The Island (Hidden Iceland #2) by Ragnar Jónasson

Description from Goodreads:

"Elliðaey is an isolated island off the coast of Iceland. It is has a beautiful, unforgiving terrain and is an easy place to vanish.

The Island is the second thrilling book in Ragnar Jonasson's Hidden Iceland trilogy. This time Hulda is at the peak of her career and is sent to investigate what happened on Elliðaey after a group of friends visited but one failed to return.

Could this have links to the disappearance of a couple ten years previously out on the Westfjords? Is there a killer stalking these barren outposts?"

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A slow burn mystery that didn't quite land for me

It’s always a bit of a relief to finally tick a book off the TBR pile, especially when it’s been sitting there since 2018! I’ve finally sat down with The Island by Ragnar Jónasson, which is the second book in the Hidden Iceland series.

The story starts off so well and the opening really grabbed my attention. It’s set across two different timelines, focusing on a cold case from the 1980s and then moving forward to a reunion on a remote island ten years later where things go wrong. It has all the ingredients for a classic locked-room mystery.

However, after that strong start, the middle sections just didn't grab me as I'd hoped they would. I found the pacing quite slow, and it felt like more of a police procedural or a slow-burn mystery than the gripping thriller I was expecting. I know many people love the atmosphere of Scandi-noir, but I think I've decided it's just not for me. I often feel like the tone or the flow gets a bit lost in translation, and having tried a few now without much success, I think I’ll be giving the genre a miss from now on.

If you enjoy a very methodical, atmospheric mystery where the setting is a character in itself, you might get more out of this than I did. For me, it was okay, but it didn't quite hit the mark. 

Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and share my honest thoughts.

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The Katharina Code (William Wisting #12) by Jørn Lier Horst

Description from Goodreads:

"Twenty-four years ago Katharina Haugen went missing.

All she left behind was her husband Martin and a mysterious string of numbers scribbled on a piece of paper.

Every year on October 9th Chief Inspector William Wisting takes out the files to the case he was never able to solve. Stares at the code he was never able to crack. And visits the husband he was never able to help.

But now Martin Haugen is missing too.

As Wisting prepares to investigate another missing person's case he's visited by a detective from Oslo. Adrian Stiller is convinced Martin's involved in another disappearance of a young woman and asks Wisting to close the net around Martin.

But is Wisting playing cat and mouse with a dangerous killer or a grief-stricken husband who cannot lay the past to rest?"

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A bit of a slow burner

I’ve had this one sitting on the dusty virtual shelf of my Kindle since 2018, so it was definitely time to finally see what the fuss was about! This was actually my first time reading anything by Jørn Lier Horst and while I can see why he’s a big name in Scandi noir, I’m left feeling a little bit middle of the road about it all. 

The story follows William Wisting as he revisits a cold case from twenty-four years ago involving a woman named Katharina who went missing, leaving behind a mysterious code. I really liked the premise and Wisting himself is a refreshing character - he’s a decent, stable man without the usual messy personal life or dark secrets you often get with fictional detectives. The procedural side of things felt very authentic too, which makes sense given the author’s background as a police officer.

However, I did struggle a bit with the pacing. It felt quite slow to get going and there were times when the level of detail about Norwegian street names or every single mundane door knock felt a bit like a slog. It’s definitely more of a "thinking person's" mystery than a fast-paced thriller. While the atmosphere was spot on, the "code" itself didn't feel as central to the solution as I'd hoped and the ending didn't quite have the emotional punch I was looking for.

It's a solid, well-written police procedural that kept me curious enough to finish, but it didn't completely blow me away. If you enjoy a very methodical, slow-burning mystery, you’ll likely enjoy this more than I did.

Many thanks to the author, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for enabling me to read and, eventually, share my thoughts of this book.

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The Killer Inside (Joe Stark #3) by Matthew Frank

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Julian Sinclair is a serial killer.

Charming, manipulative, deadly. He hunted girls for sport, and it's high time justice was served.

But when Sinclair's conviction is thrown out in court, DC Joseph Stark and DS Fran Millhaven find themselves forced to protect the man they're sure is guilty from those who would see him pay in blood.

Then another girl dies.

And Sinclair can't have killed her from his hospital bed.

Is a killer lurking inside someone they never suspected?

And have they had the wrong man all along?"

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Loved it - proper rollercoaster of a ride that I didn't want to get off!

At first, I didn't realise this was the third in the series starring Joe Stark as I have never read anything by Matthew Frank before but first the title and then the blurb enticed me and had I not read some other reviews first, I wouldn't have known.  So, I can safely say that this can be read as a standalone because although I have probably missed a lot of backstory and character development, for me it didn't detract from my enjoyment one little bit.

I absolutely love the character of Joe Stark - yes, he is a bit of a cliché being ex-military with a troubled history now working within the police but, for me, this made him an interesting and complex character.  The supporting cast were equally well developed and I think Julian Sinclair was a great "baddie".

