When Una, struggling to pay the mortgage on a flat in Reykjavik on a supply teacher's salary, sees an advert for a teacher in a small community in north east Iceland, it seems like the perfect opportunity to save some money and have a change of scene. However, when she arrives at the isolated rural community of Skalar she realised everything is not quite what it seemed.

Pervaded with a creeping sense of darkness and dread, The Girl Who Died was an enjoyably spooky read for a December night but if I'm honest, I think it didn't go far enough. I would have liked more build-up and tension prior to the events of Christmas, and more exploration of the sinister possibilities afterwards. Instead it felt rushed and the final dénouement (although it at least made sense of the irritating sections that periodically take the reader away from Una and Skalar - and break the tension at the same time) lacking in shock.

A solid 3.5 stars.

The Girl who died by Ragnar Jonasson
3 Stars
I struggled to finish this book because of repetition and the sheer dour nature of the tale. That the author can write is not in question but there was no light at the end of this tunnel.

It must be hard to attempt to write a crime novel based in a country whose criminal activity is so low. Perhaps a novel aimed at evidencing the ability of humans to not just live but thrive in this beautiful but inhospitable country would be a better vehicle.