Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason
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This was the selection for the Library’s “Mystery Book Discussion Group” - and I was the leader! So I pretty much HAD to read it!! But I’m SO glad I did! At first glance, the body of an elderly man, found dead in his basement apartment seems like a “typical Icelandic murder” - “squalid, pointless and committed without any attempt to hide it, change the clues or conceal the evidence.” But then, the discovery of a hidden photograph of an unknown gravestone sends Erlendur and his team in the direction of a truth larger than they could have anticipated. The story unfolds thoughtfully and slowly - but the slowness is deceptive. There are useful nuggets of information in every seemingly futile interview, stakeout, computer search, and review of old case files. The characters are so well developed - with just enough illumination of their personal lives and concerns - that the reader develops a genuine affection for them. This is the first title in the “Reykjavik Thriller Series”. The Library also has the next two titles - “Silence of the Grave” and “Voices”. This book (”Jar City”) is also in multiple copies for book clubs to borrow - and by the way - we had a really good discussion, and our book group LOVED it!