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Officer Gunnhildur #1
Frozen Out
The discovery of a corpse washed up on a beach in an Icelandic backwater sparks a series of events that propels the village of Hvalvik's police sergeant Gunnhildur into deep waters. Although under pressure to deal with the matter quickly, she is suspicious that the man's death was no accident and once she has identified the body, sets about investigating his final hours. The case takes Gunnhildur away from her village and into a cosmopolitan world of shady deals, government corruption and violence. She finds herself alone and less than welcome in this hostile environment as she tries to find out who it was that made sure the young man drowned on a dark night one hundred kilometres from where he should have been - and why.
330 pages, Paperback
First published December 23, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
February 18, 2023
Good God! It’s Cold!
Living in Hvalvik, Iceland, Officer Grunna, has more than the weather to deal with. Iceland is in the middle of a financial crisis, but the corruption goes on, as usual.
A body is found in the harbor. Is it an accident? While trying to do her investigating, she is also mentoring a young man.
And on top of this, a mysterious blogger is printing embarrassing facts about the government corruption and dalliances. Things are going from bad to worse.
Can things get any more difficult? Well, they can get more interesting…
Five fascinating stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
Living in Hvalvik, Iceland, Officer Grunna, has more than the weather to deal with. Iceland is in the middle of a financial crisis, but the corruption goes on, as usual.
A body is found in the harbor. Is it an accident? While trying to do her investigating, she is also mentoring a young man.
And on top of this, a mysterious blogger is printing embarrassing facts about the government corruption and dalliances. Things are going from bad to worse.
Can things get any more difficult? Well, they can get more interesting…
Five fascinating stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
December 17, 2017
It is interesting to read a murder mystery in a country where murder is all but non-existent, over the last two decades, an average of about two people have been murdered annually in the small and prosperous nation of 336,000. It has had entire years — 2003, 2006 and 2008 — when not a single person was murdered. Just recently, the murder of a 20 Icelander woman made the New York Times.
Iceland like the United States suffered the 2008 financial crisis, unlike the United States, the Icelandic government let its three major banks - Kaupthing, Glitnir and Landsbankinn - fail and went after reckless bankers. Many senior executives were jailed and the country's ex-prime minister Geir Haarde was also put on trial, becoming the first world leader to face criminal prosecution arising from the turmoil. although he was cleared of negligence.
With the impending financial crisis as a backdrop Frozen Assets introduces Officer Gunnhildur, single mother, widow, police officer. After finding a body on a beach, Officer Gunnhildur does not accept the accidental death theory, she stumbles into a scheme that the energy minister and his wife are up too to make money at the expense of the taxpayer. Reading about police procedures in other countries is always interesting, unlike Arnaldur Indridason books, Quentin Bates books are not so dark and brooding. Be ready to be confused by the names.
This review was originally posted on The Pfaeffle Journal
Iceland like the United States suffered the 2008 financial crisis, unlike the United States, the Icelandic government let its three major banks - Kaupthing, Glitnir and Landsbankinn - fail and went after reckless bankers. Many senior executives were jailed and the country's ex-prime minister Geir Haarde was also put on trial, becoming the first world leader to face criminal prosecution arising from the turmoil. although he was cleared of negligence.
With the impending financial crisis as a backdrop Frozen Assets introduces Officer Gunnhildur, single mother, widow, police officer. After finding a body on a beach, Officer Gunnhildur does not accept the accidental death theory, she stumbles into a scheme that the energy minister and his wife are up too to make money at the expense of the taxpayer. Reading about police procedures in other countries is always interesting, unlike Arnaldur Indridason books, Quentin Bates books are not so dark and brooding. Be ready to be confused by the names.
This review was originally posted on The Pfaeffle Journal
May 7, 2012
I struggled with Frozen Out. It had all the plot and character ingredients to be a very good read, but somehow it failed to fully deliver. The principle problem for me was the credibility of the plot. There were too many things about the procedural elements and office politics of the police investigation and the political corruption and murders that I did not believe. This was not helped by the writing being quite flat and lifeless, the dialogue stilted, and the narrative long winded. There’s nothing wrong with workmanlike prose, but this could have done with a good edit to make it livelier and punchier. Gunnhildur is the novel's saving grace. She was an interesting character and has much potential for heading a series. I’d like to be a lot more positive, and the book has received more upbeat reviews elsewhere (e.g., at Eurocrime), but the book just didn’t click for me.
March 16, 2022
Iceland interests me; detective stories interest me. This Icelandic detective story didn’t interest me much. The style is pretty bland and centers on politics and bureaucrats of Iceland close to the 2008 period when the country was stunned by its sudden monetary fall from grace. The story also includes eco bloggers and eco outrage.
This is the first in a series with a detective catching a murder case in her small town. Gunna could turn out to be an interesting character.
This is the first in a series with a detective catching a murder case in her small town. Gunna could turn out to be an interesting character.
September 22, 2023
Small-town policing…
The village of Hvalvík has become a busier place recently, with the ongoing construction of a new aluminium plant leading to lots of heavy traffic along the one main road, and bringing lots of environmental protestors who object to the impact of the new industry on the area. It all leads to extra work for the tiny police station, staffed by only two people, Gunnhildur and her subordinate Haddi. And then the body of a man is washed up on the beach. While it is assumed he got drunk and fell in the dock, the reader knows from the prologue that in fact he had been dropped into the dock by another man. Gunnhildur is not satisfied by the story of the accidental drowning for a few reasons, and sets out to investigate. Meanwhile, a blog called Skandalblogger is reporting about corruption inside the government, connected to the new plant, and whoever runs the blog seems to have inside information.
The book starts out slow and is quite repetitive in the early stages, but it always keeps some forward momentum. Gunnhildur – Gunna – is a likeable character. A widow with a grown-up son now working on a fishing trawler and a teenage daughter who seems well-balanced and fond of her mother, she is down to earth and a solidly dependable officer who plays by the rules and gets along with her colleagues. The book gives a good picture of policing such a small community, where everyone knows everyone and strangers stand out like sore thumbs. Later in the story, as the investigation expands into the realms of the political world, we also see the bigger picture of policing in the capital, although Iceland is such a small place it still feels rather small-town in comparison to, say, policing London, or even Glasgow.
The PR for the new plant is being done by a company called Spearpoint, a firm run by a woman with a politician husband, a rapacious sexual appetite and an anger management problem. She and her husband are regular targets of Skandalblogger, and she’s not happy about it! She has hired a hardman, going by the innocuous name of Mr Hardy, a kind of enforcer who is tasked with the job of finding out who’s behind the blog and shutting it down. We quickly learn that Mr Hardy is not a man to mess with – his level of violence and the coldness with which he acts suggest psychopathic tendencies. Hardy uses a regular taxi-driver to get around and occasionally to interpret for him, as he’s not Icelandic. The taxi-driver happens to be a cousin of Gunnhildur – not as coincidental as it might seem in such a small population, where everyone seems to be connected to everyone else.
There are lots of characters and for a while I found it quite hard to sort them out in my mind, partly due to my unfamiliarity with Icelandic names. But as they gradually fell into place, I found the story got progressively more interesting. Iceland is on the verge of the big banking collapse that would destroy their economy, even more than it did for all the rest of us. The reader knows this but the characters, although they know there’s trouble on the horizon, have no idea how bad things are going to get. Bates doesn’t get so bogged down in this political area that it becomes dull, but it adds an element to both the plot and the look at Icelandic society.
