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Locked room mysteries that keep you guessing

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9 murder mystery books to read

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11 murder mysteries where you play detective

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Features

Jolabokaflod: the Icelandic Christmas reading tradition you need to know about

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A Reykjavík bookseller on why Iceland is the number one Christmas destination for book lovers

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer

THE NEW GRIPPING MYSTERY FROM 'NEXT-GEN NORDIC STAR' (LA TIMES) AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, RAGNAR JONASSON 
 
'ONE OF THE FINEST CRIME WRITERS IN THE WORLD TODAY' DAILY MAIL 
 
‘Jónasson is an automatic must-read for me . . . possibly the best Scandi writer working today’ LEE CHILD 
 
‘A master of the Icelandic thriller’ NEW YORK POST 
 
---- 
 
One winter evening, bestselling crime author Elín S. Jónsdóttir goes missing. 
 
There are no clues to her disappearance and it is up to young detective, Helgi, to crack the case before it's leaked to the press. 
 
As he interviews the people closest to her – a publisher, an accountant, a retired judge – he realises that Elín’s life wasn’t what it seemed. In fact, her past is even stranger than her stories. 
 
As the case of the missing crime writer becomes more mysterious by the hour, Helgi must uncover the secrets of a very unexpected life, before someone else goes missing . . .

Rooted in the golden age of crime fiction and full of charming literary allusions . Elegiac and satisfying

Ragnar Jónasson is the award-winning Icelandic author of the international bestselling Hulda series, the Dark Iceland series, and standalone crime fiction, with five million copies sold across 36 territories. Ragnar was also an executive producer of the CBS Studios TV series The Darkness, based on the first novel in his Hulda series, starring Lena Olin and directed by Lasse Hallström. His novel Outside is being developed for the screen by Ridley Scott.

One winter evening, bestselling crime author Elín S. Jónsdóttir goes missing. 
 
There are no clues to her disappearance and it is up to young detective, Helgi, to crack the case before it's leaked to the press. 
 
As he interviews the people closest to her – a publisher, an accountant, a retired judge – he realises that Elín’s life wasn’t what it seemed. In fact, her past is even stranger than her stories. 
 
As the case of the missing crime writer becomes more mysterious by the hour, Helgi must uncover the secrets of a very unexpected life, before someone else goes missing . . .

Death at the Sanatorium

AN OLD SANATORIUM. ONE TERRIFYING MURDER. FOUR SUSPECTS. AND A CASE THAT NEVER CLOSED... 
'ONE OF THE FINEST CRIME WRITERS IN THE WORLD TODAY' DAILY MAIL 
'A knowing, unnerving mystery' The Times 
'Superbly told and packed with subtle nods to crime writers of the past, this is exquisite, delicate storytelling' Daily Mail 
---- 
WELCOME TO THE SANATORIUM 
High up in the mountains stands a sanatorium. Once a hospital dedicated to treating tuberculosis, it now sits haunted by the ghosts of its past. 
 
One wing of the hospital remains open and houses six employees: the caretaker, two doctors, two nurses and a young research assistant. 
 
Despite the wards closing decades ago, they remain at the hospital to conduct research. But the cold corridors, draughty windows and echoey halls are constant reminders of the building’s dark history. 
 
When one of the nurses, Yrsa, is found brutally murdered, they discover that death has never left this place – and neither did its secrets. None can escape this terrifying legacy. 
 
Despite just four suspects the case is never solved and remains open for two decades. Until a young criminologist named Helgi Reykdal attempts to finally lay the ghosts of the hospital's past to rest . . . 
---- 
Praise for Ragnar Jonasson 
'Is this the best crime writer in the world today?' The Times 
'An automatic must-read for me' Lee Child'A compelling voice in crime fiction' Clare Mackintosh'A great writer' Harlan Coben

Ragnar Jónasson is no ordinary writer [. . .] Death at the Sanatorium is a knowing, unnerving mystery [. . ..] fans of Jónasson will be delighted

One of the finest crime writers in the world today, Jónasson demonstrates his exceptional talent in this magnificently twisty mystery [. . .] Superbly told and packed with subtle nods to crime writers of the past, this is exquisite, delicate storytelling

Superbly told and packed with subtle nods to crime writers of the past, this is exquisite, delicate storytelling

A meticulously plotted whodunit worthy of Agatha Christie

Death At The Sanatorium deftly straddles multiple timelines in pursuit of the killer of a nurse at a remote Icelandic sanatorium. Ragnar Jònasson brings alive his native Iceland, reaching into the past to construct a meticulously plotted puzzle. A devilish combination of locked room mystery and cold case investigation

