of exciting 'Vikingness', killed it for me.
Helga is the adopted daughter of Hildigunnur (a kick-ass matriarch) and Unnthor Reginsson, a war-lord. They decide to have a family get-together, inviting their sons; Karl, Aslak and Bjorn, and their daughter Jorunn.
Helga is naturally excited, as is Einar, the handsome farm-help. However, this family get-together is fraught from the start. Karl is an uber-aggressive git, who keeps casting pervy eyes in Helga's direction. Aslak is a hen-pecked husband, and Bjorn is horribly mean to his son, Volund.
None of the siblings seem to care for one another that much, so it's not surprising when one ends up dead, closely followed by another. The big question is - who did it? And what secrets are lurking in the heart of the Reginsson family?
Okay - so let's start with what I did enjoy. I liked the whole Agatha Christie vibe, especially the twist of setting it in the Viking era; that was fun. There were also certain dynamics between the characters that I appreciated too - I really liked Hildigunnur's strong, no-nonsense attitude, and the fact that none of the women were pathetic little wallflowers. They were all strong and feisty... my sort of female!
However, for me, there were two major issues with this book. The first was the setting itself. It was all set in Unnthor's home, and as such, this made it feel a bit stodgy and immobile. The characters themselves weren't enough to carry the action fully, and my attention duly wandered at certain points in the book.
My second big bugbear was the language. I appreciate that these sort of books can't be written in authentic language of the time, as we wouldn't be able to understand them. However, using expressions like 'that's crap' and 'poncing around' - which are both relatively modern, really jarred with me. There was a lot of this, and I think the book would have benefited more from sticking to more 'timeless' phrases that didn't sit so awkwardly with the era.
As always, I'm fully prepared to admit this might have been an 'it's not you, it's me' thing; and that I just missed the whole point of the book. That has happened in the past! But for me, this wasn't a book I totally loved, although the author is clearly an excellent writer. As always, many thanks to the publisher / author for the chance to read it.
March 8, 2018
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher through bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review.
Kin is a vime (Viking crime, not sure it’ll catch on but that’s what I’m going with) book set within the confines of Riverside and is a very self-contained story focusing on Unnthor Reginsson and his rather dysfunctional family.
Taking place in Norway, in the year, 970. Unnthor Reginsson has reached the winter of his years, he’s sixty-two, long since put down the axe and retired from raiding. Riverside is his home and has been for many years, the Reginsson’s have seen their own children grow up and move on. Now, along with his wife, Hildigunnar, their adopted daughter, Helga and Unnthor’s sworn brother Jaki and his son, Eider, workers on the farm are the only ones left at Riverside.
Unnthor’s name has stood the test of time and both he and his wife are well-respected in the valley and surrounding area. It’s been many years since all of the Reginsson family were together and Unnthor and Hildigunnar have arranged a gathering at Riverside which will see a family reunion take place and the return of their four children and their families/partners.
While I’m not one for detailed story analysis in my reviews at the best of times. For Kin, I truly feel that the blurb gives a well-rounded overview of the story contained within the pages without going into any overt detail and as such, anything I write would just be me treading water and repeating the blurb.
Kin is a very character-driven read and at slightly over 300 pages it’s a short book in which Kristjansson manages to fill the pages with a stellar cast of characters and plenty of mystery.
It takes until about halfway through Kin before the murder takes place at Riverside. The first half of the book is quite sedately paced and is taken up with Unnthor’s children and their respective families/partners all returning to Riverside. This works really well and it suits the story allowing the drama time to unfold as the tension between the characters starts to simmer and grow as the siblings become reacquainted, each family arrives and Riverside becomes full of the hustle and bustle of the Viking way of life. It also gives you the chance to meet all the players in the mystery and become better acquainted with each individual character.
When the murder is finally committed the pacing starts to pick-up and the atmosphere at Riverside becomes oppressive and fraught as the familial ties that bind become frayed, suspicion builds, old resentments surface, secrets are revealed and the mystery deepens.
I found each of the characters in Kin to be different with their own distinct and flawed personality. All those in the Reginsson family add to the story and feel like they have a place in the book and the story that is being told. Out of the cast, Kristjansson does a good job of making all of his characters seem like plausible suspects in committing the crime and with some twists and turns you are kept guessing as to what the outcome will be.
My favourite character has to be Hildigunnar, Unnthor’s wife, he may well be the fearsome, old Viking warlord but he’s definitely not the one who wears the breaches in the Reginnson longhouse! Hildigunnar is a joy to behold and read about, diminutive in comparison to her hulking husband, she is observant and watchful with a keen eye for reading people, a sharp wit and commanding aurora that make her formidable. She also has a love for rather risqué jokes and can simultaneously make both her family and you, the reader laugh at some of the things she comes out with. She can be one dirty old woman!😂
Helga, as the main character is also a pleasure to read about. She’s strong, insightful, clever and has a wisdom that belies her young years picking up and sharing many of the same traits that Hildigunnar has taught her. As I mentioned earlier, Helga is adopted, she has a love and respect for her adoptive parents but this family gathering will be the first time that she has seen her adopted brothers and sister. As such, when the murder is committed she has a more objective view and open mind than the others which aids in the investigation as her judgment isn’t clouded by being a blood relation to either the killed or the accused.
The story told by Kristjansson in Kin isn’t an epic tale of Viking pillaging and raiding and is very much a departure from what you would perceive to be the norm when it comes to tales involving Vikings. Different, however, can be refreshing and in the case of Kin, it most certainly is with Kristjansson creating a new style read that is gripping, enjoyable and easily accessible and I, for one, look forward to continuing Helga’s adventures.
In my opinion, Kin will appeal to fans of crime, thrillers, mystery and historical fiction and is well worth a read.
Were you paying attention at the start of the review where I labelled Kin as vime?!? You were! Good! Well, Kin is sublime vime!
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher through bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review.
Kin is a vime (Viking crime, not sure it’ll catch on but that’s what I’m going with) book set within the confines of Riverside and is a very self-contained story focusing on Unnthor Reginsson and his rather dysfunctional family.
Taking place in Norway, in the year, 970. Unnthor Reginsson has reached the winter of his years, he’s sixty-two, long since put down the axe and retired from raiding. Riverside is his home and has been for many years, the Reginsson’s have seen their own children grow up and move on. Now, along with his wife, Hildigunnar, their adopted daughter, Helga and Unnthor’s sworn brother Jaki and his son, Eider, workers on the farm are the only ones left at Riverside.
Unnthor’s name has stood the test of time and both he and his wife are well-respected in the valley and surrounding area. It’s been many years since all of the Reginsson family were together and Unnthor and Hildigunnar have arranged a gathering at Riverside which will see a family reunion take place and the return of their four children and their families/partners.
While I’m not one for detailed story analysis in my reviews at the best of times. For Kin, I truly feel that the blurb gives a well-rounded overview of the story contained within the pages without going into any overt detail and as such, anything I write would just be me treading water and repeating the blurb.
Kin is a very character-driven read and at slightly over 300 pages it’s a short book in which Kristjansson manages to fill the pages with a stellar cast of characters and plenty of mystery.
It takes until about halfway through Kin before the murder takes place at Riverside. The first half of the book is quite sedately paced and is taken up with Unnthor’s children and their respective families/partners all returning to Riverside. This works really well and it suits the story allowing the drama time to unfold as the tension between the characters starts to simmer and grow as the siblings become reacquainted, each family arrives and Riverside becomes full of the hustle and bustle of the Viking way of life. It also gives you the chance to meet all the players in the mystery and become better acquainted with each individual character.
When the murder is finally committed the pacing starts to pick-up and the atmosphere at Riverside becomes oppressive and fraught as the familial ties that bind become frayed, suspicion builds, old resentments surface, secrets are revealed and the mystery deepens.
I found each of the characters in Kin to be different with their own distinct and flawed personality. All those in the Reginsson family add to the story and feel like they have a place in the book and the story that is being told. Out of the cast, Kristjansson does a good job of making all of his characters seem like plausible suspects in committing the crime and with some twists and turns you are kept guessing as to what the outcome will be.
My favourite character has to be Hildigunnar, Unnthor’s wife, he may well be the fearsome, old Viking warlord but he’s definitely not the one who wears the breaches in the Reginnson longhouse! Hildigunnar is a joy to behold and read about, diminutive in comparison to her hulking husband, she is observant and watchful with a keen eye for reading people, a sharp wit and commanding aurora that make her formidable. She also has a love for rather risqué jokes and can simultaneously make both her family and you, the reader laugh at some of the things she comes out with. She can be one dirty old woman!😂
Helga, as the main character is also a pleasure to read about. She’s strong, insightful, clever and has a wisdom that belies her young years picking up and sharing many of the same traits that Hildigunnar has taught her. As I mentioned earlier, Helga is adopted, she has a love and respect for her adoptive parents but this family gathering will be the first time that she has seen her adopted brothers and sister. As such, when the murder is committed she has a more objective view and open mind than the others which aids in the investigation as her judgment isn’t clouded by being a blood relation to either the killed or the accused.
