Detective Konrad #1
It begins when a group of German tourists hiking on the LangjÖkull glacier stumbled upon the body of a man who was buried deep under the ice. Forensic specialists identify the cadaver belonging to Sigurvin, a young man who had disappeared 30 years ago.
This new series is a spin off the “Shadow District” Reykjavic-set novels featuring retired CID Inspector Konrad as the main protagonist who returns in action as a consultant to investigate this 30 year old cold case. At the time, he was the lead investigator and his unsuccessful attempts to solve what happened to this young man has haunted him ever since. Back in the thick of things Konrad, this grumpy and grouchy detective captivates us both in his investigation, his personal history, his relationships with colleagues and with his dysfunctional family.
Mr. Indridason is definitely a master in pacing and characterisation. With a simple prose yet somewhat frosty he has penned a concise and profound mystery to ensnare us from the opening page. I surely did with me. I was glued to every word wanting to see what the author had in store for me so much so I often lost track of time.
There are several threads in this story that smoothly intertwine together in order to give us an old fashioned mystery that is mainly narrated by Konrad. Along the way, Mr. Indridason also made reference to the financial crisis of 2008 and the current socio-economic reality that has changed life in Iceland for ever.
It was a pleasure to read such a well-written crime novel.
Thank you, St-Martin Press Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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