Reviews
This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murderer and finds his own humanity. The emotionally wrought ending caught me off guard and touched me in a way that few mystery novels do., An absorbing police procedural dense with psychological pressure. The plot is a twister, the setting unique, and Erlendur's personal life is even bleaker than the Icelandic fall. Erlendur is a cop to watch. And I will., The descriptions of Reykjavík and the surrounding area . . . are fascinating in their own right, and the plotting is riveting. . . . Detective Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is an intense and introspective protagonist., Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves impressively moving., Winner of the Glass Key Award for Best Nordic Crime Novel 2002 "Translated from the Icelandic by Bernard Scudder ""Jar" "City is a haunting and elegant novel, and Arnaldur Indridason is a writer of astonishing gravitas and talent." - John Lescroart, author of "Nothing But the Truth " "Like a long Icelandic night, "Jar City envelopes the reader in a fascinating and mesmerizing locale--and doesn't let go. No wonder Arnaldur Indridason won so many awards. He's a great storyteller, and American readers will overwhelmingly agree." - C. J. Box, Anthony Award-winning author of "Out of Range "Classic mystery fiction, both compassionate and thrilling. Indridason is about to become one of the brightest stars in the genre's dark skies." - John Connolly, author of "Dark Hollow ""Jar City, like a good Ingmar Bergman film, brings us irresistibly into a strangely beautiful world of deep sorrows and dangerous secrets hidden in the past. Indridason's detective is, like his predecessors from Philip Marlowe to Somerset in "Seven, a deeply appealing hero, intense, intelligent, moral, lonely, and very very good at his job." - Michael Malone, author of "Uncivil Seasons "Fascinating . . . an original and puzzling mystery." - Val McDermid, "The Sunday Times (UK) "This is strong stuff, powerfully and arrestingly written. The plot is clever, the writing has a directness and deceptive simplicity reminiscent of Simenon, and Detective Inspector Erlendur is an intriguing character whose personal problems complement rather than distract from his investigation. Here is a new voice that demands to be listened to!" - Reginald Hill, author of "Dialogues of the Dead "Prepare yourself for transportation. To a different planet, though right here on earth. I've had the privilege of visiting Iceland, and Arnauldur Indridason captures the haunting, wondrous rhythm of that unique place in a way that will astonish you even as his plotting intrigues you." - Jeremiah Healy, author of "Turnabout and "The Only Good Lawyer " "An absorbing police procedural dense with psychological pressure, haunted by past secrets. The plot is a twister, the setting unique, and Erlendur's personal life is even bleaker than the Icelandic fall. Erlendur is a cop to watch. And I will." - Marshall Browne, author of "The Eye of the Abyss "An excellent thriller that is absolutely cool and deadly." - Robert Gray, Northshire Bookstore (Manchester Center, VT) "Now Iceland has its own Mankell." - Holger Kreitling, "Die Welt (Germany), "Fan[s] of mystery in general and Henning Mankell and Karin Fossum can only exult." -- Library Journal "This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murderer and finds his own humanity. The emotionally wrought ending caught me off guard and touched me in a way that few mystery novels do." -- The Boston Globe "[Erlendur is] a helluva detective." -- Minneapolis Star-Tribune " Jar City stresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . An excellent debut." -- Baltimore Sun "Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves impressively moving." -- Time Out London "Award-winning Iceland author Indridason makes a compelling American debut with this first in a series featuring Reykjavík police inspector Erlendur. . . . Quiet, morose, dryly witty, Erlendur makes a fine, complex companion. . . . Those who enjoy Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, or Janwillem van de Wetering will welcome this new series." -- The Portsmouth Herald "A powerful, psychologically acute procedural drama." -- Booklist " Jar City is classic mystery fiction, both compassionate and thrilling. Indridason is about to become one of the brightest stars in the genre's dark skies." -- John Connolly, author of Dark Hollow "There's much to glean about the people of Iceland from this erudite and compelling story. . . . Jar City taps into the melancholy of Scandinavian perspective and manages to be quite thrilling, too." -- Rocky Mountain News "This careful, sparsely written book operates at a deeper level than most crime fiction: it conveys the sense of painful inevitability underlying the old stories that medieval Icelanders told through