Sara-Jayne Townsend is a published crime and horror writer and likes books in which someone dies horribly. She is founder and Chair Person of the T Party Writers’ Group. http://sarajaynetownsend.weebly.com/
A chilling note predicting the deaths of six people is found in a school's time capsule (ten years after it was buried). But surely, if a thirteen-year-old wrote it, it can't be a real threat. Then the murders start…..
Detective Huldar, investigating the case, turns to child psychologist Freyja to give him insight into the mind-set of the child who wrote the note. It names six people by their initials and claims they will die in the present year. When victims start turning up with the same initials, suddenly the police are taking the note seriously.
The plot is intriguing, and the action moves along at a brisk pace. In a novel first published overseas and translated into English, I’m never quite sure whether the language used can be attributed to the author, or to the translator, or maybe a bit of both. But there’s some elegant writing here either way.
This is the second novel in a series about Huldar and Freyja. The relationship between the two is filled with sexual tension and is clearly heading towards them eventually getting together. At the moment, though, they are two characters who seem to spend a lot of time bickering and refusing to speak to each other about the things that are making them angry. This does come across as being a little distracting at times, but this may only be because I haven’t read preceding books in the series. Those who have read the precursors, probably have a better understanding of the character’s backstory (and may find it enlightening).
Icelandic crime fiction appears very popular currently, and having been to Iceland it’s clear that the setting itself may play a part in the appeal. In real life Iceland is a cold, harsh, hostile environment in which live the warmest, friendliest people you could ever hope to meet. There are very few murders, and you can’t imagine these lovely people getting angry enough with anyone to commit murder. But that doesn’t make for interesting crime stories. In this book there are plenty of suspicious suspects, enough to keep the reader guessing until the plot speeds its way to a dramatic conclusion.
Fans of Scandinavian noir should give this Icelandic tale a read, and those who love police procedurals will also enjoy this gripping novel.
Editor’s Note : Translated from the Icelandic by Victoria Cribb