This has a lot to recommend it, especially as the first of a series, but it’s not unflawed. The start is too slow, and I found the way it ended to be a bit of a let-down – certainly plausibly realistic but not as satisfactory as I expect in crime fiction. The writing is good, although the book could have done with a strong edit to rid it of some of the unnecessary repetitions, especially in the early chapters, and also to deal with one or two continuity errors that broke the flow a bit. However, I liked Gunna very much as a character, and also her family and colleagues, and I enjoyed the occasional humour their interactions provide. I also enjoyed the plot, which along the way gives a credible, authentic-feeling picture of Icelandic society at this moment in time, just before the economic cataclysm hits them. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
The village of Hvalvík has become a busier place recently, with the ongoing construction of a new aluminium plant leading to lots of heavy traffic along the one main road, and bringing lots of environmental protestors who object to the impact of the new industry on the area. It all leads to extra work for the tiny police station, staffed by only two people, Gunnhildur and her subordinate Haddi. And then the body of a man is washed up on the beach. While it is assumed he got drunk and fell in the dock, the reader knows from the prologue that in fact he had been dropped into the dock by another man. Gunnhildur is not satisfied by the story of the accidental drowning for a few reasons, and sets out to investigate. Meanwhile, a blog called Skandalblogger is reporting about corruption inside the government, connected to the new plant, and whoever runs the blog seems to have inside information.
The book starts out slow and is quite repetitive in the early stages, but it always keeps some forward momentum. Gunnhildur – Gunna – is a likeable character. A widow with a grown-up son now working on a fishing trawler and a teenage daughter who seems well-balanced and fond of her mother, she is down to earth and a solidly dependable officer who plays by the rules and gets along with her colleagues. The book gives a good picture of policing such a small community, where everyone knows everyone and strangers stand out like sore thumbs. Later in the story, as the investigation expands into the realms of the political world, we also see the bigger picture of policing in the capital, although Iceland is such a small place it still feels rather small-town in comparison to, say, policing London, or even Glasgow.
The PR for the new plant is being done by a company called Spearpoint, a firm run by a woman with a politician husband, a rapacious sexual appetite and an anger management problem. She and her husband are regular targets of Skandalblogger, and she’s not happy about it! She has hired a hardman, going by the innocuous name of Mr Hardy, a kind of enforcer who is tasked with the job of finding out who’s behind the blog and shutting it down. We quickly learn that Mr Hardy is not a man to mess with – his level of violence and the coldness with which he acts suggest psychopathic tendencies. Hardy uses a regular taxi-driver to get around and occasionally to interpret for him, as he’s not Icelandic. The taxi-driver happens to be a cousin of Gunnhildur – not as coincidental as it might seem in such a small population, where everyone seems to be connected to everyone else.
There are lots of characters and for a while I found it quite hard to sort them out in my mind, partly due to my unfamiliarity with Icelandic names. But as they gradually fell into place, I found the story got progressively more interesting. Iceland is on the verge of the big banking collapse that would destroy their economy, even more than it did for all the rest of us. The reader knows this but the characters, although they know there’s trouble on the horizon, have no idea how bad things are going to get. Bates doesn’t get so bogged down in this political area that it becomes dull, but it adds an element to both the plot and the look at Icelandic society.
This has a lot to recommend it, especially as the first of a series, but it’s not unflawed. The start is too slow, and I found the way it ended to be a bit of a let-down – certainly plausibly realistic but not as satisfactory as I expect in crime fiction. The writing is good, although the book could have done with a strong edit to rid it of some of the unnecessary repetitions, especially in the early chapters, and also to deal with one or two continuity errors that broke the flow a bit. However, I liked Gunna very much as a character, and also her family and colleagues, and I enjoyed the occasional humour their interactions provide. I also enjoyed the plot, which along the way gives a credible, authentic-feeling picture of Icelandic society at this moment in time, just before the economic cataclysm hits them. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
January 18, 2011
'Frozen Out' is the first in a new police procedure thriller series. Set in Iceland in 2008, just as the financial meltdown begins, it features Sergeant Gunnhildur (or Gunna for short).
Gunna is not young, slight and beautiful - she's a 'big girl', gruff, down-to-earth and with the habit of calling her colleagues 'lad'. However, she is a really realistic and likeable character, with a past and baggage. The author has given us snippets of her past, but not everything. She's a young widow - her husband died in an accident - but we don't know the details. She has two children and there is a mysterious love interest floating around in the background too.
The story starts when a body is washed up on Gunna's patch, at first it seems as though this was an accidental death, after all the guy's blood was almost 100% alcohol, but it soon becomes clear that there are links to the Government, to insider wheeling and dealing and corruption on all levels.
The story is also interspersed with articles written by someone known as 'Skandalblogger' - revealing dark secrets about the rich and famous, and upsetting people at the highest levels with every article.
Although the author is British, he spent a lot of time living in Iceland and this is clear from the descriptions, not just of the countryside but also the quirks of the Icelandic people are perfectly portrayed. I did have some difficulty with the very long and very strange character and place names, but they soon became familiar and this spoilt nothing of what is a fast-paced and exciting thriller.
With lots of insight into the corruption within the Government and the financial sector - yet in a very understandable and accessible way, a great plot, a fabulous new heroine - this is the first instalment in what I hope will continue to be a great police detective series.
Gunna is not young, slight and beautiful - she's a 'big girl', gruff, down-to-earth and with the habit of calling her colleagues 'lad'. However, she is a really realistic and likeable character, with a past and baggage. The author has given us snippets of her past, but not everything. She's a young widow - her husband died in an accident - but we don't know the details. She has two children and there is a mysterious love interest floating around in the background too.
The story starts when a body is washed up on Gunna's patch, at first it seems as though this was an accidental death, after all the guy's blood was almost 100% alcohol, but it soon becomes clear that there are links to the Government, to insider wheeling and dealing and corruption on all levels.
The story is also interspersed with articles written by someone known as 'Skandalblogger' - revealing dark secrets about the rich and famous, and upsetting people at the highest levels with every article.
Although the author is British, he spent a lot of time living in Iceland and this is clear from the descriptions, not just of the countryside but also the quirks of the Icelandic people are perfectly portrayed. I did have some difficulty with the very long and very strange character and place names, but they soon became familiar and this spoilt nothing of what is a fast-paced and exciting thriller.
With lots of insight into the corruption within the Government and the financial sector - yet in a very understandable and accessible way, a great plot, a fabulous new heroine - this is the first instalment in what I hope will continue to be a great police detective series.
July 5, 2013
I can safely say this was the worst book I have ever read. I would have given up on it but it was my book club selection so I had to finish it. Don't be fooled by the cover blurb: this is NOT a "meticulously constructed thriller as chilling as an Icelandic winter". There is nothing thrilling or chilling about this confusing, mixed up plot. The difficult Icelandic names and place names make for heavy going too. It would help if authors provided a glossary so that we would have a guide to pronunciation. I did start to enjoy it around about the middle of the book, but that was only when the main character was forefront in the story and my enjoyment was very short lived. A complete disappointment.
January 13, 2012
First Line: Water gurgled between the piles of the dock and the car's tyres juddered over the heavy timbers.
It's an open-and-shut case: the young man was drunk, stumbled off the dock late at night, and drowned. But Police Sergeant Gunnhildur wonders why on earth he'd get drunk in Reykjavik and then drive a hundred miles to fall into the harbor in her town and drown? Resources are tight, and although she's advised to stop looking into this death, Gunnhildur is nothing if not stubborn. The further she digs, the more she finds-- and the information and clues are leading all the way to Iceland's business and banking communities.
While Gunnhildur and her team investigate, a rookie crime journalist attaches himself to her in an attempt to get a scoop, and everyone in the country is wondering who's dishing all the dirt at Skandalblogger.com. When a second murder occurs, Gunnhildur knows she and her team must move even faster to catch a very wily killer.
Bates makes the landscape and weather of Iceland a brooding character in Frozen Assets. The economy, which worsens daily, highlights Iceland's precarious situation as a small country with very limited resources.
The secondary characters (with the exception of two spoiled rich sisters) are a bit two-dimensional, but the two main characters certainly aren't. The killer is ruthless and very, very smart if a bit arrogant. Having heard Officer Gunnhildur referred to as "the fat policewoman" once, he continues to dismiss her as such-- even when he discovers that she's more than a match for him.
