Duality

Reykjavík
A crime story
By Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Translated by Victoria Cribb
Minotaur, 2023

Prolific mystery writer Ragnar Jónasson co-authors this novel with Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the prime minister of Iceland. This novel opens in 1956 when a teen-age girl disappears from a small farm on the island of Viðey (located in the bay adjoining the city.) After nothing turns up about the girl the story fades from public consciousness until 1986 when Valur, a struggling journalist, reopens the case in a bid to sell more newspapers (and keep his job.)

About midway through the book a sharp turn of events derails the story. I would be committing a crime to divulge any more of the plot but what I will mention, however, is the rich back-story of Reykjavík’s development, both private and public, that went on in that boom time. I first went to Reykjavík in the year 2000 where traces of the old city described in this book were plentiful. Much of the central city has since been redeveloped in the last 23 years and this novel is a vivid look back. That it also occurs in the time of the Reagan-Gorbachev summit adds further complications to the proceedings.

The writing is straightforward and there is a list of characters to keep things straight. Victoria Cribb’s translation is unfussy and focused. More FITK reviews of Ragnar’s books.

Recommended.