Le Temps de la sorcière

Einar #4

by Árni Þórarinsson, Éric Boury (Translator)

La vie est difficile quand on est alcoolique “en pause” et journaliste exilé, pour mauvais esprit, dans le nord de l’Islande. Pourtant, il se passe des choses dans ce grand nulle part bouleversé par la mondialisation et l’arrivée des émigrés. Un petit chien disparaît, une vieille dame téléphone pour dire que la mort accidentelle de sa fille arrange bien les affaires de son gendre. Des adolescents se suicident. Un reportage sur la troupe de théâtre du lycée est publié, et le jeune et talentueux acteur qui tient avec tant de conviction le rôle principal disparaît…
Pour échapper aux chiens écrasés et aux radios-trottoirs, mais surtout pour contredire l’ambitieux rédacteur en chef qui le téléguide depuis la capitale, Einar enquête sur cette microsociété gangrénée par la corruption, la drogue et la “politique des cousins”. Il étudie le théâtre classique et découvre un présent inquiétant peuplé lui aussi, si on y regarde bien, de sorcières.
Un roman noir plein d’humour, de vivacité et de suspense.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Nordic Noir, Mystery Thriller, Scandinavian Literature

425 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Árni studied comparitive literature at the University of East Anglia. He has worked as a journalist since 1971, and sat on several panels of judges at international film festivals.
Árni's first novel, Nóttin hefur þúsund augu (The Night Has a Thousand Eyes) was published in 1989, the first of a series about the investigative journalist Einar. He was one of the authors of Leyndardómar Reykjavíkur 2000 (The Reykjavík 2000 Mystery), along with other members of "Hið íslenska glæpafélag" (The Society of Icelandic Crime Writers). He has also written with Páll Kristinn Pálsson: crime novels, and scripts for television, including Dagurinn í gær (Yesterday), which aired in 1999, and 20/20, which Óskar Jónasson directed for RÚV in 2002. The latter was nominated for four Edda awards (The Icelandic Film Awards), including best script. Árni has also published an interview book with filmmaker Hrafn Gunnlaugsson, and his translation of a book for teenagers by the Dutch writer Evert Hartman received the Reykjavík Scholastic Prize in 1984.

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite getting off to a rather uneven start, I ended up really enjoying this Icelandic murder mystery. The cadence and style of the writing took me a little while to become accustomed to it. The first person narrative felt... odd. And the reason that seemed to have caused this is pretty strange - but both the writer (and narrator, Einar) are male, and the book was translated by a woman, which seemed to lend Einar a slightly feminine feel - more in a tonality than specific lines of the novel. Unfortunately, this made it slightly confusing, as I made it about twenty or so pages in, thinking Einar was a woman (I am not very familiar with Icelandic names, so this wasn’t really a gender cue for me), until Googling it to be certain and starting the book over with this new knowledge in hand. Maybe gender should be a consideration in the translation process - or at least if it is a story told in the first person... Either way, this is the first time that I have ever noticed anything like this!

Anyhow, after my confusion cleared away, I quickly became absorbed not only with the setting and plot, but also with the characters and the wonderfully natural dialogue between them. Thoararinsson integrated plenty of humour within these exchanges, making the novel even more fun. I especially loved the inclusion of song lyrics from Donovan (hence the title), even to Bob Dylan and the Beatles! And though the character names definitely added to the foreign feel, the book shared some common ground that fans of other Scandinavian fiction will find familiar. The backdrop of changing economics, politics and reactions to these changes definitely appeared in other Icelandic, Swedish and Danish mysteries that I have read in the past few years. But this theme merely underscored the novel, and never dominated the plot. And the plot was perhaps one of the strongest features here - full of twists, turns and surprises.

My only real complaint? Several moments throughout the book gave me that sense that this book is part of a series - and not the first installment. So, if that is the case, I sincerely hope that the remaining past and future books will appear Stateside soon!