Gunna is the single mother of two children. Her thirteen-year-old daughter is still in school while her nineteen-year-old son is working as a deckhand on a fishing boat. The reader knows that she's a bit out of the ordinary right from the start when she insists that the young man's death is not a case of accidental drowning, and then when the case is given to another policeman who wants to pin the death on his favorite suspect. As soon as she sees which way the wind is blowing, she refuses to have any part in it.
When Gunna knows she's right, she will not back down, regardless of whose face she has to get into, what she has to say, or how many hours she has to work. She's good at thinking on her feet, and she does an excellent job of running the investigation and keeping everyone focused and looking in the right directions. The best part of this book was watching the battle of wits between Gunna and the killer.
If there was any one thing that disappointed me in reading this book, it was that I found the tone to be curiously dispassionate. I found it difficult to become fully engaged in the story. That is a minor quibble however, as there is plenty to like in Frozen Assets. I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Officer Gunnhildur, and I won't have to wait long. The second book in the series, Cold Comfort, just became available.
It's an open-and-shut case: the young man was drunk, stumbled off the dock late at night, and drowned. But Police Sergeant Gunnhildur wonders why on earth he'd get drunk in Reykjavik and then drive a hundred miles to fall into the harbor in her town and drown? Resources are tight, and although she's advised to stop looking into this death, Gunnhildur is nothing if not stubborn. The further she digs, the more she finds-- and the information and clues are leading all the way to Iceland's business and banking communities.
While Gunnhildur and her team investigate, a rookie crime journalist attaches himself to her in an attempt to get a scoop, and everyone in the country is wondering who's dishing all the dirt at Skandalblogger.com. When a second murder occurs, Gunnhildur knows she and her team must move even faster to catch a very wily killer.
Bates makes the landscape and weather of Iceland a brooding character in Frozen Assets. The economy, which worsens daily, highlights Iceland's precarious situation as a small country with very limited resources.
The secondary characters (with the exception of two spoiled rich sisters) are a bit two-dimensional, but the two main characters certainly aren't. The killer is ruthless and very, very smart if a bit arrogant. Having heard Officer Gunnhildur referred to as "the fat policewoman" once, he continues to dismiss her as such-- even when he discovers that she's more than a match for him.
Gunna is the single mother of two children. Her thirteen-year-old daughter is still in school while her nineteen-year-old son is working as a deckhand on a fishing boat. The reader knows that she's a bit out of the ordinary right from the start when she insists that the young man's death is not a case of accidental drowning, and then when the case is given to another policeman who wants to pin the death on his favorite suspect. As soon as she sees which way the wind is blowing, she refuses to have any part in it.
When Gunna knows she's right, she will not back down, regardless of whose face she has to get into, what she has to say, or how many hours she has to work. She's good at thinking on her feet, and she does an excellent job of running the investigation and keeping everyone focused and looking in the right directions. The best part of this book was watching the battle of wits between Gunna and the killer.
If there was any one thing that disappointed me in reading this book, it was that I found the tone to be curiously dispassionate. I found it difficult to become fully engaged in the story. That is a minor quibble however, as there is plenty to like in Frozen Assets. I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Officer Gunnhildur, and I won't have to wait long. The second book in the series, Cold Comfort, just became available.
March 30, 2014
This is the first of a series featuring Sgt. Gunnhildur Gisladottir. Gunna is a 40-ish cop in Hvalvik, a small town about an hour outside of Reykjavik. A widow with a grown son & 13 year old daughter, she'll never be mistaken for a super model but Gunna has both feet firmly on the ground & a deep sense of self.
She's also very good at her job. Among her colleagues, she still runs into some who dismiss female cops but in her case, they do so at their peril.
Hvalvik is a town where the biggest problems are drunks, petty theft & redirecting traffic to accommodate construction of a large smelter facility & hydroelectric power station. They're controversial projects & tension between big industry & environmentalists is heating up. In fact, it's about to turn deadly.
It all begins with a body. Gunna gets a call about a man found floating by a nearby dock. Murder is rare in Iceland but once she identifies him, there are a couple of things that grab her attention. There was no reason for this city boy to be in Hvalvik. Also, a close friend of his recently died in another "accident".
Meanwhile, Gunna has been saddled with a journalist from Reykjavik. Skuli Snaedal is a rookie reporter & his editor wants a series of articles detailing the activities of rural cops. Instead, he'll soon find himself on the ground floor of a major investigation with national repercussions. Murder, industrial espionage, banking irregularities & corporate fraud are just the tip of the iceberg as this case presages the 2008 collapse of Iceland's financial institutions.
This is what I would describe as a gentle detective story. I normally prefer police procedurals that are a little grittier but enjoyed it for 2 reasons. First, a smart & intricate plot. Second, an interesting & original protagonist. My only quibble are the endless references to/comments by other characters about Gunna's looks & dress size. Maybe it was supposed to come across as a running gag but soon became tiresome & unnecessary to the plot. So she's not a beauteous babe. We get it.
Instead, she's something much more interesting & relatable...an average looking woman who's a great mom & dedicated cop. Her gruff manner masks a big heart. And it's her sharp intellect that makes the connections between various characters & their personal agendas.
There are many peripheral characters including police, journalists, activists & politicians that flesh out the plot. Having been to this beautiful country, I was hoping for a more atmospheric read with a specific sense of place but to be fair there's a lot going on here with a large cast so the story is more character driven.
All in all, a well paced & "clean" (no swearing, sex, etc.) detective novel with a compelling lead that should appeal to fans of the cozier form of this genre.
She's also very good at her job. Among her colleagues, she still runs into some who dismiss female cops but in her case, they do so at their peril.
Hvalvik is a town where the biggest problems are drunks, petty theft & redirecting traffic to accommodate construction of a large smelter facility & hydroelectric power station. They're controversial projects & tension between big industry & environmentalists is heating up. In fact, it's about to turn deadly.
It all begins with a body. Gunna gets a call about a man found floating by a nearby dock. Murder is rare in Iceland but once she identifies him, there are a couple of things that grab her attention. There was no reason for this city boy to be in Hvalvik. Also, a close friend of his recently died in another "accident".
Meanwhile, Gunna has been saddled with a journalist from Reykjavik. Skuli Snaedal is a rookie reporter & his editor wants a series of articles detailing the activities of rural cops. Instead, he'll soon find himself on the ground floor of a major investigation with national repercussions. Murder, industrial espionage, banking irregularities & corporate fraud are just the tip of the iceberg as this case presages the 2008 collapse of Iceland's financial institutions.
This is what I would describe as a gentle detective story. I normally prefer police procedurals that are a little grittier but enjoyed it for 2 reasons. First, a smart & intricate plot. Second, an interesting & original protagonist. My only quibble are the endless references to/comments by other characters about Gunna's looks & dress size. Maybe it was supposed to come across as a running gag but soon became tiresome & unnecessary to the plot. So she's not a beauteous babe. We get it.
Instead, she's something much more interesting & relatable...an average looking woman who's a great mom & dedicated cop. Her gruff manner masks a big heart. And it's her sharp intellect that makes the connections between various characters & their personal agendas.
There are many peripheral characters including police, journalists, activists & politicians that flesh out the plot. Having been to this beautiful country, I was hoping for a more atmospheric read with a specific sense of place but to be fair there's a lot going on here with a large cast so the story is more character driven.
All in all, a well paced & "clean" (no swearing, sex, etc.) detective novel with a compelling lead that should appeal to fans of the cozier form of this genre.
August 6, 2015
This Icelandic police procedural is set prior to the credit crunch, before the dominos started tumbling and an economic house of cards on the fringe of northern Europe collapsed completely.
It operates on two linked levels; a humdrum local investigation, with a shrewd but going-nowhere rural female police officer dragged away from her usual workload to deal with a suspicious death. The alternative narrative is a tale of political, economic and environmental intrigue, where dirty deals are done at the highest levels to privatise national assets, to industrialise ecological preserves, and to line the pockets of all involved. So far, so Borgen.
