Ragnar Jonasson

The newest superstar on the Icelandic crime fiction scene has arrived with a superb followup to The Darkness. Shortlisted for the Crime Novel of the Year Award in Iceland Third Place, Novel of the Year Award 2016 in Iceland, selected by booksellers One of the bestselling novels in Iceland in 2016 Autumn of 1987 takes a young couple on a romantic trip in the Westfjords holiday—a trip that gets an unexpected ending and has catastrophic consequences. Ten years later a small group of friends go for a weekend in an old hunting lodge in Elliðaey. A place completely cut off from the outside world, to reconnect. But one of them isn't going to make it out alive. And Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir is determined to find the truth in the darkness. Ragnar Jonasson burst onto the American scene with Snowblind and Nightblind, the first two novels in the Ari Thor thriller series, and the praise was overwhelming. With The Darkness, he launched a new series featuring a completely new sleuth, Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdottir of the Reykjavik Police department. The Island is the second book in this series.

A Thriller

The Island

Ragnar Jónasson

FEATURED IN THE SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOKS OF THE YEAR '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? 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 '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

Hidden Iceland Series, Book Two

shellybn

** spoiler alert **
           This series is much different than the Ari Thor Arason. The mystery is intriguing, and the writing is excellent, but many of the characters are morally bankrupt. There are Hulda's issues, which are fully exposed in the previous book "The Darkness." This one has a police officer who is convinced he knows who has committed a murder, but afraid he does not have enough evidence to convict, pressures another officer into lying. There is also the much repeated idea that Hulda is being discriminated against because of being a woman. After the events of "The Darkness," I really can't trust Hulda's perception of her treatment. Maybe she just isn't as good as she thinks she is. 

I have enjoyed these books, and I find it interesting that the stationing of US and British troops in Iceland during and after WW II is considered an occupation. The foreshadowing of Hulda's distaste of being buried presented in "The Island" is especially impactful, knowing what happens at the end of "The Darkness." 

I truly, truly hope Hulda is still alive, and the memorial service at the end of The Darkness" is a ruse, the serial killer is caught and brought to justice, and Hulda faces no consequences for her other (understandable) actions. I hope all of these issues are resolved in "The Mist."

THE EXPLOSIVE NEW NOVEL FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR - IF YOU LIKED AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, THE ABC MURDERS, AND NORDIC NOIR, YOU'LL LOVE THIS . . . '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 _____________ Four friends visit the island. But only three return . . . Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir is sent to the isolated island of Elliðaey to investigate and soon finds haunting similarities with a previous case - a young woman found murdered ten years ago in the equally desolate Westfjords. 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? And what secrets is the island hiding? Haunting, suspenseful and as chilling as an 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. _____________ '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' AJ Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window '[Hulda Hermannsdottir is] an excellent addition to the growing band of top-class women detectives' The Times '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' Heat 'A chilling novel about people with dark secrets, protecting themselves without a thought for the consequences' SundayTimes Praise for Ragnar Jonasson: 'The ending really took my breath away and that's hard for writers to do to me these days . . . I should have seen it coming' Ian Rankin 'One of the greatest tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction' Sunday Times 'Magnificently dark and twisted' C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk Man 'Ragnar Jónasson writes with a chilling, poetic beauty - a must-read addition to the growing canon of Iceland Noir' Peter James, bestselling author of Love You Dead 'A distinctive blend of Nordic noir and golden age detective fiction . . . atmospheric and evocative prose' Guardian '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

Pam Sartain

The Island by Ragnar Jónasson is set in Iceland. Four friends go to an island, and one of them dies. DI Hulda comes to investigate, and starts to find links to a previous death 10 years before.

This is a dark, descriptive book, with landscape that sounds so different, but beautiful. It's a good nordic noir, with liars and deception twisting the path to the truth.

I enjoyed the story, and learning more about DI Hulda. There are hints about her life with her husband and daughter, and the grief of their deaths, along with that of her mother more recently. 

Interestingly, this is the second book in a trilogy about DI Hulda, with the first book, The Darkness, being set 10 years after this book. Reading around, I've found that the trilogy is written in reverse time order. I haven't read The Darkness, but this is such an unusual idea!

The Island was published on 4th April 2019, and is available to buy on Amazon and on Waterstones. I've found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Ragnar Jónasson through his website.

If you're interested in nordic noir crime books, then here's some others I've reviewed:

The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag

The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph (the publishers) for this book.

Check out my GoodReads profile to see more reviews!

The Island A Thriller

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