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Dark Iceland #3
Pimedusse mattunud
Põhja-Islandi tüüne fjordi kallastel on keegi mees polaarpäeva säravas suveöös jõhkralt surnuks pekstud. Vulkaanipurske tagajärjel õhku paiskunud ja polaarpäeva pimedusse matva tuhapilve all lahkub nooruke reporter Reykjavikist, et asja omal käel uurida, teadmata, et kaalul on ilmsüüta inimese elu.
Ari Thór Arason ja tema kolleegid Siglufjörðuri tillukesest politseijaoskonnast on selle üha veidramaks muutuva juhtumi lahendamisega kimpus ja lisanduvad isiklikud probleemid viivad nad viimse piirini. Mis saladusi varjas surnud mees ja millest jätab rääkimata noor ajakirjanik? Kirjeldamatud ja seni maha vaikitud õudused minevikust on ohtlikud neile kõigile ja pimeduse süvenedes saab sellest võidujooks ajaga – nad peavad leidma tapja enne, kui sureb veel keegi ...
Sünge, pelutav ja mitmekihiline „Pimedusse mattunud“ on erakordselt paeluv ja muljet avaldava õhustikuga põnevik ühelt Islandi parimalt krimikirjanikult.
Ari Thór Arason ja tema kolleegid Siglufjörðuri tillukesest politseijaoskonnast on selle üha veidramaks muutuva juhtumi lahendamisega kimpus ja lisanduvad isiklikud probleemid viivad nad viimse piirini. Mis saladusi varjas surnud mees ja millest jätab rääkimata noor ajakirjanik? Kirjeldamatud ja seni maha vaikitud õudused minevikust on ohtlikud neile kõigile ja pimeduse süvenedes saab sellest võidujooks ajaga – nad peavad leidma tapja enne, kui sureb veel keegi ...
Sünge, pelutav ja mitmekihiline „Pimedusse mattunud“ on erakordselt paeluv ja muljet avaldava õhustikuga põnevik ühelt Islandi parimalt krimikirjanikult.
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
1351 people are currently reading
4053 people want to read
About the author
Ragnar Jónasson
50 books3,885 followersRagnar Jonasson is author of the award winning and international bestselling Dark Iceland series.
His debut Snowblind, first in the Dark Iceland series, went to number one in the Amazon Kindle charts shortly after publication. The book was also a no. 1 Amazon Kindle bestseller in Australia. Snowblind has been a paperback bestseller in France.
Nightblind won the Dead Good Reader Award 2016 for Most Captivating Crime in Translation.
Snowblind was called a "classically crafted whodunit" by THE NEW YORK TIMES, and it was selected by The Independent as one of the best crime novels of 2015 in the UK.
Rights to the Dark Iceland series have been sold to UK, USA, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, Poland, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Portugal, Croatia, Armenia and Iceland.
Ragnar was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he works as a writer and a lawyer. He also teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University and has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV-news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service.
He is also the co-founder of the Reykjavik international crime writing festival Iceland Noir.
From the age of 17, Ragnar translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic.
Ragnar has also had short stories published internationally, including in the distinguished Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in the US, the first stories by an Icelandic author in that magazine.
He has appeared on festival panels worldwide, and lives in Reykjavik.
His debut Snowblind, first in the Dark Iceland series, went to number one in the Amazon Kindle charts shortly after publication. The book was also a no. 1 Amazon Kindle bestseller in Australia. Snowblind has been a paperback bestseller in France.
Nightblind won the Dead Good Reader Award 2016 for Most Captivating Crime in Translation.
Snowblind was called a "classically crafted whodunit" by THE NEW YORK TIMES, and it was selected by The Independent as one of the best crime novels of 2015 in the UK.
Rights to the Dark Iceland series have been sold to UK, USA, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, Poland, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Portugal, Croatia, Armenia and Iceland.
Ragnar was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he works as a writer and a lawyer. He also teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University and has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV-news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service.
He is also the co-founder of the Reykjavik international crime writing festival Iceland Noir.
From the age of 17, Ragnar translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic.
Ragnar has also had short stories published internationally, including in the distinguished Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in the US, the first stories by an Icelandic author in that magazine.
He has appeared on festival panels worldwide, and lives in Reykjavik.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 897 reviews
May 6, 2017
While I have yet to read Rupture, Blackout is by far my favorite in the series that I have read to date. Yes, each installment in the series features that dark, oppressing nature, but this one had something even more sinister lying between it’s pages. Even though these books are deeply atmospheric and slow burning in pace, I found I couldn’t absorb the information fast enough as I was dying to get to the big reveal in the end. Ragnar has a way with taking a seemingly normal story and twisting it into the unreal; these books are completely in the realm of the natural, but the setting is so rich that it gives the books an otherworldly feature. I had none of this book figured out and was surprised by every last turn; I couldn’t give this book anything less than 5 stars in good conscience. Those who are fans of the series will be blown away by what the author has crafted in this entry and by where he is taking the characters we have grown attached to.
*Many thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for providing my copies; it always feels like she’s doing me a favor by allowing me to review these books!
*Many thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for providing my copies; it always feels like she’s doing me a favor by allowing me to review these books!
May 26, 2019
4 stars
This is book 3 in the Dark Iceland series. It is centered around 2 people, Isrun, a reporter for a tv station in Reykjavik, and Ari Thor, a policeman in Siglufjordur. A man is found brutally murdered in Skagafjordur, whose address is in Siglufjordur and the 3 man police team in Siglufjordur is asked to assist with interviews in the investigation. Isrun, ambitious to get ahead, sees this as her ticket to advancement and wangles an assignment to go and report on the death.
The other 2 officers in Siglufjordur are Hijnur and Tomas, each of whom has personal problems, causing them difficulty in performing their duties. Ari also has his own problems. How they solve this murder and unearth other crimes connected to it makes for an interesting mystery.
The book takes place during the volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. People living in the southern half of Iceland talk about the volcanic grit in the air.
I read this book because I spent 3 nights in Siglufordur as part of a Iceland land tour last summer. It is a lovely little town that had a thriving fishing industry for hundreds of years until the herrings disappeared about forty years ago. Tourism has now replaced the fishing industry. There is a herring museum in town. Our guide said that life was very difficult during the eruption. Everyone wore face masks.
I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Icelandic fiction or mysteries in general. The translation was excellent. I read it in 2 days.
One quote: "She could taste the polluted air in her mouth. The ash cloud over the city had grown thicker and heavier as the day passed. The sun was blotted out by the heavy haze, its presence behind the grey miasma hidden but still felt as the temperature continued to climb."