There’s a credible mystery here, plenty of interesting characters – not least the pugnacious female detective who doesn’t have a drink problem or kids who hate her or deeply twisted psychoses of her own. Sure, she’s been a bit battered by life, but she’s a likeable, competent, intuitive and thorough professional. Yay for positive role models.
Her opposite number, a sinister foreigner, ex-special forces, is a little less plausible but satisfyingly bad. He’s almost a caricature of the universal villain from central casting, and author Quentin Bates uses him to best effect; mostly in the shadows, part menace, part seduction.
Where Frozen Out left me cold (sorry) was in its odd lack of authentic atmosphere. It generated no real sense of place for me. There was no bite to the air, no sense of overwhelming isolation, or the everlong winter evening, or the weird white nights of summer. If you took away the telltale names, you’d be hard pressed to identify the location. Quentin Bates assembles all the right components for his ‘Icelandic noir’ but the core sensation of sinister oppression, of internalised isolation, is missing.
(There's more thoughts about this over at
https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress... )
There are some great jokes and observations (I especially enjoyed the extremely entertainingly, frequently crude / lewd gossip blog), but little tension and few surprises. We’re told the story from multiple perspectives, knowing more than the investigators do, so there are few twists or turns apart from at the very end.
Solid, then, if unspectacular. I’d be happy to spend more time with Gunna but wasn’t inspired to immediately download the sequel.
7/10
It operates on two linked levels; a humdrum local investigation, with a shrewd but going-nowhere rural female police officer dragged away from her usual workload to deal with a suspicious death. The alternative narrative is a tale of political, economic and environmental intrigue, where dirty deals are done at the highest levels to privatise national assets, to industrialise ecological preserves, and to line the pockets of all involved. So far, so Borgen.
There’s a credible mystery here, plenty of interesting characters – not least the pugnacious female detective who doesn’t have a drink problem or kids who hate her or deeply twisted psychoses of her own. Sure, she’s been a bit battered by life, but she’s a likeable, competent, intuitive and thorough professional. Yay for positive role models.
Her opposite number, a sinister foreigner, ex-special forces, is a little less plausible but satisfyingly bad. He’s almost a caricature of the universal villain from central casting, and author Quentin Bates uses him to best effect; mostly in the shadows, part menace, part seduction.
Where Frozen Out left me cold (sorry) was in its odd lack of authentic atmosphere. It generated no real sense of place for me. There was no bite to the air, no sense of overwhelming isolation, or the everlong winter evening, or the weird white nights of summer. If you took away the telltale names, you’d be hard pressed to identify the location. Quentin Bates assembles all the right components for his ‘Icelandic noir’ but the core sensation of sinister oppression, of internalised isolation, is missing.
(There's more thoughts about this over at
https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress... )
There are some great jokes and observations (I especially enjoyed the extremely entertainingly, frequently crude / lewd gossip blog), but little tension and few surprises. We’re told the story from multiple perspectives, knowing more than the investigators do, so there are few twists or turns apart from at the very end.
Solid, then, if unspectacular. I’d be happy to spend more time with Gunna but wasn’t inspired to immediately download the sequel.
7/10
September 30, 2013
We've all become used to, and probably tired of, Scandinavian noir crime novels with detectives who carry massive personality disorders as part of their daily baggage, or who are addicted to one thing or another, or who fight depression as well as crime. The really refreshing thing about Frozen Out is that Bates does not give us yet another set of world-weary Scandos. Instead, here is a crime novel suffused with real-life, crime-weary, politician-weary humour.
Gunna, the main police character is wonderfully drawn, and, although she is described as fat, "with a face to scare the horses," she is, in actual fact, well-drawn, and not without a degree of less than maternalistic sensuality. For me, her moral and mental strength, lift her head and shoulders above the rest of the book's cast, although that cast, too is very well-drawn.
I enjoyed the simplicity of the language (which I think could well be the result of a decade spent in Iceland by Bates), because very often it is simplicity of language which makes novels great, where purple prose is nothing more than an author showing off after swalling a dictionary and a thesaurus.
To be able to read a crime novel that is so up to date, and which does give a glimmer of hope in dark times, is something that's always a great experience, and I was totally and utterly absorbed in this. High-quality writing at a bargain price. Go and get it!
Gunna, the main police character is wonderfully drawn, and, although she is described as fat, "with a face to scare the horses," she is, in actual fact, well-drawn, and not without a degree of less than maternalistic sensuality. For me, her moral and mental strength, lift her head and shoulders above the rest of the book's cast, although that cast, too is very well-drawn.
I enjoyed the simplicity of the language (which I think could well be the result of a decade spent in Iceland by Bates), because very often it is simplicity of language which makes novels great, where purple prose is nothing more than an author showing off after swalling a dictionary and a thesaurus.
To be able to read a crime novel that is so up to date, and which does give a glimmer of hope in dark times, is something that's always a great experience, and I was totally and utterly absorbed in this. High-quality writing at a bargain price. Go and get it!
March 28, 2016
Set between August and September 2008 with the economy teetering on the brink of financial collapse brought on largely by the banking crisis, things are looking bleak in Iceland and the mood is ominous. In fictional Hvalvík, a rural fishing village on the south-west coast, the locals are well aware that times are changing. Prices and interest rates in the country are on the rise, the housing market is plummeting, yet nothing seems to abate the ascent of the skyscrapers which big businesses in Reykjavik continue to find the money to finance. The tension is palpable and wry observations on the stability and importance of the fishing industry to the nation are well placed by author Quentin Bates. With an anonymous blogger calling itself Skandalblogger peddling "unsubstantiated and extremely libellous gossip about the great and the good of Icelandic entertainment, business and politics", the corruption which everyone suspects is rife at the heart of government is under the full glare of the media spotlight and something has to give...
Yet closer to home local Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir (aka Gunna the cop) has more pressing concerns. In charge of the tiny police station in the village where the more familiar business is issuing a speeding ticket and escorting drunken locals home, her limited resources are stretched to the hilt. When a body is found floating in the local harbour and Gunna's superiors seem content for the easy verdict of death by misadventure to stand one might think Gunna would settle for an easy life and concur. Yet Gunna is nothing if not dogmatic. When initial investigations leave her with several questions to answer, most significant of which is how an intoxicated man on a night out in Reykjavík has managed to wash up dead in a remote backwater over hundred kilometres away. When further digging reveals that the dead man worked for a PR company run by the wife of the Environmental Affairs minister, both frequent targets of the Skandalblogger her instinct tells her something is amiss. It doesn't take her too long to uncover that this aforementioned PR company has an involvement in a locally based construction project thus creating a link between the dead man and the rural village of Hvalvík.
Against a backdrop of limited financial resources and budget constraints a less tenacious police officer might be content to leave things unexplored, but not Gunnhildur, even if it means ruffling a few feathers. Radiating authority, Gunna doesn't suffer fools gladly and her overly promoted superior Chief Inspector Vilhjálmir Traustason relents on the condition that the investigation is a joint enterprise with the city force. Quentin Bates superbly emphasises the position of both a rural police force in the wider context of the nation and that of Iceland itself as a relatively small country with limited muscle on a global scale. It is clear that Gunna is in no position to throw her weight around.
With several strands of focus alternating between Skandalblogger and its repercussions and the investigation of the body found by Gunna, the novel is very well paced. Topical issues of environmental destruction and corruption at the very centre of power all serve to make this create a timely police procedural. With some splendid black humour woven through the novel, this makes for a lively narration and Frozen Out deserves to draw plaudits.