If you haven't read Ragnar Jónasson, pick his books up. They're so good . . . His new book has a whole Agatha Christie vibe . . . a terrific book

Few books of the Golden Age actually dealt in cold cases but Jónasson pulls it off with clever sleight of hand and delivers an entertaining modern perspective on a classic tradition

Jonasson echoes the mystery queen’s tight pacing while adding his own touch of Icelandic noir

Washington Post, one of the five best mystery novels to read this season

Jonasson channels Agatha Christie . . . Death at the Sanatorium contains the intricate plotting and startling twists Christie was known for

[Jonasson] is a bext-gen Nordic star . . . [Death at the Sanatorium] is an endearing and relatable hero readers will be hungry to see again

First-rate crime fiction, dark as an Icelandic night

At the heart of next-gen Nordic star Ragnar Jónasson’s latest is criminology graduate student Helgi Reykdal, [...] an endearing and relatable hero readers will be hungry to see again.

Praise for Ragnar Jónasson

The story never stops moving . . . reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock

Jónasson is an automatic must-read for me . . . possibly the best Scandi writer working today

Ragnar Jónasson . . . a great writer

Skilfully told on different time levels, and with an ending that promises more

Is this the best crime writer in the world today?

A master of the Icelandic thriller

Once a hospital dedicated to treating tuberculosis, The Akureyri Sanatorium now sits haunted by the ghosts of its past. But a single wing remains open, housing six employees. 
 
When one of the hospital's nurses, Yrsa, is found brutally murdered, it sets in motion a series of terrifying events. 
 
Despite just six suspects, the case remains unsolved two decades later. Until young criminologist, Helgi Reykdal, attempts to put the mysteries of the hospital’s past to rest . . .

Reykjavík

An ice-cold mystery haunts Reykjavík in 1986, in this heart-stopping crime novel co-written by the Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdottir 
 ‘A classic crime novel, its noir at its finest’ The Sunday Times 
 ‘Nordic noir at its most authoritative’ Financial Times 
 --- 
 What happened to Lara? 
 Iceland, 1956. Fourteen-year-old Lara spends the summer on the small island of Videy, just off the coast of Reykjavík. 
 
 In early August, the girl disappears without a trace. 
 
 The mystery becomes Iceland's greatest unsolved case. What happened to the young girl? Is she still alive? Did she leave the island, or did something happen to her there? 
 
 Thirty years later, journalist Valur Robertsson begins his own investigation into Lara's case. But as he draws closer to discovering the secret, it's soon clear that this is a mystery someone will stop at nothing to keep unsolved... 
 --- 
 ‘A crime novel with a difference’ Guardian 
 ‘A beautifully constructed mystery by two super smart partners in crime’ Anthony Horowitz 
 ‘I read all 349 pages in one go and enjoyed every second…The twist at the halfway point of the book hits the reader like a wave of the ice cold Atlantic Ocean’ Fréttablaðið Newspaper 
‘Loved it!’ Ann Cleeves

A classic crime novel, its noir at its finest

Seamlessly plotted, with terrific characters and plenty of surprising, earned twists. Jonasson and Jakobsdottir, demonstrate with understated brilliance how the truth rises to the surface, no matter how ugly it is or how powerful the players are.

A classic. As tense as anything Jonasson has previously written

A beautifully constructed mystery by two super smart partners in crime

A slow-burning, spellbinding whodunit. Agatha Christie, to whom it's dedicated, would be proud

I read all 349 pages in one go and enjoyed every second . . . A gripping story . . . extremely well written . . . superbly plotted . . . The twist at the halfway point of the book hits the reader like a wave of the ice cold Atlantic Ocean. One reader at my home was almost in shock. It is an art to create such a deep connection with fictional characters. Even though the story is first and foremost entertaining, it also serves as the mirror of a nation and has many layers

Brilliant. Very exciting, great fun, good characterization, and the atmosphere of the 80s is described in an enjoyable way. One of the best crime novels I've read in a long time

Very good, there's a twist in the middle that will startle you

Flawless. The authors play with conventions, such as unprotected females investigating dark places quite safely. Or an abrupt change in protagonists at mid-point, accomplished effortlessly.

Jónasson is a connoisseur of 'unrelenting darkness'; the atmosphere of paranoid claustrophobia [Jónasson] creates is so intense you can't help gripping the book as tightly as possible

A superb page-turner . . . breathes fresh and unsettling life into the classic locked room mystery

Stunningly original . . . Tense. Very tense.