[Ann-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny, excentric reporter in the outback of Iceland solving murder mysteries in a manner from a long time ago. No gruesome details, no explicit sex, no police procedural. I really enjoyed it and hope to read more about Einar.

[Pöfivonat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nagyon kellemes olvasmány volt, szerethető szereplőkkel. A cselekmény nem túl pörgős, ellenben érdekes. A könyv pikantériája a számomra kimondhatatlan nevek, érdemes őket gyorsan, visszafele olvasni. :D

Egy kérdésem maradt csak: Miért a negyedik részt adták ki először? o.O

[LettriceAssorta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il tempo della strega di Árni Thórarinsson è un romanzo di ottima fattura pubblicato dalle Edizioni del Capricorno nella collana La Metà Oscura, uno spazio ricco di titoli davvero interessanti e originali dedicato agli appassionati al genere noir.il tempo della strega La trama del libro ruota intorno ad Einar, giornalista della Gazzetta della sera, costretto ad abbandonare la cronaca di Reykjavík per trasferirsi a tempo indeterminato nel Nord dell’Islanda, dove assieme ad Asbjorn, con il quale non è in buoni rapporti, ha il compito di incrementare la diffusione del giornale nelle regioni settentrionali e orientali, che stanno attraversando un momento di profonda trasformazione economica e sociale. Einar ha una certa idiosincrasia per le zone rurali, si sente un animale da città, ma percepisce che forse questo cambiamento può giovargli. Durante il forzato esilio, la monotonia della sua vita viene spezzata da un’ondata criminale che investe la provincia islandese. La noia lascia il posto ad un’infaticabile ricerca di informazioni che condurrà il giornalista verso inattese scoperte e pericolose verità, in un crescendo di tensione e colpi di scena…

Il tempo della strega non è un semplice thriller, ma un romanzo poliedrico. L’aspetto sociale è certamente quello più sentito dall’autore, che si sofferma attraverso la voce del protagonista a riflettere sulla convivenza non sempre facile e priva di contraddizioni, tra i processi di innovazione e cambiamento da una parte e le tradizioni dall’altra. Un altro ambito molto sentito è quello relativo alle nuove tecnologie e ai meccanismi della comunicazione mediatica, entrambi mai scevri da risvolti perversi e crudeli. Lo stile della scrittura, nonostante la drammaticità di alcuni eventi descritti, ha un tono sempre vivace, giocoso, mai cupo. Le numerose citazioni, sempre appropriate, i rimandi ad opere teatrali, musicali e infine i proverbi islandesi, se da una parte arricchiscono il lettore di informazioni interessanti sulla cultura e le abitudini di quelle terre, dall’altra conferiscono al romanzo un certo realismo e un concreto valore. I dialoghi sono perfetti: spigliati, coinvolgenti, ricchi di spunti e curiosità, e soprattutto lasciano affiorare la personalità del protagonista man mano che si rapporta con gli altri. Ne emerge un personaggio fortemente riflessivo, intelligente e dotato di una spiccata ironia, a volte un po’ triviale e altre dannatamente caustica, ma sempre e comunque fedele ai suoi principi. Einar combatte la sua battaglia contro la dipendenza dall’alcol oscillando fra pessimismo e ottimismo, fra disperazione ed energia, cercando di reprimere la tentazione di bere che ogni tanto viene a galla con forza. Le sue considerazioni mordaci sono il filtro attraverso il quale affiora il contesto che lo circonda: una società in fervente mutamento, nella quale convivono, non senza contrasti, aspetti tradizionali ed elementi innovativi. Un libro che è stato un’autentica rivelazione, scaturito dalla penna di un autore di considerevole abilità. La storia conquista e avvince. Che si può volere di più?

Grazie dell'attenzione
La Lettrice Assorta su www.ilviziodileggereblog.wordpress.com

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Einar, a recovering alcoholic and former Reykjavík crime reporter, has been banished to Akureyri, but crime seems to have followed him. A local woman falls overboard during a whitewater rafting corporate team-building exercise but the victim’s mother refuses to believe it was an accident. Then the lead actor in a high school stage production about a sorcerer’s apprentice goes missing and is later found dead. Einar begins investigating and soon thinks the two cases might be connected.