The story told by Kristjansson in Kin isn’t an epic tale of Viking pillaging and raiding and is very much a departure from what you would perceive to be the norm when it comes to tales involving Vikings. Different, however, can be refreshing and in the case of Kin, it most certainly is with Kristjansson creating a new style read that is gripping, enjoyable and easily accessible and I, for one, look forward to continuing Helga’s adventures.
In my opinion, Kin will appeal to fans of crime, thrillers, mystery and historical fiction and is well worth a read.
Were you paying attention at the start of the review where I labelled Kin as vime?!? You were! Good! Well, Kin is sublime vime!
May 15, 2018
Excellent murder mystery with Vikings! What's not to love? Full review to follow.
February 4, 2018
I'm bemused at the blurb quotations claiming historical verisimilitude and Viking values: on the contrary, I found this to be a standard murder mystery with Viking names but a historical attitude of 'they're just like us...but in fancy dress'. Using the Golden Age trope of a dysfunctional family gathering in a patriarch's home, we have family rivalry, factions, greed - and murder.
What made me laugh are the silly moments which reveal no historical sense whatsoever: for example, Vikings saying things like 'wow'; on arrival at the home farm, one of the sons comments, 'this is new', nodding to the stables as if they're a new conservatory, and the father agrees, 'built it six years ago'; and the grandmother greeted with 'you look as young as ever', as if Viking women shared our modern concerns with looking young. There's even a squabble about male logic vs. female intuition... I do wonder why authors choose to set stories in the past if they have no interest in researching and attempting to inhabit an alien culture and thought-world.
So no real atmosphere, no spark in the writing, and a fairly standard whodunnit - not for me, I'm afraid.
What made me laugh are the silly moments which reveal no historical sense whatsoever: for example, Vikings saying things like 'wow'; on arrival at the home farm, one of the sons comments, 'this is new', nodding to the stables as if they're a new conservatory, and the father agrees, 'built it six years ago'; and the grandmother greeted with 'you look as young as ever', as if Viking women shared our modern concerns with looking young. There's even a squabble about male logic vs. female intuition... I do wonder why authors choose to set stories in the past if they have no interest in researching and attempting to inhabit an alien culture and thought-world.
So no real atmosphere, no spark in the writing, and a fairly standard whodunnit - not for me, I'm afraid.
March 5, 2018
Kin is the latest book by the wonderful Snorri Kristjansson. I adored his first two novels,
Swords of Good Men
and Blood Will Follow. So much so, that I haven’t finished the first series yet, since I don’t want to say goodbye to Ulfar and Audun, the protagonists of the Valhalla trilogy. I really do love Snorri and his writing though, so when Kin arrived I squealed. Because Viking crime? I became the embodiment of this gif:
My favourite thing about Kin — beyond the fact of Vikings —is how the story centres the women. Certainly, there are a lot of men, Unnthor’s farm is clearly part of a patriarchal system, but the most interesting parts go to the women and they are the most powerful characters. Because while the farm is Unnthor’s and he rules it with an iron fist, Unnthor is ruled by his wife Hildigunnur. It is she who gentles him when he lashes out in anger or affront and it is she who shapes his decisions. Hildigunnur is the heart of the hall and the linchpin of the family. Within this close-knit tribe she is closest to her daughter Jorunn and foster daughter Helga. The daughters in law Agla, Thyri, and Runa, and even granddaughter Gytha do not belong to the inner circle though all play a role in the plot. I loved that each of these women had their own strengths and weaknesses and a distinct way of surviving in society while female. Hildigunnur as the matriarch, Agla through ambitious power-grabbing, Thyri through being a demure housewife, Runa’s shrewish nagging, Jorunn by being brash, bold and always looking out for herself, while Helga tries to blend into the background as much as she can, which also allows her to better observe her surroundings.
Those powers of observation are important too, as it is Helga who conducts the investigation into the murder in the name of her foster mother. The murder in question is a semi-locked room mystery, as while it wasn’t exactly on a remote island or in a snowed-in train, the farm is sufficiently remote that there aren’t really viable suspects outside of the farm. I liked that the investigation was both a combination of actually examining the body and the crime scene and a psychological study of the possible culprits and their motives. Everyone has an agenda and most of them are just quite unpleasant human beings. Helga uses not just her wits and investigatory skills, she also uses a good dose of guile to discover the truth and I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the story.
Kin is also a fascinating dissection of family bonds and how sibling rivalry can shape lives and deaths. The dynamics between Karl, Bjorn, Aslak, Jorunn, and their respective spouses were well-drawn and the needling and the underlying resentments were quite convincing. Jorunn is resentful of her brothers because she always had to prove to her father that she was just as good even if she was a girl. A feeling that is timeless and echoes through the ages. But the resentment between the brothers over perceived favouritism and jealousy of the other’s success is just as keen. Kristjansson’s narrative illustrates how love and loyalty can be twisted into weapons that cut even more sharply than anger and hate.
Kin is a Viking tale, but these aren’t the vikings we usually see. These are domestic vikings, not vikings out raiding or off to battle, but seen in an intimate family situation. It is a smaller setting, but a rich one and Kristjansson reels you into the compound and keeps you there to see the story through to the end. I loved Kin and the ending just made my head spin with its cleverness and impact. I cannot wait to see Viking crime become a widely adopted thing and, more importantly, I can’t wait to read even more of Helga Finnsdottir’s adventures. If you’ve never encountered Snorri Kristjansson’s writing before, Kin is the perfect way to start!
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
My favourite thing about Kin — beyond the fact of Vikings —is how the story centres the women. Certainly, there are a lot of men, Unnthor’s farm is clearly part of a patriarchal system, but the most interesting parts go to the women and they are the most powerful characters. Because while the farm is Unnthor’s and he rules it with an iron fist, Unnthor is ruled by his wife Hildigunnur. It is she who gentles him when he lashes out in anger or affront and it is she who shapes his decisions. Hildigunnur is the heart of the hall and the linchpin of the family. Within this close-knit tribe she is closest to her daughter Jorunn and foster daughter Helga. The daughters in law Agla, Thyri, and Runa, and even granddaughter Gytha do not belong to the inner circle though all play a role in the plot. I loved that each of these women had their own strengths and weaknesses and a distinct way of surviving in society while female. Hildigunnur as the matriarch, Agla through ambitious power-grabbing, Thyri through being a demure housewife, Runa’s shrewish nagging, Jorunn by being brash, bold and always looking out for herself, while Helga tries to blend into the background as much as she can, which also allows her to better observe her surroundings.
Those powers of observation are important too, as it is Helga who conducts the investigation into the murder in the name of her foster mother. The murder in question is a semi-locked room mystery, as while it wasn’t exactly on a remote island or in a snowed-in train, the farm is sufficiently remote that there aren’t really viable suspects outside of the farm. I liked that the investigation was both a combination of actually examining the body and the crime scene and a psychological study of the possible culprits and their motives. Everyone has an agenda and most of them are just quite unpleasant human beings. Helga uses not just her wits and investigatory skills, she also uses a good dose of guile to discover the truth and I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the story.
Kin is also a fascinating dissection of family bonds and how sibling rivalry can shape lives and deaths. The dynamics between Karl, Bjorn, Aslak, Jorunn, and their respective spouses were well-drawn and the needling and the underlying resentments were quite convincing. Jorunn is resentful of her brothers because she always had to prove to her father that she was just as good even if she was a girl. A feeling that is timeless and echoes through the ages. But the resentment between the brothers over perceived favouritism and jealousy of the other’s success is just as keen. Kristjansson’s narrative illustrates how love and loyalty can be twisted into weapons that cut even more sharply than anger and hate.
Kin is a Viking tale, but these aren’t the vikings we usually see. These are domestic vikings, not vikings out raiding or off to battle, but seen in an intimate family situation. It is a smaller setting, but a rich one and Kristjansson reels you into the compound and keeps you there to see the story through to the end. I loved Kin and the ending just made my head spin with its cleverness and impact. I cannot wait to see Viking crime become a widely adopted thing and, more importantly, I can’t wait to read even more of Helga Finnsdottir’s adventures. If you’ve never encountered Snorri Kristjansson’s writing before, Kin is the perfect way to start!
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
May 22, 2018
~ARC Kindly provided by Netgalley & the Publisher in exchange for my honest review~
This book immediately caught my interest due to the appealing, original premise: a murder mystery featuring a Viking family? How could I say no?!
Despite the enthusiasm, this reading turned out quite dull… for many reasons:
1. Unlikeliness: I don’t have any knowledge about Vikings, hence I can’t and I won’t judge the historical authenticity of the setting or the family dynamics depicted. What annoyed me was that often character’s behaviours or choices were not at all believable.