Thanks to Minotaur Books/St Martins Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
This is book 3 in the Dark Iceland series. It is centered around 2 people, Isrun, a reporter for a tv station in Reykjavik, and Ari Thor, a policeman in Siglufjordur. A man is found brutally murdered in Skagafjordur, whose address is in Siglufjordur and the 3 man police team in Siglufjordur is asked to assist with interviews in the investigation. Isrun, ambitious to get ahead, sees this as her ticket to advancement and wangles an assignment to go and report on the death.
The other 2 officers in Siglufjordur are Hijnur and Tomas, each of whom has personal problems, causing them difficulty in performing their duties. Ari also has his own problems. How they solve this murder and unearth other crimes connected to it makes for an interesting mystery.
The book takes place during the volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. People living in the southern half of Iceland talk about the volcanic grit in the air.
I read this book because I spent 3 nights in Siglufordur as part of a Iceland land tour last summer. It is a lovely little town that had a thriving fishing industry for hundreds of years until the herrings disappeared about forty years ago. Tourism has now replaced the fishing industry. There is a herring museum in town. Our guide said that life was very difficult during the eruption. Everyone wore face masks.
I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Icelandic fiction or mysteries in general. The translation was excellent. I read it in 2 days.
One quote: "She could taste the polluted air in her mouth. The ash cloud over the city had grown thicker and heavier as the day passed. The sun was blotted out by the heavy haze, its presence behind the grey miasma hidden but still felt as the temperature continued to climb."
Thanks to Minotaur Books/St Martins Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
February 5, 2019
”Next time I’ll teach you how to die!”
The death of Elias Freysson is the centerpiece of a convoluted plot that will reveal deeply buried fears of all those involved. On the surface, it seems like a nonsensical murder. Why would someone want to kill Elias Freysson? He helped run a charity organization, and people who do things like that generally aren’t murder victims. The theory is even floated that he was not the intended target, but merely a man in the wrong place at the wrong time.
As Ari Thor Arason and his boss Tomas interview the people who knew Freysson, they start to discover that there are inconsistencies in the character of the man. He has secrets, and they must find out what exactly those secrets are if they ever hope to catch the person who killed him.
Tomas gives Ari the investigation to run, but he can’t help instructing the lad in the finer points, especially when interviewing the locals. Tomas knows these people, and Ari is still the outsider from Reykjavik. Ari is going to run the investigation his way, not exactly winning friends and influencing people in the process.
All the characters in this novel are distracted by things beyond the parameters of the case.
Tomas is pining for his wife, who has moved to Reykjavik to take advantage of an opportunity. He loves living in Siglufjordur, but he loves his wife more. He really wants Ari to become the police officer he wants him to be, so he can leave the town in safe hands.
Ari is in love with a medical student named Kristin, a girl he started seeing while still in Reykjavik, but due to distance and a series of miscommunications, they have drifted apart. Even as Ari searches for a killer, he is also obsessing about what she is doing and who she is doing it with.
Hlynur is the third police officer in Siglufjordur, and he has been relegated to the office due to erratic behavior. He keeps getting threatening emails that harken back to a mistake in his youth. Guilt is crippling his ability to function well with the rest of his life.
Isrun is the investigative reporter from Reykjavik who has come North to investigate the murder of Freysson. Murder is rather uncommon in Iceland, and she needs a great story to salvage her sagging career. Her motivations go beyond just the story, and as she begins to unspool the nuances of the story she also begins to unravel.
Ragnar Jonasson is certainly a devotee of the school of Agatha Christie. This is his most mature outing with the depth he gives the characters as well as the puzzling aspects of the plot as the investigators try to discover the true nature of the victim so they can find the killer. Jonasson does such a good job conveying the claustrophobia Ari is frequently overwhelmed by, from the mountains looming over their small town to the days and days of fog and cloud cover that compress his world into such small apertures. The plot is deftly revealed, keeping the reader on the hook until the final pieces fall into place. Many readers have said this is their favorite Jonasson so far. I certainly understand why.
This is actually the second book in the series, but for some reason the American publishers published the third book in the series second. It was a bit jarring to read Nightblind before Blackout. I would suggest reading Snowblind first, then Blackout, and finally Nightblind. If you are caught out as I was, have no fear, the books can stand alone. So if you need a dash of a read to feed your Nordic Noir craving, Jonasson’s books are perfect snowy afternoon reads.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
The death of Elias Freysson is the centerpiece of a convoluted plot that will reveal deeply buried fears of all those involved. On the surface, it seems like a nonsensical murder. Why would someone want to kill Elias Freysson? He helped run a charity organization, and people who do things like that generally aren’t murder victims. The theory is even floated that he was not the intended target, but merely a man in the wrong place at the wrong time.
As Ari Thor Arason and his boss Tomas interview the people who knew Freysson, they start to discover that there are inconsistencies in the character of the man. He has secrets, and they must find out what exactly those secrets are if they ever hope to catch the person who killed him.
Tomas gives Ari the investigation to run, but he can’t help instructing the lad in the finer points, especially when interviewing the locals. Tomas knows these people, and Ari is still the outsider from Reykjavik. Ari is going to run the investigation his way, not exactly winning friends and influencing people in the process.
All the characters in this novel are distracted by things beyond the parameters of the case.
Tomas is pining for his wife, who has moved to Reykjavik to take advantage of an opportunity. He loves living in Siglufjordur, but he loves his wife more. He really wants Ari to become the police officer he wants him to be, so he can leave the town in safe hands.
Ari is in love with a medical student named Kristin, a girl he started seeing while still in Reykjavik, but due to distance and a series of miscommunications, they have drifted apart. Even as Ari searches for a killer, he is also obsessing about what she is doing and who she is doing it with.
Hlynur is the third police officer in Siglufjordur, and he has been relegated to the office due to erratic behavior. He keeps getting threatening emails that harken back to a mistake in his youth. Guilt is crippling his ability to function well with the rest of his life.
Isrun is the investigative reporter from Reykjavik who has come North to investigate the murder of Freysson. Murder is rather uncommon in Iceland, and she needs a great story to salvage her sagging career. Her motivations go beyond just the story, and as she begins to unspool the nuances of the story she also begins to unravel.
Ragnar Jonasson is certainly a devotee of the school of Agatha Christie. This is his most mature outing with the depth he gives the characters as well as the puzzling aspects of the plot as the investigators try to discover the true nature of the victim so they can find the killer. Jonasson does such a good job conveying the claustrophobia Ari is frequently overwhelmed by, from the mountains looming over their small town to the days and days of fog and cloud cover that compress his world into such small apertures. The plot is deftly revealed, keeping the reader on the hook until the final pieces fall into place. Many readers have said this is their favorite Jonasson so far. I certainly understand why.
