The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer

Helgi #3

by Ragnar Jónasson

THE GRIPPING MYSTERY FROM 'NEXT-GEN NORDIC STAR' (LA TIMES) AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, RAGNAR JONASSON

'ONE OF THE FINEST CRIME WRITERS IN THE WORLD TODAY' DAILY MAIL

‘Jónasson is an automatic must-read for me . . . possibly the best Scandi writer working today’ LEE CHILD

‘A master of the Icelandic thriller’ NEW YORK POST

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One winter evening bestselling crime author, Elín S. Jónsdóttir goes missing.

There are no clues to her disappearance and it is up to young detective, Helgi, to crack the case before it's leaked to the press.

As he interviews the people closest to her – a publisher, an accountant, a retired judge – he realises that Elín’s life wasn’t what it seemed. In fact, her past is even stranger than her stories.

As the case of the missing crime writer becomes more mysterious by the hour, Helgi must uncover the secrets of a very unexpected life . . .

'Rooted in the golden age of crime fiction and full of charming literary allusions. Elegiac and satisfying' Sunday Times

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Books About Books, Audiobook

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2025

About the author

Ragnar Jonasson is author of the award winning and international bestselling Dark Iceland series.

His debut Snowblind, first in the Dark Iceland series, went to number one in the Amazon Kindle charts shortly after publication. The book was also a no. 1 Amazon Kindle bestseller in Australia. Snowblind has been a paperback bestseller in France.

Nightblind won the Dead Good Reader Award 2016 for Most Captivating Crime in Translation.

Snowblind was called a "classically crafted whodunit" by THE NEW YORK TIMES, and it was selected by The Independent as one of the best crime novels of 2015 in the UK.

Rights to the Dark Iceland series have been sold to UK, USA, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, Poland, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Morocco, Portugal, Croatia, Armenia and Iceland.

Ragnar was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he works as a writer and a lawyer. He also teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University and has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV-news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service.

He is also the co-founder of the Reykjavik international crime writing festival Iceland Noir.

From the age of 17, Ragnar translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic.

Ragnar has also had short stories published internationally, including in the distinguished Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in the US, the first stories by an Icelandic author in that magazine.

He has appeared on festival panels worldwide, and lives in Reykjavik.

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A writer goes missing, a detective is on the case, and there is a mystery to be solved. I went back and forth about how I felt about this book. I enjoyed some parts while other parts left me feeling underwhelmed. Apparently, this is the second book featuring the detective, Helgi Reykdal, series. I have not read that book and this book worked nicely as a stand-alone novel for me.

Elín S. Jónsdóttir is a popular bestselling crime author who has gone missing! Detective Helgi Reykdal has been assigned her missing persons case to solve. During his investigation, he will interview various people who knew the crime novelist.

This book jumps around in time and even gives readers insight into Detective Helgi Reykdal's private life. The book takes place in when Elín S. Jónsdóttir goes missing, then jumps to a bank robbery, while sprinkled with excerpts of an interview done with the author.

It took me a little bit of time to find my footing with this book. I had both the book and the audiobook and thought the narration of the audiobook was very well done I do give the author high marks for showing domestic violence where the man was the victim. In this case the victim in question is the Detective who was physically abused by a former girlfriend.

This book demands you take some time with it. It is a mystery, and the pieces do not always come quite together. The ending left me thinking "wait, what?" Not every mystery in life is solved and not all stories have happy endings. This book ended and I felt perplexed and wondering if there would be another book that might pick up where this book left off. hmmm, I wonder.

While I didn't love this book, I did enjoy the chilling atmosphere, the mystery, and the unease.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Helga · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

All secrets have a way of coming out in the end.

This is another book featuring detective Helgi Reykdal who is tasked with finding a missing renowned crime writer.
The plot unravels through 3 timelines and from different perspectives.
The mystery itself was engaging and the writing excellent. What was missing was the detective actually solving the case rather than being offered the solution on a platter by other characters.

If you like cozy mysteries, you will enjoy reading Jónasson’s books.
Helgi being a fan of golden-age mysteries, like in the first book ‘Death at the Sanatorium’, we are introduced to his current reading list aka my soon to read books. 😉

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Can you solve the case?
Iceland’s most famous author, Elín S. Jónsdóttir has gone missing. No one has heard from her in days. It’s up to Detective Helgi to solve her disappearance. And since the detective considers himself an avid reader this is a fitting case for him.

