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Series Review
Cold Cases in a Cold Climate
The nine crime novels in the Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books series are dark cold-case police procedurals with roots deep in painful past tragedies, the kind of sorrowful personal histories that the hero, Inspector Erlendur of the Reykjavik, Iceland Police, is trying to escape in his own life.
Nordic police procedurals ratchet up the psychological suspense. Great writing
What every mystery should be. Great stories. Author Indridason keeps me riveted on every page. He is an all-round excellent writer, with a gift for plot and physical description: Erlendur's Iceland comes to life before your eyes because of the exceptionally vivid writing.
Series Guide
Start anywhere. Read 'em all. Jar City (#1) is one of the all-time great launches to a series. Note that Erlendur is offstage in Outrage (#7) and the wonderful female cop Elinborg is the book's lead character. Strange Shores (#9) works well as a stand-alone novel.
Book Summaries
Below, the crime novels in chronological order:
Jar City (2004, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #1)
A pensioner with a brutal past is murdered in his basement flat. Two clues--a cryptic note and a photo of a grave--start an investigation that ends up shaking the family tree of the whole country.Silence of the Grave (2005, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #2)
A long-dead skeleton slowly reveals horrific family secrets while Erlendur struggles to save his own shattered family.Voices (2006, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #3)
When Santa is murdered in a Reykjavik hotel, Erlendur moves into the inn for a not-so-merry Christmas.The Draining Lake (2007, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #4)
After an earthquake, the water in a lake suddenly drains away, revealing the lake bed--including a skeleton chained to an old military radio transmitter.Arctic Chill (2005, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #5)
While investigating the murder of a young boy, Erlendur suffers from his tortured relationship with his own children.Hypothermia (2009, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #6)
A cold-case forces Erlendur to face his own troubled past.Can Elinborg and the team find a serial rapist before he strikes again--without leadership from Erlendur who has gone missing.Black Skies (2012, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #8)
With Erlendur still missing in action, Sigurdur Oli leads the investigation and struggles with his failed relationship.Strange Shores (2014, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #9)
Erlendur is back, searching in the wilderness for a woman who has been missing 20 years--and for his own brother, lost in a snowstorm when both boys were small. (Unusually for this series, this book is not a police procedural.)Iceland Through Erlendur's Eyes
Inspector Erlendur's Iceland is a bleak place, populated by drug addicts, violent felons, sexual predators and thugs and Erlendur is a gloomy, introspective fellow whose past is catching up with him. Ghosts from his hard childhood haunt his dreams. His troubled, drug-addicted children disrupt his days, hitting him up for money and berating him for deserting them when they were young.
Erlendur's colleagues don't understand him. His bosses don't like him. But when it comes to murder investigations, they all follow him because he is usually right.
Erlendur's team provides a welcome connection to a world distinctly less bleak than Erlendur's own. Elinborg, one of my favorite female cops, is an empathetic, persistent investigator by day and a devoted mother and published cookbook author by night. Sigurdur Oli is the CID's American-trained yuppie and a thoroughly modern man. Marion Bream, Erlendur's mentor, is a strange, sometimes sinister presence who lurks in the background.
Book Reviews
Inspector Erlendur Series
(From newest to oldest; Dates refer to publication in the US in English;
# refers to series order)
Above, from top to bottom:
Iceland's famous horses; Lava field covered with moss in Iceland; Rooftops of Reykjavik, Iceland; Volcano eruption in Iceland
(2005, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #5)
by Arnaldur Indridason
Translated into English by Bernard Scudder and Victoria Cribb
Fine plotting and writing, but I enjoyed it less than usual. Racial tension/ hatred is the main theme. Most of the Nordic mystery writers eventually write about this hot-button issue, not very well, IMHO. (Notable exceptions are the Nurse Nina Borg Thrillers and the Det. Rick/ Reporter Lind Mysteries, both set in Denmark.)
(Bestsellers. Police Procedurals. Iceland.)
(2009, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #6)
by Arnaldur Indridason
Translated into English by Victoria Cribb
Probably my favorite. Complex, haunting, deeply satisfying. We learn a lot about the ghosts haunting Erlendur.
(Bestsellers. Police Procedurals. Iceland.)
(2011, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #7)
by Arnaldur Indridason
Translated into English by Anne Yates
I loved this because the fabulous female cop Elinborg is the main character (Erlendur is on a leave of absence). It's beautifully plotted and written as usual.
Cliffhanger: Where oh where is Erlendur?
(Bestsellers. Police Procedurals. Iceland.)
(2012, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #8)
by Arnaldur Indridason
Translated into English by Victoria Cribb
Not yet reviewed
(Bestsellers. Police Procedurals. Iceland.)
(2007, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #4)
by Arnaldur Indridason
Translated into English by Bernard Scudder
Nominee! Macavity Awards Best Novel Nominee! Barry Awards Best Novel
Fabulous plotting and writing plus a story that illuminates a little-known piece of Cold War history: Iceland's relationship with (then) East Germany.
(Bestsellers. Police Procedurals. Iceland.)
(2006, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #3)
by Arnaldur Indridason
Translated into English by Bernard Scudder
WINNER! Martin Beck Award for best crime novel translated into Swedish
Outstanding, unusual group of characters and the usual fine storytelling from this author. His Iceland is as chilling and bleak as ever.
(Bestsellers. Police Procedurals. Iceland.)
(2005, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #2)
by Arnaldur Indridason
Translated into English by Bernard Scudder
WINNER! Glass Key award for the best Nordic crime novel WINNER! Gold Dagger Award
Fine storytelling as always from this author. A harrowing tale of family pain passed down through the generations.
(Bestsellers. Police Procedurals. Iceland.)
(2004, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #1)
by Arnaldur Indridason
Translated into English by Bernard Scudder
WINNER! Glass Key award for the best Nordic crime novel
Masterful storytelling. The ending will take your breath away. Magical writing. And who knew it rained so much in Iceland?
(Bestsellers. Police Procedurals. Iceland.)
Other mystery series set in Iceland:
- Gunnhildur (Gunna) Gisladottir Mystery Books by Quentin Bates
- Fire and Ice Mystery Books featuring Magnus Jonson by Michael Ridpath
- Thora Gudmundsdottir Mystery Books by Ysra Sigurdardottir
(2014, Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller Books #9)
by Arnaldur Indridason
Translated into English by Victoria Cribb
Erlendur is back, but this book is atypical for the series since it is not a police procedural and Erlendur is on his own, without his team of investigators.
Great storytelling in this creepy, scary, haunting tale of crimes and misadventure in the Icelandic wilderness. Just right for telling around the campfire on a dark, stormy night...
(Bestsellers. Iceland.)
Video adaptations of mysteries in the Inspector Erlendur Mystery/ Thriller series:
- Movie: Jar City (2006, Icelandic with English subtitles)
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