2. Confusion: I think it didn’t depend only on the continuous, quick switching among different POVs. The fact is, I found difficult to follow the story because some basic information was missing (or I missed it, at least). I know that this is just the first instalment in a series, but the feeling of confusion, of missing something remained nonetheless;
3. The characters: even though I cannot deny that I appreciated the presence of many strong female characters, I was not given enough character depth and development. I couldn’t connect with or root for any of them. If anything, I disliked many characters or I simply didn’t care. The constant strained, heavy atmosphere and the fact that basically almost anyone was mean for their own peculiar reasons did not help to get attached to the characters or the story:
4. The murder mystery: I expected to find a sort of Sherlock-Holmesque vibe. However, despite Helga’s efforts to play the part of the wannabe detective, the investigation process limped: it was sloppy and was conducted more by chance rather than by observation and deduction.
All in all, despite the engaging premise, I wouldn’t recommend this book.
Helga is the adopted daughter of the old war-lord Unnthor Reginsson and his wife. They decide to have a family get-together, inviting their three sons and their daughter along with their families. All the siblings have very strong, albeit different, personalities: Karl is uber-belligerent, Aslak is gentle and remissive, Bjorn is loud and prone to puns, Jorunn is clever and ambitious. One thing they have in common: there’s no love lost among them.
That the family reunion won’t go smooth is evident since the beginning in Unnthor’s prophetic words: ‘My own flesh and blood is coming […]. With darkness in their hearts.’
This book immediately caught my interest due to the appealing, original premise: a murder mystery featuring a Viking family? How could I say no?!
Despite the enthusiasm, this reading turned out quite dull… for many reasons:
1. Unlikeliness: I don’t have any knowledge about Vikings, hence I can’t and I won’t judge the historical authenticity of the setting or the family dynamics depicted. What annoyed me was that often character’s behaviours or choices were not at all believable.
2. Confusion: I think it didn’t depend only on the continuous, quick switching among different POVs. The fact is, I found difficult to follow the story because some basic information was missing (or I missed it, at least). I know that this is just the first instalment in a series, but the feeling of confusion, of missing something remained nonetheless;
3. The characters: even though I cannot deny that I appreciated the presence of many strong female characters, I was not given enough character depth and development. I couldn’t connect with or root for any of them. If anything, I disliked many characters or I simply didn’t care. The constant strained, heavy atmosphere and the fact that basically almost anyone was mean for their own peculiar reasons did not help to get attached to the characters or the story:
I just don’t understand. I mean, why are they even here if they’re not happy to meet up? Why would they want to come back here when they obviously hate each other so much?
4. The murder mystery: I expected to find a sort of Sherlock-Holmesque vibe. However, despite Helga’s efforts to play the part of the wannabe detective, the investigation process limped: it was sloppy and was conducted more by chance rather than by observation and deduction.
All in all, despite the engaging premise, I wouldn’t recommend this book.
Read
May 27, 2018DNF @ page 116
I read this novel as my BookBum Club book for May! Check out this page to find out more about my very own Book Club!
Ugh, this book was a disaster for me! I was really hoping to love it as a moody Viking murder mystery sounded really unique. Unfortunately, there was just too much wrong with this book for me to continue with it. Let me explain why…
First thing I didn’t like about this novel was the historical accuracy or the lack thereof it, should I say. Considering this was about Vikings, meaning hundreds and hundreds of years in the past, they all spoke like modern day yobs. I can fully believe that Vikings were explicit motherf*ckers but various terms they used didn’t sit right with the time period. I can’t remember (and didn’t make a note of) any quotes specifically to back up this point but think “little shit” or something similar.
Quite early on it’s also quite obvious that this is going to be a very hectic novel. It felt like a lot of people were being introduced to us in a very small amount of time which meant none of them were particularly well developed. I have a good memory for names, but when there are lots of them on characters who are immediately not very memorable, it’s quite difficult to keep up. Luckily, there is a family tree at the beginning of the book which is helpful, but it would have been even more helpful to not have so many underdeveloped characters!
Another hectic part of this novel was the plot. On one hand it felt like it was moving a mile a minute, where lots of things were happening without any explanation of time moving so it was jumping from one thing to the next, to the next. Then on the other hand, in the 116 pages I read, it really didn’t feel like the plot went anywhere... How is that possible when so much was going on?
The last thing to mention is that I didn’t find this book was particularly well written, the characters and settings weren’t described amazingly and I felt no connection to anything that was happening. Not to mention the first 30% of this book is all “grr, look how macho I am in comparison to you” and I got sick of its masculinity. I know Vikings were probably very much like that, but I feel it could have been done in a subtler way.
Overall, this was a big no for me. I’m sure it can work for other readers but I wouldn’t personally recommend this to anyone, including thriller and historical fiction lovers. There’s better fiction out there.
Thanks to BookBridgr for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. Sorry I didn’t like it!
I read this novel as my BookBum Club book for May! Check out this page to find out more about my very own Book Club!
Ugh, this book was a disaster for me! I was really hoping to love it as a moody Viking murder mystery sounded really unique. Unfortunately, there was just too much wrong with this book for me to continue with it. Let me explain why…
First thing I didn’t like about this novel was the historical accuracy or the lack thereof it, should I say. Considering this was about Vikings, meaning hundreds and hundreds of years in the past, they all spoke like modern day yobs. I can fully believe that Vikings were explicit motherf*ckers but various terms they used didn’t sit right with the time period. I can’t remember (and didn’t make a note of) any quotes specifically to back up this point but think “little shit” or something similar.
Quite early on it’s also quite obvious that this is going to be a very hectic novel. It felt like a lot of people were being introduced to us in a very small amount of time which meant none of them were particularly well developed. I have a good memory for names, but when there are lots of them on characters who are immediately not very memorable, it’s quite difficult to keep up. Luckily, there is a family tree at the beginning of the book which is helpful, but it would have been even more helpful to not have so many underdeveloped characters!
Another hectic part of this novel was the plot. On one hand it felt like it was moving a mile a minute, where lots of things were happening without any explanation of time moving so it was jumping from one thing to the next, to the next. Then on the other hand, in the 116 pages I read, it really didn’t feel like the plot went anywhere... How is that possible when so much was going on?
The last thing to mention is that I didn’t find this book was particularly well written, the characters and settings weren’t described amazingly and I felt no connection to anything that was happening. Not to mention the first 30% of this book is all “grr, look how macho I am in comparison to you” and I got sick of its masculinity. I know Vikings were probably very much like that, but I feel it could have been done in a subtler way.
Overall, this was a big no for me. I’m sure it can work for other readers but I wouldn’t personally recommend this to anyone, including thriller and historical fiction lovers. There’s better fiction out there.
Thanks to BookBridgr for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. Sorry I didn’t like it!
April 20, 2018
Interesting take on a murder mystery ala Agatha Christie but set amongst a viking background. A family reunion at the matriarchs family home (father/mothers) who has supposedly hidden his treasure from his raiding days has the children arrive, and they all have big personalities. Some are brash and arrogant, some are conniving and quiet, and its this that builds the suspense. I felt like the story didnt require a viking setting, it was more a family murder mystery whodunnit set amongst a Viking home. Its the characterisation is the strongest element, especially Helga the main investigator. However, the dialogue was to me a little too current for our times and a little too relaxed for the time period. Solid story telling just not the best historical fiction read. Would have worked better in a different time period.
February 19, 2018
Saggy family
So, Viking Noir, we are to believe. These Vikings talk as though they have been trained in American sitcom repartee. ‘As if!’ I can get past that. But on page 20 Helga is peeling potatoes. Now for much of the rest of the novel she peels root vegetables, so the potatoes on page 20 are probably just a slip up. So I can get past that too. But then Odin makes a few guest appearances. I am not sure why and I don’t suppose every reader will notice or care, but it did distract me. As for Unnthor and his crock of gold, does it exist? Because if it doesn’t a lot of people die for no very good reason. What a horrible family! It’s hard to care whether any of them live or die.
However: the dialogue is quite witty and the plot has just enough momentum to keep this reader on board. Although I will jump ship with this first outing of Helga Finnsdottir and her sleuthing skills.
Footnote on the potatoes: it occurs to me that maybe the author is indulging in some clever humour here - perhaps the potatoes are Vinland variety.
So, Viking Noir, we are to believe. These Vikings talk as though they have been trained in American sitcom repartee. ‘As if!’ I can get past that. But on page 20 Helga is peeling potatoes. Now for much of the rest of the novel she peels root vegetables, so the potatoes on page 20 are probably just a slip up. So I can get past that too. But then Odin makes a few guest appearances. I am not sure why and I don’t suppose every reader will notice or care, but it did distract me. As for Unnthor and his crock of gold, does it exist? Because if it doesn’t a lot of people die for no very good reason. What a horrible family! It’s hard to care whether any of them live or die.
However: the dialogue is quite witty and the plot has just enough momentum to keep this reader on board. Although I will jump ship with this first outing of Helga Finnsdottir and her sleuthing skills.
Footnote on the potatoes: it occurs to me that maybe the author is indulging in some clever humour here - perhaps the potatoes are Vinland variety.