Told from multiple timelines in multiple formats, including an interview recording. We are also privy to Detective Helgi’s interviews with those closest to our missing author.

As Detective Helgi attempts to solve the crime, he’s also busy putting his life back together with a new love interest, after getting out of a very toxic and abusive relationship.
I enjoyed both aspects of this book equally.

This is my third audio from this author and my favorite to date!
The audio version is an absolute production!
Love this style of audiobook!

✍️ Ragnar Jonasson
🗓️ Publication Date September 9 2025
💭 Nordic thriller
🎧 full cast of narrators
📈 4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio

[Dee (Hiatus through mid-Sept.!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded down for (again) the abrupt ending. This is the second mystery I have read by Jonasson, and it's a follow-up to last year's "Death at the Sanatorium", so if you're a fan of that one, you may like this too. Overall, I did, but this mystery about what happened to an older mystery writer is quite slow-moving and jumps around a lot in time (1965-2012) and then just as it all comes together, finally, we get an end chapter out of nowhere that's just "BAM" and not in a good way, leaving the reader with several important questions. I'm not into cliffhangers, so I docked a half-star for it - YMMV.

[Shannon M (Canada) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery was first published in Iceland in 2023, although the main action occurs in 2012, and there are flashbacks to earlier time periods (1965, 1976, and 2005)

Initially, I was enchanted with the way in which it integrated the love of reading books into a police procedural:
That's what books are for: they help you travel to places you wouldn't otherwise be able to visit, journey through worlds that don't exist.

The Story
A well-known Icelandic crime writer, Elin Jonsdottir, is missing, and police officer Helgi Reykdal is assigned the task of finding her (or her body). They story moves back and forth between the current investigation in 2012, and these earlier time periods:
* 1965: a crime is being planned;
* 1976-77: Helgi's former supervisor, Hulda, interacts with a bank robber, who refuses to reveal his accomplice;
* 2005: Kristin conducts a long interview with Elin.

Not only does the investigation into Elin's disappearance take place in 2012, but also there is ongoing domestic strife in Helgi's life. For once, a man (Helgi) is the victim of spousal abuse; he has recently broken up with Bergthora, his long-term, violence-prone, girlfriend, and has begun a new relationship with Anita. Bergthora, however, does not appear to have accepted Helgi's decision to leave her, and while the missing person inquiry is underway, Bergthora continues to harass Helgi and Anita.

The story is written like a puzzle, skipping among the various timelines, revealing bits and pieces as it progresses. I enjoy puzzles, and consequently enjoyed putting the pieces together as the overall narrative progressed. Solving the mystery of the missing crime writer was not difficult; there were only a few possible explanations for her disappearance and Helgi eliminated the negative ones via his interviews.

The segments of the puzzle disclosed in the different timelines came together slowly as well and, as they progressed, explained why Elin had simply disappeared.

But one mystery remained: Police Supervisor Hulda vanished a short time before the main story began, and this part of the puzzle is never concluded; it is a disappearance that is simply left up in the air.

I also found the ending depressing.

So what was initially a 4.5 star book for me, became, because of the letdown ending, a 3.5 star one.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

[Ellery Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, entertaining read with a wonderful setting (Iceland). Loved Helgi, the policeman MC . He's a calm and sensitive character with an abusive ex-girlfriend. As for the mystery, it didn't really strike me as being like an Agatha Christie novel. Some of the clues were never revealed to the reader until near the end so we couldn't have put the pieces together even if we paid very careful attention. As for the missing crime writer, I liked her felt sorry for her as well. She seemed lonely and said many poignant things about what life is like as a novelist.

[Lindsay L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ stars!

Excellent audiobook!

Review to come…

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer is a rather unusual book from Ragnar Jonasson, the second to feature Helgi Reykdal after Death at the Sanitorium. Now on the force in Reykjavik, Helgi is assigned to investigate when a very well known Icelandic author, Elin S. Jonsdottir, goes missing. He immediately flies back from a vacation to the city to begin looking into this case. It seems like a fairly straightforward story. But…no. In a book divided into narratives provided by four individuals in four time periods between 1965 and the novel’s present day of 2012, we learn much about Helgi’s past and present relationships, the missing author’s life, a long ago robbery, and another missing person’s case…the woman whose desk Helgi now sits at, Hulda Hermannsdottir.