the long winter nights." -- The Independent (London) "The descriptions of Reykjavík and the surrounding area . . . are fascinating in their own right, and the plotting is riveting. . . . Detective Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is an intense and introspective protagonist." -- BookPage "The author's American debut, winner of the 2002 Nordic Crime Novel Award, is a model puzzle presented with clarity and crisp economy." -- Kirkus Reviews "An absorbing police procedural dense with psychological pressure. The plot is a twister, the setting unique, and Erlendur's personal life is even bleaker than the Icelandic fall. Erlendur is a cop to watch. And I will." -- Marshall Browne, author of The Eye of the Abyss, Jar City is classic mystery fiction, both compassionate and thrilling. Indridason is about to become one of the brightest stars in the genre's dark skies., Jar City stresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . An excellent debut., "This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murder and finds his own humanity."--"The Boston Globe" ""Jar City" stresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . ÝAn¨ excellent debut."--"The Baltimore Sun" "Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves to be impressively moving."--"Time Out London" "A compelling American debut."--"The Portsmouth Herald", This careful, sparsely written book operates at a deeper level than most crime fiction: it conveys the sense of painful inevitability underlying the old stories that medieval Icelanders told through the long winter nights., "Fan[s] of mystery in general and Henning Mankell and Karin Fossum can only exult."-- Library Journal "This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murderer and finds his own humanity. The emotionally wrought ending caught me off guard and touched me in a way that few mystery novels do."-- The Boston Globe "[Erlendur is] a helluva detective."-- Minneapolis Star-Tribune " Jar City stresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . An excellent debut."-- Baltimore Sun "Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves impressively moving."-- Time Out London "Award-winning Iceland author Indridason makes a compelling American debut with this first in a series featuring Reykjavk police inspector Erlendur. . . . Quiet, morose, dryly witty, Erlendur makes a fine, complex companion. . . . Those who enjoy Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, or Janwillem van de Wetering will welcome this new series."-- The Portsmouth Herald "A powerful, psychologically acute procedural drama."-- B ooklist " Jar City is classic mystery fiction, both compassionate and thrilling. Indridason is about to become one of the brightest stars in the genre's dark skies."--John Connolly, author of Dark Hollow " There's much to glean about the people of Iceland from this erudite and compelling story. . . . Jar City taps into the melancholy of Scandinavian perspective and manages to be quite thrilling, too."-- Rocky Mountain News "This careful, sparsely written book operates at a deeper level than most crime fiction: it conveys the sense of painful inevitability underlying the old stories that medieval Icelanders told through the long winter nights."-- The Independent (London) "The descriptions of Reykjavk and the surrounding area . . . are fascinating in their own right, and the plotting is riveting. . . . Detective Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is an intense and introspective protagonist."-- B ookPage "The author's American debut, winner of the 2002 Nordic Crime Novel Award, is a model puzzle presented with clarity and crisp economy."-- Kirkus Reviews "An absorbing police procedural dense with psychological pressure. The plot is a twister, the setting unique, and Erlendur's personal life is even bleaker than the Icelandic fall. Erlendur is a cop to watch. And I will."--Marshall Browne, author of The Eye of the Abyss, There's much to glean about the people of Iceland from this erudite and compelling story. . . . Jar City taps into the melancholy of Scandinavian perspective and manages to be quite thrilling, too., "Fan[s] of mystery in general and Henning Mankell and Karin Fossum can only exult."--Library Journal "This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murderer and finds his own humanity. The emotionally wrought ending caught me off guard and touched me in a way that few mystery novels do."--The Boston Globe "[Erlendur is] a helluva detective."--Minneapolis Star-Tribune "Jar Citystresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . An excellent debut."--Baltimore Sun "Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves impressively moving."