This is actually the second book in the series, but for some reason the American publishers published the third book in the series second. It was a bit jarring to read Nightblind before Blackout. I would suggest reading Snowblind first, then Blackout, and finally Nightblind. If you are caught out as I was, have no fear, the books can stand alone. So if you need a dash of a read to feed your Nordic Noir craving, Jonasson’s books are perfect snowy afternoon reads.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
June 24, 2018
What a wonderfully well done follow-up to Snowblind in this dark thriller series!
Blackout again brings the oppressive and menacing atmosphere to this small fishing village in Northern Iceland. A volcano erupts and covers the town with suffocating ash instead of the sun-filled summer the inhabitants are use to. The feeling of isolation is there with you throughout the book.
Ari Thór Arason returns as the most recent addition to the small police force on the hunt again for a murderer. A nice twist is added with a female journalist looking to solve the same crime, but on a different path than Ari (unbeknownst to him).
Blackout brings a slow burn suspense through many subplots with secrets that enhance the enjoyment of reading this novel. The character development is outstanding.
Highly recommend this series.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
4 out of 5 stars
Blackout again brings the oppressive and menacing atmosphere to this small fishing village in Northern Iceland. A volcano erupts and covers the town with suffocating ash instead of the sun-filled summer the inhabitants are use to. The feeling of isolation is there with you throughout the book.
Ari Thór Arason returns as the most recent addition to the small police force on the hunt again for a murderer. A nice twist is added with a female journalist looking to solve the same crime, but on a different path than Ari (unbeknownst to him).
Blackout brings a slow burn suspense through many subplots with secrets that enhance the enjoyment of reading this novel. The character development is outstanding.
Highly recommend this series.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
4 out of 5 stars
August 13, 2018
I am grateful to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.
An interesting read with Icelandic volcanos in the background whose ash is all around covering some secrets and traumatic experience from childhood which have their tragic consequence in adult life. The descriptions of the locations add a lot to the ambience of the novel.
An interesting read with Icelandic volcanos in the background whose ash is all around covering some secrets and traumatic experience from childhood which have their tragic consequence in adult life. The descriptions of the locations add a lot to the ambience of the novel.
September 2, 2018
While I have enjoyed all I have read of the Dark Iceland series, Snowblind and Nightblind, Blackout is now my favorite. The combination of a complex, multilayered plot with a wide cast of new characters, all of whom seem to be hiding or outrunning something in the past that won’t stay behind them worked well for me and kept me glued to the book the last two days. Even Tomas and Ari Thor, the well known local police, have other things on their minds along with their duties. Is all of this because they are now living in summer with near 24 hours of light? Or is it somehow related to ash from the recent volcano eruption falling increasingly over Reykjavík, clouding that city and worrying even those who live at a distance? Many, if not most, people who live in this small island nation have heard tales of past volcano eruptions, of life being turned upside down by ashy blackouts.
Here in northern Iceland the blackouts are more metaphoric, where the sun may be bright almost continuously but there are lies and half truths and unspoken thoughts interfering with a murder investigation; a man has been found outside of a home he has been helping to build, beaten to death.
There are many strands to this story but I urge patience. You will be rewarded. There are several moments in this book where I felt truly satisfied with what Jonasson had accomplished. And I highly recommend this book.
One note on this series. This is listed as book three in the Dark Iceland series. It is the third to be translated into English. The action of this story actually takes place before that of Nightblind, listed as D.I. #2. I have read these books in the order of the English translation. This may lead to some temporary confusion as you begin Blackout, since you are moving backward in time, but I had no major difficulty with it. Some are reading these two books in reverse order. I would have to investigate further to find how they were published originally in Iceland but I will leave that for another. I recommend all of the books I have read and I plan to read the rest of the Dark Iceland series when they are available.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Here in northern Iceland the blackouts are more metaphoric, where the sun may be bright almost continuously but there are lies and half truths and unspoken thoughts interfering with a murder investigation; a man has been found outside of a home he has been helping to build, beaten to death.
There are many strands to this story but I urge patience. You will be rewarded. There are several moments in this book where I felt truly satisfied with what Jonasson had accomplished. And I highly recommend this book.
One note on this series. This is listed as book three in the Dark Iceland series. It is the third to be translated into English. The action of this story actually takes place before that of Nightblind, listed as D.I. #2. I have read these books in the order of the English translation. This may lead to some temporary confusion as you begin Blackout, since you are moving backward in time, but I had no major difficulty with it. Some are reading these two books in reverse order. I would have to investigate further to find how they were published originally in Iceland but I will leave that for another. I recommend all of the books I have read and I plan to read the rest of the Dark Iceland series when they are available.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
July 13, 2018
There was a lot of potential in this story but it was so confusing I never totally connected with it. Perhaps if I had read the previous in the series, this one would have made more sense. The mystery/police drama did have a nice plot twist that I found completely surprising.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 5, 2017
It’s the summer of 2010 & Iceland is just getting back to normal after the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull that spring. In Siglufjödur, Ari Thór Arason is settling into life as a small town cop. Two years ago, he was living in Reyljavík with girlfriend Kristín when he qualified as a police officer. But jobs were scarce so when an offer came from up north, he jumped.
Crime in the area is usually of the petty variety so Ari is more than a little surprised when he’s told a tourist has stumbled over a body. There’s no question it was murder & the victim is soon identified as Elías Freysson, a sub-contractor working on the new tunnel. Freysson divided his time between Siglufjödur & Akureyri (to the southeast), giving Ari & boss Tómas lots of ground to cover as they start to pick apart his life.
In alternate chapters we meet a TV news reporter named Ísrún based in Reykjavík. It’s a high stress, cutthroat environment & she’s slowly dying of boredom from covering the puff pieces assigned by a competitive boss. When news of the murder trickles south, she sees her chance & manages to get sent to Akureyri as a second stringer.
There are several side stories that accompany the murder & each is told through the eyes of the character involved. As chapters alternate & time lines shift, we gradually learn what each has been up to for the year preceding Freysson’s death. There are some ugly truths & hidden connections waiting to emerge that gradually weave the story lines together. The title comes from a description of the 1947 eruption of Hekla but proves an apt metaphor for the dark burdens some of these characters carry.
This is not a shoot ‘em up thriller. The author takes time building the characters, making you privy to their thoughts & complicit with their actions. The fact we know more than Ari lends the story a sense of urgency as we follow his investigation, wondering how he’s going to uncover what we already know in time to save a life. The author does a good job of showing the grunt work most cops endure until one casually tossed out comment spins the case into focus.
All the while we’re surrounded by one of the most important characters, the setting. Gusty winds, summer sun tarnished by ash & looming mountains that silently bear witness. The isolation that sneaks up on you within minutes of passing the last house in town. This is a location that shapes people’s thoughts & actions.
The pace ramps up for the final quarter as some big pieces fall into place. The last few pages make it clear there are some changes ahead for Ari & ensure fans will be scrambling to get their hands on the next one.