As an introduction to the character of Gunna and the workings of the Icelandic police force the use of a naive rookie crime journalist shadowing her work is a clever ploy and makes for a very thorough introduction to both her character, the work of a rural police force and highlights the importance of fishing to the coastal areas of Iceland. As a middle aged widower, a mother of two and with a career of sixteen years in the force behind her, there aren't many female officers with her level of experience. Astute, often brusque and described as "a big fat lass with a face that frightens the horses", she makes for a unique protagonist. The brilliantly naive reporter, Skúli Snædal, asks the questions for the readers and as a consequence you feel a real involvement in the investigation. The pacing builds into a cat and mouse chase to the finish and Bates provides one final twist of the knife. With an opportunity of relocation and perhaps promotion on the horizon Gunna has a big future ahead of her, whether in Hvalvík or further afield. Wherever it may be, I will certainly be following her journey closely.
Frozen Out is an brilliant introduction to Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir, both at work and in a more personal capacity, and it is clear that her character is ripe for further exploration. The novel ingeniously weaves a real life event with enormous repercussions for society into a crime fiction novel and makes for a damning portrayal of the build up to the banking crisis which sent Europe into economic tailspin. Despite a large cast of characters everyone is well drawn and none of them seem one dimensional. The presence of some unusual names shouldn't put English readers off as each of the characters leave their mark. With a realistic portrayal of the banter and rapport which a career in the police force fosters the secondary police characters are also well developed and will hopefully feature in subsequent novels. Gunna rises to a challenge and commands her troops admirably showing that this lady is certainly no redneck copper. Underestimate Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir at your peril!
With the action set partly between Hvalvík and Reykjavik, the brooding presence of the mountainous territory is less of a factor, but the incessant rain, bleakness and unremitting wind of the coastal region still make for hostile surroundings. The benefit of this dual setting allows readers a glimpse in the situation in Reykjavik and makes for a clever exploration of the turmoil leading up to the financial implosion. As a big picture view of Iceland, Frozen Out serves wonderfully and is replete with nuggets of information concerning local cuisine, industry, surname formation and the idiosyncrasies of the natives. It certainly gives readers a feel for the authentic portrait of a country and this creates a noticeable atmosphere.
The author, Quentin Bates, is also a highly regarded translator, most recently of the Dark Iceland series of Ragnar Jónasson. The good news is that if you have come to his work subsequent to reading Snowblind and the novels which follow, this proves that Siglufjördur is not the only remote fishing village to be found! Iceland remains a veritable landscape for brooding crime fiction and Quentin Bates has plenty of his own talents as an author to showcase.
Yet closer to home local Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir (aka Gunna the cop) has more pressing concerns. In charge of the tiny police station in the village where the more familiar business is issuing a speeding ticket and escorting drunken locals home, her limited resources are stretched to the hilt. When a body is found floating in the local harbour and Gunna's superiors seem content for the easy verdict of death by misadventure to stand one might think Gunna would settle for an easy life and concur. Yet Gunna is nothing if not dogmatic. When initial investigations leave her with several questions to answer, most significant of which is how an intoxicated man on a night out in Reykjavík has managed to wash up dead in a remote backwater over hundred kilometres away. When further digging reveals that the dead man worked for a PR company run by the wife of the Environmental Affairs minister, both frequent targets of the Skandalblogger her instinct tells her something is amiss. It doesn't take her too long to uncover that this aforementioned PR company has an involvement in a locally based construction project thus creating a link between the dead man and the rural village of Hvalvík.
Against a backdrop of limited financial resources and budget constraints a less tenacious police officer might be content to leave things unexplored, but not Gunnhildur, even if it means ruffling a few feathers. Radiating authority, Gunna doesn't suffer fools gladly and her overly promoted superior Chief Inspector Vilhjálmir Traustason relents on the condition that the investigation is a joint enterprise with the city force. Quentin Bates superbly emphasises the position of both a rural police force in the wider context of the nation and that of Iceland itself as a relatively small country with limited muscle on a global scale. It is clear that Gunna is in no position to throw her weight around.
With several strands of focus alternating between Skandalblogger and its repercussions and the investigation of the body found by Gunna, the novel is very well paced. Topical issues of environmental destruction and corruption at the very centre of power all serve to make this create a timely police procedural. With some splendid black humour woven through the novel, this makes for a lively narration and Frozen Out deserves to draw plaudits.
As an introduction to the character of Gunna and the workings of the Icelandic police force the use of a naive rookie crime journalist shadowing her work is a clever ploy and makes for a very thorough introduction to both her character, the work of a rural police force and highlights the importance of fishing to the coastal areas of Iceland. As a middle aged widower, a mother of two and with a career of sixteen years in the force behind her, there aren't many female officers with her level of experience. Astute, often brusque and described as "a big fat lass with a face that frightens the horses", she makes for a unique protagonist. The brilliantly naive reporter, Skúli Snædal, asks the questions for the readers and as a consequence you feel a real involvement in the investigation. The pacing builds into a cat and mouse chase to the finish and Bates provides one final twist of the knife. With an opportunity of relocation and perhaps promotion on the horizon Gunna has a big future ahead of her, whether in Hvalvík or further afield. Wherever it may be, I will certainly be following her journey closely.
Frozen Out is an brilliant introduction to Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir, both at work and in a more personal capacity, and it is clear that her character is ripe for further exploration. The novel ingeniously weaves a real life event with enormous repercussions for society into a crime fiction novel and makes for a damning portrayal of the build up to the banking crisis which sent Europe into economic tailspin. Despite a large cast of characters everyone is well drawn and none of them seem one dimensional. The presence of some unusual names shouldn't put English readers off as each of the characters leave their mark. With a realistic portrayal of the banter and rapport which a career in the police force fosters the secondary police characters are also well developed and will hopefully feature in subsequent novels. Gunna rises to a challenge and commands her troops admirably showing that this lady is certainly no redneck copper. Underestimate Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir at your peril!
With the action set partly between Hvalvík and Reykjavik, the brooding presence of the mountainous territory is less of a factor, but the incessant rain, bleakness and unremitting wind of the coastal region still make for hostile surroundings. The benefit of this dual setting allows readers a glimpse in the situation in Reykjavik and makes for a clever exploration of the turmoil leading up to the financial implosion. As a big picture view of Iceland, Frozen Out serves wonderfully and is replete with nuggets of information concerning local cuisine, industry, surname formation and the idiosyncrasies of the natives. It certainly gives readers a feel for the authentic portrait of a country and this creates a noticeable atmosphere.
The author, Quentin Bates, is also a highly regarded translator, most recently of the Dark Iceland series of Ragnar Jónasson. The good news is that if you have come to his work subsequent to reading Snowblind and the novels which follow, this proves that Siglufjördur is not the only remote fishing village to be found! Iceland remains a veritable landscape for brooding crime fiction and Quentin Bates has plenty of his own talents as an author to showcase.
May 22, 2020
Quentin Bates first book was a lot better than his second attempt at writing. I could make out what was happening in this book. From the first beginning through to the end it makes sense.
May 2020......A lot has happened and after 2 strokes I thought I hadn't read it, but know I know I had read it. Nice to know. Gunna is quite the policewoman that gets around most obstacles that are placed before her. It was the time of the banking fiasco which I can understand all the ministers getting upset over any little thing. I really liked it when she new she was double crossed and put the hurt on two of the men that were sent to stop her. Nothing is to get out according to the ministers and Gunna knows it.
May 2020......A lot has happened and after 2 strokes I thought I hadn't read it, but know I know I had read it. Nice to know. Gunna is quite the policewoman that gets around most obstacles that are placed before her. It was the time of the banking fiasco which I can understand all the ministers getting upset over any little thing. I really liked it when she new she was double crossed and put the hurt on two of the men that were sent to stop her. Nothing is to get out according to the ministers and Gunna knows it.
April 1, 2012
Also known as Frozen Out.
Although not Scandinavian, Quentin Bates did spend 10 years living in Iceland.
This was not a fast-paced thriller, rather a solid police procedural. There were no serial killers or evil villains, rather the crimes were motivated by greed. Set in Iceland at the time of the GFC and the collapse of the Icelandic banks, it involves corruption and cover-ups at the highest levels. A small town police sergeant is on the trail of a man sent in to "fix" things (using whatever means) for his corrupt employers. The police work is solid but what I really liked was that little glimpse of Iceland, a country that has so far been off my radar.
