One too many things happen in this story. Still enjoying the series, good candy. ( )

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. ( )

In het noorden van IJsland wordt een brute moord gepleegd. Ari en zijn chef Tómas hebben aanvankelijk geen hoofdrol bij het oplossen van deze moord, maar veel bekenden van de vermoorde wonen in hun regio, dus er is wel werk aan de winkel. Een journaliste van de tv wil wel eens belangrijk nieuws brengen, dus zij gaat in haar eentje ook naar het noorden en bezoekt diverse betrokkenen. Bijna alle personages in dit verhaal hebben persoonlijke problemen. In zekere zin leidt dat er toe dat een onschuldige vrouw op het nippertje wordt gered. Zoveel problemen in IJsland waar het mij altijd zo relaxt voorkomt...

I should not have spent time with this book, although by the end I was curious about how the author would resolve all the different story lines in the last 40 pages. ( )

Set in Northern Iceland, the story follows three local police officers and one reporter from the outside who are trying to solve a murder mystery. While the plot covers a timely topic (trafficking), I found it all a little contrived and difficult to connect with any of the characters. ( )