Maura (maura853) -
Disappointing, especially since I had enjoyed two other books in the series so much.
Still good for local colour, and the sad, prickly character of Detective Erlundur. But it lost a crucial star for me because the mystery of the skeleton on the building site seems forced, and artificially strung out to generate suspense. Some of the detectives' behaviour went beyond dumb, to being cruel and unprofessional.
Warning: flashback scenes involve truly upsetting, and relentless, domestic violence. Between that, and the fact that Erlundur's estranged daughter spends most of the book in a coma, and that prompts him to recall his failings as a father that led to their estrangement (and her self-destructive behaviours, probably), this book isn't going to leave you full of the joys of spring ...
Still good for local colour, and the sad, prickly character of Detective Erlundur. But it lost a crucial star for me because the mystery of the skeleton on the building site seems forced, and artificially strung out to generate suspense. Some of the detectives' behaviour went beyond dumb, to being cruel and unprofessional.
Warning: flashback scenes involve truly upsetting, and relentless, domestic violence. Between that, and the fact that Erlundur's estranged daughter spends most of the book in a coma, and that prompts him to recall his failings as a father that led to their estrangement (and her self-destructive behaviours, probably), this book isn't going to leave you full of the joys of spring ...