At first, you think the plot is going to be pretty simple and straightforward but as the book progresses, it becomes more complex; the police investigation plays this out really well with them struggling to put the pieces of the puzzle together with many of their leads ending in dead ends.  The politics within the police also provide an interesting side story as does Joe's complicated life.

This is fast paced with plenty of twists and action.  It is also a dark read with some scenes that some might find disturbing so if you are easily shocked, I would give this a miss but I would definitely recommend this to others who enjoy this genre and eagerly await the next instalment.

Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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Stranger by Karen Perry

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Abi Holland considers herself lucky.

She's happily married, and her oldest daughter, Eva, is all set for a place at a top university.

She just can't help but worry about Beth.

So when foreign exchange student Corinne comes to stay, it's a relief her lonely younger daughter finally has someone to talk to.

It's only when Beth starts to misbehave, that Abi begins to wonder how much they really know about their guest.

Because the Holland family have lots of secrets, and Corinne is quietly listening to them all.

And once they come out, there's no going back..."

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I am sad to say that I couldn't get into this at all and found my mind wandering to other things.  I have read Your Closest Friend by Karen Perry and enjoyed it but this one just didn't do it for me unfortunately, however it won't put me off reading more from these authors.  Not sure why it didn't grab me but sometimes it just doesn't happen.

Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Cold Christmas (Antonia Hawkins #4) by Alastair Gunn

Description from Goodreads:

"In the small village of Cold Christmas there's a church that faces the wrong way . . . What has it to do with the three dead men found in a London flat?

DCI Antonia Hawkins has a killer to catch. Only she can't predict what is waiting for her at the end of the chase.

Nobody remembers the young men entering the abandoned London flat a few weeks ago. Nobody cares if they left.

Until the unbearable smell of decay.

DCI Antonia Hawkins is called in to view the dead men; three, lying neat in a row. There's no damage to the bodies, no obvious cause of death. Is this a suicide pact? Or is that just how it's meant to look?

If there is a link between the three very different men then Hawkins needs to find it, and fast. Because unless she does, more are going to die. And they might not all be strangers."

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This is yet another book off my now decreasing "to-be-read" pile and another book that I am left asking myself, why did I leave it so long to read it?

Cold Christmas is the fourth in the Antonia Hawkins series but only the second I have had the pleasure of reading.  I read the first in the series, The Advent Killer, and found that to be very satisfying and it has been nice to catch up with DCI Hawkins and her team and although I think this works well as a standalone, in order to appreciate the main characters, I do think reading at least one of the previous books would be a good idea because although you get some of the backstory, you don't truly appreciate or understand DCI Hawkins motivations without previous insight.

From the cover and the title, you might think this would be a Christmas story but you would be wrong ... what we have here is a dark thriller written at good pace with intrigue abound and excellent characters.  The method used by the killer to murder his victims is ingenious and not one I have come across before which made a nice change and with a good mix of investigation into this complex case and into the equally complex personal life of DCI Hawkins, this is, once again, a satisfying read ... well, that is until the end ... oh Mr Gunn you are mean!

Despite this, I will be reading more from this author and I want to thank Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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The Advent Killer (Antonia Hawkins #1) by Alastair Gunn

Blurb from Goodreads:

"Christmas is coming. One body at a time.

Three weeks before Christmas: Sunday, one a.m. A woman is drowned in her bathtub.

One week later: Sunday, one a.m. A woman is beaten savagely to death, every bone in her body broken.

Another week brings another victim.

As panic spreads across London, DCI Antonia Hawkins, leading her first murder investigation, must stop a cold, careful killer whose twisted motives can only be guessed at, before the next body is found. On Sunday.

When the clock strikes one . . ."

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Alastair Gunn is a new author for me but "The Advent Killer" won't be the last work I read of his as I found this book quite satisfying.  Please be aware that this isn't a cosy Christmas story in any way, shape or form but definitely one to curl up with on a cold winter's day.

DCI Antonia Hawkins is lead officer in her first murder case and it couldn't be a worse first case ... a serial killer is on the loose - they know when he/she is going to strike next but not who or where and there are virtually no clues left behind.  Can DCI Hawkins and her team track the killer down before the next victim is brutally murdered?

Written at a good pace with interesting characters and intriguing story line, which although might not be the most complex or unpredictable, it did hold my interest to the end and I am looking forward to reading more from Mr Gunn and getting to know DCI Hawkins and her team a little more.

Thank you goes to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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Come A Little Closer by Karen Perry

Description from Goodreads:

"The new gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Girl Unknown and Your Closest Friend

Leah is in love. It should be the happiest summer of her life, but she can't help feeling lonely with Jake's attention divided between her, his ex-wife and his young son. As insomnia sets in, the walls of their new basement flat feel as if they're closing in around her.