This is the fourth book in a series featuring Einar though it is the first to be translated into English. The characterization of the protagonist and his relationships with his superiors at the newspaper hint at backstories probably developed in the earlier books. Why not begin translating the beginning of a series? (I encountered the same issues with Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole books.)

The novel is narrated in the first person by Einar. He comes across as a likeable person despite his flaws. His attitude to his superiors suggests he has problems with authority figures, although why he does is not explained. What is also missing is self-reflection; instead, there is social commentary. For instance, he focuses on Icelanders’ reactions to immigrant workers and the scourge of drug usage amongst young people.

Part of what makes Einar likeable is his sense of humour. There are several episodes that add comic relief. In particular, Einar’s relationship with a parrot adds touches of light-heartedness throughout. Not that there is a great deal of tension or suspense. The plot meanders and there is very little sense of imminent danger. So this book is not for those looking for a real thriller.

There is considerable focus on the play which the students are performing. Since I am unfamiliar with Loftur the Sorcerer, the tragedy written by Jóhann Sigurjónsson, I think I missed the significance of many of the references. All I know is that the Faustian play, based on a popular Icelandic folktale, is about a student who sells his soul to the devil.

This cannot be called a gripping mystery, but I found it charming and entertaining. The fact that I visited Akureyri recently probably coloured my enjoyment of the book. I will keep checking to see if more of the series is translated; I would definitely read them.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Einar series and I have not read the first three and don’t really know the whole story why Einar appears to have been exiled from Reykjavik to this much more isolated outpost. Einar is a journalist and he falls into murder investigations through his work for the paper.

The voice of Einar is written somewhat strangely. It took me a while to realize he was a man, there was just something about it that made me assume Einar was female. The mystery is fine, although I didn’t like his decision about the resolution at the end. The other characters are ok and even provide some comic relief. By the end, I was drawn into the story, but it is not one of my favourite series. I’m not sure I would read more in this series.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my virtual shelf for years, and since I needed it for a challenge, I finally got around to reading it. I love the Nordic crime novels, and the Icelandic in particular. This one did not disappoint, and it had an interesting premise with a newspaper reporter solving the crimes.

I wish more of his books were translated.

[Lynn Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I particularly liked the protagonist of this mystery, a middle-aged journalist who is quirky and funny and outgoing, not the gruff, noir-tinged figure of most police procedurals.

[Bokkjellden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heksens tid sterkeste kort er humoren og forholdene mellom karakterene. Synd at heksene stort sett var fraværende.

Resten av omtalen finner du på bokkjellden.com

[skattkatten_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

En både småtrevlig och smårolig historia.

[Suspense Magazine]

Icelandic newspaper reporter Einar has failed at pretty much everything that matters: as a reporter, as a husband, and as a father. Now he has been assigned to the northern city of Akureyri, far from bustling Rekyjavik as a last chance to keep his job with the Evening News. Here the former crime reporter must—to his chagrin—turn his talents to penning stories about high school play productions and lost dogs…or at least until the first body pops up.

So begins this Nordic knot of a story where the strands and strains of daily modern Icelandic life weave together to create a perplexing pattern of envy, greed, and lust. Einar follows these strands, one by one and through every twist and turn as he unravels the mystery confronting him. To this end, he is both helped by Jóa, the pretty young staff photographer and stymied by Ásbörn, their burned out local bureau chief.

Central to the story is the presence of charismatic young Skarphédinn, cast in the lead role of a coming production of “Loftur the Sorcerer.” All the local women, young and old alike, adore him, perhaps a little too much, while a gang of local young toughs appear ready to declare war against him. Meanwhile, at the other end of the economic scale, powerful and politically connected industrialists make clear their interests in keeping, to all outward appearances, everything neat and tidy.

In the end, a line from the play performed sums up the crucial crux of this tangled tale: “The most painful thing of all is to find out that the one who possesses you, heart and soul, is evil.”

