Voices

Voices, by Arnaldur Indridason. Translated from the Icelandic by Bernard Scudder. New York: St. Martins, 2006. (Original published in 2003.) 313 pgs.




I am rating this three puffins--for genre fiction--but it isn't one of the best mysteries I've read. With the exception of flashbacks, the entire book takes place in a hotel in Reykjavik at Christmastime, which gives it a claustrophobic feel. Erlendur, Indridason's emotionally damaged detective, continues to develop, ever so slowly, and we learn a bit more about his past. This book incorporates several plot lines: the murdered hotel doorman, who was once a choirboy child star; a case of child abuse that Erlender's associate is investigating; and Erlendur himself: the effect that events of his childhood have had on him as an adult and as a parent.

Translator Bernard Scudder is a pre-eminent saga translator, among other things. For this reason, I am inclined to assume that the sometimes awkward and unrealistic dialogue is because it has been translated into British English. The translation detracts from the story in my opinion, whatever the reason.

You probably won't want to miss this since it is Indridason, and it is a look at contemporary Icelandic society. It could have been better, though. Indridason's characters are not portrayed with enough depth to be very sympathetic.

For a different point of view, see Batty's review.

Learn from the Movies

When Jar City (the "bleak new noir" film) comes to Richmond, this is what I can look forward to learning about Iceland. You too!

Unfortunately, if you don't live in L.A. or New York, or Iceland, you get to learn much later...

Still, I haven't read my copy of Indriðason's book yet, and I'd like to do that before I see the movie.

Iceland Reads

Iceland, by Jim Krusoe. Chicago: Dalkey Archive Press, 2002. 182 pgs.





Here is a really interesting book. It isn't by an Icelandic author, and only part of the novel is actually set in Iceland. Paul is a man with some vague digenerative organ disease, and without many social skills. He's a fellow who seems to flow along with life's tide of events, passively adapting to whatever presents itself. In this acquiescent manner he falls in love, takes a trip to Iceland with a carpet cleaner he barely knows, narrowly escapes death hiking on a volcano, and falls into a marriage with an Icelandic woman. Paul's surreal journey felt strangely familiar--had I read the book before? Did it remind me of another book I had read? What was it about this book that I recognized? I finally realized that reading this book was akin to dreaming a dream. It has the same feeling that dreams have: events unfold without foreshadowing, strange things are accepted as everyday occurrences, one glides along unquestioningly. Dream this book!


Absolution, by Olaf Olafsson. New York: Anchor Books, 1994. 259 pgs.





Another masterful story by Iceland's justifiably most-famous author. It is no wonder that Olafsson's works have been translated into 14 languages. He writes about characters that are complex, believable, vulnerable yet strong, fatally flawed. His plot twists and flashbacks are handled with precision and suspense.

This story travels from Iceland to Denmark to Manhattan. As it unfolds you discover the many-layered secrets of a wealthy man who has had everything--and has lost everything. Or has he?



Silence of the Grave, by Arnaldur Indridason. Translated from the Icelandic by Bernard Scudder. London: Vintage, 2005. 290 pgs.





This is the second "Reykjavik Murder Mystery," featuring police inspector Erlendur, that has been translated into English. A movie based on the first (Tainted Blood, or Jar City) was recently released under the title Myrin.

The author grudgingly releases a few more secrets of Erlender's past, which unfold layered within the action of the mystery. An interesting look at Reykjavik, past and present, and at characters who are beginning to claim our affection.

Tainted Blood: a Reykjavik Murder Mystery
by Arnaldur Indridason, 2004
Translated by Bernard Scudder




Original Icelandic edition 2000. First published (in English) in Great Britain with the title Jar City, 2004. Indridason won the Nordic Crime Novel Award for this book. Coined "a chilling read"--is this tongue in cheek?

I enjoyed this book and expect that, as with any strong mystery series, the main characters will grow on me with each book. I prefer mysteries that have strong character development. The mystery doesn't have to be complex in order to completely stump me. This book was a good mixture of a challenging mystery and above average character development. I look forward to future installments.

On the horizon: Silence of the Grave was published in English in 2005, and Voices is due out in August 2006.

Do you have any Icelandic mysteries to share?