Now that’s a lot to unpack but I enjoyed doing it. What may have helped me was that I have read the first of these two books as well as one of the Hidden Iceland series featuring Hulda. The familiarity helped and I am comfortable with the style of rotating narratives. This series is far different from Jonasson’s Dark Iceland series, which are my favorite of his books. This has a “labor of love” feeling about it especially as the author is known to be a fan of Golden Age mysteries as Helgi is.

With the caveat that knowing more of the author’s work might help a bit and that this book does come off a bit helter skelter at times, I do recommend it to mystery readers.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published September 9, 2025.

3 stars

Translated from the Icelandic by Victoria Cribb.

CID Detective Helgi Reykdal lives and works in Reykjavik (but his heart is in his hometown of Akureyi and with the family bookstore he has inherited.) He’s assigned to the missing persons case of famous Icelandic author Elin S. Jonsdottir, known for her ten mystery novels written over a twenty year period. Why would Jonsdottir disappear? Accident or something more nefarious?

I read a previous book by Jonasson, whom I think is fairly popular in Iceland. As I recall I didn’t much like it, and this one was better. There’s an interesting secondary story about Helgi’s personal life that is actually quite good as it deals with domestic violence against a man, which is something I can’t recall ever seeing covered in a book. I saw no indication that this is part of a series, but perhaps it’s intended to be the start of one?

[Tini · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a title like "The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer", you might expect a tongue-in-cheek detective romp in the vein of a Golden Age mystery. Instead, Ragnar Jónasson delivers a stark, atmospheric Nordic noir - bleak, atmospheric, and quietly unsettling.

The novel begins in 2012, when bestselling Icelandic crime author Elín S. Jónsdóttir suddenly goes missing. Young detective Helgi is tasked with investigating before news of her disappearance leaks to the press. But the mystery doesn't unravel in a straight line; instead, three timelines are layered together: a 1975 bank robbery investigated by a young female officer; a 2005 interview with Elín at the height of her career; and Helgi’s 2012 investigation into Elín's vanishing, which coincides with the mysterious disappearance of the female officer from decades earlier. What begins as a missing persons case grows into something much more complex, and unsettling.

Though short - the book is closer to a novella in length -, the shifting timelines are intricately woven, and the result is a complex, layered mystery that unfolds piece by piece. True to the genre, the mystery is compelling, the atmosphere chilling, and while the ending feels abrupt, it lingers in exactly the way a good noir should.

I was graciously provided with copies of both the book and the audio book version, which made for a wonderfully immersive experience. The audiobook production is outstanding. Narrators Cicely Whitehead, Jane Slavin, and Rufus Wright each bring their respective sections to life with nuance. Their performances enhance the unease and tension, making the listening experience immersive and compelling, and the sound effects of the interview portion further add to the perfect atmosphere.

Overall, "The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer" is a well-crafted, atmospheric mystery that delivers exactly what you’d hope for in Nordic noir: a chilling setting, layered timelines, and an undercurrent of unease that stays with you after the final page.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer" is slated to be released on September 9, 2025.

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a well known mystery writer, Elín, goes missing, the case is assigned to Reykjavík police detective Helgi. As he investigates, long-held secrets of Elín’s and her closest friends are progressively revealed. Meanwhile, he is also interested in another missing person, a fellow police officer, and on a personal level, he is striving to solidify a new romantic relationship that his prior abusive partner tries to thwart.

This is the fourth book that I have read by Jónasson, and I have liked all of them. The story is told in three timelines, creating a fast-paced, atmospheric, and intriguing Nordic Noir narrative. The clever twists make for a compelling read. And, oh, that ending!

The character of Helgi was introduced in Jónasson’s prior novel, Death at the Sanatorium. This is not advertised as a series, and it is not necessary to have read the prior novel as this works well as a standalone. I do hope, though, that there will be another book continuing Helgi’s story as there were some questions left unresolved, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Thanks to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress @minotaur_Books for the DRC.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: Sept. 9, 2025

Famous Icelandic mystery writer Elin Jonsdottir disappears without a trace and, although this is something that she has done before, her close friends worry that something has happened to her this time and the young, new detective Helgi is called on to the case, chosen specifically due to his affection for mystery novels. While his investigation brings Helgi to interview some of Elin’s inner circle, he realizes that Elin’s secretive life was far more secretive than anyone realized, and one of her secrets may have led to her disappearance.