--Time Out London "Award-winning Iceland author Indridason makes a compelling American debut with this first in a series featuring Reykjavík police inspector Erlendur. . . . Quiet, morose, dryly witty, Erlendur makes a fine, complex companion. . . . Those who enjoy Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, or Janwillem van de Wetering will welcome this new series."--ThePortsmouthHerald "A powerful, psychologically acute procedural drama."--Booklist "JarCityis classic mystery fiction, both compassionate and thrilling. Indridason is about to become one of the brightest stars in the genre's dark skies."--John Connolly, author ofDark Hollow "There's much to glean about the people of Iceland from this erudite and compelling story. . . .JarCitytaps into the melancholy of Scandinavian perspective and manages to be quite thrilling, too."--Rocky Mountain News "This careful, sparsely written book operates at a deeper level than most crime fiction: it conveys the sense of painful inevitability underlying the old stories that medieval Icelanders told through the long winter nights."--The Independent(London) "The descriptions of Reykjavík and the surrounding area . . . are fascinating in their own right, and the plotting is riveting. . . . Detective Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is an intense and introspective protagonist."--BookPage "The author's American debut, winner of the 2002 Nordic Crime Novel Award, is a model puzzle presented with clarity and crisp economy."--Kirkus Reviews "An absorbing police procedural dense with psychological pressure. The plot is a twister, the setting unique, and Erlendur's personal life is even bleaker than the Icelandic fall. Erlendur is a cop to watch. And I will."--Marshall Browne, author ofThe Eye of the Abyss, "Fan[s] of mystery in general and Henning Mankell and Karin Fossum can only exult."-- Library Journal "This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murderer and finds his own humanity. The emotionally wrought ending caught me off guard and touched me in a way that few mystery novels do."-- The Boston Globe "[Erlendur is] a helluva detective."-- Minneapolis Star-Tribune " Jar City stresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . An excellent debut."-- Baltimore Sun "Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves impressively moving."-- Time Out London "Award-winning Iceland author Indridason makes a compelling American debut with this first in a series featuring Reykjavík police inspector Erlendur. . . . Quiet, morose, dryly witty, Erlendur makes a fine, complex companion. . . . Those who enjoy Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, or Janwillem van de Wetering will welcome this new series."-- The Portsmouth Herald "A powerful, psychologically acute procedural drama."-- B ooklist " Jar City is classic mystery fiction, both compassionate and thrilling. Indridason is about to become one of the brightest stars in the genre's dark skies."--John Connolly, author of Dark Hollow " There's much to glean about the people of Iceland from this erudite and compelling story. . . . Jar City taps into the melancholy of Scandinavian perspective and manages to be quite thrilling, too."-- Rocky Mountain News "This careful, sparsely written book operates at a deeper level than most crime fiction: it conveys the sense of painful inevitability underlying the old stories that medieval Icelanders told through the long winter nights."-- The Independent (London) "The descriptions of Reykjavík and the surrounding area . . . are fascinating in their own right, and the plotting is riveting. . . . Detective Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is an intense and introspective protagonist."-- B ookPage "The author's American debut, winner of the 2002 Nordic Crime Novel Award, is a model puzzle presented with clarity and crisp economy."-- Kirkus Reviews "An absorbing police procedural dense with psychological pressure. The plot is a twister, the setting unique, and Erlendur's personal life is even bleaker than the Icelandic fall. Erlendur is a cop to watch. And I will."--Marshall Browne, author of The Eye of the Abyss, "FanÝs¨ of mystery in general and Henning Mankell and Karin Fossum can only exult."--"Library Journal" "This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murderer and finds his own humanity. The emotionally wrought ending caught me off guard and touched me in a way that few mystery novels do."--"The Boston Globe" "ÝErlendur is¨ a helluva detective."--"Minneapolis Star-Tribune" " " ""Jar City" stresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . An excellent debut."--"Baltimore Sun" "Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves impressively moving."--"Time Out London""" "Award-winning Iceland author Indridason makes a compelling American debut with this first in a series featuring Reykjavik police inspector Erlendur. . . . Quiet, morose, dryly witty, Erlendur makes a fine, complex companion. . . . Those who enjoy Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, or Janwillem van de Wetering will welcome this new series."