![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/icons/nav_back_xs.png)
Member Reviews
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar568544-micro.png?1734532890)
I do enjoy Jonasson’s Icelandic crime novels. They are slow burn and grounded.
Reykjavik focuses on a cold case that starts in the 1950s with a missing girl and ends in the 1980s, the climax taking place at the historical meeting between President Reagan and Gorbachev in Iceland.
1980s Iceland is not going to be a nostalgic trip for most English readers but the authors enjoy reminiscing within the fiction and it does bring the story to life with lots of background detail.
You may feel slightly cheated at the reveal but it’s worth the time getting there.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar486644-micro.png?1734532890)
An Icelandic mystery set over 30 years. A young 15-year-old teenager goes missing from the small island of Videy. When a young reporter picks up the story 30 years later new information is sent to him. This is very much an Agatha Christie type mystery. Was a crime committed. Where is the young girl Lara now. Murder will be committed to keep the secret of 30 years. This is a well-paced mystery intertwined with the 200th anniversary of Reykjavik. The changing face of Iceland over these 30 years comes across well and keeps you deeply engaged with the main characters.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar694772-micro.png?1734532890)
On a remote Icelandic island a windy boat ride away from Reykjavik, a 15 year-old girl goes missing from the home of a well-known barrister and his wife. A police officer is deployed from the mainland to investigate, but he only goes through the motions and returns to Reykjavik empty-handed and bare-headed. There the story goes cold until thirty years later, when an ambitious reporter begins digging further and the mystery heats up.
It's 1985 and Iceland is steeped in bicentennial celebrations while Reykjavik plays host to the historic Reagan-Gorbachev meeting. There's plenty to keep the front pages going, but Valur, the journalist, keeps digging on his cold case; his only confidante is his sister Sunna. But something is rotten, and soon the journalist with the nose for a story gains all the wrong attention. The novel is a marvellous noir thriller, every inch an homage to Agatha Christie, as well as a love poem to Reykjavik.
Ragnar Jónasson is a well-known thriller writer and his expertise shines through in the book. He is a deft hand with characterisations and plotting. And, true to its Icelandic setting, plenty of red herrings. The addition of Katrín Jakobsdottír (Prime Minister of Iceland) as author lends a cool political pedigree and extra touch of freshness to the writing. I barrelled along with the story, marvelling at the way Jónasson fleshes out the place and people as (I imagine) Katrín Jakobsdottír sheds light on the power play politics of relationships.
If you're a Christie fan, you're going to love this book and, if like me, you gravitate toward the Scandi side of crime fiction (Mankell, Läckberg, Sigurdardottir) you won't be disappointed. Uniquely, the authors kick the cops out early on and go rogue with amateur sleuths. After beginning with the unwelcome (and overdone) 'missing girl' scenario, we are spared any gratuitous scenes of violent devastation (Larsson) in favour of clue-collection and puzzle-solving a la the more cosy variety of crime writing. Also in its favour for the non-Icelandic speakers (me) there is a dramatis personae list and corresponding pronunciation guide and it's based on a real life mystery. Winner! I'm going to read Ragnar's back catalogue now and look forward to a new instalment from this writing pair. Thanks to NetGalleyUK and Michael Joseph for the eARC.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-micro.png)
I had forgotten how tense, exciting and atmospheric the best Icelandic Noir thrillers can be. This is up there with the best as over three decades since a young girl disappeared apparently in thin air, the tension builds as effort are made by an investigative journalist and then his sister to solve the mystery.
I was gripped from the beginning and captivated all the way through, as much by the descriptions of Icelandic life as the plot itself.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-micro.png)
A cold case from the summer of 1956. A young girl is working as a maid for a couple on an island. Fast forward to the present and a journalist takes up the mantle of this case. But why are they being thwarted at every turn?? Someone wants this case to be left buried. Another gripping read that kept me reading late into the night. Almost five stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc in return for an honest review.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar280854-micro.png?1734532890)
This is an amazing read from an excellent partnership of Ragnar Jónasson and IKatrín Jakobsdottír who is the Icelandic PM and let’s hope this is just the start of this writing duo and more is to come in the future.
