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Reykjavík

An ice-cold mystery from Ragnar Jónasson and Icelandic PrimeMinister Katrín Jakobsdóttir

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

What happened to Lara?

Iceland, 1956. Fifteen-year-old Lára spends the summer working for a couple on the small island of Videy, just off the coast of Reykjavík.

In early August, the girl disappears without a trace.

The mystery becomes Iceland's greatest unsolved case. What happened to the young girl? Is she still alive? Did she leave the island, or did something happen to her there?

Thirty years later in August, 1986, as the city of Reykjavík celebrates its 200th anniversary, journalist Valur Robertsson begins his own investigation into Lara's case. But as he draws closer to discovering the secret, and with the eyes of Reykjavík upon him, it soon becomes clear that Lara's disappearance is a mystery that someone will stop at nothing to keep unsolved . . .

©2023 Katrín Jakobsdottír & Ragnar Jónasson (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Crime Thrillers Fiction Historical Mystery Private Investigators Suspense Thriller & Suspense Thriller Crime Detective Disappearance

Critic reviews

A classic crime novel, its noir at its finest
Nordic noir at its most authoritative.
A crime novel with a difference
Seamlessly plotted, with terrific characters and plenty of surprising, earned twists. Jonasson and Jakobsdottir, demonstrate with understated brilliance how the truth rises to the surface, no matter how ugly it is or how powerful the players are.
A classic. As tense as anything Jonasson has previously written
A beautifully constructed mystery by two super smart partners in crime (ANTHONY HOROWITZ)
A slow-burning, spellbinding whodunit. Agatha Christie, to whom it's dedicated, would be proud
I read all 349 pages in one go and enjoyed every second . . . A gripping story . . . extremely well written . . . superbly plotted . . . The twist at the halfway point of the book hits the reader like a wave of the ice cold Atlantic Ocean. One reader at my home was almost in shock. It is an art to create such a deep connection with fictional characters. Even though the story is first and foremost entertaining, it also serves as the mirror of a nation and has many layers
Loved it!
Brilliant. Very exciting, great fun, good characterization, and the atmosphere of the 80s is described in an enjoyable way. One of the best crime novels I've read in a long time (Gisli Marteinn Baldursson)
All stars
Most relevant
Absolutely brilliant- exciting, gripping, twisting, easy to listen to but dense with info. Absolutely brilliant.

Gripping, Thrilling and brilliantly narrated

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Slow start setting background but picked up a pace when Valur’s sister Sunna took up the challenge. A mystery ‘til the end - I did not guess the killer, usually can. Narration excellent, no shrill accents or voices, EarPod friendly.

Excellent Whodunnit

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The plot is good and the first part of the book drew me in. Then the main character is murdered and things go seriously down hill. It was as though the two parts were written by two different people. Part two is repetitive, with far too much exposition.

Starts well then tails off

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I liked the idea of the book being based on dates and the slow lead up to 1986 at the beginning worked well! It was a little jarring that the voice actor changed but at the same time makes perfect sense as you’ll find out listening! Overall a pretty good story!

Unique structure

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I listened to this during my daily exercise while on a cruise to Iceland. When Valor mentioned his home was in Husavik we were there whalewatching. Maybe this made the book more ‘real’ but I really enjoyed the structure - the long passage of years then the swift passage of days. I guessed the murderer as they drove to the site of the summit. It horrified me but it was entirely believable and convincing. I have downloaded another of Ragnar Jonasson’s novels and I look forward to more from Karin Jakobsdottir.

A complete joy

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