"Where the Shadows Lie", book of the Month for June 2012

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath is the book for the month of June 2012.

[Susan]

Is this the author's first book? Looking forward to reading somebody new(to me).

[Marie]

Looks like it's the first in a series. Just requested it from the library!

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

This isn't Michael's first book, he's written about the financial world. But this is the first in this series about Iceland.

Iceland series:
1 Where the Shadows Lie
2 66 North
3 Meltwater
4 Far North (In the U.S. August 2012)

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

He also has a short for anyone with e-readers. Edge of Nowhere Magnus Jonson is in it.

[Stephanie]

Just picked Where the Shadows Lie up from the library. Looks good!

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

It's always nice to have something familiar, with the ring. Nice touch with Ingileif and Magnus in the end. In 66 North we still find the sagas going strong.

[Marie]

I'm only on page 120. I've never read LoTR, and I feel asleep during the movies, so some of it is confusing, but it's pretty fun so far.

[Michael]

Hi, I'm the author, and I'm happy to answer any questions anyone has. I hope my being in the group doesn't cramp any of the discussion - I completely understand that my books are not for everyone.

By the way, I have had three novels in this series published in the UK;
1. Where the Shadows Lie
2. 66 degrees North (Far North in US)
3. Meltwater.

Unfortunately the US is on a later publishing cycle. Where the Shadows Lie has been published, and Far North (= 66 North) will be published in hard cover in August 2012.

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

Michael have you had any interest from the movies?

[Michael]

Kenneth wrote: "Michael have you had any interest from the movies?"

Only very tentative at this stage, and that is TV. Iceland would make a beautiful backdrop.

[Florence]

Just picked this up at the public library; looking forward to reading!

[Marie]

I judge a book by whether I start slowing down toward the end because I don't want it to end. I'm at page 255, the action is picking up, and I just closed the book so I'll have something to look forward to later, despite having half a cup of coffee to finish here.

[Lili]

Just downloaded this book to my Kindle looking forward to reading it this evening.

[Elizabeth]

Michael wrote: "Hi, I'm the author, and I'm happy to answer any questions anyone has. I hope my being in the group doesn't cramp any of the discussion - I completely understand that my books are not for everyone...."

Just started the group read "Where the Shadows Lie" and am so glad to have your author imput. I am so crazy about Iceland my friends now call me Yrsa.

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

Not bad, TV. Do you get to dable with it at all? Will it be shot in Iceland? Like to see are authors get ahead.

[Michael]

Kenneth wrote: "Not bad, TV. Do you get to dable with it at all? Will it be shot in Iceland? Like to see are authors get ahead."

Only at the really early stages yet. They are a British company and said they would only consider going ahead if they changed one letter: the "s" in Boston. That makes Magnus come from Bolton near Manchester.

Well! You can imagine the affront to my artistic integrity! And how much fun it would be if they actually made a TV series, even if Magnus has a Lancashire accent. So I said "yes". I hold my head in shame.

But, as I say it is really early days yet and the odds must still be against it.

[Michael]

Hi Elizabeth,

I know Yrsa. She is seriously cool. She manages to be a serious civil engineer and write brilliant books. And she is very funny. She writes posts on a blog called Murder is Everywhere
http://murderiseverywhere.blogspot.co...
So Yrsa is a good name.

[Elizabeth]

Thanks for the Yrsa info. It is wonderful to hear that she is funny besides being a brilliant writer. There is an Icelandic picnic near my home in July and all peoples interested in Iceland are invited. In the Seattle area there is quite a population of people of Icelandic heritage.
I hope to get to Iceland within the next year.

[Susan]

Michael wrote: "Hi, I'm the author, and I'm happy to answer any questions anyone has. I hope my being in the group doesn't cramp any of the discussion - I completely understand that my books are not for everyone...."

I just want to tell you how thoroughly I'm enjoying your book, and I'm really happy you're here with us on GoodReads. I can't wait to read more of your work in the future. Magnus feels like a solid character to me, somebody I could buy into for the long run. Nicely done!

[Michael]

Elizabeth wrote: "Thanks for the Yrsa info. It is wonderful to hear that she is funny besides being a brilliant writer. There is an Icelandic picnic near my home in July and all peoples interested in Iceland are inv..."