The story is as you would expect from a Scandi one very dark and brooding with a slow build up and some surprising twists. I enjoyed the way the book was written and the plot was one that kept me guessing. The characters were well crafted and I loved the descriptions of the island of Videy they made it a place I would absolutely love to visit.
So all in all a brilliant mystery that kept me glued to the kindle I was swept away by the writing and captivated by the setting and plot well what more could you want!
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-micro.png)
I'm always curious about writing partnerships, about how they will work in practice, especially when one partner is perhaps more well known for writing books than the other. Not that I imagine that there was any pulling of rank in this particular pairing, but I can imagine those debates on plot and structure can get quite interesting at times. Even more so given that the authors in this particular instance took up the challenge right at the time that the entire world was facing lockdown and uncertainty due to the pandemic. If you were of any mind as to whether that could possibly work the answer is that, yes. It does. this is a very cleverly constructed mystery with a number of suspects and a long buried truth which has plagued the Icelandic people for thirty years. It's classic crime, a more modern day Christie-esque story that still (sadly for those of us very alive in 1986) technically qualifies as historical fiction.
This is a slow burner of a story and it did take me some time to get into the flow of the book. The early part of it, probably up to the 25-30% mark, is really about setting the backdrop to the present day story. The authors take time in establishing the circumstances surrounding the central case, the disappearance of 15 year of Lára Marteinsdóttir, who suddenly leaves her summer job on the small and exclusive island of Videy in 1956, never to be heard from again. We are present when the investigating officer, Kristján, arrives on Videy to question the girls employers, and from that moment on it is very clear that something untoward happened. That Lára did not leave of her own volition. We are faced with some very obvious suspects from the start, but are they too obvious? That is what we need to learn.
The authors then lead us through the anniversary years of 1966, 1976 and 1986, establishing the main players in the story and allowing us to learn a few tidbits more about what may have happened in the past and the tangled connections between people and events. It is really only when we meet journalist, Valur Róbertsson in 1986 that the pace starts to gain a little momentum. Alongside the upcoming 200th Anniversary of Reykjavïk, Valur is preparing a series of articles on Lára's disappearance in the hope of solving this mystery once and for all. It is this investigation, and all that happens around it that intrigued me the most. Vital clues are revealed, secrets that have been hidden to too long, which start to shed some light on what happened.
The authors still manage to keep the truth hidden in plain sight with some canny misdirection. This is where I get that sense of the Christie-ness about it all. There is the original mystery - Lára's disappearance, but then a pivotal moment halfway through the book, where the truth is threatened to be revealed and some bit even happens which stalls things, if only momentarily. It is really at this point in which you can feel that shift in gear, much as you would in a Marple or Poirot mystery, the pace escalating and so too my engagement in the book. I really did become hooked in those final pages, glued to the page and wanting to see the truth revealed.
The authors have certainly created interesting characters in Valur and his sister Sunna. Although Sunna is not really a key character until later in the book, I really liked her. I understood her determination and liked the way in which the authors were able to portray not just her vulnerability but her strength. Valur was, in some ways, the typical journalist, looking for his big scoop and yet shrouded in self doubt. His curiosity was the thing which piqued my own, but it was really spending time with Sunna that drew me completely into the book.
This was an enjoyable mystery, although it you are looking for something fast paced and action packed, it's not to be found in these pages. this is a book that will intrigue and set the 'little grey cells' into action. I liked the way in which the authors have incorporated real life into the book, mixing Reykjavïk fact with a little bit of fiction, and embellishing a few moments in Ragnar Jónasson's own career to feed them into the story. If you read the afterword you will understand. If you are a fan of Jónasson's Dark Iceland series then I think this book will definitely appeal. As I said before, it's a slow start but if you keep the faith you will be rewarded with a mystery that has echoes of classic Christie.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar799218-micro.png?1734532890)
A gently paced novel, written with delicious descriptions of beautiful Iceland. Being a fan of the author, reading the book felt familiar. I enjoyed it.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-placeholder-micro.png)
Reykjavik is a collaboration between Ragnar Jónasson and the Icelandic PM, Katrín Jakobsdottír. The first half is clearly written in Jonasson’s unique style, and feels like a typical start to his Icelandic crime novels. However an extremely dramatic twist half way through leads us into Jakobsdottir’s half of the book, and although the ending doesn’t quite stand up to the build up, it’s a hugely enjoyable and easy read.