If you're looking for something to keep you on the edge of your seat however - this isn't it.
Although not Scandinavian, Quentin Bates did spend 10 years living in Iceland.
This was not a fast-paced thriller, rather a solid police procedural. There were no serial killers or evil villains, rather the crimes were motivated by greed. Set in Iceland at the time of the GFC and the collapse of the Icelandic banks, it involves corruption and cover-ups at the highest levels. A small town police sergeant is on the trail of a man sent in to "fix" things (using whatever means) for his corrupt employers. The police work is solid but what I really liked was that little glimpse of Iceland, a country that has so far been off my radar.
If you're looking for something to keep you on the edge of your seat however - this isn't it.
March 8, 2016
I loved this book, I cant recall a book/series in recent history where the characters felt so immediately like old friends, and so familiar. The story sets the base for the future books with how Gunna ends up working back in Reykjavik (where most of the crime happens), I felt like I could instantly visualise the places and characters, at one point I thought that I could see this working well as a TV series, maybe down to the great dialogue. I dont want to spoil the plot so I wont go into detail, but I just loved it and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
December 27, 2015
Set between August and September 2008 with the economy teetering on the brink of financial collapse brought on largely by the banking crisis, things are looking bleak in Iceland and the mood is ominous. In fictional Hvalvík, a rural fishing village on the south-west coast, the locals are well aware that times are changing. Prices and interest rates in the country are on the rise, the housing market is plummeting, yet nothing seems to abate the ascent of the skyscrapers which big businesses in Reykjavik continue to find the money to finance. The tension is palpable and wry observations on the stability and importance of the fishing industry to the nation are well placed by author Quentin Bates. With an anonymous blogger calling itself Skandalblogger peddling "unsubstantiated and extremely libellous gossip about the great and the good of Icelandic entertainment, business and politics", the corruption which everyone suspects is rife at the heart of government is under the full glare of the media spotlight and something has to give...
Yet closer to home local Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir (aka Gunna the cop) has more pressing concerns. In charge of the tiny police station in the village where the more familiar business is issuing a speeding ticket and escorting drunken locals home, her limited resources are stretched to the hilt. When a body is found floating in the local harbour and Gunna's superiors seem content for the easy verdict of death by misadventure to stand one might think Gunna would settle for an easy life and concur. Yet Gunna is nothing if not dogmatic. When initial investigations leave her with several questions to answer, most significant of which is how an intoxicated man on a night out in Reykjavík has managed to wash up dead in a remote backwater over hundred kilometres away. When further digging reveals that the dead man worked for a PR company run by the wife of the Environmental Affairs minister, both frequent targets of the Skandalblogger her instinct tells her something is amiss. It doesn't take her too long to uncover that this aforementioned PR company has an involvement in a locally based construction project thus creating a link between the dead man and the rural village of Hvalvík.
Against a backdrop of limited financial resources and budget constraints a less tenacious police officer might be content to leave things unexplored, but not Gunnhildur, even if it means ruffling a few feathers. Radiating authority, Gunna doesn't suffer fools gladly and her overly promoted superior Chief Inspector Vilhjálmir Traustason relents on the condition that the investigation is a joint enterprise with the city force. Quentin Bates superbly emphasises the position of both a rural police force in the wider context of the nation and that of Iceland itself as a relatively small country with limited muscle on a global scale. It is clear that Gunna is in no position to throw her weight around.
With several strands of focus alternating between Skandalblogger and its repercussions and the investigation of the body found by Gunna, the novel is very well paced. Topical issues of environmental destruction and corruption at the very centre of power all serve to make this create a timely police procedural. With some splendid black humour woven through the novel, this makes for a lively narration and Frozen Out deserves to draw plaudits.
As an introduction to the character of Gunna and the workings of the Icelandic police force the use of a naive rookie crime journalist shadowing her work is a clever ploy and makes for a very thorough introduction to both her character, the work of a rural police force and highlights the importance of fishing to the coastal areas of Iceland. As a middle aged widower, a mother of two and with a career of sixteen years in the force behind her, there aren't many female officers with her level of experience. Astute, often brusque and described as "a big fat lass with a face that frightens the horses", she makes for a unique protagonist. The brilliantly naive reporter, Skúli Snædal, asks the questions for the readers and as a consequence you feel a real involvement in the investigation. The pacing builds into a cat and mouse chase to the finish and Bates provides one final twist of the knife. With an opportunity of relocation and perhaps promotion on the horizon Gunna has a big future ahead of her, whether in Hvalvík or further afield. Wherever it may be, I will certainly be following her journey closely.
Frozen Out is an brilliant introduction to Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir, both at work and in a more personal capacity, and it is clear that her character is ripe for further exploration. The novel ingeniously weaves a real life event with enormous repercussions for society into a crime fiction novel and makes for a damning portrayal of the build up to the banking crisis which sent Europe into economic tailspin. Despite a large cast of characters everyone is well drawn and none of them seem one dimensional. The presence of some unusual names shouldn't put English readers off as each of the characters leave their mark. With a realistic portrayal of the banter and rapport which a career in the police force fosters the secondary police characters are also well developed and will hopefully feature in subsequent novels. Gunna rises to a challenge and commands her troops admirably showing that this lady is certainly no redneck copper. Underestimate Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir at your peril!
With the action set partly between Hvalvík and Reykjavik, the brooding presence of the mountainous territory is less of a factor, but the incessant rain, bleakness and unremitting wind of the coastal region still make for hostile surroundings. The benefit of this dual setting allows readers a glimpse in the situation in Reykjavik and makes for a clever exploration of the turmoil leading up to the financial implosion. As a big picture view of Iceland, Frozen Out serves wonderfully and is replete with nuggets of information concerning local cuisine, industry, surname formation and the idiosyncrasies of the natives. It certainly gives readers a feel for the authentic portrait of a country and this creates a noticeable atmosphere.
The author, Quentin Bates, is also a highly regarded translator, most recently of the Dark Iceland series by Ragnar Jónasson. The good news is that if you have come to his work subsequent to reading Snowblind and the novels which follow, this proves that Siglufjördur is not the only remote fishing village to be found! Iceland remains a veritable landscape for brooding crime fiction and Quentin Bates has plenty of his own talents as an author to showcase.
Yet closer to home local Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir (aka Gunna the cop) has more pressing concerns. In charge of the tiny police station in the village where the more familiar business is issuing a speeding ticket and escorting drunken locals home, her limited resources are stretched to the hilt. When a body is found floating in the local harbour and Gunna's superiors seem content for the easy verdict of death by misadventure to stand one might think Gunna would settle for an easy life and concur. Yet Gunna is nothing if not dogmatic. When initial investigations leave her with several questions to answer, most significant of which is how an intoxicated man on a night out in Reykjavík has managed to wash up dead in a remote backwater over hundred kilometres away. When further digging reveals that the dead man worked for a PR company run by the wife of the Environmental Affairs minister, both frequent targets of the Skandalblogger her instinct tells her something is amiss. It doesn't take her too long to uncover that this aforementioned PR company has an involvement in a locally based construction project thus creating a link between the dead man and the rural village of Hvalvík.
Against a backdrop of limited financial resources and budget constraints a less tenacious police officer might be content to leave things unexplored, but not Gunnhildur, even if it means ruffling a few feathers. Radiating authority, Gunna doesn't suffer fools gladly and her overly promoted superior Chief Inspector Vilhjálmir Traustason relents on the condition that the investigation is a joint enterprise with the city force. Quentin Bates superbly emphasises the position of both a rural police force in the wider context of the nation and that of Iceland itself as a relatively small country with limited muscle on a global scale. It is clear that Gunna is in no position to throw her weight around.
With several strands of focus alternating between Skandalblogger and its repercussions and the investigation of the body found by Gunna, the novel is very well paced. Topical issues of environmental destruction and corruption at the very centre of power all serve to make this create a timely police procedural. With some splendid black humour woven through the novel, this makes for a lively narration and Frozen Out deserves to draw plaudits.
