Snowblind cover image
I’ve been raving about this book for a while now and so I’m really thrilled to be a part of the Snowblind blog tour. Written by Ragnar Jónasson, Snowblind is published by fabulous new publisher Orenda Books and translated from Icelandic by crime writer Quentin Bates.
What the blurb says: “Siglufjörđur: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors – accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thór Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik – with a past that he’s unable to leave behind. When a young woman is found lying half-naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life. An avalanche and unremitting snowstorms close the mountain pass, and the 24-hour darkness threatens to push Ari over the edge, as curtains begin to twitch, and his investigation becomes increasingly complex, chilling and personal. Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness – blinded by the snow, and with a killer on the loose.”
Ari Thór Arason relocates to the remote costal village of Siglufjörđur to take up his first job in the police. He’s thorough and tenacious, keen to learn and enthusiastic to do a good job in a community where no one locks their doors and the crime rate is virtually zero – until now. When the seemingly accidental death of an elderly writer is followed by what seems to be a vicious attack on a young woman the community is thrown into chaos – is a killer among them? And how, in a place where everyone knows everyone’s business, can there be no witnesses?
Distanced from his girlfriend, Kristín, both by the geography and the unspoken upset each feels with the other from their reaction to Ari’s job move, Ari feels increasingly alone. Tómas, his boss, is one person who helps him feel more part of the community, but it is Ugla – living now in Siglufjörđur as a self imposed exile for a tragedy in her past – who he connects with most. Before long it’s a relationship that starts to create complications of its own.
Determined to get to the truth, Ari presses for answers, and as he does Siglufjörđur is covered in ever deepening snow – becoming cut off from the rest of the country and trapping the inhabitants together. As darkness descends, and Ari takes increasing risks to lure out the killer, the claustrophobic suspense ramps up to the max.
Snowblind uses its stunningly beautiful yet brutally remote setting to create a chilling, atmospheric locked room mystery. It’s a fantastic read with great writing, engaging characters and an expertly crafted plot filled with twists, turns and slight of hand.
Ragnar Jónasson is an outstanding new voice in Nordic Noir, and I’m really looking forward to the next in the series – Nightblind – that’s out next year.
Highly recommended.
To find out more about Ragnar Jónasson visit www.orendabooks.co.uk/book/snow-blind
You can follow him on Twitter @ragnarjo and his publisher @OrendaBooks and translator Quentin Bates @graskeggur
Find out about Quentin Bates’ experiences of translating Snowblind from Icelandic in his guest post here
And get a glimpse at the Snowblind book launch here
Also, be sure to check out all the great tour stops on the Snowblind Blog Tour …
