(hb; 2003, 2006: fifth book in the Reykjavik Thriller series. Translated from the Icelandic by Bernard Scudder)
From the inside flap:
"The Christmas rush is at its peak in a grand Reykjavik hotel when Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is called in to investigate a murder. The hotel Santa has been stabbed, and Erlendur and his detective colleagues have no shortage of suspects between hotel staff and the international travelers staying for the holidays.
"But then a shocking secret surfaces. As Christmas day approaches, Erlendur must deal with his difficult daughter, pursue a possible romantic interest, and untangle a long-buried web of malice and greed to find the murderer."
Review:
Voices, like its predecessor novels - Jar City and Silence of the Grave - is a fantabulous, focused police procedural with engaging (and succinctly drawn) characters, wry humor, riveting writing, and equally riveting case-based revelations.
Worth owning, this.
Followed by The Draining Lake.
2 comments:
Oh wow. I was wondering what to read next and now I know. I've just (finally!) finished Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and frankly I'm not sure what the fuss was about.
I'll have to review it on my blog soon.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has "blown up" so much (popularity-wise) that it almost has to overcome its hype so readers can realize/appreciate the series' flaws, as well as its charms (which are relative to each reader).
I love the book, but it's not so much for the potboiler elements (financial and sexual malfeasance; hidden familial history/scandal; etc.), but for character Lisbeth Salander - she's the spark that set the excitement blaze for me: most of the action within the Millennium Trilogy is a response, directly or indirectly, to her actions/discoveries.
Arnauldur Indriđason’s work is more low-key and less conspiratorial thriller than Stieg Larsson's - the core of the Reykjavik Thrillers, at least thus far, is Erlendur's relationship with his family (mainly his daughter, Eva Lind, and his long-gone brother).
If you like Indriđason’s work, you might want to check out Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö's ten-book Martin Beck Police Mysteries as well. Like the Reykjavik Thrillers, the writing's tight, interesting and personal (with touches of quirkiness).
Let me know when you review Dragon Tattoo on your site, and I'll add a link to it on my review of Dragon Tattoo.
Thanks for stopping by, my friend. =)
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