Shout out to the those responsible for cover design in this series. Each has a clean, striking graphic that somehow manages to send a little chill up your spine.
Just a note to all those who have been waiting to devour the english translations of this series. The original books were not written or published in chronological order. If you want to follow Ari Thór’s journey as it happens, the order is as follows: Snowblind, Blackout, Rupture, Nightblind. There are 2 other books I have not found translations for yet: Fölsk Nóta (this is the very first book that precedes Snowblind) & Andköf (will be called Whiteout, takes place between Rupture & Nightblind in terms of the MC’s timeline).
January 6, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
"Blackout" is book 2 in the Dark Iceland Series, but it was published in third place after "Nightblind", which is book 5 but was published second. Between books 1 and 5 there's a period of 5 years. When I started this series a couple of years back I thought that the publication order of the english translations was the correct one, so I read book 1, book 5 and now book 2, so when I first started "Blackout" I was a bit confused. Anyway, nonsensical publication strategies apart, "Blackout" is a very good addition to the series. In fact, the best one yet.
As usual, Mr. Jónasson paints a vivid portrait of a remote town and, thanks to a crisp prose and no overinflated descriptions, manages to create a suffocating atmosphere. He's one of the best at creating dark oppressive scenarios where the claustrophobia is at its peak when out in the open. I just wanna go so badly to Iceland based on his descriptions.
I found very interesting the contrast between the blackout in the south because of the volcano's ashes and the 24 hour light in the north, where the murder happens. I could almost feel myself breathing those ashes.
The mystery was very well done and I liked how everything tied up at the end. Ari Thór's character is showing some side of his personality that will make him much more interesting in the books to come.
This whole series has a golden age whodunit feel but with a modern twist, and any fan of Nordic noir crime should read them.
"Blackout" is book 2 in the Dark Iceland Series, but it was published in third place after "Nightblind", which is book 5 but was published second. Between books 1 and 5 there's a period of 5 years. When I started this series a couple of years back I thought that the publication order of the english translations was the correct one, so I read book 1, book 5 and now book 2, so when I first started "Blackout" I was a bit confused. Anyway, nonsensical publication strategies apart, "Blackout" is a very good addition to the series. In fact, the best one yet.
As usual, Mr. Jónasson paints a vivid portrait of a remote town and, thanks to a crisp prose and no overinflated descriptions, manages to create a suffocating atmosphere. He's one of the best at creating dark oppressive scenarios where the claustrophobia is at its peak when out in the open. I just wanna go so badly to Iceland based on his descriptions.
I found very interesting the contrast between the blackout in the south because of the volcano's ashes and the 24 hour light in the north, where the murder happens. I could almost feel myself breathing those ashes.
The mystery was very well done and I liked how everything tied up at the end. Ari Thór's character is showing some side of his personality that will make him much more interesting in the books to come.
This whole series has a golden age whodunit feel but with a modern twist, and any fan of Nordic noir crime should read them.
August 2, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publication Date: August 28th, 2018
A discovered body, a determined journalist, a love stricken cop, and a human trafficking scandal all set in Iceland. This was a fairly straightforward plot with many characters in the spotlight, but I never really felt immersed in the story or particularly shocked by any of the stories twists. It's akin to watching a season finale and having no idea what the characters have gone through to get to this point. But I LOVE the cover and have no quibbles about the translation.
A discovered body, a determined journalist, a love stricken cop, and a human trafficking scandal all set in Iceland. This was a fairly straightforward plot with many characters in the spotlight, but I never really felt immersed in the story or particularly shocked by any of the stories twists. It's akin to watching a season finale and having no idea what the characters have gone through to get to this point. But I LOVE the cover and have no quibbles about the translation.
November 15, 2018
Icelandic noir author Jonasson delivers another police procedural featuring Ari Thor Arason. The skies of Reykjavik are still filled with ash following the 2010 spring eruption of Eyjafjallojokull, “the sky was unusually dark, the sun hidden behind the thick mineral haze, even though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.” The skies are clearer in Siglufjordur, but the menace is greater. A murdered body has been found in nearby Skagafjordur. And then Ari Thor finds a duffle bag full of money in the victim Elias Freysson’s apartment. Drugs? Or something more nefarious?
Isrun, the psychologist turned TV journalist hears of the body and heads north from Reykjavik. She pursues her own investigation. And where is officer Heynur Isaksson? His mind seems to be preoccupied by the past—barely registering that his fellow officers are investigating a murder. What’s up with that?
Recommend.
Isrun, the psychologist turned TV journalist hears of the body and heads north from Reykjavik. She pursues her own investigation. And where is officer Heynur Isaksson? His mind seems to be preoccupied by the past—barely registering that his fellow officers are investigating a murder. What’s up with that?
Recommend.
September 30, 2018
Dark Iceland series, book #3. I've really enjoyed the previous Dark Iceland books. Great nordic noir! Ari Thor is an interesting character. Love the Icelandic atmosphere conveyed throughout the story.
September 14, 2024
3.5 stars. The Dark Iceland series has either been translated or published in English in incorrect order. The first in the series was the excellent Snowblind, followed by Nightblind in the English translation as the next book available. However, Black Out and Rupture are numbers 2 and 3, whereas Nightblind is number 4 time wise. I was confused while reading Nightblind which takes place 5 years after Snowblind and referred to some previous events I was missing. I wish I had read them in chronological order.
Black Out takes place 2 years after Snowblind. It is summertime. In Siglufjorour the landscapes are brightened by the midnight sun and days are mostly warm. Cruise ships are bringing tourists. Reykjavik is under a pall of volcanic ash. A new tunnel is under construction which will lessen the isolation of Siglufjorour from the rest of the country, but bringing in types of crime previously unknown to the tiny northern village.
A man has been murdered. He was working on building the tunnel and also known for charity work. Everyone seems unhappy and hiding secrets. Ari Thor, policeman, is distracted due to loss of his girlfriend. He is impulsive and has anger issues. His boss, Tomas, is miserable because his wife is living in Reykjavik and he doesn't know if he wants to move. The third policeman is so distracted by a personal problem he can barely function.
A reporter from Reykjavik comes north inserting herself into the murder investigation, escaping the volcanic dust in the city. She has dark secrets of her own.
This is another addition to Nordic Noir literature combined with classic detective style. It is atmospheric and strongly character driven. The plot is well constructed with some surprising twists and reveals. Translation is so well done that you feel it was first written in English, except for the names of places and of characters. The series is best read in its original chronological order.
Black Out takes place 2 years after Snowblind. It is summertime. In Siglufjorour the landscapes are brightened by the midnight sun and days are mostly warm. Cruise ships are bringing tourists. Reykjavik is under a pall of volcanic ash. A new tunnel is under construction which will lessen the isolation of Siglufjorour from the rest of the country, but bringing in types of crime previously unknown to the tiny northern village.