“The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer: A Mystery” by Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson is a pseudo follow up to his novel, “Death at the Sanatorium”, as it features detective Helgi as the protagonist, and the disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda (who we met in “Sanatorium”) is a background plotline in “Writer”. Helgi’s abusive ex-girlfriend returns throughout this novel, too, and a few other bit characters from the previous novel. That being said, “Writer” is completely engaging and enjoyable as a stand-alone.

“Writer” is multi-timeline, primarily told in 2012, when Helgi is investigating the disappearance of Elin. There are brief chapters focused on a bank robbery that takes place during the 1970s, which is connected to the main plotline although we don’t find this out until later, and snippets of a recorded interview Elin did years before she went missing. These timelines are expertly combined to form a well-formed, smooth-flowing plot that kept me turning the pages.

Helgi is a fantastic protagonist, using his love of mystery novels to help him solve the case of the missing crime writer. The main plotline, Elin’s disappearance, is solved (although in a pretty anticlimactic way), but another novel (or set of novels) is sure to follow, as Hulda’s disappearance has not yet been solved, and “Writer” has yet another plotline, featuring Helgi’s ex-partner, that ends the novel in a huge cliffhanger.

I love Jonasson’s writing style, and “Writer” is sharp and addicting. Helgi is relatable and likable and his current budding romance with his new partner is endearing. Mysteries abound in “Writer”, and there was an unending supply of twists, making the story a complete page-turner.

I haven’t read as much Jonasson as I would like, through no fault of the author, but I hope that this is something I can rectify soon. Icelandic crime fiction has surged in popularity as of late, and with authors like Jonasson, it is easy to see why. I loved “Sanatorium”, and I look forward to what comes next for Helgi.

[Kena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a massive fan of Ragnar Jónasson books and was really excited to read The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime by Ragnar Jónasson.

In this book, Helgi Reykdal investigates the disappearance of a famous international bestselling crime author Elín S. Jónsdóttir. Hampering his investigations is the fact that Elin was such a secretive person. Weaving around the investigation, we learn more about Helgi’s backstory and family commitments and also the fallout from his relationship with Bergthora.

Much like Death at a Sanatorium, it also intertwines two different timelines, the current investigation into Elin’s disappearance and the disappearance of his predecessor Detective Hulda Hermannsdottir some years earlier.

The story moves along at a good pace and is very readable. I think it definitely helped me having read earlier books and already being invested in the characters Helgi and Hulda.

It feels like it’s all set up for another instalment with Helgi taking centre stage and I can’t wait to read that!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was the followup to previous novels, but that didn't stop me from enjoying its characters, location and propulsive story not to mention the intriguing structure. An earlier Ragnar Jónasson book that I had read was from another series and had a far different style.

Here we have Iceland police detective Helgi Reykdahl called back to Reykjavik to investigate the disappearance of Elin Jonsdottir, a hugely popular published author of crime novels who famously stopped writing after completing ten books. There is also his personal life to unravel. What intrigued me as much as the twisting mystery at the core was the atmospheric depiction of Iceland at the tailend of autumn, when lashing rains motivate cozy evenings settling in with a good book, fire and fragrant stew scenting the air. Books, particularly crime novels from "the golden age" are a great favorite of Helgi, given his family background of owning a particularly welcoming bookstore, and he never misses a chance to grab a few pages when he has even as little as a minute. I can relate. The ending did seem to be a bit abrupt, caught me by surprise, and makes me thirst for the next one.

[MrsHarvieReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to @stmartinspress @minotaurbooks for an advanced reader copy of The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jonasson in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This cozy mystery set in Iceland features young, bookish detective Helgi. Helgi is the lead detective in the disappearance of best selling crime author Elin Jonsdottir. I was intrigued by the premise of a detective who is inspired by his love of mystery novels and is tasked with locating the famous writer with a complicated backstory. The moody, atmospheric and carefully paced novel was light on action but held my attention. The story flashes between 3 timelines and 3 different mysteries. The ways that the 3 stories overlap is gradually revealed but not entirely resolved. There is also a unique twist on domestic violence in Helgi’s personal life.