Reviewed by Andrew MacRae, author of “Murder Misdirected” for Suspense Magazine

[Sebastian Hagedorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine Freundin von mir hat dieses Buch übersetzt, sonst hätte ich es vermutlich nicht gelesen. Ich bin aber froh darum. Es hat ein bisschen gedauert, bis ich reingekommen bin, aber nachher hat mir das Buch ziemlich gut gefallen. Es gibt ein paar Ungereimtheiten, vor allem die Frage, wie Einar ohne Kenntnis der PIN an den Inhalt der SIM-Karte kam, und man kann auch geteilter Meinung über die ethischen Urteile sein, die Einar fällt, aber das tut dem insgesamt positiven Eindruck keinen Abbruch. Die Figuren sind recht dreidimensional gestaltet, sie machen nachvollziehbare Entwicklungen durch, und man erfährt viel über die isländische Gesellschaft und Lebensweise. Es ist aber m.E. kein Krimi zum "Mitraten", weil der Leser dafür nicht genügend Informationen erhält.
Von der Hauptfigur, dem Reporter Einar, gibt es im Original schon eine ganze Reihe von Krimis. Ich hoffe, dass das Buch sich so gut verkauft, dass ich die Gelegenheit erhalten werde, auch noch weitere Bände der Reihe zu lesen.

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Season of the Witch
By Arni Thorarinsson
3 stars
pp.224

It was nice to get a picture of Iceland while reading Arni Thorarinsson’s fourth of the series, but first published in English, Season of the Witch. The protagonist, Einar is a journalist who covers crime. He has been banished from the capital, Reykjavík and now covers Northern Iceland.

Starting with the fourth of a series, one misses some of the back story of the protagonist and must fill in the where possible. It appears the Einar used to bend his elbow a bit but is now trying to dry up. He has a teenage daughter who he doesn’t live with but loves and he has a parrot. He is an intrepid investigator and that is what makes him interesting.

The story is intricate and interesting. I did have some problems with the resolution and the use of justice. I suppose each reader will have to answer if this satisfies their moral code.

I do think that this was interesting enough and promising to read more of the series, when they become available in English.

[Jean-Luc · Rating 2 out of 5]

N'attendez pas le suspense d'une enquête policière...peut-être au mieux état des lieux du malaise social et économique que peut vivre l'Islande et sa jeunesse.

[Reetta Saine]

Islantilaista noir-dekkaria, hmmm... Tunnelma toimi, päähenkilö oli marlowemainen geysir-lisällä. Juoni hatara, liikaa sivuja. Tietopaketti, jollaista ei matkaoppaan sivuilta löydä. Ok.

[Carol Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chatty Icelandic murder mystery with a newspaper reporter protagonist. Amusing and entertaining, but not terribly involving, somehow.

[Dorottya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reasonably exciting and compelling investigation crime story with some thrilling elements. It was fairly interesting and I really enjoyed the nostalgia aspect for me - it was not nostalgia when it came out, but it is definitely nostalgic for me - it was published in 2005, and one of the main themes of the novel was the fact that it was the era when cellphones became mainstream... and I really vividly remember this era, my 2nd-3rd year of using a cellphone... this technology was really new at that time, and I think the way it was depicted how a middle-aged, ageing man would try to resist these new weird technologies (the same I feel about some new technologies at the ripe age of 30).
Also, the concept was quite intriguing.

I had some issues with the novel, though.
The pacing / structuring of the novel was a bit off for me. I know it followed the formula of an investigation, with short snippets of visiting suspects or potential informants... but even with that, it felt too fragmented and not smooth enough.
The ending was a bit abrupt, and I wold not have minded a little bit more exploration of some of the characters.
There was also a character in the novel who was just too over the top, like a caricature... you know, this typical diabolically attractive, totally evil person, who can seduce everyone and is just so bad to the bone that they are doing everything just for the sake of power... this character was not believable.

