KIRKUS REVIEWAn Icelandic detective investigates a murder with roots in the distant past.When veteran Reykjavik police inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is called to a squalid basement flat to examine the corpse of an elderly man named Holberg, bludgeoned to death with a large ashtray, he finds on the scene a typed note with the cryptic message, ?I am HIM.? Murder in Iceland is rare, and Erlendur is just coordinating his probe when two other crimes demand his attention: the assault of geriatric twin sisters in their home and the disappearance of a bride shortly after her wedding. The divorced Erlendur must also struggle to get his combative, punked-out daughter Eva Lind away from her drug-drenched nightlife. The news that Holberg was arrested for rape 30 years ago sends Erlendur on a difficult search among old records and hostile, forgetful witnesses. The sexist cop who caught the original rape case insulted the victim and allowed Holberg to walk. Erlendur?s colleagues Sigurdur and El?nberg are annoyed at the drudgery involved in this effort, but eventually the team finds other victims of Holberg who hold the key to the killing. And Erlendur?s relationship with Eva takes a significant step forward when she helps crack the case of the runaway bride.

(2005) An Icelandic mystery where a known rapist is found dead with no apparent suspect. Introduces a police inspector Erlendur who is lead to Iceland's genealogy database to track down 2 possible murderers. They were sons of rape by the victim. It gets even more complicated as the victim is the carrier of a rare form of cancer that only presents itself in female offspring. The two suspects both have daughter and sister who died from this defect. The murderer is found to be one of the rape victim's sons who at the end kills himself. Very readable and interesting characters. Learned of this book thru Douglas County Library Night Reads book club.KIRKUS REVIEWAn Icelandic detective investigates a murder with roots in the distant past.When veteran Reykjavik police inspector Erlendur Sveinsson is called to a squalid basement flat to examine the corpse of an elderly man named Holberg, bludgeoned to death with a large ashtray, he finds on the scene a typed note with the cryptic message, ?I am HIM.? Murder in Iceland is rare, and Erlendur is just coordinating his probe when two other crimes demand his attention: the assault of geriatric twin sisters in their home and the disappearance of a bride shortly after her wedding. The divorced Erlendur must also struggle to get his combative, punked-out daughter Eva Lind away from her drug-drenched nightlife. The news that Holberg was arrested for rape 30 years ago sends Erlendur on a difficult search among old records and hostile, forgetful witnesses. The sexist cop who caught the original rape case insulted the victim and allowed Holberg to walk. Erlendur's colleagues Sigurdur and El?nberg are annoyed at the drudgery involved in this effort, but eventually the team finds other victims of Holberg who hold the key to the killing. And Erlendur's relationship with Eva takes a significant step forward when she helps crack the case of the runaway bride.The author's American debut, winner of the 2002 Nordic Crime Novel Award, is a model puzzle presented with clarity and crisp economy.Pub Date: Oct. 11th, 2005ISBN: 0-312-34070-2Page count: 288ppPublisher: Dunne/MinotaurReview Posted Online: May 20th, 2010Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15th, 2005

I found it tough going in the early parts of the book dealing with deeply unpleasant situations and characters. It was very much in the "nordic noir" genre for those parts. Thus it was a pleasant surprise that Iceland's extensive genealogical and genetic database played an important role in the latter part of the story. ( )

Really fantastic book, both the plot and the writing. ( )

Though this was an interesting glimpse of Iceland, the story felt a little flat. It was unclear why the detective was willing to go to such lengths to solve the murder. The subplot about his daughter was also unsatisfying because she was not likable enough. ( )