Rupture

"Rupture," by Ragnar Jónasson, translated capably from the Icelandic by Quentin Bates, has a multi-faceted plot. The author follows the fortunes of Róbert who, although he is living happily with his girlfriend, Sunna, is plagued by terrifying nightmares. In addition, Hédinn is a fifty-four-year-old man who has unanswered questions about events that occurred more than half a century earlier, around the time of his birth. He asks Ari Thór Arason, a police officer based in Siglufjörour, to find out what led to the tragic death of a member of Hédinn's family. Because there is a quarantine in force thanks to an infectious disease that has taken several lives, Ari Thór's schedule is light, and he agrees to help Hédinn.

Two additional show more inquiries involve a hit and run and the abduction of a small child. Ari Thór is assisted by Ísrún, a talented television news reporter based in Reykavík. She is a responsible journalist but can be relentless when she gets wind of a juicy story. Ísrún's hard work and Ari Thór's tireless digging eventually bear fruit. In Jónasson's unforgiving world, transgressions have a way of coming come back to haunt people who believe that they have escaped justice. Initially, we are faced with so many narrative threads that it difficult to keep them straight in our minds. Gradually, however, patterns emerge, and we begin to realize that seemingly unrelated incidents are somehow connected.

Reading the books in this series out of order (for some reason, they are not released chronologically) can be bewildering, but it is possible to enjoy this novel as a stand-alone. Ísrún, whom we have seen before, is a bright and ambitious professional who has a serious problem that she tries to ignore but, if it worsens, could derail her career. Ari Thór can be impulsive and volatile at times, but he is on his best behavior here, with one glaring exception. He proudly reveals a theory to Hédinn that throws the poor man for a loop. Is it ethical to inflict an emotional wound on a blameless individual that might haunt him for the rest of his life? "Rupture" is a fitting title that can apply to fractured relationships; frayed moral values; and the cracks that appear in a person, family, or society because of actions fueled by greed, a thirst for power, arrogance, and the failure to shoulder responsibility for one's misdeeds. This is a suspenseful, splendidly descriptive, atmospheric, and evocative work of fiction by a consummate storyteller. Ragnar Jónasson proves once again that he is a master of Icelandic noir. show less

With Siglufjörður in quarantine, Ari Thór has time on his hands to investigate a cold case from the nearby fjord of Hedinsfjörður. The fjord is uninhabited now, but in the 1950s two couples attempted to farm there. They left after one of the women died mysteriously. She herself said, before she died, that it was an accidental poisoning; others believe it could have been suicide. But could it actually have been murder? Meanwhile, in Reykjavík, a mysterious stranger stalks a family — but why?

This was my favourite book in the Dark Iceland series so far. The cold case and the modern-day stories intertwined in a most satisfying manner, and both cases held my interest equally. Things are also moving along well for Ari Thór show more personally, which is good news. Looking forward to the next book! show less

I love how Ragnar Jónasson puts a story together. Perhaps it has something to do with those fourteen Agatha Christie novels he translated into Icelandic, but I think it has even more to do with his natural talent as a writer.

The characters in this Dark Iceland series are moving right along. Ari Thór and his lady love Kristín seem to be growing up, but that is going to be tested in the future due to the actions of Ari Thór's superior officer. Speaking of superiors, Ísrún still has someone in the newsroom who would love to force her to quit, but she's having an easier time of it because she's learned a few tricks in how to deal with the situation.

Both mysteries-- the one in northern Iceland and the one in Reykjavik-- are strong show more stories. Ari Thór's is more deeply rooted in the past and is hampered by the fact that many of the people concerned are dead. Even more maddening are the people who want the past to remain in the past. For me, the mystery in Reykjavik affected me more. Emil's and Róbert's lives both changed when Emil's partner was attacked and left for dead. Two years later, the young woman finally dies. Emil's life is completely shattered while Róbert's has taken a dramatic turn for the better. As their story unfolds, Jónasson has us feel empathy for both men-- something that's not easy to do-- and the book is the stronger for it. After all, life is seldom simple.

As always, the weather and landscape of Iceland play a part in Rupture. Few authors are as talented as Jónasson in creating atmosphere. Combine that with strong, believable characters and a multi-layered story filled with unanswered questions and deep emotions, and you've got another winner from someone who has quickly become one of my favorite writers. I cannot recommend his books highly enough. show less

4.5 stars

Another gorgeous cover, another great read. A couple of years ago, I was browsing in the bookstore at Keflavik airport when “Snowblind” from Orenda Books caught my eye (and wallet). I hadn’t heard of it, the author or the publisher. How times have changed.

Most of the series is now translated so I recently spent a few days back in Iceland (from my sofa) by binge reading the next 3 instalments. This is book #4 & I think it just might be my favourite.