Jónasson's twisting, elegantly crafted story will keep you hooked till the very last page

Ragnar Jónasson is so skilled in depicting the environment where the story takes place, it becomes one of the characters. It is so atmospheric, I am immediately transported to the Icelandic moors, feeling the cold all the way to the bones. I read with bated breath, my heart pounding with the looming knowledge that soon something bad is about to happen

Jonasson offers an intense standalone, taking to new heights his unrivalled skill for using winter as an unpredictable plot-twister . . . There is so much to like here: the complexity of the quartet's relationships, Jonasson's powerful, streamlined writing, and the parallels between an unforgiving setting and the characters' seething grudges. Readers will be drawn into Jonasson's forbidding Iceland landscape, where it's anyone's guess who will make it out alive

Entertaining, suspenseful and twisty. Overall, highly recommended for fans of Ragnar Jonasson and suspense thrillers in general

Chilling thriller by the king of Icelandic noir . . . so gripping I can't put it down

Jónasson's spare prose and brisk pacing make for an immersive read . . . Outside is an intriguing study of isolation, claustrophobia and the particular menace to be found in beautiful yet unforgiving terrain

Jonasson is a master at two aspects of Icelandic noir: one is the description of his country's withering weather; the other is the handling of murderous plots that are tangled beyond all expectations. He's in top form in both specialties this time out

Triumphant . . . Chilling, creepy, perceptive, almost unbearably tense

Dark, chilling and utterly gripping

A world-class crime writer. One of the most astonishing plots of modern crime fiction.

A master of the Icelandic thriller.

A compelling voice in crime fiction

Mysterious, tense and deeply atmospheric

Ragnar Jónasson is an international number one bestselling author who has sold over three million books in thirty-four countries worldwide. He was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, where he also works as an investment banker and teaches copyright law at Reykjavík University. 
 
He has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, and, from the age of seventeen, has translated fourteen of Agatha Christie's novels. His critically acclaimed international bestseller The Darkness is soon to be a major TV series, and Ridley Scott will be producing Outside as a feature film. 
 
KATRÍN JAKOBSDÓTTIR has been Prime Minster of Iceland since 2017. Katrín has been a member of the Icelandic Parliament since 2007 but before that she worked in publishing and education. She served as the minister for education, research and culture from 2009 to 2013. She lives with her husband and three sons in Reykjavík. Hailing from a family of prominent Icelandic poets and academics, she wrote her Master's dissertation on Icelandic crime writing. She and Jónasson are long-time friends, who first worked together nearly ten years ago as part of the jury for an award for best crime fiction in translation in Iceland.

What happened to Lara? 
 
Iceland, 1956. Fourteen-year-old Lara spends the summer on the small island of Videy, just off the coast of Reykjavík. 
 
In early August, the girl disappears without a trace. 
 
The mystery becomes Iceland's greatest unsolved case. What happened to the young girl? Is she still alive? Did she leave the island, or did something happen to her there? 
 
Thirty years later, journalist Valur Robertsson begins his own investigation into Lara's case. But as he draws closer to discovering the secret, it's soon clear that this is a mystery someone will stop at nothing to keep unsolved...

The heart-pounding new mystery soon to be a major motion picture

Outside

The gripping new stand-alone mystery from 'world-class crime writer' Ragnar Jónasson, soon to be a major motion picture 
 
'Is this the best crime writer in the world today' THE TIMES 
'So atmospheric, I was immediately transported to the Icelandic moors . . . I read with bated breath, my heart pounding' Sara Blædel 
'So intense you can't help gripping the book as tightly as possible' THE TIMES 
_________ 
 
They are isolated - but they are not alone . . . 
 
When a deadly snowstorm strikes the Icelandic highlands, four friends seek shelter in a tiny, abandoned hunting lodge. 
 
A terrifying discovery . . . 
 
Far from offering relief, however, they find something truly shocking. Yet they dare not leave. 
 
A haunting darkness . . . 
 
As the night lengthens, their fears intensify. Old secrets and past tragedies spill into the light. And, slowly, these four friends begin to turn on one another. 
 
Outside, a murderous storm rages. 
 