--"The ""Portsmouth"" Herald" " " "A powerful, psychologically acute procedural drama."--"B""ooklist" ""Jar"" ""City" is classic mystery fiction, both compassionate and thrilling. Indridason is about to become one of the brightest stars in the genre's dark skies."--John Connolly, author of "Dark Hollow" """There's much to glean about the people of Iceland from this erudite and compelling story. . . . "Jar"" ""City"" "taps into the melancholy of Scandinavian perspective and manages to be quite thrilling, too."--"Rocky Mountain News" "This careful, sparsely written book operates at a deeper level than most crime fiction: it conveys the sense of painful inevitability underlying the old stories that medieval Icelanders told through the long winter nights."--"The Independent" (London) "The descriptions of Reykjavik and the surrounding area . . . are fascinating in their own right, and the plotting is riveting. . . . Detective Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is an intense and introspective protagonist."--"B""ookPage" "The author's American debut, winner of the 2002 Nordic Crime Novel Award, is a model puzzle presented with clarity and crisp economy."--"Kirkus Reviews" " " "An absorbing police procedural dense with psychological pressure. The plot is a twister, the setting unique, and Erlendur's personal life is even bleaker than the Icelandic fall. Erlendur is a cop to watch. And I will."--Marshall Browne, author of "The Eye of the Abyss", "Fan[s] of mystery in general and Henning Mankell and Karin Fossum can only exult." -- Library Journal "This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murderer and finds his own humanity. The emotionally wrought ending caught me off guard and touched me in a way that few mystery novels do." -- The Boston Globe "[Erlendur is] a helluva detective." -- Minneapolis Star-Tribune " Jar City stresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . An excellent debut." -- Baltimore Sun "Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves impressively moving." -- Time Out London "Award-winning Iceland author Indridason makes a compelling American debut with this first in a series featuring Reykjavk police inspector Erlendur. . . . Quiet, morose, dryly witty, Erlendur makes a fine, complex companion. . . . Those who enjoy Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, or Janwillem van de Wetering will welcome this new series." -- The Portsmouth Herald "A powerful, psychologically acute procedural drama." -- Booklist " Jar City is classic mystery fiction, both compassionate and thrilling. Indridason is about to become one of the brightest stars in the genre's dark skies." -- John Connolly, author of Dark Hollow "There's much to glean about the people of Iceland from this erudite and compelling story. . . . Jar City taps into the melancholy of Scandinavian perspective and manages to be quite thrilling, too." -- Rocky Mountain News "This careful, sparsely written book operates at a deeper level than most crime fiction: it conveys the sense of painful inevitability underlying the old stories that medieval Icelanders told through the long winter nights." -- The Independent (London) "The descriptions of Reykjavk and the surrounding area . . . are fascinating in their own right, and the plotting is riveting. . . . Detective Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is an intense and introspective protagonist." -- BookPage "The author's American debut, winner of the 2002 Nordic Crime Novel Award, is a model puzzle presented with clarity and crisp economy." -- Kirkus Reviews "An absorbing police procedural dense with psychological pressure. The plot is a twister, the setting unique, and Erlendur's personal life is even bleaker than the Icelandic fall. Erlendur is a cop to watch. And I will." -- Marshall Browne, author of The Eye of the Abyss, Award-winning Iceland author Indridason makes a compelling American debut with this first in a series featuring Reykjavík police inspector Erlendur. . . . Quiet, morose, dryly witty, Erlendur makes a fine, complex companion. . . . Those who enjoy Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, or Janwillem van de Wetering will welcome this new series., "Fan[s] of mystery in general and Henning Mankell and Karin Fossum can only exult."--"Library Journal" "This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murderer and finds his own humanity. The emotionally wrought ending caught me off guard and touched me in a way that few mystery novels do."--"The Boston Globe" "[Erlendur is] a helluva detective."--"Minneapolis Star-Tribune" " " ""Jar City" stresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . An excellent debut."--"Baltimore Sun" "Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves impressively moving."