Ari Thór is having trouble finding something to do. After a tourist died from a highly infectious bug, Siglufjördur was put under quarantine. No one is allowed in or out & the streets are empty as residents hunker down inside. So it’s the perfect time to dig into an old show more mystery.

Ari is contacted by an elderly gent named Hédinn with a photo that recently came into his possession. It was taken on an isolated farm where the man was born. In 1955, 2 couples from Reykjavik moved to the remote area. Less than 2 years later, one was dead & the others fled back to the city with a newborn in tow. Hédinn wants to know if Ari can find the answer to one question: who is the stranger in the photo?

Ari soon finds connections In Reykjavik but can’t travel due to the quarantine. He enlists the help of Isrún, a reporter he met on a previous case. She agrees if he’ll give her the scoop on the situation in Siglufjördur which is gaining national attention.

There are several additional side stories that develop as the book progresses. The fun part is watching as the characters pick away at their investigations & uncover a few surprising twists along the way.

If you’ve read any of these books, you know you’re in for intricate mysteries & great characters you become attached to. Their personal stories continue to develop & Ari in particular is a young man still struggling to finding his feet (if you’re keeping score, he & Kristin are back together). He’s more accepted by the town’s residents but will always be an outsider & his feelings of isolation are perfectly mirrored by the stark setting. The quarantine serves to heighten the claustrophobic atmosphere as Siglufjördur becomes a ghost town. The silence, chill winds, & looming mountains provide a backdrop for the rising tension as Ari gradually discovers what happened to Hédinn’s family .

There are no car chases or shoot-outs here, just a smart, character driven mystery that gives your brain a workout. It’s one of those books that leaves you a bit disoriented when you eventually look up & find yourself on the sofa, reaching for a sweater.

Well, the binge-fest is over. I’m left waiting for “Whiteout” & plotting a return trip to Iceland that just might include dropping by a certain town up north. show less

Rupture is another of the Dark Iceland series that is set before Book 2, Nightblind. Again, I do wish I had read them in the order that they were written rather than the order in which they were translated (and bought), as if I needed such a brilliant excuse to read the whole series again!

I loved the Agatha Christie feel to this book, with Ari Thór investigating a cold case from 50 years ago, all based around an intriguing old photograph. It has the added menace of a deadly virus outbreak which leads to Siglufjörður being on lockdown, so with nobody being able to get in our out, Ari Thór can concentrate on solving this murder from the 1950's. I do love the character of Ari Thór; he is such a cool iceman who has no thought for show more people's feelings and just says what he thinks.

With the reintroduction of Ísrún, the reporter we met in Blackout, another layer is added as Ari Thór utilises her investigative skills. Ísrún is investigating a missing child so we have two mysteries to solve in Rupture and I loved untangling the threads of both of these brilliant 'whodunnit' storylines.

Like I have said before, Ragnar Jónasson has the ability to conjure such detailed images in the readers' minds through his impeccable writing. The scenery is breathtakingly described and I have such a vivid image of Siglufjörður in my head that every time I read a Dark Iceland book, I feel like I am actually there. I love the pace and length of these books, they pack such a lot into their short length and this is most definitely a case of quality over quantity. As dark as they are, they always leave me looking forward to my next visit to Siglufjörður. show less

Intrigue stalks!

All seems tangential and disconnected but as the threads are teased out in Rupture small strands lead to larger surmises.
Isolated incidents seem just that:
A long dead woman, presumably a suicide, living by a remote fjord of Hedinsfjorour.
A photo surfacing showing an unknown youth with the dead woman and the others living there
A hit and run accident
A kidnapped child
What might they or might they not have in common?
Ari Thór has time on his hands when Siglufjorour is quarantined due to a deadly virus outbreak. A request to look into a 1955 suicide gives Ari something to do, an investigation that catches his interest and his imagination.
Reporter Ísrún from Reykjavik is juggling the thought of a serious illness, her parents show more separation and now three newsworthy items drop into her Investigative journalist's lap.
When Ari and Ísrún connect to pursue their threads, things become interesting.
Rupture, a fitting title as lives are indeed ruptured when facts and conjecture unfold, reminding us of the old adage of "six degrees of separation".
Chronologically taking place before Nightblind, Rupture fills in the gaps of Ari and Kristin's relationship.
Again a brooding, atmospheric piece of writing from Jonasson.

A St. Martins Press ARC via NetGalley show less

I neglected this series a bit, but it couldn't be more fitting in the current CoVid 19 era.
Ari and everyone in his village are in quarantine because of an Ebola case. Therefore, it is a little quieter at the police station and Ari can deal with an old case. An inhabitant came by with an old photograph, whereupon his parents, his mother's sister and a teenager can be seen. But he has no idea who this teenager is. Ari begins to 'dig'. With the help of a journalist, the pastor and an old midwife, they come closer and closer to the history of this family.
The journalist also researches a case of child abduction.
It is written again very exciting and Ari is becoming more and more settled in this village.