But is inside even deadlier? 
_________ 
 
Praise for Ragnar Jónasson 
 
'An intensely gripping mystery, Ragnar Jonasson is a poet of the "dark, wet and cold", of the "gloom, cold and rain". The climactic revelations are credible and moving' The Times 
 
'Invigorating Iceland-set slice of Nordic Noir' Daily Mail 
 
 'A mist-shrouded blend of horror and psychological thriller . . . works in every way' Booklist

Jonasson is a connoisseur of 'unrelenting darkness'; the atmosphere of paranoid claustrophobia [Jonasson] creates is so intense you can't help gripping the book as tightly as possible

Entertaining, suspenseful and twisty. Highly recommended for fans of Ragnar Jonasson and suspense thrillers in general

Chillingly terrifying, brilliantly entertaining, captivating the reader from page one. Impossible to put down

The author describes the difficult conditions of the four main characters in such a brilliant way that in an instant the reader finds himself in unfamiliar surroundings which neither the reader nor the characters can control

A superb page-turner, Outside breathes fresh and unsettling life into the classic locked room mystery

Raw with cold and rich in atmosphere, Outside is an Arctic Inspector Calls for a new generation

His best yet . . . Having read all of Jonasson's previous offerings. Outside confirms that here is an author at the top of his game, with complete command of his audience

A stunningly original take on the looked-room mystery, where fear of a treacherous snowstorm outside an isolated hut is matched by mistrust among the terrified occupants. Tense. Very tense

Four friends find safety from a snowstorm in a remote Icelandic hut - or so they think. Jónasson's twisting, elegantly crafted story will keep you hooked till the very last page

Yet another humdinger from Iceland's finest crime writer

Jonasson and translator Victoria Cribb do a fine job of setting the scene, developing the characters, and keeping readers in suspense with a tight, clean, noir prose style

Jónasson's spare prose and brisk pacing make for an immersive read . . . Outside is an intriguing study of isolation, claustrophobia and the particular menace to be found in beautiful yet unforgiving terrain

Jonasson is a master at exploring the impact of claustrophobia brought on by darkness and enclosed spaces. He an avid fan of Agatha Christie, and Outside is an adaptation, with an Icelandic twist, of the classic locked-door mystery

It takes a truly talented writer to work with a thin outline like that and turn it into a classic, and that is exactly what Jónasson has done here. I believe he has penned the Icelandic version of Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs

From the winner of THE BEST CRIME NOVEL IN THE LAST 50 YEARS

Praise for Ragnar Jónasson

Triumphant . . . Chilling, creepy, perceptive, almost unbearably tense

Is this the best crime writer in the world today? . . . He's truly a master of his genre

Invigorating Iceland-set slice of Nordic Noir

Triumphant conclusion to the trilogy. Only Ragnar Jónasson has rendered hindsight so heartbreaking

Sunday Times (on the Hidden Iceland trilogy)

It is nothing less than a landmark in modern crime fiction

The red hot crime writer from the frozen north . . . One of the most important voices on the international crime scene

Ragnar Jonasson has a gift for crafting clever whodunnits while conveying the intimidating beauty of his native Iceland

Jónasson has the full measure of the Nordic noir genre, and pushes all the buttons

In a deadly Icelandic snowstorm, four friends break into an abandoned hunting lodge, hoping to wait out the storm until morning. 
But nothing can prepare them for what's inside... 
With no other option, they are forced to spend a terrifying night in the cabin: watching as intently and silently as they themselves are being watched. As the night darkens, old secrets spill into the light, and tensions rise between the four friends. Soon it's clear that what they've discovered in the cabin is far from the only mystery lurking there. 
Nor the only thing to be afraid of...

The Girl Who Died

THE NAIL-BITING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR 
 
'Is this the best crime writer in the world today?' The Times 
 
'A world-class crime writer . . . One of the most astonishing plots of modern crime fiction' Sunday Times 
 
'It is nothing less than a landmark in modern crime fiction' The Times 
________ 
 
'TEACHER WANTED AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD . . .' 
 
After the loss of her father, Una sees a chance to escape Reykjavík to tutor two girls in the tiny village of Skálar - population just ten - on Iceland's storm-battered north coast. 
 
But city life hasn't prepared her for the unforgiving weather nor inhospitable village life. Worse, the creaky old house where she lives is playing on her already fragile mind when she's convinced she hears the ghostly sound of singing. 
 
Then, at midwinter, a young girl is found dead. 
 
And one of the villagers must have blood on their hands . . . 
________ 
 
'An intensely gripping mystery' The Times 
 
'Invigorating Iceland-set slice of Nordic Noir' Daily Mail 
 
'With the addition of sinister hostility from the locals, the bleakest of landscapes and some supernatural undertones, this is one creepy thriller that’ll have you leaving all the lights on' Vogue Scandinavia, Best Nordic Noir Books of All Time 
 
 
Praise for Ragnar Jónasson 
 
'This is Icelandic noir of the highest order, with Jónasson's atmospheric sense of place, and his heroine's unerring humanity shining from every page' Daily Mail 
 
'Triumphant conclusion. Chilling, creepy, perceptive, almost unbearably tense' Ian Rankin 
 
'This is such a tense, gripping read' Anthony Horowitz 
 
'Brilliantly effective. Each book enraptures us' The Times Literary Supplement 
 
'Superb . . . chilling . . . one of the great tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction' Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month 
 
'A classic crime story seen through a uniquely Icelandic lens. First rate and highly recommended' Lee Child 
 
'Chilling - a must-read' Peter James

Intriguing . . . This spooky novel draws on Icelandic sagas to create an atmosphere of growing menace.