May 31, 2018
I am always up for a new twist on the crime genre, and here it is! A novel that is, at its heart, a thriller but with Vikings. Kristjansson's stories have such originality, originality that is sorely lacking in crime titles these days. There is all the usual lies, manipulation, and murder just with elements of Viking history added in there for a very different setting to my usual reads. It is beautifully atmospheric and I loved the family dynamics, very dysfunctional. I did struggle a little at the beginning to get all of the characters straight in my mind as there were so many, otherwise this would've been a 5-star read for me.
I see that this is a series opener - excellent! I can't wait to to learn more about Helga Finnsdottir. She is a bit of an outsider, but witty with it. I found myself warming to her as the book continued.
A fantastic new voice in nordic noir and one I will actively look out for in the future.
I would like to thank Snorri Kristjansson, Quercus Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and impartial review.
I see that this is a series opener - excellent! I can't wait to to learn more about Helga Finnsdottir. She is a bit of an outsider, but witty with it. I found myself warming to her as the book continued.
A fantastic new voice in nordic noir and one I will actively look out for in the future.
I would like to thank Snorri Kristjansson, Quercus Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and impartial review.
February 28, 2018
It has been a very long time since I finished a book in a day. Not that I have not wanted to. But a baby makes it harder. But today everything came together, and it also helped that I could not put the book down and that it was so light and it flowed so well. Suddenly I was on page 150 and it felt like a blink of an eye. Who knew Viking crime drama could feel so light! In writing that it. In tone, eh, not so much. There will be blood as kin slay kin.
Helga is our heroine and she was awesome. She is the adoptive daughter in the house. Calm, patient and with a good eye for things. As she will soon learn.
Her foster parents have 3 sons and 1 daughter. And they all gather now. They all believe their father have hid a Viking treasure somewhere. They all have their own hidden agendas. This is a very dysfunctional family. Helga seems to be the only normal one.
Obviously there will be blood, and Helga is on the case.
Viking crime drama. Yes, honestly that truly says it all. Iceland, desolate, kin. Murder.
Oh it was just so good! I truly enjoyed this one. Writing that just flows. And a murder I could not figure out (but then I never can.)
Helga is our heroine and she was awesome. She is the adoptive daughter in the house. Calm, patient and with a good eye for things. As she will soon learn.
Her foster parents have 3 sons and 1 daughter. And they all gather now. They all believe their father have hid a Viking treasure somewhere. They all have their own hidden agendas. This is a very dysfunctional family. Helga seems to be the only normal one.
Obviously there will be blood, and Helga is on the case.
Viking crime drama. Yes, honestly that truly says it all. Iceland, desolate, kin. Murder.
Oh it was just so good! I truly enjoyed this one. Writing that just flows. And a murder I could not figure out (but then I never can.)
Read
May 31, 2019Just not grabbing me at all at the moment.
January 18, 2018
Set in 970 Kin by Snorri Kristjansson is a crime novel featuring vikings, dysfunctional families and murders. The main character, Helga, is the adopted daughter of the family and her first encounter of her unknown siblings is not going to be pretty. When someone is brutally murdered she sets about trying to discover the culprit before anyone else in her family is threatened.
Viking Crime could very well be my new favourite crime!! I really enjoyed this book and found the writing to be such that although you are aware of the historical nature of the setting, it doesn’t impact on the crime novel aspect of the story. The characters all feel very real and Helga was a great main character. Being adopted into the family she seems to be more objective while still having a great deal of love and regard for her parents which stands her in good stead during her investigating.
As you read through the story there are plenty of twists and turns which really will keep you guessing and you can feel the dark oppression of them all being crammed into the building, so much so that you even feel your own tension and hackles rising. The ending was perfect (in my opinion) and I am really hopeful this is the first in a long line of books featuring Helga as it set it up nicely. I am hoping that we learn more about her backstory and see how she develops as she was displaying some interesting characteristics in this book.
Overall, a great read for any crime or historical fiction fan that i would highly recommend.
Viking Crime could very well be my new favourite crime!! I really enjoyed this book and found the writing to be such that although you are aware of the historical nature of the setting, it doesn’t impact on the crime novel aspect of the story. The characters all feel very real and Helga was a great main character. Being adopted into the family she seems to be more objective while still having a great deal of love and regard for her parents which stands her in good stead during her investigating.
As you read through the story there are plenty of twists and turns which really will keep you guessing and you can feel the dark oppression of them all being crammed into the building, so much so that you even feel your own tension and hackles rising. The ending was perfect (in my opinion) and I am really hopeful this is the first in a long line of books featuring Helga as it set it up nicely. I am hoping that we learn more about her backstory and see how she develops as she was displaying some interesting characteristics in this book.
Overall, a great read for any crime or historical fiction fan that i would highly recommend.
August 23, 2019
If you're looking for a book about Vikings, run the other way. If you're looking for a mystery, I'd give this a tepid maybe.
Kin is a murder mystery set in the 10th century, among Vikings. Except the characters act and speak like the cast of a 20th century sitcom. I found this so annoying I almost DNF'd it right off the bat. But I was away from home with no alternative reading material, so off I went.
Think Agatha Christie wanna-be (you wish) but instead of aristocrats in drawing rooms, we've got people throwing axes and drinking to excess.
The mystery seemed poorly presented. In the first half of the book we're led by an omniscience narrator but in the second half we somehow shift to following Helga's perspective, except now we know more than she does?!? How does that work? And the amount of buildup was way too long leaving conclusions rushed and seemingly derived from thin air.
Kin is a murder mystery set in the 10th century, among Vikings. Except the characters act and speak like the cast of a 20th century sitcom. I found this so annoying I almost DNF'd it right off the bat. But I was away from home with no alternative reading material, so off I went.
Think Agatha Christie wanna-be (you wish) but instead of aristocrats in drawing rooms, we've got people throwing axes and drinking to excess.
The mystery seemed poorly presented. In the first half of the book we're led by an omniscience narrator but in the second half we somehow shift to following Helga's perspective, except now we know more than she does?!? How does that work? And the amount of buildup was way too long leaving conclusions rushed and seemingly derived from thin air.
January 29, 2018
I love a good mystery. I also love all things Viking. So I was excited to read the synopsis of this book which combined the two.
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Snorri does a really good job at transporting you in to the world of this Viking family. It was good to have a tale about these people that detailed their daily life, their family dynamics, their place in their little bit of the world as well as their gods. There were no Viking battles which is quite different for a Viking story but it was welcomed. It made it different to everything else out there on the market.
In this story a family are reunited after many years apart and a murder occurs. Signs point to a particular person being to blame but Helga isn't convinced and uses her mother's lessons at reading people to work out what happened. I love the mystery element to the story. All the characters were interesting and I either warmed to them or hated them as the author intended. There was some humour throughout and I found myself swept up in the story. I read it really quite quickly.
This is the first book I have read by Snorri Kristjansson and I enjoyed it very much. I have one of his other Viking stories so I look forward to reading more of his writing.
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Snorri does a really good job at transporting you in to the world of this Viking family. It was good to have a tale about these people that detailed their daily life, their family dynamics, their place in their little bit of the world as well as their gods. There were no Viking battles which is quite different for a Viking story but it was welcomed. It made it different to everything else out there on the market.
In this story a family are reunited after many years apart and a murder occurs. Signs point to a particular person being to blame but Helga isn't convinced and uses her mother's lessons at reading people to work out what happened. I love the mystery element to the story. All the characters were interesting and I either warmed to them or hated them as the author intended. There was some humour throughout and I found myself swept up in the story. I read it really quite quickly.
This is the first book I have read by Snorri Kristjansson and I enjoyed it very much. I have one of his other Viking stories so I look forward to reading more of his writing.
March 2, 2018
Historical crime is one of my favourite sub-genres. Over the last few years I’ve read a fair number of books that have fallen into this category and without exception they have been great. The latest title to add to this ever-growing list is KIN by Snorri Kristjansson. The premise is devilishly simple, a murder-mystery set in a remote Viking homestead.
Unnthor Reginsson’s brood are a suitably shifty bunch. He has four children, three sons and a daughter. It’s made pretty clear that each one of them are trouble. All four have secrets and you quickly discover that any one of them is capable of murder. The brothers Karl and Bjorn both have a foul temper and are happy to use their fists to resolve problems. Unnthor’s daughter, Jorunn, is manipulative and sneaky while the final son, Aslak, is two-faced and sly. Truly they are a delightful family. Each child has travelled home to visit their parents bringing their own families with them. Needless to say, this extended group also includes some thoroughly unpleasant individuals.
Though she is considered part of the family, Helga Finnsdottir is still viewed in some respects as an outsider. In this scenario, this makes her a near perfect detective. She may be young, perhaps even a little naïve, but she is driven by a burning curiosity. Helga is also all but invisible to lots of the visitors. Undoubtedly a handy skill to have when she needs to watch others. Not being a direct member of the family offers Helga the opportunity to view everything with a certain amount of detachment. She can be far more analytical with her observations and less sentimental. I particularly liked that the narrative has moments that capture Helga’s inner dialogue. She is still developing her investigative skills you see flashes of that throughout the text.