--"Time Out London""" "Award-winning Iceland author Indridason makes a compelling American debut with this first in a series featuring Reykjavi k police inspector Erlendur. . . . Quiet, morose, dryly witty, Erlendur makes a fine, complex companion. . . . Those who enjoy Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, or Janwillem van de Wetering will welcome this new series."--"The ""Portsmouth"" Herald" " " "A powerful, psychologically acute procedural drama."--"B""ooklist" ""Jar"" ""City" is classic mystery fiction, both compassionate and thrilling. Indridason is about to become one of the brightest stars in the genre's dark skies."--John Connolly, author of "Dark Hollow" """There's much to glean about the people of Iceland from this erudite and compelling story. . . . "Jar"" ""City"" "taps into the melancholy of Scandinavianperspective and manages to be quite thrilling, too."--"Rocky Mountain News" "This careful, sparsely written book operates at a deeper level than most crime fiction: it conveys the sense of painful inevitability underlying the old stories that medieval Icelanders told through the long winter nights."--"The Independent" (London) "The descriptions of Reykjavi k and the surrounding area . . . are fascinating in their own right, and the plotting is riveting. . . . Detective Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is an intense and introspective protagonist."--"B""ookPage" "The author's American debut, winner of the 2002 Nordic Crime Novel Award, is a model puzzle presented with clarity and crisp economy."--"Kirkus Reviews" " " "An absorbing police procedural dense with psychological pressure. The plot is a twister, the setting unique, and Erlendur's personal life is even bleaker than the Icelandic fall. Erlendur is a cop to watch. And I will."--Marshall Browne, author of "The Eye of the Abyss", "Fan[s] of mystery in general and Henning Mankell and Karin Fossum can only exult."-- Library Journal "This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murderer and finds his own humanity. The emotionally wrought ending caught me off guard and touched me in a way that few mystery novels do."-- The Boston Globe "[Erlendur is] a helluva detective."-- Minneapolis Star-Tribune " Jar City stresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . An excellent debut."-- Baltimore Sun "Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves impressively moving."-- Time Out London "Award-winning Iceland author Indridason makes a compelling American debut with this first in a series featuring Reykjav k police inspector Erlendur. . . . Quiet, morose, dryly witty, Erlendur makes a fine, complex companion. . . . Those who enjoy Karin Fossum, Henning Mankell, or Janwillem van de Wetering will welcome this new series."-- The Portsmouth Herald "A powerful, psychologically acute procedural drama."-- B ooklist " Jar City is classic mystery fiction, both compassionate and thrilling. Indridason is about to become one of the brightest stars in the genre's dark skies."--John Connolly, author of Dark Hollow " There's much to glean about the people of Iceland from this erudite and compelling story. . . . Jar City taps into the melancholy of Scandinavian perspective and manages to be quite thrilling, too."-- Rocky Mountain News "This careful, sparsely written book operates at a deeper level than most crime fiction: it conveys the sense of painful inevitability underlying the old stories that medieval Icelanders told through the long winter nights."-- The Independent (London) "The descriptions of Reykjav k and the surrounding area . . . are fascinating in their own right, and the plotting is riveting. . . . Detective Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is an intense and introspective protagonist."-- B ookPage "The author's American debut, winner of the 2002 Nordic Crime Novel Award, is a model puzzle presented with clarity and crisp economy."-- Kirkus Reviews "An absorbing police procedural dense with psychological pressure. The plot is a twister, the setting unique, and Erlendur's personal life is even bleaker than the Icelandic fall. Erlendur is a cop to watch. And I will."--Marshall Browne, author of The Eye of the Abyss, "This is a dark, haunting novel, with a protagonist who searches for a murder and finds his own humanity."--The Boston Globe "Jar City stresses both the otherworldliness of this faraway country and how similar its denizens are to the rest of us. . . . [An] excellent debut."--The Baltimore Sun "Indridason raises in a thoroughly gripping manner not just questions of paternity in a small nation, but wider issues of the use of genetic information, culminating in an ending that proves to be impressively moving."--Time Out London "A compelling American debut."--The Portsmouth Herald, The author's American debut, winner of the 2002 Nordic Crime Novel Award, is a model puzzle presented with clarity and crisp economy.
