Blog Tour and Review : Rupture by Ragnar Jonasson

The Very Pink Notebook is thrilled to be part of Ragnar Jonasson's, Rupture, blog tour this week.  With much thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for involving me in the tour and for a copy of the book.

Published by : Orenda Books

24 December (ebook) - 15 February (print)

Copy : Paperback - Received from publisher as part of blog tour

The Blurb

1955. Two young couples move to the uninhabited, isolated fjord of Hedinsfjörður. Their stay ends abruptly when one of the women meets her death in mysterious circumstances. The case is never solved. Fifty years later an old photograph comes to light, and it becomes clear that the couples may not have been alone on the fjord after all…

In nearby Siglufjörður, young policeman Ari Thór tries to piece together what really happened that fateful night, in a town where no one wants to know, where secrets are a way of life. He’s assisted by Ísrún, a news reporter in Reykjavik, who is investigating an increasingly chilling case of her own. Things take a sinister turn when a child goes missing in broad daylight. With a stalker on the loose, and the town of Siglufjörður in quarantine, the past might just come back to haunt them.

Haunting, frightening and complex, Rupture is a dark and atmospheric thriller from one of Iceland’s foremost crime writers.

The Very Pink Notebook Review

This book has been discussed wildly on social media, alongside comments that it is as brilliant as Ragnar Jonasson's previous deliveries.  Well, this is the first of this author's novels I have read and the fact that other reviews are right, it is brilliant, gives a good indication his others will be too. 

This is one of those books that makes you feel like there is not quite enough oxygen in the room.  Jonasson creates a deeply atmospheric, almost claustrophobic environment for his characters.  For Ari Thor, our protagonist, he is living in a town under the threat of a highly contagious killer virus, which is landed it in quarantine.  This means as the local police officer, he has time on his hands and decides to use it to look into an old case of a mysterious death on an isolated fjord.  The case Ari Thor realises, presents itself in similar surroundings to his current one.  Its location is remote, unfriendly, unwelcoming to visitors, a little spooky.  The inhabitants are alone, isolated and fighting a relentless and bitter winter. 

Then we have a second main character and concurrent storyline in Isrun, investigative television journalist, who has her own chilling cases in the present day on the go.  Even so, she still finds time to assist Ari Thor, always wanting to keep police contacts on side and both storylines ultimately hold the same moral point.

Jonasson's vivid imagery of Iceland and his ability to convey this through engaging all of your senses through his flawless, easy and elegant writing is one of the best parts about this book for me. 

Another brilliantly translated Nordic Noir offering from a very clever author.

Ragnor Jonassons 'Rupture' receives a highly recommended Very Pink Notebook Review of :