"Outrage", by Arnaldur Indridason

Book 7, in the Reykjavik Murder Mysteries

This is a classic crime novel, a traditional police procedural that could be read independently of the rest in the series. This time, Mr. Indridason has provided the reader with a different view of his protagonists and given one of his subsidiary characters a leading role.

Exhausted after dealing with an extremely difficult case, Inspector Erlendur has taken an abrupt leave of absence and gone back to the Eastern Fjords where he grew up to pursue some personal matters leaving Detective Elinborg, one of his trusty colleagues as prime investigator in any new cases .

The skillfully paced and structured story starts when a man picks up a woman at a bar and brings her back to his apartment for an evening of fun. When police are called to his apartment they discover a murder scene, a puzzling scene with no sign of break-in or struggle. The male victim is wearing a t-shirt that immediately says there is something wrong with this scenario. Upon further investigation, the detectives find a vial of Rohypnol in the victim’s pocket and under the bed a woman's shawl giving off a strong and unusual aroma. These preliminary findings are the start of a complicated case that can make or break an investigative team….

Detective Elinborg also has more than one challenge on her plate, family life and this investigation will test her abilities in more ways than one. She is sharp, determined and has good instincts. In this case, others quickly lock in on a suspect, but her gut feelings tell her there is a lot more to the story, broadening the scope of the investigation eventually takes her to a remote village to flush out the real culprit.

I find the author’s idea of bringing another member, a female Inspector to the forefront a refreshing change. The mystery flows smoothly and is layered with Detective Elinborg’s problem solving abilities, on and off the job, giving the reader a sensitive side to the team’s everyday challenges. Mr. Indridason is skilled at creating interesting characters and drawing us into their world of suspense and intrigue.

This novel is another great addition to M. Indridason`s repertoire of mysteries.