I didn’t realize that this is a follow up novel so was surprised by the abrupt ending with a cliffhanger. Ultimately I think this novel is going to be the right novel for the right reader. So if you’re someone who enjoys a carefully plotted Nordic cozy mystery, consider checking this out! 3/5⭐️

Scheduled release date: 9/9/25

[Corinna ⚓️ Reading At Sea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crimewriter. The premise instantly hooked me, and I loved the way the book played with timelines and perspectives. Helgi is such a refreshing detective—bookish, thoughtful, and a little vulnerable—which made me root for him right away. The mystery itself was well-paced and atmospheric, with enough twists and turns to keep me curious all the way through.

I listened to the audiobook and thought it was excellent. The choice to give Elín’s interview that old, grainy, archival sound was such a clever touch—it honestly made me feel like I was eavesdropping on a long-lost recording. It added a whole other layer of atmosphere to the story, and I found myself looking forward to those sections every time they came up.

If I had one wish, it’s that the book tied more closely into Elín’s own crime novels. It felt like such a fun opportunity to blur the lines between her fiction and the mystery surrounding her disappearance. And while I loved how the threads slowly came together, the ending did feel abrupt—I turned the last page wanting more.

Still, this was a really satisfying and clever read. Between the moody Icelandic setting, the layered structure, and the unique audiobook production, it felt different from the usual mysteries I pick up. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley Sept 9, 2025

Wow, this book was amazing. I have not read Ragnar Jónasson before, but now I am ready to pick up his earlier works. This book could be read as a stand alone, but does reference characters from previous books. It ends on a cliffhanger, so hopefully there is a followup to this, as I need to know what happens.

This book takes place over multiple timelines, but all the stories come together in the end in a satisfying way. There is a presumed missing writer in the current time, and a botched bank robbery that ends in a murder in the earlier time. Plus lots of interesting characters to follow as Detective Helgi tries to find the missing woman. I enjoyed reading this, and loved that the detective was also a dedicated reader of crime fiction.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars
The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer - Don't let this breezy title fool you - this is a serious, sometimes dark crime fiction novel set in Iceland. Detective Helgi Reykdal is called in from his personal leave to investigate the case of a missing crime fiction author. 

Helgi is happy for the chance to prove himself, and to use his knowledge of classic detective novels to help solve the case. The story is told through different timelines, sometimes including chapters from the point-of-view of Hulda Hermannsdottir, Helgi's predecessor who disappeared after her retirement. The current case is interesting, and you can't help but root for Helgi to solve it. It also deals with a topic I've not often seen in a mystery - men as victims of domestic abuse. 

This is technically part of a series, but it also stands on its own. I enjoyed the book and love the extra touch of having Helgi's reading list included at the beginning of the book. Parts of this story are very sad, but the mystery is suspenseful and held my interest. However, I wish it hadn't ended so abruptly. There are a few different unanswered questions, including a major cliffhanger that I have to assume will be addressed in a future book.
 
I received an advance copy of this ebook for review consideration from Minotaur Books, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, but my review is voluntary and unbiased. 

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️3.5 stars. Bestselling Icelandic crime writer Elín Jónsdóttir has been reported missing by her publisher and CID officer Helgi Reykdal has been called back from vacation to investigate in this second book in the series.

Once again, as in the previous novel, there is a lot of going back and forth across timelines and sources of information like newspaper reports and interviews, so many may find that terribly confusing at first. Helgi thinks about another disappearance that was never solved--that of his CID predecessor, Hulda--and some of her story is included. Plus there's some bits from many years ago about college friends planning a crime just because they can. Sounds complicated but the plot is intriguing and eventually these various strands do come together and make sense, so be patient. As Elín says in an interview about her books: '[E]veryone has their secret, something that can never be told.' A basic truth of both life and fiction, it seems.

PS: There's a cliffhanger ending in Helgi's personal life so I'll definitely be coming back for more!

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine. The way it's pieced together, it's quite obvious what is going to happen and at least why the mystery exists. The ending is hurried, doesn't hit with a gut punch (not enough character development to care that much) but doesn't offer resolution to most of its storyline either (but not in a way that is mysterious and vibes-y). It's fine.