While reading I kept thinking the book reminded me of something I’d read before and eventually, after much pondering, I figured it out. KIN is like vintage Agatha Christie, makes sense as the novel is essentially a whodunit. There is the wonderfully isolated location, dastardly deeds done under the cover of darkness and just about every single character is a potential suspect. There are even trusty family retainers who may or may not be involved in the crime. The key difference between Kristjansson and Christie, time period aside, is that KIN is a far more emotive affair. Kristjansson knows full well that any family will bicker, fight and make up whenever they get together. He uses these inevitable squabbles as the jumping off point for his story. The author ensures there is more than enough sibling rivalry around to guarantee someone is going to meet a grisly end eventually. Any one of the family could be the guilty party. The only person who is able to remain objective is our heroine. Watching Helga trying to uncover the culprit by unpicking all the deceit is riveting stuff. The only tools she has at her disposal is her keen attention to detail and quick wits.
If you’re a fan of crime fiction and enjoy a bit of added history, then I would suggest you look no further than KIN. When it comes to murder you want to be kept guessing right up till the last and KIN does that and more. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and hope Helga will return for further investigation in the future (or past, depending on your point of view).
Unnthor Reginsson’s brood are a suitably shifty bunch. He has four children, three sons and a daughter. It’s made pretty clear that each one of them are trouble. All four have secrets and you quickly discover that any one of them is capable of murder. The brothers Karl and Bjorn both have a foul temper and are happy to use their fists to resolve problems. Unnthor’s daughter, Jorunn, is manipulative and sneaky while the final son, Aslak, is two-faced and sly. Truly they are a delightful family. Each child has travelled home to visit their parents bringing their own families with them. Needless to say, this extended group also includes some thoroughly unpleasant individuals.
Though she is considered part of the family, Helga Finnsdottir is still viewed in some respects as an outsider. In this scenario, this makes her a near perfect detective. She may be young, perhaps even a little naïve, but she is driven by a burning curiosity. Helga is also all but invisible to lots of the visitors. Undoubtedly a handy skill to have when she needs to watch others. Not being a direct member of the family offers Helga the opportunity to view everything with a certain amount of detachment. She can be far more analytical with her observations and less sentimental. I particularly liked that the narrative has moments that capture Helga’s inner dialogue. She is still developing her investigative skills you see flashes of that throughout the text.
While reading I kept thinking the book reminded me of something I’d read before and eventually, after much pondering, I figured it out. KIN is like vintage Agatha Christie, makes sense as the novel is essentially a whodunit. There is the wonderfully isolated location, dastardly deeds done under the cover of darkness and just about every single character is a potential suspect. There are even trusty family retainers who may or may not be involved in the crime. The key difference between Kristjansson and Christie, time period aside, is that KIN is a far more emotive affair. Kristjansson knows full well that any family will bicker, fight and make up whenever they get together. He uses these inevitable squabbles as the jumping off point for his story. The author ensures there is more than enough sibling rivalry around to guarantee someone is going to meet a grisly end eventually. Any one of the family could be the guilty party. The only person who is able to remain objective is our heroine. Watching Helga trying to uncover the culprit by unpicking all the deceit is riveting stuff. The only tools she has at her disposal is her keen attention to detail and quick wits.
If you’re a fan of crime fiction and enjoy a bit of added history, then I would suggest you look no further than KIN. When it comes to murder you want to be kept guessing right up till the last and KIN does that and more. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and hope Helga will return for further investigation in the future (or past, depending on your point of view).
March 5, 2018
Vikings and murder mystery. I really enjoyed this. rtf
https://lynns-books.com/2018/03/05/ki...
I thoroughly enjoyed Kin and thought it made a great start to what I’m presuming will become a murder mystery series featuring Helga Finnsdottir. This is a murder mystery with a difference. Set in Norway during the summertime of 970 this is a book with vikings. But, calm your passions, the murders committed on the page don’t occur whilst plundering villages or out on the open seas. Far from it. The murders here are committed in the quiet of the homestead, with only family around, and virtually everyone is a suspect.
I’m not going to go into the plot because being a murder mystery it would be easy to spoil the outcome. What I would say immediately is that I was completely swept away with this book. I read it in one day because I couldn’t put it down. It was a compelling read with a stark-like simplicity that was completely beguiling.
As the book begins we are introduced to Unnthor and Hildigunner and the other inhabitants of their homestead. The farm itself is basically a longhouse, a few outbuildings, some animals and a small woodland. This is a hard but honest existence, the days are filled with chores but there’s a clear happiness to the small family unit and their simple way of life. Helga is the adopted daughter and Einar and his father complete the group. However, the quiet simplicity of their lives is about to be transformed with the arrival of the rest of the family. Unnthor has invited his children and their families back home for a meet. You could be forgiven for thinking this would be a happy occasion and in some respects it is and yet there is an underlying current of tension that belies the excited expectations of such a gathering.
Unthor and Hildi have four children all now living away from home. Three sons and a daughter. Karl has a streak of danger running through him. He’s something of a brute and the sort of man who takes what he wants. He’s no stranger to raids and the easy pickings they represent have given him an arrogant air of expectation. His brother Bjorn is a positive giant of a man, he and Karl don’t get on and yet Bjorn has a certain quiet gentleness that makes him feel less of a threat than his brother. Aslak is the third son, he doesn’t share the brute strength of his brothers, he’s more brains than brawn and his expectations lie more in the desire for a happy home. Finally we have Jorunn. She’s a clever woman. Competitive and ambitious. The four families descend on the farm, each of them with their own agenda and none of it bodes well, particularly given the rumours that their father is sitting on his own treasure hoard. And then, of course, there is murder most foul and the inevitable realisation that the murderer is amongst them. You can imagine how quickly the air becomes thick with fear and suspicion. Finger pointing and bickering swiftly ensue but along with that a much more deadly threat.
It’s difficult to pin down what it is about this that really won me over. Everything I suppose. The writing is clean and efficient, it does just what it needs to do with no unnecessary flourishes. Everything is laid out with ease, the family dynamics and the lifestyles they all lead, I felt like I knew the people. Unnthor and Hildi are a formidable partnership. They’ve raised their family with respect and fear and yet there’s almost a feeling of wolves waiting quietly to strike. Unnthor’s strength is maybe not what it once was and although Hildi is a force to be reckoned with could it be that her children are becoming almost as sharp? It almost has a feeling that they’re looking over their shoulders all the time. What a horrible feeling knowing that your family seem to be waiting for you to weaken.
The place itself is really easy to picture. There’s a breathtaking beauty about it, wide open skies and barren landscapes. And then we have a murder mystery. Now, given the time period this is clearly not a police procedural style novel. There’ll be no threat of prisons, or police called in to look for clues – just brutal retribution for the murderer if discovered. I think the really winning element of this for me is the unexpected way it turned into a whodunnit. Don’t get me wrong, the writing style, the settings, the people the way of life – this isn’t Murder on the Orient Express – but it does have something in common in the way the story twists about until everyone has become a real suspect. Basically my expectations were exceeded. I was jumping about from person to person, suspecting all of them and only really making the discovery when the author intended me to do so.
In terms of criticisms. They’re not really criticisms here so much as things that I would point out so that you go into the story forewarned. It took me a little while to get all the family members and their respective partners and children straight in my own head but once I’d sorted them all out that wasn’t a problem – I would say it’s worth taking a few minutes to really figure out who’s who – otherwise the whole mystery element will be spoiled by the constant need to keep thinking back about how everyone is related. Basically I took notes as I was going along – you might not need to resort to such means but I found it helped me to group everyone into their respective family knots. There’s very little fantasy involved in the story – in fact the only element is the appearance of one of the Norse gods – and this could almost be whitewashed over as a flight or fancy on the part of Helga. Did it really happen or did she just imagine it. I suspect that Helga may have somebody watching over her and this may become more apparent in future books. The lack of fantasy was clearly not a problem in my opinion but I point it out as the books I read usually have more swords and sorcery than not so I want to set expectations straight from the outset. Finally, in spite of the era depicted this is told in a modern style. Personally I loved this as I don’t want to struggle too much trying to make sense of olde worlde figures of speech and phraseology. If you’re something of a history buff or are looking for a much more faithful depiction of the times then this might not be for you. As it is, I loved the style, I felt like I got a really good look into the way of life without it becoming a work of art or over bearing to read.
I would definitely have no hesitation in recommending this and I look forward to seeing where Helga’s adventures lead us to next.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher, through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
https://lynns-books.com/2018/03/05/ki...
I thoroughly enjoyed Kin and thought it made a great start to what I’m presuming will become a murder mystery series featuring Helga Finnsdottir. This is a murder mystery with a difference. Set in Norway during the summertime of 970 this is a book with vikings. But, calm your passions, the murders committed on the page don’t occur whilst plundering villages or out on the open seas. Far from it. The murders here are committed in the quiet of the homestead, with only family around, and virtually everyone is a suspect.