A man has been murdered. He was working on building the tunnel and also known for charity work. Everyone seems unhappy and hiding secrets. Ari Thor, policeman, is distracted due to loss of his girlfriend. He is impulsive and has anger issues. His boss, Tomas, is miserable because his wife is living in Reykjavik and he doesn't know if he wants to move. The third policeman is so distracted by a personal problem he can barely function.
A reporter from Reykjavik comes north inserting herself into the murder investigation, escaping the volcanic dust in the city. She has dark secrets of her own.
This is another addition to Nordic Noir literature combined with classic detective style. It is atmospheric and strongly character driven. The plot is well constructed with some surprising twists and reveals. Translation is so well done that you feel it was first written in English, except for the names of places and of characters. The series is best read in its original chronological order.
March 26, 2021
I liked this one more than the first one but I have a series of likes and dislikes.
It's a pretty fast-paced crime thriller with a number of different storylines that were all interesting and complex. Like the first book, it has a large cast of characters but I was able to keep track of everyone. And the star of the characters was Iceland, which is probably the best developed character of them all.
On the flipside, I still struggle with Ari Thor's character being so poorly developed. We actually see very little of him in this book and his storyline does move forward a little bit, but I still feel like I don't know him. And what we do see of him keeps coming across pretty douchey in his relationships with women. He sees the woman who he cheated on his girlfriend with and says it's her fault his girlfriend dumped him?? And then concedes that maybe he should share the blame?? Sorry mate, but that's all on you. 100%. Time to man up.
The crimes are pretty hardcore, brutal and plentiful. Maybe a bit too hardcore. We think we're getting murder, but we also get rape, human trafficking, child physical abuse, bullying, suicide, terminal illness... I felt a bit green.
And then it ends so abruptly that I kept flicking pages back and forth because surely there was something mising! We sort of knew what happened but there are definitely loose strings dangling everywhere. I assume the next book will start right where this one left off?
I'm going to keep reading the series but I'm not loving what the author is doing with Ari Thor. I am loving reading about Iceland though.
It's a pretty fast-paced crime thriller with a number of different storylines that were all interesting and complex. Like the first book, it has a large cast of characters but I was able to keep track of everyone. And the star of the characters was Iceland, which is probably the best developed character of them all.
On the flipside, I still struggle with Ari Thor's character being so poorly developed. We actually see very little of him in this book and his storyline does move forward a little bit, but I still feel like I don't know him. And what we do see of him keeps coming across pretty douchey in his relationships with women. He sees the woman who he cheated on his girlfriend with and says it's her fault his girlfriend dumped him?? And then concedes that maybe he should share the blame?? Sorry mate, but that's all on you. 100%. Time to man up.
The crimes are pretty hardcore, brutal and plentiful. Maybe a bit too hardcore. We think we're getting murder, but we also get rape, human trafficking, child physical abuse, bullying, suicide, terminal illness... I felt a bit green.
And then it ends so abruptly that I kept flicking pages back and forth because surely there was something mising! We sort of knew what happened but there are definitely loose strings dangling everywhere. I assume the next book will start right where this one left off?
I'm going to keep reading the series but I'm not loving what the author is doing with Ari Thor. I am loving reading about Iceland though.
March 17, 2017
I'm confused as to the reading order of this series bc this book continues right after Snowblind but you're supposed to read it after Nightblind. But Nightblind recaps what happened in Blackout. So I'm a little let down bc one huge aspect of this story was known to me from the beginning. Other than that I enjoy these books.
September 13, 2018
A dead body is discovered by an American tourist, badly beaten and barely recognizable. The body is identified as Elías Freysson, a subcontractor working on a local tunnel project, who is renovating a house in the country, and is also involved with a charitable organization. The local police station consisting of three officers investigates, but each has their battles: Ari Thór continues to lament his break up with the love of his life, Kristín; Tómas abandoned by his wife’s decision to go to college in Reykjavík; and Hlynur, who is wracked with guilt and shame for his actions in the past. The investigation takes a back seat to their lives and problems, and an aggressive television reporter from Reykjavík (Ísrún), who actualy solves the crime, ferreting out the reason for Freysson's mysterious trip to Nepal. Even her backstory of workplace treachery, physical scarring and the after effects of being a crime victim overshadow the murder and investigation.
This is a weaker novel than the other two already published in the U.S.: it lacks a strong central plotline, the motive of the killer is obvious but is out of sync with the entire story, and the tranquil beauty of Iceland has disappeared, replaced by the specter of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption, fouling the air and darkening the skies with ash.
This is a weaker novel than the other two already published in the U.S.: it lacks a strong central plotline, the motive of the killer is obvious but is out of sync with the entire story, and the tranquil beauty of Iceland has disappeared, replaced by the specter of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption, fouling the air and darkening the skies with ash.
January 26, 2020
Lielisks turpinājums sērijai par islandiešu policistu Ari Thor. Un šis ir turpinājums, nevis angliski publicēto grāmatu sajauktā secība, kurā sērijas pēdējā grāmata tiek izdota kā 2.! Muļķīgākais izdevēju pieņemtais lēmums, ar kuru esmu saskārusies pēdējā laikā, reāli maitēkļus cilvēkiem iedot... Tāpēc par sižetu neko daudz nevar stāstīt, kā tikai, ka atrasts nogalināts cilvēks, kas piedalījies jaunā tuneļa celtniecībā, izmeklēšanā iesaistās arī žurnāliste no Reikjavīkas, Ari un viņa kolēģiem ir savas privātās grūtības. Un Islandes galvaspilsētu klāj nesen izvridušā vulkāna pelni, kas polārajai dienai piedod īpaši sireālu paskatu un ietekmē ne tikai psiholoģiski, bet arī fizioloģiski.
February 17, 2025
Zweiter Teil der Dark-Iceland-Serie um den Polizisten Ari, welche im nördlichsten Teil von Island spielt (auf Englisch offenbar der dritte Teil). Der Kriminalfall ist nur mässig interessant, spannend ist dafür die Geschichte der ebenfalls involvierten Fernsehjournalistin Isrun. Am Ende gibt es zwei Cliffhanger, wahrscheinlich werde ich dann auch noch den dritten Teil lesen.
June 28, 2022
Pēc ilgāka pārtraukuma nolēmu paturpināt iesāktu detektīvsēriju, kas garlaikojas plauktā. Un tagad droši vien paies vēl daži gadi, pirms pieķeršos nākamajai grāmatai. Biju jau piemirsusi autora ļoti aprauto rakstības stilu, pie kura gan var pierast, bet brīžiem tomēr tas kaitina (īpaši brīžos, kad tulkojums ir stipri dīvains vai šis viņa minimālisms tomēr nav traucējis autoram atkārtot to pašu, ko jau rakstīja iepriekšējā lappusē). Pats stāsts ir visai ok, bet kopumā grāmatā ir pārāk daudz personāžu un sižeta līniju, un apmēram pēc 2/3 visi viņi mani tā jau bija izbesījuši, ka nācās grāmatu nolikt malā. Nudien, sen nebija gadījies, ka grāmatā man besī pilnīgi visi varoņi un ka es sāku ilgoties, kaut viņi visi drīz ietu bojā un lai tas būtu ļoti sāpīgi.
