One evening an Icelandic crime writer is reported missing - there are no clues to her disappearance and the young detective, Helgi, is tasked with the investigation before the press is alerted.

As he interviews those closest to her he realises her life is not as it appears - that she has secrets which he needs to uncover.

Following on from Death at a Sanatorium, we learn more about his family and the fallout from his relationship with Bergthora. We also learn more about Hulda - whose office he took over and who also disappeared.

I read this is one sitting and enjoyed meeting these characters again. I suspect another instalment is due and I will be very happy to read it!

Intricate, Compelling..
Another complex and confounding case for the detective Helgi as a best selling author of crime novels seemingly goes missing with no apparent clues as to her whereabouts - the problem is that this disappearance needs to be investigated under the radar and before the press is alerted to the situation. Helgi is soon immersed into a complex web of scenarios and personalities as the interviews get underway. Once again, immersive and atmospheric and combining an intricate plot with a compelling cast.

Another case for Helgi the rather unconventional and insecure policeman in Iceland.
I have read the previous novels by Ragnar Jonasson and this novel would be rather confusing otherwise. His abusive relationship with Bergthora in the past is not so finished as Helgi had hoped for and intrudes into his relationship with current partner Anita.
Helgi has been lured back to the capital to look into the disappearance of a famous crime writer and single handedly investigates the case hoping to establish himself as a leading detective.
I liked all the surprises and twists that are uncovered surrounding the successful author and her close friends who although are all old school friends have become very successful in their own light.
In keeping with the feel of the rest of the book the final chapter does not focus on the missing author but on a dramatic development in his personal life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer is the story of a famous author, Elin, who goes missing. A detective, Helgi, picks up the case. The book delves into Helgi’s private life, as well as the lives of Elin, and some of the people closest to her - uncovering their pasts, and some secrets too.

There were some good twists, but a couple of aspects of the story did feel a bit predictable. But, it was an interesting read overall.

With thanks to NetGalley, and Michael Joseph and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

My first time reading this author and I was unaware of all his previous books which have met great acclaim; so, I anticipate that many will disagree with me and perhaps it’s the way he has always written. However, I think the author was trying too hard trying to include at least five different mystery story lines. The narrative moved backwards, forwards and sideways across the story lines, times and years making it a messy disjointed read. And did we need a continual weather forecast, I get it, it’s cold, damp and rains in Iceland.
My thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC.

I enjoyed this. It seemed like a fresh take on what I thought would be a run of the mill Nordic trope. It seemed a little lighter than Jonasson's previous novels and I read it relatively quickly.

Another great detective icelandic thriller from the author. There are several different timelines that develop different threads of the story. Really easy to read and a likeable main character. A very sudden ending! I honestly thought my device had frozen! Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime by is the latest crime novel by Icelandic writer Ragnar Jónasson and is primarily set in Reykjavik. As is usual with his books there are two storylines intertwined through the book in fairly short chapters and several characters from his previous novels feature in this.
Helgi Reykdal is the detective tasked with looking into the myserious disappearance of Elín Jónsdóttir, a famous retired novellist Elin has vanished without trace apparently a few days after taking a hike in the mountains with her best friend Lovisa.
It is a fascinating and enjoyable read with a number twists and turns including those involving Helgi's personal life.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
This is a follow on to ‘Death at the Sanatorium’ and the Hulda Hermannsdóttir series, ‘Hidden Iceland’, via Hulda, she being the detective that Helgi in the former had replaced..
The book cover and the title make it look like a cosy crime but it definitely isn’t, which was a surprise to me.
The very short chapters, as in his other books, make the book go quickly. It took a while to get into the story, as it had three timelines plus a subplot concerning Helgi’s ex girlfriend. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

’m a massive fan of Ragnar Jónasson books and was really excited to read The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime by Ragnar Jónasson.

In this book, Helgi Reykdal investigates the disappearance of a famous international bestselling crime author Elín S. Jónsdóttir. Hampering his investigations is the fact that Elin was such a secretive person. Weaving around the investigation, we learn more about Helgi’s backstory and family commitments and also the fallout from his relationship with Bergthora.

Much like Death at a Sanatorium, it also intertwines two different timelines, the current investigation into Elin’s disappearance and the disappearance of his predecessor Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir some years earlier.