An intensely gripping mystery, Ragnar Jonasson is a poet of the "dark, wet and cold", of the "gloom, cold and rain". The climactic revelations are credible and moving

A master of the Icelandic thriller

With the bleakest of landscapes and some supernatural undertones, this is one creepy thriller that'll have you leaving ALL the lights on

Spooky, sophisticated. Jonasson is strong on atmosphere

With his trademark elegant prose and atmospheric sense of place, Jonasson weaves a slow-burning, haunting tale with a chilling ending

A chilling psychological thriller with an unexpected ending that will haunt the reader

Haunting psychological novel tinged with the supernatural

With his trademark elegant prose and atmospheric sense of place, Jónasson weaves a slow-burning, haunting tale with a chilling ending

Lean, compulsive. Great stories that combine traditional puzzle-solving of the golden age crime fiction with a moody expansive psychology

No. 1 Scandi horror novel to get you in the mood for Halloween

With the addition of sinister hostility from the locals, the bleakest of landscapes and some supernatural undertones, this is one creepy thriller that’ll have you leaving all the lights on

Vogue Scandinavia, Best Nordic noir books of all time

A mist-shrouded blend of horror and psychological thriller . . . works in every way. The isolated village and the pre-smartphone 1980s setting create a sense of claustrophobia that combines with the villagers' secrecy and the hint of supernatural elements to infuse strong foreboding throughout what is ultimately revealed to be a story about trust

Few among the country's authors match Jonasson in conveying insular abandonment . . . excellent

Ragnar Jonasson's impeccable plotting is really a wonder of the crime genre . . . a masterfully conceived horror novel

Perfect for anyone who loves Nordic crime noir, the colder the better. The writing really brings alive a bleak, cold environment in which Una is struggling to survive and maintain her sanity

Triumphant conclusion to the trilogy. Only Ragnar Jónasson has rendered hindsight so heartbreaking.

Jónasson is an automatic must-read for me . . . possibly the best Scandi writer working today

A world-class crime writer. One of the most astonishing plots of modern crime fiction. A triumphant conclusion to the trilogy [that] makes Iceland's pre-eminence in the crime genre even more marked

Invigorating Iceland-set slice of Nordic Noir.

Ragnar Jónasson is an international number one bestselling author who has sold over two million books in thirty-two countries worldwide. He was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, where he also works as an investment banker and teaches copyright law at Reykjavík University. He has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, and, from the age of seventeen, has translated fourteen of Agatha Christie's novels. His critically acclaimed international bestseller The Darkness is soon to be a major TV series.

Una is devastated after the suicide of her father. So when she sees an advert seeking a teacher for two girls in Skálar on the storm-battered north coast of the island, she sees it as a chance to escape. 
But once she arrives, Una quickly realises nothing in city life has prepared her for this. The villagers are unfriendly. The weather is bleak. And, from the creaky attic bedroom in the old house she's living, she's convinced she hears the ghostly sound of singing. 
Una worries that she's losing her mind. And then, just before Christmas, there's a death in the village . . .

Hidden Iceland Series, Book Three

The Mist

Step into snowy Iceland with the final nail-biting instalment in the critically acclaimed Hidden Iceland series - FROM THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR 
 
A TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR - NOW A MAJOR CHANNEL 4 DRAMA 
 
'Is this the best crime writer in the world today? If you're looking for a mystery to get lost in during lockdown . . .' The Times 
 
 'A world-class crime writer . . . One of the most astonishing plots of modern crime fiction' Sunday Times 
 
'It is nothing less than a landmark in modern crime fiction' The Times 
-- 
 
1987. An isolated farm house in the east of Iceland. 
 
The snowstorm should have shut everybody out. But it didn't. 
 
The couple should never have let him in. But they did. 
 
An unexpected guest, a liar, a killer. Not all will survive the night. And Detective Hulda will be haunted forever . . . 
 