January 23, 2023
Op een heldere zomeravond, aan de oever van een stille fjord in Noord-IJsland, wordt een man op brute wijze doodgeslagen. Als een vulkaanuitbarsting een aswolk veroorzaakt die het heldere midzomerlicht verduistert, verlaat een jonge verslaggever Reykjavík om op onderzoek uit te gaan. Ze is zich er niet van bewust dat het leven van een onschuldig persoon op het spel staat.
Ari Thór Arason en zijn collega’s van het piepkleine politieteam van Siglufjörður worstelen met de complexe zaak, terwijl ze ook kampen met hun eigen sores. Welke geheimen had de dode man? En wat verbergt de jonge verslaggever?
Onuitgesproken verschrikkingen uit het verleden hangen als een donkere wolk boven alle betrokkenen en intussen moet Ari Thór alles op alles zetten om de zaak op te lossen voordat er nog meer doden vallen.
'Inktzwart' is het tweede deel in de serie 'Duister IJsland'. Zoals jullie misschien al weten houd ik enorm van Scandinavische thrillers en ook dit verhaal boeide mij weer.
De opbouw is heel erg langzaam en echt spannend wordt het allemaal niet. Er wordt een dode man gevonden en het is duidelijk dat hij is vermoord. Maar wat is er precies gebeurd en wie wilde deze man dood hebben?
Vervolgens zijn er verschillende verhaallijnen en personages waaruit verteld wordt. Langzaam wordt duidelijk hoe de vork in de steel zit. Ook lees je weer over Ari en de problemen die hij op het gebied van de liefde heeft. Ik had wel even moeite met al deze namen, want er komen er nogal wat op je af.
Ondanks dat het verhaal erg traag was, vond ik de sfeer en schrijfstijl wederom erg fijn. Ik kan begrijpen dat er ook lezers zijn die het misschien te traag en te saai vinden. Hier ligt in ieder geval het derde deel (Poolnacht) al klaar om gelezen te worden!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
Ari Thór Arason en zijn collega’s van het piepkleine politieteam van Siglufjörður worstelen met de complexe zaak, terwijl ze ook kampen met hun eigen sores. Welke geheimen had de dode man? En wat verbergt de jonge verslaggever?
Onuitgesproken verschrikkingen uit het verleden hangen als een donkere wolk boven alle betrokkenen en intussen moet Ari Thór alles op alles zetten om de zaak op te lossen voordat er nog meer doden vallen.
'Inktzwart' is het tweede deel in de serie 'Duister IJsland'. Zoals jullie misschien al weten houd ik enorm van Scandinavische thrillers en ook dit verhaal boeide mij weer.
De opbouw is heel erg langzaam en echt spannend wordt het allemaal niet. Er wordt een dode man gevonden en het is duidelijk dat hij is vermoord. Maar wat is er precies gebeurd en wie wilde deze man dood hebben?
Vervolgens zijn er verschillende verhaallijnen en personages waaruit verteld wordt. Langzaam wordt duidelijk hoe de vork in de steel zit. Ook lees je weer over Ari en de problemen die hij op het gebied van de liefde heeft. Ik had wel even moeite met al deze namen, want er komen er nogal wat op je af.
Ondanks dat het verhaal erg traag was, vond ik de sfeer en schrijfstijl wederom erg fijn. Ik kan begrijpen dat er ook lezers zijn die het misschien te traag en te saai vinden. Hier ligt in ieder geval het derde deel (Poolnacht) al klaar om gelezen te worden!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
November 19, 2019
Pitam se, pitam..... je li isti čovjek pisao Snježno sljepilo i Zamračenje? Da ne piše autorovo ime na koricama sa stopostotnom sigurnošću bih rekao da nije, iako ni to ništa ne znači.
Nego... trebam li napominjati kako mi je Snježno sljepilo bilo za klasu bolje? Eto, spomenuh.
U Snježnom sljepilu predstavljen nam je Ari Thor, mladi policajac, nesuđeni svećenik, koji je zaista izgledao kao lik čije će se avanture u budućnosti s užitkom pratiti. Također, bio je vidljiv i utjecaj Agathe Christie na mladog pisca koji revno prevodi njezina djela. I sve je to zaista funkcioniralo u Snježnom sljepilu, moderni krimić s daškom krimića starog kova.
Zamračenje je u potpunosti ogoljeno tih faktora. Ari Thor je postao lik koji me živcira, kojeg uopće ne želim vidjeti na stranicama romana. A gle čuda, i tu mi je želju autor ispunio. Ari Thor je gotovo apsolutno nepotreban u radnji cijelog romana, slučaj bi se gotovo u potpunosti riješio bez njega. njegova prisutnost u romanu očigledno je bila potrebna samo da me iživcira. A cjelokupni slučaj i misterija oko kojeg se novinari i policija motaju... ajmo reći da bi radnja cijelog romana mogla stati na vratolomnih četrdesetak stranica nakon kojih mi sigurno ne bi ništa nedostajalo. Ostalih dvjestotinjak bila je samo, na trenutke jako dosadno i uglavnom nepotrebno, proširenje. Žao mi je, gospon Ragnar, možda ste si trebali ipak malo više vremena uzeti za napisati dostojan nastavak.
Nego... trebam li napominjati kako mi je Snježno sljepilo bilo za klasu bolje? Eto, spomenuh.
U Snježnom sljepilu predstavljen nam je Ari Thor, mladi policajac, nesuđeni svećenik, koji je zaista izgledao kao lik čije će se avanture u budućnosti s užitkom pratiti. Također, bio je vidljiv i utjecaj Agathe Christie na mladog pisca koji revno prevodi njezina djela. I sve je to zaista funkcioniralo u Snježnom sljepilu, moderni krimić s daškom krimića starog kova.
Zamračenje je u potpunosti ogoljeno tih faktora. Ari Thor je postao lik koji me živcira, kojeg uopće ne želim vidjeti na stranicama romana. A gle čuda, i tu mi je želju autor ispunio. Ari Thor je gotovo apsolutno nepotreban u radnji cijelog romana, slučaj bi se gotovo u potpunosti riješio bez njega. njegova prisutnost u romanu očigledno je bila potrebna samo da me iživcira. A cjelokupni slučaj i misterija oko kojeg se novinari i policija motaju... ajmo reći da bi radnja cijelog romana mogla stati na vratolomnih četrdesetak stranica nakon kojih mi sigurno ne bi ništa nedostajalo. Ostalih dvjestotinjak bila je samo, na trenutke jako dosadno i uglavnom nepotrebno, proširenje. Žao mi je, gospon Ragnar, možda ste si trebali ipak malo više vremena uzeti za napisati dostojan nastavak.