Until she meets her upstairs neighbour, Anton, who has recently moved back in after a long absence from the street. He's a sympathetic ear when Jake can't be, and even though others on the street seem strangely hostile towards him, Leah soon comes to rely on Anton and their secret conversations in the night.

Leah has no idea that nineteen years before, Anton was convicted of killing his wife. A wife who looked a little bit like Leah. He has always said he didn't do it.

Is Leah his redemption? Or is she befriending a killer intent on luring her closer and closer?"

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Nope ... not for me ... hard to feel anything for any of the characters and hard to get into - sorry but I found it pretty boring and I can't bring myself to recommend it although there are plenty of very positive and 4 and 5 star reviews out there so obviously it appeals to others so don't take my word for it ... try it for yourself.

Thank you to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Then She Vanishes by Claire Douglas

Description from Goodreads:

"Everything changed the night Flora Powell disappeared. 

Heather and Jess were best friends - until the night Heather's sister vanished.

Jess has never forgiven herself for the lie she told that night. Nor has Heather.

But now Heather is accused of an awful crime.

And Jess is forced to return to the sleepy seaside town where they grew up, to ask the question she's avoided for so long:

What really happened the night Flora disappeared?"

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This is a good psychological thriller with a captivating start and the rest being a slow, burn to the satisfying conclusion.

Written at good pace and switching between two timelines with complex and interesting characters, Then She Vanishes is an enthralling read and whilst it might not have the action or thrills of most books of this genre, it definitely has the tension and build-up to rival any of them.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

The blurb from Goodreads:

"Introducing the next generation of domestic thriller...

Every marriage has secrets. Everyone has flaws. Your wife isn't perfect - you know that - but then again nor are you.

But now a serial killer is on the loose in your small town, preying on young women. Fear is driving your well-behaved young daughter off the rails, and you find yourself in bed late at night, looking at the woman who lies asleep beside you.

Because you thought you knew the worst about her. The truth is you know nothing at all.

This is a thriller like nothing you've read before..."

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This book is like nothing I have read before ... in a good way of course but I am slightly worried that I may be moving onto the dark side of normal!  Why? you may ask - just read this book and you'll understand!

What we have here is an absolute gem of a read that had me hooked from the start.  I won't go into the plot as I don't want to give anything away but will describe it as being edgy, dark, twisted, engrossing, disturbingly entertaining and totally unique.   The characters are just excellent but more than that, they are frighteningly believable and rarely do I find myself feeling so wrong about liking and rooting for someone so disturbed but scarily normal!

The writing is crisp and effective and easy to read with excellent pacing; great suspense and twists leave you reading way too late into the night in anticipation of what the heck is going to happen next. 

I can't believe this is a debut and I am waiting on tenterhooks for Samantha Downing's next book and I only hope it's as disturbingly good as this one.  On her website, she says that she wants to "tell stories that make people walk into walls"; I think she did with this one.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup

Description from Goodreads:

"THE DEBUT NOVEL FROM THE CREATOR AND WRITER OF THE KILLING

The police make a terrible discovery in a suburb of Copenhagen. A young woman has been killed and dumped at a playground. One of her hands has been cut off, and above her hangs a small doll made of chestnuts.

Young detective Naia Thulin is assigned the case. Her partner is Mark Hess, a burned-out investigator who's just been kicked out of Europol's headquarters in The Hague. They soon discover a mysterious piece of evidence on the chestnut man - evidence connecting it to a girl who went missing a year earlier and is presumed dead, the daughter of politician Rosa Hartung. A man confessed to her murder, and the case is long since solved.

Soon afterwards, another woman is found murdered, along with another chestnut man. Thulin and Hess suspect that there's a connection between the Hartung case, the murdered women and a killer who is spreading fear throughout the country. But what is it?

Thulin and Hess are racing against the clock, because it's clear that the murderer is on a mission that is far from over . . ."

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If that cover doesn't draw you in and make you pick it up, you are a lost soul !!!

And if the cover doesn't do it for you, the story certainly will.  It does make for uncomfortable reading at times given the subject matter but it is a story about a serial killer so some gruesome descriptions of the crimes shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.

The plot is gripping, dark and thrilling and the pace of the book is ideal with a seamless mix of murder, politics and police procedure all wrapped up in a perfect psychological thriller package.  I actually don't normally like what is called Scandi-noir after having previously tried and failed to read one by a very successful author but this one is excellent. 

The characters are fantastic - I know it's a good book when I can see the characters as real people and imagine who would play them if the book were made into a film or TV series - the Danish actor, Kim Bodnia, from The Bridge (Bron/Broen) and Killing Eve would be perfect for the role of Hess.

This is the debut novel by this author, although he has written the highly acclaimed series "The Killing", and a very accomplished debut it is and my thanks must go to the publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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