Ayo Onatade is an avid reader of crime and mystery fiction. She has been writing reviews, interviews and articles on the subject for the last 12 years; with an eclectic taste from historical to hardboiled, short stories and noir films
Back in 2010 when Michael Ridpath wrote his first Magnus Iceland Mystery there were very few Icelandic crime fiction writers well known internationally. It was solely Arnaldur Indriðason. Times have changed and the number of Icelandic crime writers has increased exponentially.
Writing in Ice is clearly Michael Ridpath's way of showing how much Iceland means to him and why he fell in love with it. It is a well written and thoroughly engaging guide that is not solely for the crime writer, but also for any visitor to Iceland. From the introduction and the background as to how he began to write his Magnus Iceland series to his insider knowledge of the best places in Reykjavík, his contacts and where to find some of the best views - this is an excellent book to dip in [and out] for tidbits about Iceland but it is also an essential guide for anyone (whether or not you are a crime writer) who wants to write about the country. Writing in Ice could quite easily replace any guide book.
You don't have to enjoy reading crime books set in Iceland to appreciate this book. All you have to do is have a love of a good setting and an appreciation of anything Icelandic. Writing in Ice is well worth being on anybody's bookshelf whether or not you are a crime writer, or a tourist.
