Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Icelander Jónasson's top-notch sequel to Death at the Sanatorium takes inspiration from Agatha Christie's still-unexplained 11-day disappearance in 1926. Set mainly in 2012, the action picks up where the last book left off, with young Reykjavík detective Helgi Reykdal planning a quiet future with his new girlfriend, Anita, after escaping his volatile relationship with the abusive, alcoholic Bergthora. Given Helgi's fondness for 1930s and '40s mystery fiction, his boss asks him to investigate reports that Elín Jónsdóttir, the most famous crime novelist in Iceland, has gone missing. Helgi interviews Elín's friends and associates, and soon learns that there's more to the story than meets the eye. Meanwhile, a vindictive Bergthora starts stalking Anita. As Helgi uncovers increasingly surprising details about Elín's life, Jónasson flashes back to an enigmatic 1965 conversation between two robbers, a 2002 news story about Elín's final book, and a 2005 interview with Elín herself, before braiding everything together in virtuosic fashion. Cleverly plotted, slyly humorous, and bursting with love for the golden age of detective fiction, this outperforms even its outstanding predecessor. (Sept.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In this sequel to Death at the Sanitorium set in 2012, Helgi Reykdal is now a member of the Reykjavik CID. Bestselling crime novelist Elín S. Jónsdóttir has been reported missing by her publicist. Because of his love of crime fiction, Helgi is asked to lead the investigation into her disappearance. Elín's life was in order, and there seems to be no logic behind her vanishing. With no clues to go on, Helgi interviews the three people closest to Elín--her publicist, the publicist's husband, and a retired judge. No one can shed any light on why Elín would disappear or where to look for her. After Helgi visits the author's lawyer to learn who would inherit her estate if she were declared dead, the case takes an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, Helgi contends in his personal life with an abusive ex-girlfriend who won't let him go. VERDICT Flashbacks are effectively used as a creative way to tell the backstory of the missing novelist. This Golden Age-style mystery is a definite departure from Jónasson's "Dark Iceland" series, which was set in an atmospheric small town in Iceland.--Jean King
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
After ending her bestselling list of mystery novels, an Icelandic writer adds a disquieting postscript to her career by disappearing herself. Elín S. Jónsdóttir has always been very intentional in measuring out her life. Years ago, she decided thatDeadline would be the 10th and last in her series of whodunits. So when Rut Thoroddsen, her publisher, can't reach her at home, the break in Elín's routine is already alarming. Helgi Reykdal, a mystery fan who's taking advantage of his vacation from the Reykjavík Criminal Investigative Division to nest in his family's bookstore, is the obvious person to investigate, and he's certainly willing to join the search for one of his favorite authors before it's leaked to the press and everyone on social media joins the hunt. The problem is that there seems to be no trail to follow. Rut; her accountant husband, Thor; and Elín's best friend, retired judge Lovísa, add details about Elín's highly successful career, but nothing that would indicate either a reason for anyone to kill her or a reason for her to vanish. Eventually, however, Jónasson, who--apart from his many leaps among different time frames--seems more indebted here to the rhythm of Helgi's earlier police procedurals than to the golden age mysteries that link his detective and his quarry, reveals evidence that makes Helgi look more closely at Marteinn Einarsson, the pseudonymous author ofKiller; at a 1965 bank robbery that left one employee dead and one robber in prison; and Helgi's vengeful ex-girlfriend Bergthóra, whose erratic behavior threatens to hijack the whole case. A lightning-fast read for fans willing to keep turning the pages till the crucial clues drop. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