-- 
 
'This is Icelandic noir of the highest order, with Jonasson's atmospheric sense of place, and his heroine's unerring humanity shining from every page' Daily Mail 
 
 'Triumphant conclusion. Chilling, creepy, perceptive, almost unbearably tense' Ian Rankin 
 
'This is such a tense, gripping read' Anthony Horowitz 
 
'Brilliantly effective. Each book enraptures us' The Times Literary Supplement 
 
Praise for Ragnar Jónasson 
 
'Superb . . . chilling . . . one of the great tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction' Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month 
 
 'A classic crime story seen through a uniquely Icelandic lens. First rate and highly recommended' Lee Child 
 
'Chilling - a must-read' Peter James 
 
'A stunningly atmospheric story. Pitch-perfect, beautifully paced. Ragnar Jónasson is at the top of his game, and a master of the genre' Will Dean 
 
'Darkly claustrophobic . . . Perfect mid-winter reading' Ann Cleeves

This is Icelandic noir of the highest order, with Jonasson's atmospheric sense of place, and his heroine's unerring humanity shining from every page

This is such a tense, gripping read

Triumphant . . . Other writers have explored the possibilities of telling a story in reverse; thus far only Ragnar Jonasson has rendered hindsight so heartbreaking

Jónasson takes us back to Hulda's origin story with a tale that combines his special talents for spinning a chilling and ingeniously constructed mystery and evoking the dramatic Icelandic environment

Triumphant conclusion. Chilling, creepy, perceptive, almost unbearably tense

Jonasson's is a unique voice in this genre. The beauty of this trilogy is that each book enraptures us almost to the point of forgetting the future we already know. Brilliantly effective

Jónasson weaves his suspenseful tales together with remorseless logic up to a climax more nightmarish than the buildup

Fans of dark crime fiction that doesn't pull punches will be amply rewarded

Wrap up warmly for this invigorating Iceland-set slice of Nordic noir

Shades of Alfred Hitchcock . . . The author's deceptive plotting in this story is certain to blow readers away

Snow and ice provide the background to Ragnar Jónasson's latest exploration of trauma and hardship in Iceland. Throughout the novel, the characters' wilful refusal to face reality is both exasperating and credible

Ragnar Jónasson is a brilliant storyteller, who skilfully tells the story on multiple time levels, with different main characters and surprising twists. It is frighteningly believable, and exciting to the end

Standalone thriller from the author of the Hulda Trilogy lives up to expectations and offers psychological drama and a ghostly atmosphere at the world's end. A story that gets under your skin

Praise for Ragnar Jónasson

Dark, chilling and utterly gripping, The Island is Nordic noir at its best, and is destined to become a classic of the genre. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read the rest of the Hulda series!

Shari Lapena, bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

Adds several shades of darkness to Nordic noir

One of the great tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction

I often get asked about tips on good crime novels which "are not like everything else". Well, here you have it. Read Ragnar Jónasson's trilogy from beginning to end, let the brain work, the body shake and be amazed at how the author also lets the language follow the development of the story . . . hats off

Ragnar Jónasson is a brilliant storyteller, who skillfully tells the story on multiple time levels, with different main characters and surprising twists. Frighteningly believable, and exciting to the end

Ragnar Jonasson is old school . . . He deals in vertiginous, unputdownable stories that are nevertheless still imbued with melancholy and heartbreak. This is his best yet

[Jonasson's] chilling whodunits currently have readers firmly in their icy grip

Ragnar Jónasson (Author) Ragnar Jónasson is the award-winning Icelandic author of the international bestselling Hulda series, the Dark Iceland series, and standalone crime fiction, with five million copies sold across 36 territories. Ragnar was also an executive producer of the CBS Studios TV series The Darkness, based on the first novel in his Hulda series, starring Lena Olin and directed by Lasse Hallström. His novel Outside is being developed for the screen by Ridley Scott. Victoria Cribb (Translator) Victoria Cribb studied and worked in Iceland for many years. She has translated more than 25 novels from the Icelandic and, in 2017, she received the Orðstír honourary translation award for services to Icelandic literature.

1987. An isolated farm house in the east of Iceland. 
 
The snowstorm should have shut everybody out. But it didn't. 
 
The couple should never have let him in. But they did. 
 
An unexpected guest, a liar, a killer. Not all will survive the night. And Detective Hulda Hermannsdóttir will be haunted forever.

Hidden Iceland Series, Book Two

The Island

FEATURED IN THE SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOKS OF THE YEAR 
 
NOW A MAJOR CHANNEL 4 DRAMA 
 
 'The ending really took my breath away' IAN RANKIN 
 
Discover The Island - Agatha Christie meets Nordic noir. . . 
 -- 
 
 Four friends visited the island. But only three returned . . . 
 
 Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir is sent to the isolated island of Elliðaey to investigate a disappearance. 
 
But she finds haunting similarities to an old case - the murder of a young woman ten years ago. 
 
 Has a patient killer struck again? 
 
 Hulda is soon caught in a web of deceit, convinced everyone is lying, even those closest to her. 
 
 What secrets is the island hiding? 
 
 And what price will she pay for uncovering the truth? 
 ____________ 
 
THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR 
 
 'One of the greatest tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction' Sunday Times 
 
 'Dark, chilling and utterly gripping, The Island is Nordic noir at its best, and is destined to become a classic of the genre. I couldn't put it down' Shari Lapena, bestselling author of The Couple Next Door 
 
'Riveting' Sunday Times 
 
'Brilliantly effective. Each book enraptures us' The Times Literary Supplement 
 
'Magnificently dark and twisted' C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk Man 
 
 'Ragnar Jónasson writes with a chilling, poetic beauty - a must-read' Peter James, bestselling author of Love You Dead 
 
 'Out of all of Ragnar's books this is the one I like the most . . . The book of his which reminds me most of Agatha Christie' Kilian 
 
 Praise for Ragnar Jonasson 
 
 'A distinctive blend of Nordic noir and golden age detective fiction . . . atmospheric and evocative prose' Guardian on Nightblind 
 
 'Jonasson's books have breathed new life into Nordic noir . . . all the skilful plotting of an old-fashioned whodunit although it feels bitingly contemporary in setting and tone' Sunday Express 
 
 'His clues are traditional and beautifully finessed - and he keeps you turning the pages' Independent on Snowblind

Few writers at work today conjure atmosphere with such power, or plot their mysteries with such craft. The Island is his best book yet, an unflinching thriller that braids past and present, good and evil, love and loss. I can't wait for Hulda Hermannsdóttir's next case

A. J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

No one does isolation better than Ragnar Jonasson, who is superb at portraying Iceland's stark landscape and savage beauty . . . [Hulda Hermannsdottir is] an excellent addition to the growing band of top-class women detectives

Prepare to be swept away to the beautiful yet unforgiving island of Elliðaey in Jónasson's latest Icelandic noir. Atmospheric and creepy, Jónasson successfully keeps you guessing till the bittersweet end

A chilling novel about people with dark secrets, protecting themselves without a thought for the consequences.

A strikingly evoked picture of Iceland's forbidding beauty...Hulda Hermansdottir is a striking character - both gloomy and tenacious - and she is a key reason for the success of this atmospheric novel

Extraordinary, the three books in that series are all amazing . . . very moving all the way through

This kept me guessing right up until the final pages. I loved the vivid landscapes, brilliant characterisation and intricate plotting. Bravo!

Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Skin Deep

Consider this one of the author's best plots, layered with that dour Scandinavian atmosphere we love

Ragnar Jonasson is the Stephen King of Icelandic thrillers

Ragnar's best written book, filled with psychological horror and underlying rage. Hulda Hermannsdottir is a welcome addition to the selection of Icelandic crime fiction protagonists . . . It is almost impossible to put the book down until the last word has been read

The threads lie in various places, the plot is well woven and the pieces in the puzzle come 
together well in the end. The structure is good, the main characters are believable, the story flows 
well, everyone is a suspect á la Agatha Christie and the solution unveils the mystery and leads the 
readers to the truth. But not all the truth, as some things are better left hidden

Inventive and original, atmospheric and chilling . . . Fans of Christie's work will feel right at home; fans of Nordic Noir will similarly find the atmosphere right up their alley

It will get your pulse racing and keep you hooked to the last page

Magnificently dark and twisted! That ending - blimey!

C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk Man

Expertly plotted, with an ending that's a true shocker, The Darkness is the first book in a trilogy featuring this engaging investigator, which is good news

I've ONLY recently discovered the extraordinary Icelandic writer who adds several shades of darkness to Nordic noir . . . it builds to a deeply shocking climax

Superb. . . chilling . . . This is the first volume in Jonasson's Hidden Iceland trilogy, which tells Hulda's story in reverse chronological order and establishes her as one of the great tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction

Crime fiction has never seen a character quite like Hulda Hermannsdóittir; nor a series launch so entirely willing to take risks and obliterate long-standing tropes . . . There is no doubt that The Darkness will rank as one of the most popular and powerful reading experiences of the year.

The island of Elliðaey sits off the Icelandic coast. Accessible only by boat its isolation makes it the perfect place to vanish. 
 
During a long, hot summer four friends visit the island. Only three will return. 
 