As an introduction to the character of Gunna and the workings of the Icelandic police force the use of a naive rookie crime journalist shadowing her work is a clever ploy and makes for a very thorough introduction to both her character, the work of a rural police force and highlights the importance of fishing to the coastal areas of Iceland. As a middle aged widower, a mother of two and with a career of sixteen years in the force behind her, there aren't many female officers with her level of experience. Astute, often brusque and described as "a big fat lass with a face that frightens the horses", she makes for a unique protagonist. The brilliantly naive reporter, Skúli Snædal, asks the questions for the readers and as a consequence you feel a real involvement in the investigation. The pacing builds into a cat and mouse chase to the finish and Bates provides one final twist of the knife. With an opportunity of relocation and perhaps promotion on the horizon Gunna has a big future ahead of her, whether in Hvalvík or further afield. Wherever it may be, I will certainly be following her journey closely.
Frozen Out is an brilliant introduction to Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir, both at work and in a more personal capacity, and it is clear that her character is ripe for further exploration. The novel ingeniously weaves a real life event with enormous repercussions for society into a crime fiction novel and makes for a damning portrayal of the build up to the banking crisis which sent Europe into economic tailspin. Despite a large cast of characters everyone is well drawn and none of them seem one dimensional. The presence of some unusual names shouldn't put English readers off as each of the characters leave their mark. With a realistic portrayal of the banter and rapport which a career in the police force fosters the secondary police characters are also well developed and will hopefully feature in subsequent novels. Gunna rises to a challenge and commands her troops admirably showing that this lady is certainly no redneck copper. Underestimate Sergeant Gunnhildur Gisladóttir at your peril!
With the action set partly between Hvalvík and Reykjavik, the brooding presence of the mountainous territory is less of a factor, but the incessant rain, bleakness and unremitting wind of the coastal region still make for hostile surroundings. The benefit of this dual setting allows readers a glimpse in the situation in Reykjavik and makes for a clever exploration of the turmoil leading up to the financial implosion. As a big picture view of Iceland, Frozen Out serves wonderfully and is replete with nuggets of information concerning local cuisine, industry, surname formation and the idiosyncrasies of the natives. It certainly gives readers a feel for the authentic portrait of a country and this creates a noticeable atmosphere.
The author, Quentin Bates, is also a highly regarded translator, most recently of the Dark Iceland series by Ragnar Jónasson. The good news is that if you have come to his work subsequent to reading Snowblind and the novels which follow, this proves that Siglufjördur is not the only remote fishing village to be found! Iceland remains a veritable landscape for brooding crime fiction and Quentin Bates has plenty of his own talents as an author to showcase.
September 19, 2021
The first in the Gunnhilder series is nicely written story with well developed characters and relationships. Very easy to read with just enough happening to keep the pages turning.
Although realistic and believable I found the storyline rather one dimensional in that there were very few, if any, twists or surprises and it remained one paced right through to the end.
So, enjoyable enough but not gripping or thought provoking. A good steady thee stars
Although realistic and believable I found the storyline rather one dimensional in that there were very few, if any, twists or surprises and it remained one paced right through to the end.
So, enjoyable enough but not gripping or thought provoking. A good steady thee stars
April 3, 2025
Written by my favourite translator of Icelandic detective fiction, this failed to delight me as much as his interpretation of other people’s works.
Too many characters, too much toing and froing between the town and police HQ. And way too much smoking!
Too many characters, too much toing and froing between the town and police HQ. And way too much smoking!
June 3, 2022
Hinter "In eisigem Wasser" verbirgt sich ein spannender Islandkrimi, der mit einem Mann im Wasser beginnt und zum Skandal wird. Dazu gibt es ein bisschen isländischen Politik mit einer Prise Korruption, die es zu einem packenden Fall werden lässt. Der Fall hat mich über die Seiten jagen lassen, mich erschreckt, zum Staunen gebracht. Dann gab es wieder ruhige Szenen, in denen man durchatmen konnte, bevor das nächste Ereignis kam.
Bei manchen Szenen musste ich erst sortieren, wer wer ist, was aber eher an den vielen isländischen Namen lag, als am Autoren. Ich habe mich gefühlt, als wäre ich einfach direkt hineingezogen worden in die isländische Welt. Das war wirklich schön und hat das Leseerlebnis nochmal verbessert.
Bei manchen Szenen musste ich erst sortieren, wer wer ist, was aber eher an den vielen isländischen Namen lag, als am Autoren. Ich habe mich gefühlt, als wäre ich einfach direkt hineingezogen worden in die isländische Welt. Das war wirklich schön und hat das Leseerlebnis nochmal verbessert.
December 28, 2012
This novel is set at the time of the first rumblings of the Icelandic financial crisis in 2008. It's a fairly straightforward police procedural, with a lot of legwork for the team which has been assembled to investigate two murders apparently linked to less than transparent business dealings involving at least one dodgy politician and his wife.
The real appeal of the book, however, lies in the characters and in particular Gunnhildur, a sergeant who, because of her conviction that the first death is murder, ends up leading the investigating team. Gunna is a breath of fresh air; a single parent with two children - neither of whom have drug problems, are runaways or are estranged - who uses her investigative skills, common sense, determination and leadership abilities to discover the truth.
The supporting cast is lively with some excellent characterisation; the dialogue is well written and convincing with plenty of humour throughout.
I would count myself as a fan of authors like Mankell, Nesbo, Karin Fossum and Hakan Nesser and have no problem with gritty stories and troubled main characters. It is good, though, to sometimes read a well written crime novel which is not persistently dark. This novel is more reminiscent of the Montalbano stories by Andrea Camilleri, which have great characterisation, humour and satisfying stories that are not always resolved in that justice is not always seen to be done. Gunna has the potential to be a memorable addition to detective fiction; I felt cheered by the time I finished the book, purely because of her energetic determination and her sense of excitement at what the future could hold. I hope that there is a sequel.
The real appeal of the book, however, lies in the characters and in particular Gunnhildur, a sergeant who, because of her conviction that the first death is murder, ends up leading the investigating team. Gunna is a breath of fresh air; a single parent with two children - neither of whom have drug problems, are runaways or are estranged - who uses her investigative skills, common sense, determination and leadership abilities to discover the truth.
The supporting cast is lively with some excellent characterisation; the dialogue is well written and convincing with plenty of humour throughout.
I would count myself as a fan of authors like Mankell, Nesbo, Karin Fossum and Hakan Nesser and have no problem with gritty stories and troubled main characters. It is good, though, to sometimes read a well written crime novel which is not persistently dark. This novel is more reminiscent of the Montalbano stories by Andrea Camilleri, which have great characterisation, humour and satisfying stories that are not always resolved in that justice is not always seen to be done. Gunna has the potential to be a memorable addition to detective fiction; I felt cheered by the time I finished the book, purely because of her energetic determination and her sense of excitement at what the future could hold. I hope that there is a sequel.
December 16, 2013
A well-wrapped mystery
I would have to imagine that it is a real challenge to incorporate the Icelandic economic crisis into a police procedural in a balanced or palatable way. Quentin Bates has managed to do this without losing sight of his main character, Gunnhildur. While giving credible voice to a complicated snarl of corporate, political, and environmental issues and behaviors in modern Iceland, the splendid investigative and team-work ability of Gunna is revealed. Even with her physical flaws, Gunna's intelligence and sure-footed persistence in the face of opposition are sure to generate fans, both literary and real.
It is always a challenge to keep up with character's names, especially those of the Nordic cultures. Gunnhildur Gísladótter becomes Gunna. Sigurjóna Huldudóttir becomes Jóna. Vigdis Veigarsdóttir becomes Disa. Bjarni Jón Bjarnson becomes Bjarni Jón-to those who know them personally. This is a lot for an American reader to wrap around. Place names are another brain buster. I found myself wanting a phonetically based list available just so I could do the story some justice, pronunciation-wise. That is an observation, not a complaint. I'll be back no matter what, you can be sure!