It doesn’t have the cutting edge and darkness of Jonasson’s previous books, however the speed of the story led to an enjoyable read.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1182406-micro.png?1734532890)
This was a good read. It kept me guessing. I love to read anything set in Iceland and by Icelandic authors and thus did not disappoint.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-micro.png)
In 1956, on a small island just offshore of Reykjavik a teenage girl goes missing. The police investigation draws a complete blank. Public interest is intense and revives from time to time when articles appear in the press. Vildur, a young journalist is encouraged by his editor to take another look at the case as the thirtieth anniversary is coming up. As he starts to uncover a few clues he's excited - this could be the big scoop that makes his name. A brief phone call from someone who clearly knows what happened and then a cryptic clue arrives and he feels he's on the brink of a breakthrough. This is a good plot with a flowing action filled narrative. You won't guess whodunit but you won't put it down.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1182060-micro.png?1734532890)
I read the author in the past and I enjoy some of his books. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the access to this ARC I feel very lucky to had the chance. Talking about the book Ragnar is a good writer and a good storyteller we all got this clear. There is some intensional confusion for the reader cause completely for the author and yes he wanted cause it. So it is a book that need all your attention at time. The plot was interesting but the whole book is a slow pace at the beginning that became a pain but after a while I get it and like it lots. I so recommend it to the fans of the author
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-placeholder-micro.png)
What a great way to get an insight to Icelandic culture and history. Brilliant! Full of suspense, detail , a smidge of humour , a real page turner. More please.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar508069-micro.png?1734532890)
A teenage girl goes missing on an island only inhabited by two others; a married couple. The young policeman in charge of the investigation lacks experience, authority and confidence resulting in an obvious awareness of a disinclination from his superiors to upset or ruffle feathers of the influential and wealthy followed by an instruction to complete the investigation at the earliest opportunity . Three decades pass with irregular trawls through inconclusive information and leads until a young journalist intent on making a name for himself focuses with unprecedented vigour on unpicking the details of the unsolved case. The investigation then gathers momentum with an unexplained death triggering the involvement from a fresh perspective intent on solving the whereabouts of the missing girl and information of any potential crime. Great attention and research into the background ambience of the various decades and city. If a slow start developing characters and place this is quickly replaced by an awareness a crime has been committed and those responsible apprehended and brought to justice. A neat tying up of loose ends, followed by a surprising conclusion if lacking in the intensity of a truly riveting mystery. Many thanks to authors, publisher and Netgalley for ARC.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar603636-micro.png?1734532890)
Icelandic writers offer a style of their own, with the country, climate, language and history being so unique, and Ragnar Jonasson is a master of this genre - this is his first book written with Katrin Jakobsdottir, the Icelandic Prime Minister and expert in Icelandic Literature. The story centres on the long unsolved mystery of the disappearance of a 15 year old girl who had set off to spend the Summer of 1956 working as a maid for a couple on an island. When a young and ambitious journalist begins investigating, it soon becomes apparent that there are powerful forces involved in the case, who want it to remain unsolved. The story moves at a good pace and has plenty of twists and turns. Having read all of Jonasson’s books, the writing style in this one was not quite as flowing as in some others, but it is still gripping and exceptionally well plotted and characterised.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar730108-micro.png?1734532890)
A gripping and well constructed Icelandic crime novel from Ragnar Jónasson, this time in conjunction with Katrín Jakobsdottír, the Prime Minister of Iceland. I've read most of Ragnar's novels and enjoyed them all.
The plot involves investigating the disappearance of a 15 year old girl who had been working as a maid on a small island off the coast of Reykjavik called Videy. After over 30 years, the policeman first involved with the case still had no idea what had happened to her; then a local reporter decides to get involved...
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar857084-micro.png?1734532890)
I love Scandinavian crime novels, genuinely I don't know how they do it so well.
But whilst most are good, Jonasson is a class above anyone else. The Times newspaper once asked 'Is Ragnar Jonasson the best crime writer in the world?' If there is anyone better, please let me know as I have yet to read them