They each share a past, and a dark secret that could harm them all. As the days pass, tensions rise and loyalties are shed, one of them will commit murder. 
 
Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir is sent to investigate and soon finds echoes with the case of a young woman found murdered ten years previously in the nearby West Fjords. Is there a patient killer stalking these barren outposts? 
 
As Hulda navigates a sinister game constructed of smoke and mirrors, she is convinced that no one is telling the truth, including those closest to her. But who will crack first? 
 
Haunting, suspenseful and as chilling as the Icelandic winter The Island follows one woman's journey to find the truth hidden in the darkest shadows, and shine a light on her own dark past.

The Darkness

FEATURED IN THE TIMES TOP 100 CRIME NOVELS SINCE 1945 
 
NOW A MAJOR CHANNEL 4 TV DRAMA 
 
 'An intelligent, provocative whodunit with a killer twist' IAN RANKIN 
 -- 
 
 A body is found off the coast of Iceland. 
 
A cursory police investigation calls it suicide. She's just another statistic, soon forgotten. 
 
 But not by Reykjavik Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir. 
 
 Difficult and unconventional, Hulda is being forced into early retirement. 
 
 Offered one last cold case to investigate she chooses Elena's. 
 
 And when she discovers another woman vanished at a similar time, she believes a killer roams free. 
 
 With days before she's stripped of her badge, can Hulda catch the killer alone? 
 ____________ 
 
THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR 
 
 'Superb . . . chilling . . . one of the greatest tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction' Sunday Times 
 
 'Outstanding' Daily Mail 
 
 'Expertly plotted, with an ending that's a true shocker' Guardian 
 
'Brilliantly effective. Each book enraptures us' The Times Literary Supplement 
 
 'Magnificently dark and twisted and that ending - blimey!' C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk Man

An intelligent, provocative whodunit with a killer twist

100 Best Crime Novels since 1945, The Times

Icelandic detective Hulda Hermannsdottir is the best tragic heroine our reviewer has read for years

A complex, fascinating mix of Icelandic community and alienation, atmospheric tension, and timely issues (immigrant exploitation and vigilante justice), Jonasson's latest series is another must-read for crime fans who follow the work of Arnaldur Indridason and Yrsa Sigurdardottir

If you have ever doubted the appropriateness of the phrase 'Nordic noir', The Darkness will dispel any hesitation . . . in what way this happens (and how badly) is the strength of the book. There are ever-darker surprises, culminating in a finish that leaves one with a highly disturbing image.

The wait was worthwhile and The Darkness first in the new trilogy, is a very efficient piece of work. Jonasson has the full measure of the Nordic noir genre, and pushes all the requisite buttons

To read Ragnar Jonasson is to plunge into snowy Iceland . . . much of its atmosphere and subtle pacing to the traditional 'golden age' detective fiction as the mystery unfolds and builds to a startling climax, elegantly handled.

Superb . . . Chilling . . . and establishes her as a great tragic heroine of modern detective fiction

Outstanding series debut . . . builds to its stunning conclusion, one of the more remarkable in recent crime fiction

The Darkness melds an insightful character study with a solid plot for an outstanding novel

The perfect territory for mystery [writers]

It's shockingly sinister and has an ending that will leave you, literally, gasping for breath

The ending really took my breath away and that's hard for writers to do to me these days . . . It was a complete surprise and I should have seen it coming and I didn't. [Hulda] is a fantastic, complex 3D character and I want to see more of her, so hurray, this is the first of a three book series

The Darkness will have you burning the midnight oil till 2:00am. It's a gloriously compelling yarn, whose spell continues to hold even when you've turned its final page thanks to its unexpected ending. I can't wait for his next

Expertly plotted, with an ending that's a true shocker, The Darkness is the first book in a trilogy featuring this engaging investigator, which is good news

Page-turning stuff with an unexpected ending!

James Swallow, bestselling author of Nomad

Was gripped from the start of this brilliantly told story. And left wide-eyed with shock at the ending

Fiona Barton, bestselling author of The Widow

A true masterpiece . . . a plot full of twists and turns and an ending that leaves you gasping for air

As chilling as the nip in the Icelandic air

Crime fiction has never seen a character quite like Hulda Hermannsdóittir; nor a series launch so entirely willing to take risks and obliterate long-standing tropes . . . There is no doubt that The Darkness will rank as one of the most popular and powerful reading experiences of the year

Breathtaking. Read it in two sittings. Yet another instant Ragnar Jonasson classic

Thomas Enger, bestselling author of the Henning Juul series

Ragnar Jónasson

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Series by Ragnar Jónasson

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