November 21, 2021
A police procedural set in a small fictional Icelandic village with a tangled web of crime, office and government politics. The writing was fine but the story was much like every other police procedural you see on TV. Not a lot new and little to none of that dark atmosphere the Icelandic landscape and weather can offer.
The thing that kept me reading was its main character, Officer Gunnhildur. An interesting, plucky female police officer, widow and mom. A smart, tough officer more than once referred to as fat and 'jokingly' harassed by male characters ( it felt a bit distasteful and dated although written in 2010) but she gave as good as she got. A good, well drawn character but not sure if its enough to read more.
I picked this up because I enjoy the dark atmosphere of Icelandic mysteries and admire writers that create that atmosphere simply through the unusual sun and moon cycle, the weather and landscape rather than overt violence and gore. I recognized this writer as the translator for Ragnor Jonasson's books that I enjoy but maybe I prefer Mr. Bates as a translator rather than writer.
The thing that kept me reading was its main character, Officer Gunnhildur. An interesting, plucky female police officer, widow and mom. A smart, tough officer more than once referred to as fat and 'jokingly' harassed by male characters ( it felt a bit distasteful and dated although written in 2010) but she gave as good as she got. A good, well drawn character but not sure if its enough to read more.
I picked this up because I enjoy the dark atmosphere of Icelandic mysteries and admire writers that create that atmosphere simply through the unusual sun and moon cycle, the weather and landscape rather than overt violence and gore. I recognized this writer as the translator for Ragnor Jonasson's books that I enjoy but maybe I prefer Mr. Bates as a translator rather than writer.
April 24, 2013
Another Icelandic crime mystery but this one has a "fat" affable woman sergeant, Gunna, as the protagonist. Gunna is a resourceful woman in a man's world. She is a widower with two teenaged children: the 19 year old son is a merchant seaman and there's a 13 year old girl. So she's a single mom living in a rural town that's close to the capital. You quickly glean she's a capable person who is underemployed while working in a police bureaucracy that worries more about appearances than doing what is needed. Gunna gets her chance when a body is found in the harbor. Her superiors want her to dismiss it as an accident but she starts connecting some dots and there's no stopping her. This all takes place in the background of Iceland's financial melt down and environmental activism. So we end up always chasing an elusive murderer who is always a step ahead. It's Iceland so how can he escape is the mantra. The ending was not what I wanted but I look forward to the further adventures of Gunnhildur.
April 12, 2011
This is the last time I fall for this book is like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo... Yes, it takes place in Scandinavia (Iceland) and yes this book talks about government corruption and corporate fraud. But that's where the comparison ends. This book's heroine is a middle aged female cop who is often referred to as fat. No one in this book is truly likable to the point that you were rooting for them. The good people aren't quite good enough and the evil people aren't evil enough.
One of the reasons that I picked up this book is because it takes place in Iceland. I've always wanted to go there. This book doesn't do Iceland any justice at all. It could have been set in England or even on the East coast of the US. The landscape plays no part in this story at all.
I don't feel like reading this was a complete waste of time but I don't think I would pick up this author again.
One of the reasons that I picked up this book is because it takes place in Iceland. I've always wanted to go there. This book doesn't do Iceland any justice at all. It could have been set in England or even on the East coast of the US. The landscape plays no part in this story at all.
I don't feel like reading this was a complete waste of time but I don't think I would pick up this author again.
November 5, 2013
Very slow until the middle, almost as much about Iceland's economic and political woes as an actual crime. I found it to be a little dated - is the blog really such a big deal? And I thought it was pretty obvious where the blog came from. I found all the references to Gunna's appearance slightly offensive - I get that she's not beautiful, but do we really need to dwell on it. And she's about 38-39, by my count. So why is she referred to as old?
The plot did pick up towards the end, and I'm curious to see where the next installment takes Gunna. But if you've got other books on your list, this is not a must-read.
The plot did pick up towards the end, and I'm curious to see where the next installment takes Gunna. But if you've got other books on your list, this is not a must-read.
April 10, 2018
I read this book as part of a reading challenge - Nordic noir. But after reading I’m thinking that maybe this book, albeit set in Iceland, was more like an episode of Midsomer Murders. It felt really English, and that could have been the audiobook narration, but even the humour felt English. And this is no criticism, I enjoyed the book immensely, loved the main character, the subtle (and not so subtle) sarcasm...but I think I’ll need to read another to satisfy this category!!
June 24, 2024
At last, Nordic crime without a moody loner as investigator! Gunnhildur Gisladottir reminds me of Marge Gunderson of Fargo fame, not the comedy but the pragmatism. I don't get the title or the cover art. Explain please?
August 30, 2013
I gave up after 50 pages..pure formulaic....rubbish....where did all those 5 star reviews come from...I could write better
September 13, 2020
It's refreshing, if not difficult to grasp, that there are still places in the world where murder is a rare occurrence. Iceland, the setting for the Officer Gunnhilder series, is one such place.
Gunnhilder, or Gunna as she is more commonly known, is a police sergeant in a village near to Reykjavik. Most of the crime that takes place there is related to drunks and other misdemeanors; the police there -- the three of them -- spending most of their days dealing with traffic issues due to the heavy machinery used by a new smelting plant.
Then a young man's body is found floating in the harbor. There's no physical evidence of direct physical violence related to his death, but how did he come to be found 100 kilometers from where he was last seen when he had no car and was heavily intoxicated? Gunna has her suspicions that only escalate when she learns the dead man was friends with an ecologist who only months before was killed in a hit and run accident.
The author has written an intricately-plotted story that includes political intrigue, intrigue that threatens to hamper Gunna's investigation on several levels.
Suspense-filled; character-driven with a diverse and believable cast of characters.
Gunnhilder, or Gunna as she is more commonly known, is a police sergeant in a village near to Reykjavik. Most of the crime that takes place there is related to drunks and other misdemeanors; the police there -- the three of them -- spending most of their days dealing with traffic issues due to the heavy machinery used by a new smelting plant.
Then a young man's body is found floating in the harbor. There's no physical evidence of direct physical violence related to his death, but how did he come to be found 100 kilometers from where he was last seen when he had no car and was heavily intoxicated? Gunna has her suspicions that only escalate when she learns the dead man was friends with an ecologist who only months before was killed in a hit and run accident.
The author has written an intricately-plotted story that includes political intrigue, intrigue that threatens to hamper Gunna's investigation on several levels.
Suspense-filled; character-driven with a diverse and believable cast of characters.
November 7, 2018
Great paced book! Lots of action without the usual gratuitous violence you come to expect from the typical cop/detective stories these days. Don't get me wrong - the bad guys are just as nasty - but you aren't subjected to the adjective overload that makes you slip in the gore.
It was nice to have the story and the characters from a different place and that too may have lent to the lessening of wallowing in the gore. It's a no nonsense leading female character in a place that sees very little of murder so when things start to happen, she doesn't sit on her laurels nor is she afraid to confront her superiors to get things rolling.
Based during the time when Iceland was going through the beginning of it's financial crisis, it's an interesting glimpse at circumstances that may have contributed to it's downfall. Political corruption and greed can lead to some devastating consequences and in this case, murder.
Great story and once you get past trying to remember the Icelandic names, it's fast paced and well written.
It was nice to have the story and the characters from a different place and that too may have lent to the lessening of wallowing in the gore. It's a no nonsense leading female character in a place that sees very little of murder so when things start to happen, she doesn't sit on her laurels nor is she afraid to confront her superiors to get things rolling.
Based during the time when Iceland was going through the beginning of it's financial crisis, it's an interesting glimpse at circumstances that may have contributed to it's downfall. Political corruption and greed can lead to some devastating consequences and in this case, murder.
Great story and once you get past trying to remember the Icelandic names, it's fast paced and well written.
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