Rupture by Ragnar Jónasson

One of the most anticipated books of January is the fourth in the Dark Iceland series with Rupture by Ragnar Jónasson and it sold out on Amazon on publication day proving that the series based in Iceland has really caught the imagination of the crime novel reader. Having read the previous three the fourth in the series is just simply gripping and atmospheric and by far the best yet and a mention for Quentin Bates for another excellent translation.

It is a welcome return for the local policeman Ari Thór and now he is investigating the mysterious death of a young woman in the isolated fjord of Hedinsfjörður but this happened many years before in 1955 and the case was never solved and now some evidence has come to light via an old photograph which now sheds new light on the case. Just was did happen when two young couples arrived. Now Ari Thór has recruited the help of a local news reporter Ísrún as they try to piece together what really happened the death was put down to an accident but the new evidence suggests that the couples many not have been alone after all. The beauty of Ragnar Jónasson’s novels is that he packs a lot into the storyline and in Rupture this is no exception and it all adds up to a cracking story.

For Ari and Ísrún there is more going on with them both add to this investigation the town of Siglufjörður is in complete lockdown after a deadly infection breaks out and no-one ventures beyond their front door add into this a heady mix of political scandal that could rock the heart of the government and the abduction of a young boy and you have a recipe for one suspense packed novel that adds multiple layers of intrigue that will keep the reader guessing. After the previous three books in the series you have come to know the characters really well and the personalities written into the storyline are just as important the main thread at times as bone chilling as an Icelandic winter.

Ragnar Jónasson’s writing is a real joy to read, flowing as smoothly as an Icelandic fjord and the setting he has chosen carefully to add to the mystery he has well and truly put Iceland on the Crime and thriller location and put the country on the tourist destination map. A must read if you are a lover of crime and thriller genre.

Thank you to Karen at Orenda Books for the advanced review copy.

Rupture by Ragnar Jónasson is published by Orenda Books and is available through Waterstones, Amazon and all good bookshops.

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