Really enjoyed this book. Definitely a style of writing you have to get used to. It's simplistic and to the point most of the time.

This is a perfectly enjoyable easy read, perfect for beach reads. The writing is ultra simplistic and even though the characters are a tiny bit 1 dimensional it doesn’t take away from the reading pleasure.
Iceland’s most famous crime writer is missing, presumed dead and Helgi our policeman hero is called back from visiting his ill mother on the other side of the island to head up the case despite his lack of experience in missing persons cases.
Like all protagonists that are policeman Helgi has his share of personal problems which occasionally trespass on his attention to the case.
We meet the missing writers close circle of friends and they all lie to Helgi at various points.
There is also a case of a missing policewoman going on in the background - I don’t know why.
This is a delightful read in the style of Alexander Mc Call Smith so you get these twee characters with not much depth or shade but it’s a great way to pass the time reading especially if you are avoiding a much harder book

This is a new book in the Reykjavik police series. Helgi is now the investigating officer, taking over from Hulda, who has hasn't been seen since she left work. Helgi's current case is trying to find Elin, a writer who has disappeared, The chapters are either about Helgi's current investigation, an interview between a writer and journalist, and one of Hulda's past investigations.
Some of the strands of the book get resolved, but others are left open-ended, and the ending is shocking. I look forward to the next book to find out what happens!

I have read all of this authors books and remember he said in an interview that he taught himself English by translating Agatha Christie. Well this book is a result of all that I think! And he should be proud. It's golden age crime, agatha christie. A fine novel with ragnar's skill modelled into a golden age feast!!

This book follows Helgi who is an Icelandic police detective. Helgi has a great love for the golden age of crime novels so when a crime writer goes missing he is the obvious choice to investigate the case. The book also tells the story of a missing police officer, who was due to retire before she went missing. This book had a gut punch of an ending. It left more questions than answers and I am desperate to know what happens next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love Helgi, he is a great character. I wasn't aware this was a series and I will be diving into the previous books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this great book.

I enjoyed this book and the glimpses of Iceland it gave - both in terms of the scenery and the everyday lives of Icelanders. The case revolves around a missing crime writer and initially the police aren't even sure whether she's just gone on holiday and not told her friends... I enjoyed the references to Golden Age crime novels and definitely picked up a couple of recommendations along the way... Helgi was a great detective character - balancing the stresses of his personal life with investigating a longstanding group of friends. I wouldn't wholly describe this as cosy crime due to some of the undercurrents of the book so it may depend on what people are looking for as to whether they'd enjoy this title.

I hadn't realised this was part of a series (even after looking it up I'm still not clear which other books are in the series) and so there were a surprising number of loose ends once I'd finished the book. This was frustrating as the storylines had been woven together and I had been expecting resolution as I thought it was a standalone book.

A well-crafted mystery spanning many decades and multiple story threads. It had a number of left-field rug pulls at the end, along with the kicker at the finish.

Never disappointed with a Ragnar Jonasson book, excellent as ever. Would highly recommend. If you haven’t read any before I would suggest this as a good one to pick up.

The disappearance of a best-selling crime writer investigated by a crime-novel obsessed detective sounds like the material for a cosy crime story, but this turns out to be much darker than that. The story combines several threads : a decades-old interview with the missing novelist hinting at past secrets, an historic bank robbery with unresolved loose ends, a missing detective, Hulda Hermannsdottir, who may have been on the verge of a breakthrough on a cold case and the stalking of detective Helgi’s current girlfriend Anita by his ex. This makes it a compelling read and the story ends with multiple loose ends, hinting at a sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

An easy read but not altogether compelling mystery about a very popular crime writer who has gone missing. I correctly guessed the part of the plot very early on. I quite liked Helgi the main character but was not keen on the subplot involving his ex-girlfriend. A good short read that was not too taxing.

I read an ARC provided by Netgalley.co.uk and the publishers.

Again, we find ourselves investigating a crime with Helgi, and this time, it seems more impossible (a lot like those golden age detective novels he loves) than ever!!

A missing crime writer, a close-knit group of friends, and some wonderful timeline jumping gives us another atmospheric 5 x star read.

I loved how Helgi deals with life with a book in his pocket and an attitude to methodically solve crime.

This is the second book I’ve read by Ragnar Jónasson and it was just as good as Death at the Sanatorium!
Set in Iceland, we catch up once again, with Detective Helgi who is called to investigate the disappearance of famous crime writer Elín Jónsdóttir.

There are some clever clues, surprises, and once again, a shock ending. If you loved the authors previous work then this one does not disappoint!
A great read for lovers of detective novels.
I really hope there are more books in the series 😊

Ragnar Jónasson is a master of his craft. He drew me in to this Icelandic mystery with all the skill of one of the classic 20th Century novelists that his main protagonist, Detective Helgi, so admires.

A cracking good read, with all the red herrings and twists you could wish for and a shattering cliff-hanger ending that screams for the next book in the series to arrive as soon as possible.

Five stars from me!

My first read from Ragnar Jonasson, thank you NetGalley, Michael Joseph & Penguin Random House for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.

The story is about a famous Icelandic crime writer called Elin Jonedottir and she seems to have gone missing. We are then introduced to another main character Helgi who is a detective looking into case.

We go straight in to the action whilst switching between 3 different time periods & connected events.
It is a fast paced book, though on every page/chapter there is always something to make you think.. the little clues added along the way without realising they’re entwined in the story.

I really didn’t predict how the story was going to end, really good read!

A relatively quick read, and enjoyable one at that. Set in Iceland, a well-known crime writer disappears. Is she just taking time out, or has something happened to her?

The story explores this narrative and two others, which are connected and interweave throughout the story.

The ending leaves you wanting to read the next in the series (I hope there are more to come!)

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.