December 6, 2016
This might be Ragnar's best book yet. BLACKOUT has all the atmosphere and tension of his previous Dark Iceland books, but this story's central crime was the most compelling to me!! This story follows not only Ari Thor, but also a young female journalist who's investigating the same crime as Ari Thor. The two characters approach the same story from very different angles, giving the reader a circumspect view of a crime that's so much larger than either individual could imagine.
This book is just fantastic. It has all the gloom and moody atmosphere of a Scandinavian crime read, with Ragnar's trademark subtlety and flair for character development. Highly, highly recommend this series!!!
This book is just fantastic. It has all the gloom and moody atmosphere of a Scandinavian crime read, with Ragnar's trademark subtlety and flair for character development. Highly, highly recommend this series!!!
December 20, 2020
i am quite a fan of nordic thrillers and noir. but this one i found boring, nice descriptions of Icelandic nature but hardly any tension. too much of repetitive information. it seems sloppy in editing. a nice cutting could do a lot to the book. how many times can we read that Hlynur getting threatening emails and Ari Thor broke with Kristin. what i am sure is nature is great in Iceland but for this normally i travel no need to read.
May 11, 2021
There were chapters in this book where my stomach was in knots and I felt ill. It is quite dark and illustrates what can result when children are abused in secret and carry the pain alone inside them into adulthood.
Some lines that captured my attention:
"The walls were hung with paintings from far-flung parts of the world: one from Africa, another of an Asian scene and a watercolor of Rio de Janeiro. This was clearly a traveller's home, a repository of memories."
Some lines that captured my attention:
"The walls were hung with paintings from far-flung parts of the world: one from Africa, another of an Asian scene and a watercolor of Rio de Janeiro. This was clearly a traveller's home, a repository of memories."
July 27, 2016
Black Out – A Bright Light in the Dark
Ragnar Jónasson is back with the third in his Black Iceland series with Black Out, which is truly a masterpiece of Icelandic Noir, which is distinctive from its Nordic cousin. Once again with a nod to the golden age of the detective fiction, Jónasson has written a really distinctive and evocative and thoroughly modern crime novel. Even if it seems like it is an old fashioned whodunit there are more twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Black Out is set during the volcanic eruptions of 2010 when the ash clouds kept much of Europe out of the air, Reykjavík rather than have its summertime 24-hour sunlight, the clouds are bringing darkness and choking to the City and the south of Iceland. It is from here that a TV reporter is able to escape and chase a story in the north of the country, unaware that a life of an innocent girl is in the balance, and she can final face her personal hell.
Ari Thór Arason and his colleague and Inspector Tomas have been drafted in to investigate a murder while leaving Hlynur Ísaksson to man the police station and deal with the problems of the small town of Siglufjörður. Ari and Tomas have noticed that Hlynur is not himself and do not know what he is taking his mind away from what he should be doing.
Ragnar Jónasson has given us quite a complex and enjoyable plot, where there are plenty of twists and turns, so nothing is predictable, which adds to the enjoyment. He has given us a powerfully evocative plot, a modern plot with issues that are feared across western Europe. Once again you feel the claustrophobia and the smallness of Iceland, while being contemporary and yet timeless.
Ragnar Jónasson is the award winning, Crown Prince of Icelandic Noir whose work has been excellently translated by Quentin Bates delivering a piece of work that is second to none. He brings together the best of Nordic Noir with the classic whodunit and has delivered a masterpiece. There are more twists and turns than twister, that will leave you breathless, but deeply engrossed in the story.
Ragnar Jónasson is a bright light in the dark, who is getting better with every novel he creates, is a work of stark beauty.
Ragnar Jónasson is back with the third in his Black Iceland series with Black Out, which is truly a masterpiece of Icelandic Noir, which is distinctive from its Nordic cousin. Once again with a nod to the golden age of the detective fiction, Jónasson has written a really distinctive and evocative and thoroughly modern crime novel. Even if it seems like it is an old fashioned whodunit there are more twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Black Out is set during the volcanic eruptions of 2010 when the ash clouds kept much of Europe out of the air, Reykjavík rather than have its summertime 24-hour sunlight, the clouds are bringing darkness and choking to the City and the south of Iceland. It is from here that a TV reporter is able to escape and chase a story in the north of the country, unaware that a life of an innocent girl is in the balance, and she can final face her personal hell.
Ari Thór Arason and his colleague and Inspector Tomas have been drafted in to investigate a murder while leaving Hlynur Ísaksson to man the police station and deal with the problems of the small town of Siglufjörður. Ari and Tomas have noticed that Hlynur is not himself and do not know what he is taking his mind away from what he should be doing.
Ragnar Jónasson has given us quite a complex and enjoyable plot, where there are plenty of twists and turns, so nothing is predictable, which adds to the enjoyment. He has given us a powerfully evocative plot, a modern plot with issues that are feared across western Europe. Once again you feel the claustrophobia and the smallness of Iceland, while being contemporary and yet timeless.
Ragnar Jónasson is the award winning, Crown Prince of Icelandic Noir whose work has been excellently translated by Quentin Bates delivering a piece of work that is second to none. He brings together the best of Nordic Noir with the classic whodunit and has delivered a masterpiece. There are more twists and turns than twister, that will leave you breathless, but deeply engrossed in the story.
Ragnar Jónasson is a bright light in the dark, who is getting better with every novel he creates, is a work of stark beauty.
June 7, 2021
I did not enjoy Blackout as much as I expected to. I really liked Snowblind, the first book in the series, and I had been looking forward to this one (which is the second in the series, although the third to be translated into English). But the story never grabbed me.
This time around, the hero of the series, Ari Thór Arason, shares the spotlight with a TV news reporter, Ísrún. I did not find her particularly sympathetic until quite late in the book, by which time I didn't care all that much. For that matter, I didn't relate to Ari Thór as much in this book as I did in Snowblind. Ari Thór and both of his police colleagues are dealing with personal issues that interfere with their work, but to a large extent, those issues were a distraction not only for the characters but also for me as a reader.
The story involves several interesting crimes that may or may not be related, so there's some suspense about that. And there are some very good themes in the book about guilt, personal responsibility, jealousy, revenge, and more. But in my opinion, there were too many strands that didn't coalesce into a compelling whole. And one of the best aspects of Snowblind—the role of the Icelandic winter weather that was a character in its own right—was mostly absent here.