Should deduct a star for not putting the translator's name on the cover!

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I was quite disturbed at the end of Jónasson’s last book, “Murder at the Sanatorium,” because it seemed like [Spoiler Alert for the previous book]….
….
….
….
….
…. the author killed off detective Helgi Reykdal (by his crazy ex, Bergthóra) in the very last sentence after I spent a whole thriller learning to love the main character. What I didn’t know was that it was a cliffhanger, and Helgi survived. Thank goodness. Unfortunately, toxic Bergthóra is not one of the disappearances that happen in this book. Ugh. She’s back.

In any case, “The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer” can be read as a standalone. Helgi Reykdal is a young police officer who has been studying in the UK and is still finishing his criminology dissertation. He is unassuming, non-assertive, but delightful in his own way, and he’s replacing the retired Hulda Hermannsdottir (currently missing, and the main character of another Jónasson series). Like the author, Helgi’s a major fan of Nordic Noir and has a large collection of golden age mysteries translated into Icelandic, as well as local ones. Helgi had retreated into his Golden Age mysteries in the last thriller to cool off after his toxic girlfriend, Bergthóra, went into alcoholic rages, and literally beat him. But now he has also reclaimed the local family bookshop and he’s in a healthy relationship with Aníta. When his boss calls, Helgi jumps at the chance to investigate the disappearance of the Icelandic doyenne of crime fiction, seventy year old Elín Jónsdóttir, a retired author of ten bestsellers. Helgi has steady and persistent investigation skills and, for the most part, we are reading a police procedural. Elín’s friends have no idea why she has gone missing.

There’s more timelines going back to the 60s, when a bank robbery occurred and the 70s, when Hulda, then a young mother determined to keep her job with the police, was still investigating the famous fatal robbery. How it relates to the current story of the missing writer stays vague for a long time. Plus a lengthy 2005 interview with Elín also gives us insight into her personality.

We get multiple revelations while contemplating how a real life disappearance matches up with fictional mysteries. It’s engrossing until the very last sentence again….. Oh, goodness, another cliffhanger. I’ll be looking for a third installment a year from now. 5 stars!

There are three narrators in the audiobook — Rufus Wright is the main narrator and Cicely Whitehead and Jane Slavin perform the interview between Elín and Kristín (the interviewer). They all bring this thriller to life in a most satisfying way!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO No eye colors mentioned.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Although what’s an Icelandic book without lupines everywhere?

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for advanced copies!

[Akankshya (still catching up) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be best described as a slow, suspenseful literary tale, which is part of a series. I picked this up as a (potentially) fast-paced, standalone mystery-thriller, and finding out that this was part of a series rather than a standalone after finishing the book was annoying.

The good: A famous crime writer, Elín S. Jónsdóttir, goes missing in Reykjavík, and a young bibliophile detective, Helgi, is assigned to investigate the case. The story intertwines several timelines and keeps you intrigued. There is also a deeply personal plot about Helgi's romantic life, which the author succeeds in getting you invested in. News articles and interviews are interspersed between the main storyline and have a somewhat satisfying meaning behind them. There are some beautifully written segments of the book, which I always tend to find in translated fiction, but was surprised to find in a whodunnit. I loved the dark, atmospheric winter setting, which added to the stakes. The audiobook was very well produced and is probably the better bet than the book for full immersion into the story.

The bad: There are a few other mysteries included in this book, and the main character involved in one of them is given a few POV chapters, which lead quite literally nowhere. I think they are part of another series by the author. I'm very into author-verses of any kind, but the book should stand on its own first. Yet another related mystery is solved, but it seems quite stupid in the resolution and the characters' motivations. The climax is intense, but a cliffhanger, and I hate that I'm invested in knowing what happens with no way of doing so in the near future.

Recommended grudgingly to fans of Nordic noirs and golden-age classic mysteries, but probably start from Death at the Sanatorium, and don't expect a great ending. Tallying up the good and the bad, I don't think this goes further than a 3.5

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

[Pam Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer. All opinions presented here are my own.

4.5 rounded up to 5

CW/TW: death, domestic violence, stalking

Ragnar Jónasson is credited with being the force behind Agatha Christie’s books being translated into Icelandic. As such, he finds his way into this book as a brief mention. It was an Easter egg of sorts that made me smile when I read it.