I’m not going to go into the plot because being a murder mystery it would be easy to spoil the outcome. What I would say immediately is that I was completely swept away with this book. I read it in one day because I couldn’t put it down. It was a compelling read with a stark-like simplicity that was completely beguiling.
As the book begins we are introduced to Unnthor and Hildigunner and the other inhabitants of their homestead. The farm itself is basically a longhouse, a few outbuildings, some animals and a small woodland. This is a hard but honest existence, the days are filled with chores but there’s a clear happiness to the small family unit and their simple way of life. Helga is the adopted daughter and Einar and his father complete the group. However, the quiet simplicity of their lives is about to be transformed with the arrival of the rest of the family. Unnthor has invited his children and their families back home for a meet. You could be forgiven for thinking this would be a happy occasion and in some respects it is and yet there is an underlying current of tension that belies the excited expectations of such a gathering.
Unthor and Hildi have four children all now living away from home. Three sons and a daughter. Karl has a streak of danger running through him. He’s something of a brute and the sort of man who takes what he wants. He’s no stranger to raids and the easy pickings they represent have given him an arrogant air of expectation. His brother Bjorn is a positive giant of a man, he and Karl don’t get on and yet Bjorn has a certain quiet gentleness that makes him feel less of a threat than his brother. Aslak is the third son, he doesn’t share the brute strength of his brothers, he’s more brains than brawn and his expectations lie more in the desire for a happy home. Finally we have Jorunn. She’s a clever woman. Competitive and ambitious. The four families descend on the farm, each of them with their own agenda and none of it bodes well, particularly given the rumours that their father is sitting on his own treasure hoard. And then, of course, there is murder most foul and the inevitable realisation that the murderer is amongst them. You can imagine how quickly the air becomes thick with fear and suspicion. Finger pointing and bickering swiftly ensue but along with that a much more deadly threat.
It’s difficult to pin down what it is about this that really won me over. Everything I suppose. The writing is clean and efficient, it does just what it needs to do with no unnecessary flourishes. Everything is laid out with ease, the family dynamics and the lifestyles they all lead, I felt like I knew the people. Unnthor and Hildi are a formidable partnership. They’ve raised their family with respect and fear and yet there’s almost a feeling of wolves waiting quietly to strike. Unnthor’s strength is maybe not what it once was and although Hildi is a force to be reckoned with could it be that her children are becoming almost as sharp? It almost has a feeling that they’re looking over their shoulders all the time. What a horrible feeling knowing that your family seem to be waiting for you to weaken.
The place itself is really easy to picture. There’s a breathtaking beauty about it, wide open skies and barren landscapes. And then we have a murder mystery. Now, given the time period this is clearly not a police procedural style novel. There’ll be no threat of prisons, or police called in to look for clues – just brutal retribution for the murderer if discovered. I think the really winning element of this for me is the unexpected way it turned into a whodunnit. Don’t get me wrong, the writing style, the settings, the people the way of life – this isn’t Murder on the Orient Express – but it does have something in common in the way the story twists about until everyone has become a real suspect. Basically my expectations were exceeded. I was jumping about from person to person, suspecting all of them and only really making the discovery when the author intended me to do so.
In terms of criticisms. They’re not really criticisms here so much as things that I would point out so that you go into the story forewarned. It took me a little while to get all the family members and their respective partners and children straight in my own head but once I’d sorted them all out that wasn’t a problem – I would say it’s worth taking a few minutes to really figure out who’s who – otherwise the whole mystery element will be spoiled by the constant need to keep thinking back about how everyone is related. Basically I took notes as I was going along – you might not need to resort to such means but I found it helped me to group everyone into their respective family knots. There’s very little fantasy involved in the story – in fact the only element is the appearance of one of the Norse gods – and this could almost be whitewashed over as a flight or fancy on the part of Helga. Did it really happen or did she just imagine it. I suspect that Helga may have somebody watching over her and this may become more apparent in future books. The lack of fantasy was clearly not a problem in my opinion but I point it out as the books I read usually have more swords and sorcery than not so I want to set expectations straight from the outset. Finally, in spite of the era depicted this is told in a modern style. Personally I loved this as I don’t want to struggle too much trying to make sense of olde worlde figures of speech and phraseology. If you’re something of a history buff or are looking for a much more faithful depiction of the times then this might not be for you. As it is, I loved the style, I felt like I got a really good look into the way of life without it becoming a work of art or over bearing to read.
I would definitely have no hesitation in recommending this and I look forward to seeing where Helga’s adventures lead us to next.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher, through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
April 6, 2018
I will tarry a wee bit longer in Iceland with Kin by Snorri Kristjansson, the first of the Helga Finnsdottir mystery series, and what holds the unique position of being the first Viking murder mystery, apart from the great sagas themselves, that I have read. I thoroughly enjoy Kristjansson’s normal historical fare having read all three of his Valhalla series, but I had a curious reading experience with this one. At first, I didn’t feel that the opening of the book really reflected the time period it is set in, and this just felt like a small rural community on the cusp of some forthcoming upset. It was only as the family members began to arrive that I felt Kristjansson really settled us in to the timeline, exemplified by the sons’ tales of plundering and fighting. I also felt like it took an absolute age for the actual ‘crime’ to happen, as the story packed to the gills with all the necessary conflict, jealousies and infidelities essential to an Icelandic soap opera, which eventually results in murder. I was rather enjoying this mash up of the Icelandic sagas, Shakespearean treachery, and Viking ‘It’s A Knockout’ , when it was punctuated by a rather unexciting, but completely predictable murder, and then another, which led to young Helga ‘Nancy Drew’ Finnsdottir becoming a rather unconvincing super sleuth. So a thumbs up from me for the familial conflict, and the generally entertaining conniving women and wonderfully Neanderthal male characters, but as a murder mystery in a conventional sense I felt it was a little loose fitting and awkward, and less than convincing overall. Shame.
October 25, 2020
This book was a different take on the usual Viking fare, not that I've read a lot of it. But you expect longboats, exploration, raping and pillaging when you think "Vikings", or at least I did. Instead, it's a mystery.
I jokingly say we have a family rebellion whenever we gather en masse to celebrate our family. But, this story puts us to shame. This is not a happy family. They all have secrets and they all hope to get achieve something from this gathering. When one of them is murdered, nobody knows who to trust.
Helga, an adopted daughter appears to be a bit fey, and she is pulled by her insights into solving this murder. She's in the perfect position to observe these strangers without bias. I really enjoyed her character.
I also enjoyed learning the customs and beliefs of the Norse through this historical mystery. I will definitely read more in the series.
I jokingly say we have a family rebellion whenever we gather en masse to celebrate our family. But, this story puts us to shame. This is not a happy family. They all have secrets and they all hope to get achieve something from this gathering. When one of them is murdered, nobody knows who to trust.
Helga, an adopted daughter appears to be a bit fey, and she is pulled by her insights into solving this murder. She's in the perfect position to observe these strangers without bias. I really enjoyed her character.
I also enjoyed learning the customs and beliefs of the Norse through this historical mystery. I will definitely read more in the series.
February 7, 2018
*copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*
Kin, from Snorri Kristjansson is a story of family, and what ties them together. Old grudges and old wounds, for certain, and if they’re bound by blood, that blood can also be spilled. It’s a detective story set in the era of Viking raiders, one where a glowering sky enfolds a group as much in bloody thrall to their pasts as enraptured by family affection. If the combination of Vikings, mystery and murder sound good, then this is the book for you.
This is a starker world, one where a household is one of the core units, where what can be farmed is the limit of one’s landholding. Kristjansson evokes the atmosphere of the period with remarkable skill. The crystal blue skies, the sense of isolation, the mixture of self-reliance and reliance on the settlement group. The farmland sits in a wider landscape with a stark beauty, giving a unique blend of humanity and wilderness at a time when that demarcation wasn’t yet fully realised. There’s a wonderful liminality to the setting as well; the Gods of the Norse have a presence here which is almost physical, their existence felt and accepted, if never entirely seen. The role of religion, of faith, is expored somewhat here as well – as a driver for peoples motivations, as a means of social control, and in its own purity and simplicity. Whether or not the Gods are real, this is a world which accepts that they are, and that acceptance permeates the thoughts and actions of the characters.
And what characters they are. Our focus is Helga Finnsdottir, the incisive ward of the Reginsson family. Helga is clever, certainly, but also capable of being smoothly charming and acting quickly. She carries some insecurities around her own position in the family, and those facets of self doubt are ones the text doesn’t shy away from. But she’s a solid investigator, one with an interest in the truth, even as she starts digging into family secrets. If Helga isn’t all sweetness and light, she’s certainly forceful enough to carry the reader along with her, and her own weaknesses are ones it’s easy to empathise with. One of the strands explored in the text is that of agency – as women, Helga and her female relatives could have been seen as marginalised, but here they’re a very active part of the family; while Helga carries some of the aura of an outsider, not tied to the family by bonds of blood, her adopted mother is a force of nature, one always able to achieve her goals through putting the right word in the right ear, through shared history or careful construction of narrative. That soft power is backed up by Reginsson, an ex-raider, now aging but still powerful in his own raw physicality. The Reginsson partnership is one of the highlights of the text – a match which clearly has decades of affection behind it, alongside a clarity born of experience, and a ruthlessness likewise.