Do - it's fascinating. Just don't expect good weather.

[Florence]

I enjoyed this book so much! I love books that interweave real life stories (and real life books!). I also felt like I learned a lot about Iceland in a really natural way; it's always interesting when the books contain a character from another country, like in James Thompson's books on Finland. Bravo to Michael! Can't wait to read the next installments; Magnus is a character with real staying power.

[Susan]

Just finished! It held my interest without flagging until the end. Good stuff!!!

[Eva]

Yesterday I got it from GB. Hope I'll have time to read it till the end of June.

[Lili]

Finished Where the Shadows Lie and enjoyed reading it immensley so I've already downloaded Michael's 66 Degrees North to Kindle.

[Kim]

I started the novel this morning and finished this afternoon. Good book--I really enjoyed the saga connection as well the the snapshots of Iceland and her history. Lilli, I'm jealous. I can't get his next one until August.

[Elizabeth]

I too finished "Where the Shadows Lie." Loved loved the book and wish I was not through. Now I want to go back to "The Lord of the Rings" and all.

Magnus is a great character.

[Lili]

Kim wrote: "I started the novel this morning and finished this afternoon. Good book--I really enjoyed the saga connection as well the the snapshots of Iceland and her history. Lilli, I'm jealous. I can't ge..." Hi Kim I've now finished 66 North and you will not be disappointed. I was waiting for Meltwater to go down in price, but I might give in and buy soon. Michael also has a short story "Edge of Knowhere" freaturing Magnus, it's on Kindle and is another good read, perhaps you would be able to get that one sooner.

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

There were 40 people that said they would read the book 19 who finished it, 5 or 6 reading it now. I would say that's a good turn out.

[Anita]

I'll be a month behind the rest of you on this one. My local library's copy is out on loan until July :(

[Fiona]

Thoroughly enjoyed the book - definitely made me want to visit Iceland. Enjoyed the saga link and liked the Boston connection. Off to find 66 degrees north.

[Ian]

Book 3 of this series is available today in the UK as the 99p kindle daily deal.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.ht...

[Fiona]

Ian wrote: "Book 3 of this series is available today in the UK as the 99p kindle daily deal.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.ht......"

Thanks Ian - duly purchased

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

Still $20 in the U.S., check with the library and they don't have it.

[Michael]

Kenneth wrote: "Still $20 in the U.S., check with the library and they don't have it."

The Internet brings many advantages, such as sites like Goodreads breaking down geographical boundaries. But there are disadvantages: emphasizing the difference between US and UK publishing schedules being one of them. 66 degrees North will be published in hardcover in the US at the beginning of August 2012 under the title Far North. And Meltwater presumably not until next year. Sorry about that. Whatever you do, don't buy 66 North AND Far North!

[Lili]

Kenneth wrote: "Still $20 in the U.S., check with the library and they don't have it."

I believe you can order from the UK, even with delivery it is cheaper than U.S. plus you would have the books earlier.

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

Already have 66 Degrees North, waiting for a copy of Meltwater. I've ordered from the UK before all of Stieg Larsson's books a year before they came out in the U.S. We get people from the UK bringing their books over all the time. They sell them on Amazon Used.

[Susan]

I'll be reading 66 Degrees North for my Nordic Noir group, and I'm really looking forward to it! Ordered it from Amazon last night.

[Rachel]

Ok ..everyone has been so positive about Where the Shadows Lie that I have ordered from amazon. The power of Goodreads...because I am not a Lord of the Rings fan, was disappointed in Indriadsson and gave up after Silence of the Grave. Enjoyed Isra Siguardottir but not enough to read beyond the first three books.

[Lili]

Michael Ridpath also has a short story featuring Magnus called Edge of Nowhere

[Ken, Moderator (U.S.A.)]

We'll Michael I couldn't wait any longer, I had to buy Meltwater to see what is going to happen.

[Michael]

Kenneth wrote: "We'll Michael I couldn't wait any longer, I had to buy Meltwater to see what is going to happen."

What a good idea! I hope you enjoy it.