In this second book in the 'Detective Helgi Reykdal' series, Helgi searches for a missing writer. The book works fine as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus.
*****
It's 2012 and Icelandic police detective Helgi Reykdal is vacationing in Akureyri, where he's visiting his mother and helping out in the family bookstore.
Helgi's trip is cut short when he gets a call from his boss Magnús.
It seems the VERY FAMOUS Icelandic mystery writer Elín Jónsdóttir is missing, and Helgi is needed back in Reykjavík to investigate. Magnús wants Jónsdóttir found before the world-wide press hears the news.
Septuagenarian Elín Jónsdóttir ended her mystery series a decade ago, after writing ten books. When Helgi interviews people in Elín's circle, he's told the writer never married, has no children, and enjoys traveling and hiking. When Elín is back in Reykjavík, she has a weekly lunch date with her best friend Lovísa - a retired judge;
and a monthly lunch date with her old friend Thor Thoroddsen, who's married to Elín's Icelandic publisher Rut.
After Elín misses a couple of lunch dates, and no one hears from her, Rut calls the police to report the writer's disappearance.
It turns out Elín, Lovisa, Rut, and Thor have known each other for more than fifty years, since college, and Elín's friends don't think she would vanish without a word.
Helgi examines Jónsdóttir's home, but nothing looks amiss, and the writer hasn't packed for a trip. Helgi then considers two obvious possibilities: a tragic accident or foul play.
The novel is told in three rotating threads:
⚫ In 1965, two people are making plans to rob a bank, as a kind of lark. The ringleader observes that Reykjavík banks have lax security, and - though the robbers will take a gun 'for show' - all they'll have to do is walk in and ask for the money. Things don't work out like that, and someone ends up in prison.
⚫ In 2005, writer Elín Jónsdóttir is being interviewed by a journalist, who's recording the sessions. Elín talks about why she ended her mystery series after 10 books; her writing process; what kinds of books she likes to read; her childhood; attending teaching college; and more. Elin avoids discussing her personal life, but does impart a confidence to be revealed after her death.
⚫ In 2012, Detective Helgi Reykdal is trying to determine Elín Jónsdóttir's whereabouts, dead or alive. At the same time, Helgi is dealing with several issues in his personal life.
✹ Helgi's mother in Akureyri was recently discharged from the hospital, and Helgi is concerned about having opportunities to visit her.
✹ Helgi broke up with his abusive alcoholic girlfriend Bergthóra several months ago, and started seeing a woman called Anita.
Bergthóra refuses to accept the situation and stalks and harasses Anita.
✹ Helgi's predecessor in the Reykjavík Police Department, Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdottir, retired and 'disappeared'. This concerns Helgi, and in his spare time, Helgi looks into Hulda's whereabouts.
In the main plot, Helgi digs deeply into Elín's past, and unearths information that helps him solve the case. The novel ends with a cliffhanger related to Helgi's personal life, but I think I know what happens. 😊
Something that struck me as odd in this story is that every person Detective Helgi Reykdal interviews - person of interest, suspect, witness, relative, etc. - calls him Helgi rather than Inspector Reykdal. This is different from detective shows and books I'm familiar with. Maybe people in Iceland are more informal?
I'm a fan of Nordic noir and I enjoyed the book and the Icelandic names, which seem rather musical.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Cicely Whitehead, Jane Slavin, and Rufus Wright, who do a fine job.
Thanks to Netgalley, Ragnar Jónasson, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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