Season of the Witch

An ambling, amiable mystery featuring a Reykjavik reporter sent to a remote town in Iceland where a woman has unexpectedly thrown herself into rushing river while on a wilderness tour and young man who is starring in a local high school production of a rather sinister classic folktale has disappeared. The first in a long-running series to be translated into English, this story is a bit of an oddity - pleasant, often funny, with a charming narrator, a rather large dose of slapstick, and not a lot of tension, though a fair amount of introspection about changes in the small country. (The book was published originally in 2005, before the crash, but comments on the tensions between traditional ways and globalization of the economy.) Though show more the story takes occasional jabs at the unfortunate impact of greed on Icelandic society and pokes gentle fun at the news business, it doesn't take itself very seriously, nor does it offer much suspense. If nothing else, it puts paid to the notion that Nordic crime is all alike. Now that there are three Icelandic mystery authors whose works have been translated into English, we can see that all are distinctly different in tone and style. show less

Einar, a recovering alcoholic and former Reykjavík crime reporter, has been banished to Akureyri, but crime seems to have followed him. A local woman falls overboard during a whitewater rafting corporate team-building exercise but the victim’s mother refuses to believe it was an accident. Then the lead actor in a high school stage production about a sorcerer’s apprentice goes missing and is later found dead. Einar begins investigating and soon thinks the two cases might be connected.

This is the fourth book in a series featuring Einar though it is the first to be translated into English. The characterization of the protagonist and his relationships with his superiors at the newspaper hint at backstories probably developed in the show more earlier books. Why not begin translating the beginning of a series? (I encountered the same issues with Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole books.)

The novel is narrated in the first person by Einar. He comes across as a likeable person despite his flaws. His attitude to his superiors suggests he has problems with authority figures, although why he does is not explained. What is also missing is self-reflection; instead, there is social commentary. For instance, he focuses on Icelanders’ reactions to immigrant workers and the scourge of drug usage amongst young people.

Part of what makes Einar likeable is his sense of humour. There are several episodes that add comic relief. In particular, Einar’s relationship with a parrot adds touches of light-heartedness throughout. Not that there is a great deal of tension or suspense. The plot meanders and there is very little sense of imminent danger. So this book is not for those looking for a real thriller.

There is considerable focus on the play which the students are performing. Since I am unfamiliar with Loftur the Sorcerer, the tragedy written by Jóhann Sigurjónsson, I think I missed the significance of many of the references. All I know is that the Faustian play, based on a popular Icelandic folktale, is about a student who sells his soul to the devil.

This cannot be called a gripping mystery, but I found it charming and entertaining. The fact that I visited Akureyri recently probably coloured my enjoyment of the book. I will keep checking to see if more of the series is translated; I would definitely read them.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski). show less

This is my first novel by Arni Thorarinsson but will not be my last. A recovering alcoholic newspaper reporter, Einar is sent to a small town in the northern Iceland for a second chance and a new start. His principal assignment is to write human interest stories and frivolous fluff, but soon Einar is himself dragged into some mysterious events.

Why does a local woman just fall from a boat and drown while on a corporate team-building excursion? Why does well-liked teenager murdered on the night he was going to star in a high-school play? Even though the police do not share any facts, Einar does not ignore the mysteries. Are these two events related?

He is determined to find the connection and solve the two mysteries. His snooping lands show more him in several treacherous dangerous clashes and causing some disclosures that are hard to handle.

His amateur sleuthing leads to some dangerous confrontations and heart-breaking revelations. So what's the ending? You have to read the story to find out this fascinating tale.

Author Arni Thorarinsson writes some very interesting characters, which like us have their own hardships and battles. He shows us the Iceland today is going through many of the same changes we in America are experiencing. The problem of immigration, teen-age turmoil, and the economical struggles are world wide. show less

I liked this book very much. First of all the main characters cannot seem to get along very well. When they are sent away, they are supposed to work together. With all troubles, cynical, hilarious and sad moments.

In the village a murder takes plcae, on a boy that the journalist had an interview with earlier. Of course he sticks his nose into the investigation... In the end the murder is solved, but I will not tell you about that. Don't want to spoil reading pleasure.

This book has gone on a journey, starting with the person that won my RABCK. I hope it'll make a lot of other people happy.

I have been liking a lot of crime thrillers out of Scandinavia and Iceland being translated into English and discovering some great new writers. Season of the Witch takes place in Northern Iceland where reporter Einar has been transferred due to messing up in Reykjavik. Einar is covering some local events, seemingly unrelated deaths with his photographer, Joa.
This does not read like other crime thrillers I have read. The plot moves very slowly and I had some difficulty with cultural references. I read for the requisite 100 pages that I set for myself before I can abandon a book. I was bored and the author had not yet pulled me into the story and I didn't see it happening so I decided not to finish. There are a lot of books out there. show more If a reader can't be invested in the first 100 pages, chances are it isn't worth it. Many other reviewers seemed to like this but if I have to wait until I get near the end of a book before I enjoy it, it's not my kind of book. show less

link: http://eska-rina.livejournal.com/446349.html