I liked the book well enough that I'll continue with the series, but I wish I could be more enthusiastic about this one.
This time around, the hero of the series, Ari Thór Arason, shares the spotlight with a TV news reporter, Ísrún. I did not find her particularly sympathetic until quite late in the book, by which time I didn't care all that much. For that matter, I didn't relate to Ari Thór as much in this book as I did in Snowblind. Ari Thór and both of his police colleagues are dealing with personal issues that interfere with their work, but to a large extent, those issues were a distraction not only for the characters but also for me as a reader.
The story involves several interesting crimes that may or may not be related, so there's some suspense about that. And there are some very good themes in the book about guilt, personal responsibility, jealousy, revenge, and more. But in my opinion, there were too many strands that didn't coalesce into a compelling whole. And one of the best aspects of Snowblind—the role of the Icelandic winter weather that was a character in its own right—was mostly absent here.
I liked the book well enough that I'll continue with the series, but I wish I could be more enthusiastic about this one.
October 31, 2018
For me this was a 2.5 star read. I only rounded it up for the placement feel for those long light days in various Icelandic locations because the locale feel is exact and intense throughout the book. But in other ways, I felt in my reading- an inherent unevenness.
It was mainly in the plot but also within the way the characters were introduced. So many and in constant switching to context for their "placement" within any set of issues, the crime of homicide, or the off and on again "love and relationship" narration "thoughts".
For me they just didn't connect with such cold, detached or depressive or guilty or other states of "unhappy" characters to make the entire thing gel. It didn't seem a whole progression, but almost random musings.
The ending with that future "illness" suggestion and reveal aftermath? This made me consider a 2 star.
I don't think Ragnar Jonasson is my cup of tea. And I doubt I would read another. Too much detachment and "he said, she said" switching of characters and storylines in this one, for my taste.
It was mainly in the plot but also within the way the characters were introduced. So many and in constant switching to context for their "placement" within any set of issues, the crime of homicide, or the off and on again "love and relationship" narration "thoughts".
For me they just didn't connect with such cold, detached or depressive or guilty or other states of "unhappy" characters to make the entire thing gel. It didn't seem a whole progression, but almost random musings.
The ending with that future "illness" suggestion and reveal aftermath? This made me consider a 2 star.
I don't think Ragnar Jonasson is my cup of tea. And I doubt I would read another. Too much detachment and "he said, she said" switching of characters and storylines in this one, for my taste.
October 25, 2020
Mantengo lo que puse en mi reseña del primer libro de la serie"La sombra del miedo". Sigue la misma senda del anterior, para mí un thriller "light"pero que sin embargo se lee muy a gusto. Siguen apareciendo unos personajes bastante curiosos y ese pueblo con esas nevadas y casi permanentemente aislado, está muy bien perfilado. De todos modos, ahora voy a la búsqueda de algo más truculento :-)
February 7, 2017
Brilliant... Love love love this series
July 27, 2018
I love the bleakness and stark setting of Nordic noir and have become a great fan of the Dark Iceland series for exactly those reasons, as well as a fondness for detective Ari Thor Arason, who finds himself marooned in the small fishing village of Siglufjörður in the remote North of the country for his first police placement.
Whilst the first book in the series saw the village engulfed in winter and virtually cut off from its surroundings, we now get to see it in summer, and the 24-hour daylight that can be as strange as the winter darkness. The rest of Iceland is engulfed in smoke and ash from two volcanic eruptions, which adds the somewhat foreboding atmosphere that is so characteristic of Jonasson’s writing. Ari Thor takes a bit of a backward step in Blackout, as we are introduced to young journalist Isrun, who is investigating the same crime as Ari Thor – the brutal murder of a man in the neighbouring town of Skagafjörður. Ari Thor’s superior Tomas and his colleague Hylnur also make a repeat appearance, as does Kristin, his ex-girlfriend, who has met a new man after her split with Ari Thor.
I really liked Isrun and enjoyed the different angle her investigation added to the case. Like every other character in the book, Isrun comes with a troubled past that added extra depth to the story. But as usual, it is the setting that adds the richest character of all, shaping people’s thoughts and actions and drawing the reader deeply into this wild and remote place. Perhaps it is the armchair travel that has me so utterly addicted to the series, but I emerged from the pages slightly dazed as if I had awoken in a different world completely alien to my own. Such is Jonasson’s skill that the atmosphere perpetrates deeply into the reader’s psyche, until it almost seems like reality.
I will not go into the plot of this whodunit, other than to say that it is a classical police procedural with the added angle from Isrun’s rogue investigation, and all the strings tie together very satisfactorily in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest instalment in the Dark Iceland series and have already purchased Nightblind, which is the 2nd book in the series but chronologically takes place a few years after this one – and I look forward to see what life is holding for Ari Thor five years on!
In summary, if you like Nordic noir and haven’t discovered this series yet, I urge you to do so! Jonasson’s writing is atmospheric and will transport you to a wild and remote place, where murder has that extra chill factor that characterises the genre.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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Whilst the first book in the series saw the village engulfed in winter and virtually cut off from its surroundings, we now get to see it in summer, and the 24-hour daylight that can be as strange as the winter darkness. The rest of Iceland is engulfed in smoke and ash from two volcanic eruptions, which adds the somewhat foreboding atmosphere that is so characteristic of Jonasson’s writing. Ari Thor takes a bit of a backward step in Blackout, as we are introduced to young journalist Isrun, who is investigating the same crime as Ari Thor – the brutal murder of a man in the neighbouring town of Skagafjörður. Ari Thor’s superior Tomas and his colleague Hylnur also make a repeat appearance, as does Kristin, his ex-girlfriend, who has met a new man after her split with Ari Thor.
I really liked Isrun and enjoyed the different angle her investigation added to the case. Like every other character in the book, Isrun comes with a troubled past that added extra depth to the story. But as usual, it is the setting that adds the richest character of all, shaping people’s thoughts and actions and drawing the reader deeply into this wild and remote place. Perhaps it is the armchair travel that has me so utterly addicted to the series, but I emerged from the pages slightly dazed as if I had awoken in a different world completely alien to my own. Such is Jonasson’s skill that the atmosphere perpetrates deeply into the reader’s psyche, until it almost seems like reality.
I will not go into the plot of this whodunit, other than to say that it is a classical police procedural with the added angle from Isrun’s rogue investigation, and all the strings tie together very satisfactorily in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest instalment in the Dark Iceland series and have already purchased Nightblind, which is the 2nd book in the series but chronologically takes place a few years after this one – and I look forward to see what life is holding for Ari Thor five years on!
In summary, if you like Nordic noir and haven’t discovered this series yet, I urge you to do so! Jonasson’s writing is atmospheric and will transport you to a wild and remote place, where murder has that extra chill factor that characterises the genre.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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