But there’s a swarm of other characters here as well, as the Reginsson family comes together. The raiding son, with an eye for wine and another for women. The second son, a tower of a man with old wounds from his brother. The third son, a farmer, who may be carrying his own demons. The daughter, a vicious fighter with schemes of her own (and a husband from as far away as Sweden!). The Reginsson children are a complex bunch of marauders, and there’s always a sense - in the dialogue, in the way they pass each other mead, in who goes to do chores with whom - that they have their own agendas at play. Once the initial barrage of names is over, they swiftly grow their own personalities, sympathetic and otherwise, stepping out of our cultural preconceptions of the period to become living, breathing, scheming, stabbing, screaming, plotting, charming, friendly, murderous people.
To be honest, I would have been happy with Kin if it had just been a memoir of the Norse. The family dynamics, the close knit, often tense, occasionally poisonous relationships wrapped inside bonds of blood and affection make this an absolutely cracking family drama. But it’s a murder mystery too. For the sake of spoilers, I won’t say any more – but the mystery is carefully constructed and plausible, and the resolution reasonable, with a solid emotional payoff. It’s the relationships between characters which make the stakes, and make the situation feel real – and they’re top-notch. Somewhere in the dizzying spirals of ties between families is a killer, but quite who it is – in a world where violence floats close to the surface – is another question.
Anyway, Kin. Do you want to read it? The pagan Norse period may not be for everyone, but here it’s given surpassing depth and integrity. The characters are complex and believable, and the central mystery one which rewards careful reading – and working it out alongside Helga was great fun. If you’re in a Scandi-noir mood, and willing to leap back through the centuries, then this is a book which will reward a reading; I, for one, look forward to the further adventures of Helga Finnsdottir.
Kin, from Snorri Kristjansson is a story of family, and what ties them together. Old grudges and old wounds, for certain, and if they’re bound by blood, that blood can also be spilled. It’s a detective story set in the era of Viking raiders, one where a glowering sky enfolds a group as much in bloody thrall to their pasts as enraptured by family affection. If the combination of Vikings, mystery and murder sound good, then this is the book for you.
This is a starker world, one where a household is one of the core units, where what can be farmed is the limit of one’s landholding. Kristjansson evokes the atmosphere of the period with remarkable skill. The crystal blue skies, the sense of isolation, the mixture of self-reliance and reliance on the settlement group. The farmland sits in a wider landscape with a stark beauty, giving a unique blend of humanity and wilderness at a time when that demarcation wasn’t yet fully realised. There’s a wonderful liminality to the setting as well; the Gods of the Norse have a presence here which is almost physical, their existence felt and accepted, if never entirely seen. The role of religion, of faith, is expored somewhat here as well – as a driver for peoples motivations, as a means of social control, and in its own purity and simplicity. Whether or not the Gods are real, this is a world which accepts that they are, and that acceptance permeates the thoughts and actions of the characters.
And what characters they are. Our focus is Helga Finnsdottir, the incisive ward of the Reginsson family. Helga is clever, certainly, but also capable of being smoothly charming and acting quickly. She carries some insecurities around her own position in the family, and those facets of self doubt are ones the text doesn’t shy away from. But she’s a solid investigator, one with an interest in the truth, even as she starts digging into family secrets. If Helga isn’t all sweetness and light, she’s certainly forceful enough to carry the reader along with her, and her own weaknesses are ones it’s easy to empathise with. One of the strands explored in the text is that of agency – as women, Helga and her female relatives could have been seen as marginalised, but here they’re a very active part of the family; while Helga carries some of the aura of an outsider, not tied to the family by bonds of blood, her adopted mother is a force of nature, one always able to achieve her goals through putting the right word in the right ear, through shared history or careful construction of narrative. That soft power is backed up by Reginsson, an ex-raider, now aging but still powerful in his own raw physicality. The Reginsson partnership is one of the highlights of the text – a match which clearly has decades of affection behind it, alongside a clarity born of experience, and a ruthlessness likewise.
But there’s a swarm of other characters here as well, as the Reginsson family comes together. The raiding son, with an eye for wine and another for women. The second son, a tower of a man with old wounds from his brother. The third son, a farmer, who may be carrying his own demons. The daughter, a vicious fighter with schemes of her own (and a husband from as far away as Sweden!). The Reginsson children are a complex bunch of marauders, and there’s always a sense - in the dialogue, in the way they pass each other mead, in who goes to do chores with whom - that they have their own agendas at play. Once the initial barrage of names is over, they swiftly grow their own personalities, sympathetic and otherwise, stepping out of our cultural preconceptions of the period to become living, breathing, scheming, stabbing, screaming, plotting, charming, friendly, murderous people.
To be honest, I would have been happy with Kin if it had just been a memoir of the Norse. The family dynamics, the close knit, often tense, occasionally poisonous relationships wrapped inside bonds of blood and affection make this an absolutely cracking family drama. But it’s a murder mystery too. For the sake of spoilers, I won’t say any more – but the mystery is carefully constructed and plausible, and the resolution reasonable, with a solid emotional payoff. It’s the relationships between characters which make the stakes, and make the situation feel real – and they’re top-notch. Somewhere in the dizzying spirals of ties between families is a killer, but quite who it is – in a world where violence floats close to the surface – is another question.
Anyway, Kin. Do you want to read it? The pagan Norse period may not be for everyone, but here it’s given surpassing depth and integrity. The characters are complex and believable, and the central mystery one which rewards careful reading – and working it out alongside Helga was great fun. If you’re in a Scandi-noir mood, and willing to leap back through the centuries, then this is a book which will reward a reading; I, for one, look forward to the further adventures of Helga Finnsdottir.
April 22, 2019
It is the summer of 970, the grown-up children of Viking Warlord Unthor Reginsson and his wife Hildigunnur re due to visit. Karl, Aslak and Bjorn are the siblings and along with their respective spouses, there is a tension surrounding the visit. Helga is the foster daughter of Unthor and Hildigunnur, she is curious to meet her siblings. Unlike the rest of the family, Helga is a quiet girl, she is clever, mysterious and is the main protagonist.
Oh! I loved this book such a huge amount. The first half is setting the scene and is more historical fiction, this I adored so much and would have quite happily read more about this era in history. When I think Vikings it’s always the raids first and farmers second. This book falls into the second, Unthor is a farmer and family man, though he does have a more serious presence and strength to him when the need arises.
There are quite a few characters to get to know and in all honesty, it didn’t take long. The characters who live on the farm were introduced first, then the siblings as they arrived. It was the ideal way to get to grips with everyone and start to form initial thoughts as to whether I would like them or not… Helga I really did like and also the enigmatic matriarch Hildigunnur who is such a strong and impressive character.
Though by far Helga was the star, she is one of those characters that see’s all and keeps it to herself. She tends to be overlooked and blends into the background, she is a people watcher and is able to pick up on the various 'tells' people have in the behaviours, mannerism and during conversations. This stands her good stead as the story then progresses into the mystery section of the story.
The mystery section is the observations and deductions of Helga as she finds herself trying to work out the culprit. She uses her observations to gradually piece everything together. Given the time this novel is set in, the investigative process is very quiet and a nice change to read something that does not include technology. It is investigating at it’s very basic level, about reading people and situations, looking at every aspect of the scene and trying to think of the right questions to ask as much as discovering the answers.
I really enjoyed this book so much, the author provided a good amount of background to this very dynamic family. Yes a slower paced story to begin with but one that speeded up as the urgency to find the killer increased. It was a book I found myself having to slow down the speed I read, I didn’t want to miss a single word and at times it was almost unbearable as I was so eager to turn the page and see what was going to happen next.
I liked so much about this book, the characters, the setting, the history, the mystery and then there were the italicised sentences, call them Helga’s conscience if you like, they were her random thoughts as she was mulling over the information she was collecting. As well as really liking them they also infuriated me… in a good way… as they provided more questions than answers, they left odd thoughts from Helga hanging, a good addition by the author to add more intrigue.
In case you had not already guessed it… I Love This Book! It slotted so nicely into 2 genres that I love reading – Historical Fiction & Crime/Mystery. The slower pace fitted the histfic wonderfully well and especially the year of 970. As the pace increased, it it was more suited to the crime and mystery of the book. This is a series I am looking forward to reading more of.
It is one I would Highly Recommend.
Oh! I loved this book such a huge amount. The first half is setting the scene and is more historical fiction, this I adored so much and would have quite happily read more about this era in history. When I think Vikings it’s always the raids first and farmers second. This book falls into the second, Unthor is a farmer and family man, though he does have a more serious presence and strength to him when the need arises.