The story moves along at a good pace and is very readable. I think it definitely helped me having read earlier books and already being invested in the characters Helgi and Hulda.

It feels like it’s all set up for another instalment with Helgi taking centre stage and I can’t wait to read that!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I read this book in an afternoon! Here is why.

Elín S. Jónsdóttir has gone missing. Thoughtful young police detective Helgi Reykdal is charged with finding out what has happened to Elin. Has the famous crime writer become a victim herself or is she just hiding? The author's friends are concerned but some of their behaviour is suspicious.
The story is told over several time lines. At first it is not clear how the various strands are connected but it is the desire to find this out that propels the reader on at pace. As Helgi's investigations progress in the here and now, what he discovers is backed up by details from the history. Past and present start to come together; slowly at first but then faster and faster until all is revealed, including some surprises. It is this clever structure that makes the book so exhilarating.
There is more to this book than just the solving a mystery. There is a significant sub-plot based around domestic violence. This does not not read like a clumsy add on, written to give the book a worthy edge. Rather, it is woven in deftly, adding much to the characterisation of Helgi as a careworn detective typical of Nordic crime writing.
Fascinatingly, there is the exploration of the crime genre that happens within the story. Indeed, the first thing we learn about Helgi is how passionate he is about books. In the journalist's interviews with Elin the crime genre is investigated. Most readers will think about Agatha Christie's disappearance long before the Helgi mentions it. In this way Ragnar Jónasson cleverly brings together the whole crime genre from its traditional beginnings to the more recent Nordic Noir.

This book will appeal to fans of the simple procedural style of Nordic noir but Agatha Christie fans will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing this arc. My review was given voluntarily.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jonasson

Wow! What a book. Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph/Penguin Random House for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.
I really enjoy Nordic Crime stories and was very happy to be approved to read this one.

The story starts off by introducing us to Elin S. Jonsdottir, a famous Icelandic crime writer and one of the main characters, we're then introduced to Helgi who is another main character and the detective looking for the missing crime writer. We are thrown straight into the action, but the story also switches between 3 different time periods and connected incidents. I found the first chapter quite cosy, almost like a Japanese story, as Helgi talks non-stop about his love for books, before rushing back to the city to work on the case.

This is a fast-paced book leaving no time for boredom. There is something to think about on every page and there are clues along the way that you might not even realise until the end. Which, by the way, I totally didn't predict. It was fantastic. This book is the perfect cosy mystery - there's no horror or gore, although there is an element of domestic violence.

Otherwise, it's a brilliant quick read that I'd recommend to anyone who loves crime.

When bestselling crime author, Elín S. Jónsdóttir goes missing almost everyone is suspected of being involved.

No one knows anything about where she is, is she dead or just missing.

This book was a good read and reminded me somewhat of the disappearance of Agatha Christie, it is a cozy mystery and one that I couldn't wait to finish.

This author is a brilliant storyteller and I have read a few of his books. This feels different from others he has written but no less enjoyable and fabulous

This was my first book by this author and it was a pleasing treat.

A retired mystery crime writer goes missing - or does she? Is she simply taking a break from her life or has something more untoward happened?

The story flowed well, each chapter drawing the eye and encouraging you to keep going. There were multiple timelines involved but it didn't take too long for the plots to start converging and combining to one finale.

I enjoyed that this was a mystery unlike many others. It was an unconventional case and conducted by an unconventional police officer. The main character loves his books, which makes this case all the more personal to him - I also loved that rather than a playlist that some books have, this story came with its very own story list, other tales to read from other authors to help you feel the mood of the moment.

The characters were all well written and enjoyable - not all likeable but considering the plot, you wouldn't want them to be. I also enjoyed the clearly overarching plot involving the characters outside of the main mystery. That ending had me hooked and I will be seeking out other stories in this series. Bravo.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

I absolutely adored this book and devoured it over a couple of days! It has easily been one of my favourite books of the year and I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future!

A cosy mystery with hidden depths of darkness. It’s a fast read - I gulped it down in a couple of hours. I enjoyed revisiting characters I love and desperately want the next after that ending……
The plot itself is simple, yet perfect. Not hard to follow and you will not get bored!