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Forty Days Without Shadow: An Arctic Thriller

Olivier Truc

Start date: March 9, 2015

Finish date: April 7, 2015

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Jan 16, 2015 Shomeret rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller, my-reviews

When I was a child my favorite book was Lapland Outlaw by Arthur Catherall which I got from the Weekly Reader Book Club. Catherall’s children’s book may have involved some inaccuracies, but it taught me that people in other cultures have different values which need to be respected. The sixteen year old Sami boy who was the central character had grown up as a nomadic herder of reindeer. He felt panicked by being enclosed within four walls and fought to maintain his ancestral way of life.

I haven’ When I was a child my favorite book was Lapland Outlaw by Arthur Catherall which I got from the Weekly Reader Book Club. Catherall’s children’s book may have involved some inaccuracies, but it taught me that people in other cultures have different values which need to be respected. The sixteen year old Sami boy who was the central character had grown up as a nomadic herder of reindeer. He felt panicked by being enclosed within four walls and fought to maintain his ancestral way of life.

I haven’t visited with the Sami through the pages of a book for a great many years, but it was my memory of Lapland Outlaw that caused me to obtain Forty Days Without Shadow which is an English translation of the French thriller Le Dernier Lapon by Olivier Truc.

I was very interested in finding out more about the Sami. I found it especially intriguing that the roofs of traditional Sami tents were covered with interlaced antlers that were supposed to be arranged so that you could see the sky through them. This is similar to the huts that are constructed for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. My Jewish ancestors were also once nomadic herders. Perhaps this is why I feel a connection to the Sami.

I thought the characters were well drawn and well-motivated. I found both of the protagonists sympathetic, and although the villains weren’t at all sympathetic, they were very credible. I appreciated the fact that Nina played an active role in the case. Since she knew French, she went to France to interview the French collector who had donated the drum to the museum to find out more about the stolen drum and the circumstances in which he acquired it. She also brought about a major break in the case due to her rapport with a female Sami who trusted her.

This was an excellent novel from the thriller perspective. There were issues involving party politics in Norway, racism, World War II and predatory behavior by mining companies. It was a suspenseful and involving story line from start to finish. I loved Forty Days Without Shadow.

For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20... ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 10, 2016 Larry marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Jul 13, 2016 Wendy marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: library-link, library-alameda-co, finland-lapland, library-uc, norway

Jan 14, 2019 Larry marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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