There are three mysteries discussed in this 320-page book. What happened to the mystery writer? How is it connected to events in the past? What happened to Helgi’s predecessor? At the end of the book, two of those questions are answered. The way the information is presented at first is a tad confusing; I found myself wondering what one event had to do with the other. But I decided to trust the process. And it worked out in my favor to do so.

There is a subplot that continues from the first book in the series, revolving around domestic violence. It’s interesting to see how Jónasson approaches the subject. Without trying to give too much away, I will tell you that Helgi is the victim.

This is the third book I’ve read by Ragnar Jónasson, and it won’t be the last. Who do I think would enjoy reading The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer? As his works are often compared to those of Agatha Christie, I believe anyone who has enjoyed reading her books will also enjoy this one. However, I would recommend starting with Death at the Sanatorium, as it is the first in this series. And there may be some spoilers if you read this one first.

[Bethany Mock (bethanyburiedinbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @minotaur_books #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

Okay, first of all… Iceland! 🧊 One of my favorite places I’ve ever visited, so the setting of this book already had me hooked before I even started reading. The story follows the disappearance of a crime writer (love that premise!) and of course, a detective on the case. It played out in my head a bit like a game of Clue, which made it really fun to read.

The book is told across three different timelines, which kept the pace moving and added some great layers to the mystery. While it’s technically considered Nordic Noir, it didn’t really feel like the same dark/bleak vibe as others I’ve read in that genre. It leaned way more cozy mystery to me, which I really enjoyed.

It’s also a follow-up in a series, but I haven’t read the others and had no trouble diving right in. Plus, it’s short with quick chapters, so I ended up flying through it in one sitting. 🙌

If you love cozy mysteries, unique settings, or stories that feel like a modern-day Agatha Christie/Clue mash-up, this one’s definitely for you!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Narration: This audiobook includes three narrators and each person does a wonderful job bringing their part of the story and character to life.

A recorded interview takes place throughout the story. When the story switches to that timeline, the audio switches to a recording sound. The listener is listening to the recordings. I thought this was a unique element for listeners and it made me more engaged with the story.

Story: This story is told in three different time lines. Each chapter does alter the listener to what timeline they are entering, which makes for an easy transition.

I liked the different characters and the role they played in finding the crime writer, as well as how the story evolved and came together. The ending felt like a cliffhanger and if it wasn't meant to be one, it definitely left me wanting a little more.

Overall this was a great audiobook, especially if you want a short listen.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

[Alice TUET · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5☀️
le polar le plus basique du monde, qui se passe dans le monde du livre. Ce côté n’est absolument pas recherché, y a une éditrice, une écrivaine et voilà. Ah si une intrigue sans intérêt sur l’inspecteur qui aurait hérité miraculeusement d’une librairie, et qui se trouve etre passionné par les romans policiers (AH TIENS).
L’intrigue policière est sans intérêt vraiment pire suspense ptdrr la résolution est nulle. Le seul truc un peu sympa et spicy c’est la vie perso de l’inspecteur la y a du suspense.
Je savais à quoi m’attendre en soit étant donné que le précédent de la trilogie était pas ouf 🤟🏻

[Manon (mysterymanon) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy and mostly entertaining, with a MC I found charming and competent, and important themes of domestic violence against men. The mystery was intriguing if slightly predictable. The narrative jumps around a lot—there is a present-day POV, a flashback POV, and a flashback told as an interview—and it felt confusing, especially in the beginning.

A 3.5 star mystery knocked down to a solid 3 because of its poor ending. If you like cliffhangers, 1) this is for you, and 2) really?!

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, we find ourselves investigating a crime with Helgi, and this time, it seems more impossible (a lot like those golden age detective novels he loves) than ever!!

A missing crime writer, a close-knit group of friends, and some wonderful timeline jumping gives us another atmospheric 5 x star read.

I loved how Helgi deals with life with a book in his pocket and an attitude to methodically solve crime.

Thank you to NetGallery and Penguin for my advanced copy.

[Katie McDowall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced, super intriguing mystery! Audio is definitely the way to go with this book as the multiple narrators give it a leg up.

Thank you Macmillan for the ARC!(

[Joanna Flis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like main character and for sure I will read next part of the series, but this time mystery itself was not interesting... Sorry Ragnar.