The Shadow District

September 1, 2017
A retired detective discovers a puzzling link between the death of a 90-year-old man and the murder of a young woman in Reykjavik during the American occupation in 1944.Icelandic novelist Indridason introduces dogged detective Konrad in the first book of a new crime series. After police find pensioner Stefan Thordarson dead in his bedroom, they attribute the man's passing to natural causes. During the autopsy, though, the pathologist finds indications that he was smothered with a pillow. Over dinner with a former colleague, retired detective Konrad--who finds himself a bit bored--volunteers to look into the case for the short-staffed department; he discovers that Thordarson had recently been investigating the 1944 murder of Rosamunda, a young seamstress, whose body was found behind the National Theater by two lovers--a philandering American GI and his naive Icelandic girlfriend. For Konrad, the case rouses his curiosity thanks to his late father's indirect connection to the victim's parents and a seance gone bad. The story shifts from present day Reykjavik to 1944, when British and Americans troops occupied Iceland during World War II. Thordarson, then known as Stephan Thorson, a Canadian officer working with the military police, collaborated with Flovent, a local detective, to investigate Rosamunda's murder. Following every lead, they learn of Rosamunda's abortion and question a local herbologist who tells them the far-fetched story that Rosamunda claimed to be raped by the huldufolk, elves in Icelandic folklore, but they also learn of Hrund, a farm girl who told a similar story and later disappeared, an apparent suicide. Back in contemporary Reykjavik, Konrad follows Thordarson's clues from the past investigation, determined to find the old man's killer and the connection to Rosamunda's and Hrund's deaths. With minimalist prose, Indridason skillfully weaves the present-day murder with the past in this classic whodunit that ends with a satisfying and logical resolution.

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Starred review from September 11, 2017
This outstanding series launch from Indridason (the Inspector Erlendur series) opens with the police entering the Reykjavík apartment of pensioner Stefán Thórdarson, who has died in his bed, apparently of old age. The subsequent autopsy reveals that he was smothered. Only some old newspaper clippings, about a crime dating back to 1944, offer a clue, which is pursued by a retired policeman who grew up as a poor kid in the Reykjavík neighborhood that gives the book its name. Flash back to Reykjavík in 1944. The city is teeming with American soldiers, who are dating Icelandic women. One such courting couple discover the body of a young woman named Rósamunda; the two policemen who investigate determine that she was murdered. Another case, in the countryside, has similarities, and is connected to Icelandic folklore, notably the huldufólk, mythological “hidden creatures.” What happened to Rósamunda and the other woman? And what’s the link to Thórdarson’s murder? Indridason provides a great window into Icelandic culture as he explores his recurring themes of greed and abuse of power.

September 1, 2017
Iceland is the setting for this mystery within a mystery, with one death taking place during the WWII occupation of the country by Allied soldiers, and the other in the present day. The historical story heavily features the upheaval of the Situation, when the previously isolated country was overrun by foreigners, many of whom struck up scandalous relationships with locals. One such woman and her boyfriend stumble upon a body during a clandestine meeting, a murder that remains unsolved in the present-day portion of the story, when police are investigating what seems the routine death of a man at home. The intertwining stories will keep readers engaged until the book's unexpected ending; also absorbing are Indridason's characters, who make wartime and today's Iceland come to life. The dialogue rings true and imparts a forthright yet gentle tone that matches the harsh but dreamy landscape, which is lovingly described. Indridason is an award-winning crime writer, so this will sell itself to mystery fans, but also try it with military-history buffs.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

Starred review from September 1, 2017

Konrad, a retired Icelandic police detective, is assisting in the investigation of the suffocation of an elderly man. Looking through the victim's personal effects, Konrad finds yellowing newspaper articles regarding the murder of a young woman whose body was discovered outside Reykjavik's National Theater during World War II. Searching old police files, the intrigued detective uncovers scant information on the original case investigated by Flovent, an Icelandic cop, and Thorson, a Canadian military police officer. Early on, readers learn that the deceased gentleman is Thorson, who, having new information on the 70-year-old murder, probed these leads. As Konrad retraces Thorson's steps, readers also follow the initial case as it moves forward. The award-winning author of the "Inspector Erlendur" series (Into Oblivion) continues his modus operandi of simultaneously covering a current and cold case in this new series set during the war years. The inspectors, past and present, are formidable characters, and the blend of police procedural with Icelandic folklore is intriguing. VERDICT While not as dark as lndridason's previous works, this is a welcome addition from a master of the genre. [See Prepub Alert, 5/15/17.]--Edward Goldberg, Syosset P.L., NY

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2017

In this latest from Gold Dagger and Glass Key winner Indridason, retired detective Konrad is drawn back into the game when an elderly man is found smothered in his bed. On the desk nearby is a clipping about a young woman's murder near Reykjavik's National Theatre during World War II. Why was the victim so interested?

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2017

Konrad, a retired Icelandic police detective, is assisting in the investigation of the suffocation of an elderly man. Looking through the victim's personal effects, Konrad finds yellowing newspaper articles regarding the murder of a young woman whose body was discovered outside Reykjavik's National Theater during World War II. Searching old police files, the intrigued detective uncovers scant information on the original case investigated by Flovent, an Icelandic cop, and Thorson, a Canadian military police officer. Early on, readers learn that the deceased gentleman is Thorson, who, having new information on the 70-year-old murder, probed these leads. As Konrad retraces Thorson's steps, readers also follow the initial case as it moves forward. The award-winning author of the "Inspector Erlendur" series (Into Oblivion) continues his modus operandi of simultaneously covering a current and cold case in this new series set during the war years. The inspectors, past and present, are formidable characters, and the blend of police procedural with Icelandic folklore is intriguing. VERDICT While not as dark as lndridason's previous works, this is a welcome addition from a master of the genre. [See Prepub Alert, 5/15/17.]--Edward Goldberg, Syosset P.L., NY

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.