[Jez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this was a good read. At first I was a bit sceptical as it’s written from first person perspective mixed with narrative, and it’s not entirely clear at first who exactly the subject is.
It’s about a newspaper reporter sent to the arse end of Iceland to try to boost the newspaper profile in the region. He’s not entirely welcomed into the community, and gets off on the wrong foot by getting bullied by his editor to publish a ‘light hearted’ short focus piece on the town.
Shortly after arrival a woman dies in a boating accident, and the story unfolds from there. Other seemingly mysterious deaths occur and he ends up investigating the deaths on the sly, while trying to maintain the illusion of working on general interest pieces.
It all weaves together nicely at the end (the very end, it’s all squeezed into the last few pages).
I enjoyed the atmosphere the book created, and the descriptions of small town Icelandic life. There is some dark humour scattered about, and the characters all have good distinct personalities, with the main ones being likeable.
A rocky first few chapters to get used to the writing style but after that I loved it. Interesting and kept me hooked to the end.

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery kept me guessing, the characters were interesting and there were some interesting observations and bits about Icelandic culture. For example Icelandic Easter eggs, famous Icelandic artists, and the "Terror Helmet" symbol were all new to me even though I've read many books by Icelandic authors.

I would definitely read future translations by this author, even though this one had some minor flaws. One chapter felt a bit disjointed, and in a couple places the author mentioned a new character in such a way as I thought it was an existing character I had forgotten about.

Before reading the book, it can be helpful to know that the book was written by a journalist, which adds credibility to the main character (who's also a journalist). The time period was not mentioned but presumed to be the same as the publication date of 2005. This is important because so much has changed technology since its publication, and that has some bearing on our understanding of the plot.

[Knit Spirit]

Einar, journaliste au Journal du Soir, a été muté dans le Nord de l'Islande et il s'ennuie à mourir. Cependant, lorsqu'un étudiant disparaît à Akureyri, qu'une femme tombe d'un bateau lors d'une excursion entre collègues et qu'une bande de loubards sème la zizanie dans une ville voisine, l'instinct du journaliste se réveille et l'enquête d'Einar va le mener bien plus loin qu'il n'aurait pu l'imaginer...
J'ai beaucoup apprécié cet ouvrage, les personnages sont attachants, le suspens est rondement mené et, comme à chaque fois que je lis un ouvrage qui se passe en Islande, j'ai plaisir à me remémorer les lieux.
Ce fut une belle découverte et j'ai donc l'intention de lire les autres ouvrages de l'auteur !
En bref : un bon polar !

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

An Icelandic journalist is “exiled” to the northern town of Akureyri and there investigates the death of a woman in a rafting accident and the killing of a high school student maybe connected to the changing Icelandic society. The protagonist is not well-drawn (it took a few chapters to realise he was male!) and he slowly stumbles upon clues in a story that does drag on even though the question of how the cases are connected is interesting. The link to the police is artificial, the sense of Iceland is not as strong as in similar novels and the whole thing is rather bland.

[Jane Segal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm fascinated by Iceland. This book takes place in a remote northern city; the amateur sleuth is a journalist who must unravel the quaint city facade to solve several local murders. Great background and character development.

[AVid_D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing outstanding but I did rather enjoy reading this - the central voice was very clear. Although it turns into a murder mystery, there is also some interesting observation/commentary on the social changes in northern Iceland.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty standard mystery. It was worthwhile for me due to my Iceland obsession, but I would recommend anyone go out of the way to read this one unless the obsession is mutual.

[Zora · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

All around a good story.
I had difficulty staying engaged in the reading, not certain if it was due to the translation or not.

[Stephen Bedford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. Number 4 in the series, but the only English translation. Looking forward to more translations.

[Buff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give it 3.5 stars, largely because it features Akureyri, which I've visited. Nice little Icelandic mystery.

[Jenar · Rating 1 out of 5]

L'he abandonat. Una carrinclonada.

[Caroline Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is a certain self-deprecating humor added to the mystery. Very entertaining and worth the read. Enjoy!