There are quite a few characters to get to know and in all honesty, it didn’t take long. The characters who live on the farm were introduced first, then the siblings as they arrived. It was the ideal way to get to grips with everyone and start to form initial thoughts as to whether I would like them or not… Helga I really did like and also the enigmatic matriarch Hildigunnur who is such a strong and impressive character.
Though by far Helga was the star, she is one of those characters that see’s all and keeps it to herself. She tends to be overlooked and blends into the background, she is a people watcher and is able to pick up on the various 'tells' people have in the behaviours, mannerism and during conversations. This stands her good stead as the story then progresses into the mystery section of the story.
The mystery section is the observations and deductions of Helga as she finds herself trying to work out the culprit. She uses her observations to gradually piece everything together. Given the time this novel is set in, the investigative process is very quiet and a nice change to read something that does not include technology. It is investigating at it’s very basic level, about reading people and situations, looking at every aspect of the scene and trying to think of the right questions to ask as much as discovering the answers.
I really enjoyed this book so much, the author provided a good amount of background to this very dynamic family. Yes a slower paced story to begin with but one that speeded up as the urgency to find the killer increased. It was a book I found myself having to slow down the speed I read, I didn’t want to miss a single word and at times it was almost unbearable as I was so eager to turn the page and see what was going to happen next.
I liked so much about this book, the characters, the setting, the history, the mystery and then there were the italicised sentences, call them Helga’s conscience if you like, they were her random thoughts as she was mulling over the information she was collecting. As well as really liking them they also infuriated me… in a good way… as they provided more questions than answers, they left odd thoughts from Helga hanging, a good addition by the author to add more intrigue.
In case you had not already guessed it… I Love This Book! It slotted so nicely into 2 genres that I love reading – Historical Fiction & Crime/Mystery. The slower pace fitted the histfic wonderfully well and especially the year of 970. As the pace increased, it it was more suited to the crime and mystery of the book. This is a series I am looking forward to reading more of.
It is one I would Highly Recommend.
February 28, 2020
I was really intrigued by the premise of this novel--a Viking murder mystery that takes place in Iceland in 950. But I think the author only did justice to the murder mystery portion of that premise. I never really felt like I was immersed in a Viking story, or anywhere near Iceland in the year 950. The dialogue was just littered with too much modern slang, and the characters not fully developed past their possible motive for murder. (We never even really find out what's up with Helga, the main character, beyond being adopted, somewhat insightful, and possibly vaguely magical.) The mystery is a decent one (although the non-Helga POV scenes spoil it a little, not sure why those were added). And the writing, while a bit juvenile, was neat enough to hold my interest to the end. I can't say I'll be back for Book 2, though.
February 15, 2018
*** ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
5 stars
A book is either meant for you or not. After diving into Snorri Kristjansson’s Kin, it became apparent that Kristjansson’s must have written Kin for me ... obviously! 😊
It had everything I look for in a book. Flawed characters, dysfunctional family dynamics, a delightful mysterious story, a few twists and it was narrated in a language that resonated with me. I normally binge on books, but I slowed this one down as I did not want it to end.
Kin is set around 970 in Norway. Expect no epic Viking battles or raids. The story is centred around Viking warlord Unnthor Reginsson after he retires from the longboats and settles down with Hildigunnur in a remote valley. It’s a tale about their five children. Helga, their adopted daughter, her three brothers Karl, Bjorn and Aslak and her sister Jorunn. It is mainly narrated from Helga’s perspective but sometimes the narrative switches to her other siblings, their spouses and children.
The flow of the story is gentle at first. We are introduced to Unnthor’s family via their large gathering. We see how dysfunctional they are as a unit, get to know the characters and catch a glimpse of how hard life must have been around that time.
And then somebody gets murdered. From that moment onward, the pace picks up and the fun begins. Pretty much everybody has a potential to be the killer. And I had so much fun guessing who it could be!
Helga is strong main character that guides us throughout the story:
“If no one will fight for his life . . . Her jaw tensed. I’m going to have to do it myself.”
Hildigunnur raised her to be observant and crafty. And she truly lives up to her mother’s expectations. Her thoughts give us useful insights until the mystery is finally resolved.
Kin ends in a way that you want its sequel immediately. I NEED Kin’s sequel NOW!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries / crime stories with a bit of Norse mythology and who enjoys reading stories full of flawed characters.
5 stars
A book is either meant for you or not. After diving into Snorri Kristjansson’s Kin, it became apparent that Kristjansson’s must have written Kin for me ... obviously! 😊
It had everything I look for in a book. Flawed characters, dysfunctional family dynamics, a delightful mysterious story, a few twists and it was narrated in a language that resonated with me. I normally binge on books, but I slowed this one down as I did not want it to end.
Kin is set around 970 in Norway. Expect no epic Viking battles or raids. The story is centred around Viking warlord Unnthor Reginsson after he retires from the longboats and settles down with Hildigunnur in a remote valley. It’s a tale about their five children. Helga, their adopted daughter, her three brothers Karl, Bjorn and Aslak and her sister Jorunn. It is mainly narrated from Helga’s perspective but sometimes the narrative switches to her other siblings, their spouses and children.
The flow of the story is gentle at first. We are introduced to Unnthor’s family via their large gathering. We see how dysfunctional they are as a unit, get to know the characters and catch a glimpse of how hard life must have been around that time.
And then somebody gets murdered. From that moment onward, the pace picks up and the fun begins. Pretty much everybody has a potential to be the killer. And I had so much fun guessing who it could be!
Helga is strong main character that guides us throughout the story:
“If no one will fight for his life . . . Her jaw tensed. I’m going to have to do it myself.”
Hildigunnur raised her to be observant and crafty. And she truly lives up to her mother’s expectations. Her thoughts give us useful insights until the mystery is finally resolved.
Kin ends in a way that you want its sequel immediately. I NEED Kin’s sequel NOW!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries / crime stories with a bit of Norse mythology and who enjoys reading stories full of flawed characters.
October 15, 2020
I enjoyed the writing and this setting. And while I do like the protagonist, Helga, I had a hard time pinning her age... Half the time, she's supposedly a child, but the other half, she's not and she definitely does not think like a child. So maybe she is on the verge of womanhood and a very clever one at that.
It was a bit of a slow start or a very long set up but it did make a very good build up to the time when crime was committed. And once that happened, everything tumbled down like dominoes. The pace picked up and did not slow right up to the end. However, I'm still not sure about the ending... The who and why are still a bit muddled for me.
It was a bit of a slow start or a very long set up but it did make a very good build up to the time when crime was committed. And once that happened, everything tumbled down like dominoes. The pace picked up and did not slow right up to the end. However, I'm still not sure about the ending... The who and why are still a bit muddled for me.
February 25, 2018
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 This is a mystery/ crime story featuring Vikings and a dysfunctional family. I thought the author did a great job at creating a rather sinister atmosphere and the pacing was well done. The plot was compelling, the writing is good and the characters are well written. If you enjoy a good crime story and/or Vikings then I would recommend checking this out.
3.5 This is a mystery/ crime story featuring Vikings and a dysfunctional family. I thought the author did a great job at creating a rather sinister atmosphere and the pacing was well done. The plot was compelling, the writing is good and the characters are well written. If you enjoy a good crime story and/or Vikings then I would recommend checking this out.
December 29, 2024
2.5*
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Selle raamatu ma ostsin Islandilt kaasa, sest kaanekujundus meeldis ja ka sisukirjeldus tundus paljutõotav. Ka Goodreadsi hinnang oli selline enam-vähem (~3.5*), mille puhul olen ma isegi täitsa häid raamatuid lugenud.
Kahjuks aga see sinna leeri ei kuulunud… See oli üks väga segane lugu, kus umbes pool raamatut isegi suurt midagi ei toimunud. Lisaks oli siin ka mega palju tegelasi ja üsna tükk aega pidin edasi-tagasi lehitsema (siin oli sugupuu antud), et kes on kelle mees, naine või laps jne.
Ühesõnaga peaks see olema selline viikingite aegne krimilugu (et siis ka historical), aga kahjuks minu jaoks see midagi head küll ei olnud. Ma olin isegi veidi kurb tegelikult, sest kõik oli alguses nii paljulubav 🥲
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Selle raamatu ma ostsin Islandilt kaasa, sest kaanekujundus meeldis ja ka sisukirjeldus tundus paljutõotav. Ka Goodreadsi hinnang oli selline enam-vähem (~3.5*), mille puhul olen ma isegi täitsa häid raamatuid lugenud.
Kahjuks aga see sinna leeri ei kuulunud… See oli üks väga segane lugu, kus umbes pool raamatut isegi suurt midagi ei toimunud. Lisaks oli siin ka mega palju tegelasi ja üsna tükk aega pidin edasi-tagasi lehitsema (siin oli sugupuu antud), et kes on kelle mees, naine või laps jne.
Ühesõnaga peaks see olema selline viikingite aegne krimilugu (et siis ka historical), aga kahjuks minu jaoks see midagi head küll ei olnud. Ma olin isegi veidi kurb tegelikult, sest kõik oli alguses nii paljulubav 🥲
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