"Hypothermia", by Arnaldur Indridason

Book 6, in the Reykjavik Murder Mystery series.

This is a fantastic book; its plot is solid, simple with no dramatic and thrilling climaxes, but it is masterfully written giving it depth without any frills. The straightforward writing evokes sentiments while weaving smoothly from one event to another. True to the author's style there is a link between the past and the present with a mix of reality and the supernatural that is gradually blended into the story as we follow a thoughtful, compassionate protagonist that has a strong desire to resolve old cases

This fascinating mystery moves at a pleasant speed and opens when Erlendur receives a tape of a séance attended by a woman who subsequently committed suicide. She had attempted to communicate with her mother to discover what afterlife has in store for her. Erlendur's inner need to learn more and to understand what drove the woman this far triggers a panoply of events. The search for answers brings him far into the depths of his own personal history and the loss of his young brother in a blizzard.

The author's perception of grief is brought forward in this novel but it is not all sadness it has some funny moments with superb interludes into the magical Icelandic landscape.

"Hypothermia" is not your conventional police procedural novel; it focuses a great part on the protagonist and his dysfunctional family life. I recommend this series for its solid mystery, great character development and original subject matter tied to Icelandic myth and culture.

"The Lake of Sorrows", by Erin Hart

2nd book featuring Nora Gavin

This is an Irish mystery that stands above the typical murder novel of today. The story is atmospheric, the writing so colourful it is easy to fall into a spell and feel we are with Nora every part of the way. The story is very exciting; we follow a delightful female protagonist and her passion investigating ritual murders that have been committed many centuries ago and some recently. The author has filled the story with neat twists to keep her readers wondering what will happen next, it is hard to foresee the next move.

The story opens when workers discover the remains of a man in the Loughnabrone Bog. Called to examine the well preserved corpse is American pathologist Nora Gavin. Preliminary examination of the body shows he may have been killed in a Pagan ritual manner known as triple death. As Nora reaches the crime scene, another victim who appears to have died under similar circumstances is unearthed. Why would someone come to this desolate place to hide their dreadful handiwork and does the Bog have any other victims to reveal? While there, it is brought to Nora's attention that a member of the team has suddenly disappeared...Is there a connection?

As Nora is pulled deeper into the mystery, her tumultuous love affair with archaeologist Cormac Maguire intensifies and the reader is plunged into a suspense charged thriller

"The Time of Singing", by Elizabeth Chadwick

Blending an array of authentic period details into a modern tale, Ms Chadwick has given life to two remarkable individuals. The book spans between 1173 and 1199 during the years of Henry 11's reign, this historical fiction is centered on Roger Bigod, heir to the earldom of Norfolk and his wife Ida de Tosney.

With a steady pace and emotional tension, the story tells how Henry 11 was drawn by Ida's naivety and innocence and quickly made her his unwilling mistress, a son named William came from that union. He eventually gave her up in marriage to Roger Bigod.

At the same time we follow Roger Bigod from his struggle to regain his earldom which was stripped from his father and disputed by his stepmother and brothers to the beginning of his relationship with Ida and finally to their long and remarkable life together.

"The Time of Singing", propels the reader into two worlds, one tells, a love story with its moments of tenderness and lust and the other covers meticulously the life of medieval England bankrupted by its Crusades and politics, a country at the mercy of its kings and leaders.

The writing is captivating and grabs your attention from the start. The story is straight forward and not encumbered by frivolous details. The characters are cleverly described and vividly brought to live. This is one absorbing novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.