Hunting trips into Eastern Regions of Iceland can bring about calamities of all sorts. The rugged terrain, as one character puts it, is “…a reindeer-haunted wilderness of mountains and moors…with hardy farmers, fishermen and hunters”. Hidden and unexpected perils can thwart the best of plans of even the most seasoned outdoors-people. When the trek includes “friends” who carry secrets and grudges, tensions can rise as the temperature drops, making you wonder who—or what—is really being hunted.

In Ragnar Jonasson’s latest book, the Icelandic winter is as cruel and unpredictable as ever. For our foursome, this means an unexpected winter storm brings high winds, low temperatures, and a blizzard. Only two of the expeditioners have any experience with the terrain. As Armann--the leader of the hunt--says, “I’m in my element here.” The others—Helena, Daniel, and Gunnlaugur—must trust him once they get lost in the whiteout. However, each one of them may have reasons to be dubious as they are finally led to a small shack in this unforgiving terrain.

Claustrophobic situations can be found on almost every page of this thrilling novel. First, you have the type that comes from bodies in too close proximity exasperated by the storm. Even as they hike through the vast back country, they are insular. They must stay close in order to survive. Second, once they reach the hut, it is tiny and cold: a confining cell not meant for four adults. Third, there is the group dynamic that breeds a pervasive and oppressive tension that cannot be escaped. Fourth—and last—there are their thoughts that they cannot avoid or share. They wrap the characters in paranoia and fear.

To say I liked this book is an understatement. I am a big fan of Nordic stories and writers. There is a sparseness to the prose that allows me to be swallowed up; to be immersed in the white areas between the words. I can experience what the author has not said, and become enmeshed with the characters.
If you like your psychological books to simmer on low, twist, and turn the characters inside-out, this book is for you.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read and review this outstanding novel.

Not my favorite title from Jonasson but it was okay. Kind of a weird premise. I would not rush to get this title, but worth an eventual read,

I started reading "Outside" in the morning and I kept on reading it till I was finished. I read it like it was a short story. It was really captivating, you never knew what was going to happen. Ragnar was on top of his story and I could see this happening. It was a fight between Daniel and Helena and that's all I will say.

Four friends are on a wilderness hike in Iceland when a strange encounter in a warming hut reopens old wounds from the past.

The momentum of this standalone thriller is propelled by the unusual format of very short chapters switching quickly among the four perspectives, keeping the reader off balance and making for a fast-paced read. There's not really anyone to root for in the bunch, but the story is suspenseful with some surprises.

The ARC I received also contained an odd little story called Party of Two, which will hopefully be more clearly labeled in the final version since it's easily mistaken for an epilogue, especially since there is also an excerpt for a forthcoming book appended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

This book drew me in right from the first page. Imagine going hunting in Iceland with longtime friends and in the middle of a snow storm. You take shelter in an unheated hut and a non responsive creepy man with a rifle sitting in the corner. The four friends have secrets all intertwined. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I was confused by the ending and will go back and read it again. I loved Mr. Jonassons style of writing. This was my first time reading this author and will not be the last.

Four reunited friends go through the unthinkable during a hunting trip in Iceland.
The plot and inner monologues were too drawn out to make this an enjoyable read.

This is the type of book that draws you in through the constantly changing point of view. Personally, I like short chapters and different points of view which this book provides. Four college friends meet to go on a hunting expedition. They become stranded in white out conditions and fortunately, find an old lodge to escape the freezing blizzard. Soon, hidden secrets and resentments begin to flare. I found that to be expected.
What was unexpected was the ending. I felt a little let down with all of the previous tension. Despite the ending, I did enjoy the book and would recommend it.

As someone who has visited Iceland the description used in this book of the outside conditions were spot on and terrifying. This book also had many twists and turns and left me wanting more. I will definitely look for other books by this author.

Having loved Jonassons previous book I was excited to read this one! However it fell short in execution. Possibly a lost in translation issue.
Four friends on a weekend getaway in Iceland, planning a hunt. The weather turns badly and then everything turns badly. I got really bored reading this.
Chapters are extremely short which I think I liked, but there was so little in them they felt bereft of any real character buildup. Each chapter is in the voice of a different person, so the book alternates between four voices. The twists fell a little flat. I’m grateful for this copy though and won’t hesitate to read this authors other work.

I really enjoyed this- although you can see tragedy unfolding in front of you.

What seems like an unusual outing among friends gets even stranger when the weather gets really cold. And when it gets really cold in Iceland, you are in trouble. People all keep secrets, and sometimes those secrets come out or are less secret than we think.
Harboring rage and desire for revenge can poison even the nicest people - in this long time friends harbor long time problems with one another with really cold, internally and externally, outcomes.

Good adventure with many twists. A group of friends get together each year. This year they are going hunting in the cold arctic weather. But other plans are underfoot and while attempting to get out of a major snowstorm, the rescue hut appears to have a terrifying situation.

I was given an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review of this title.

The chapters of this novel are very short, which makes it great for someone who may only want to read a few minutes at a time. The perspective switches between the four main characters as the story continues and at first, I wasn't sure exactly why. But as you read through you realize that each of them is keeping secrets from the others. And by moving the story through them you're able to piece together who they are as individuals while also getting their perspective of the group dynamic.

The group doesn't get together often and this weekend getaway is a way to reconnect, but things go awry and disaster occurs. Over the course of the novel we are given bits of the secrets, but too little too late from my point of view. I feel I wasn't truly hooked until about 3/4 of the book was read.

The elements of the story tie together at the end like any mystery, but I'm not sure how I feel about the motivations of the main four being kept from the reader for so long. Elements of nature are described well and did a great job of painting a picture in my mind of what they were dealing with on the mountain, but I feel like I should've been invested earlier in the story. The end definitely leaves you wanting more as well, but not necessarily in a bad way.

This was the first book from this author that I’ve read, and I found it quite enjoyable. The protagonists were easy to loathe, and while I’ve never been to Iceland, I certainly know I’ll need a coat if I ever do travel there. I felt there; totally immersed in my surroundings. I did, however, feel like the story ended very abruptly. I’m not sure if I was that emerged or if I wanted more from the ending. I will pick and recommend other books from Ragnar.

3.5 stars.
Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, for this character-driven, chilling atmospheric thriller. Ragnar Jonasson has long been a favourite writer of Nordic Noir, and I have read all his books that have been translated into English.

Four 'friends' from university unite for a bird hunting trip in the frozen eastern part of Iceland. The narrative focuses on short chapters from the characters' perspectives with its crisp prose. It is a quick and intense read. As their stories unfold, we witness the dynamics of the group. There is an undercurrent of secrets, long-held hostilities, resentments, suspicion and jealousies from the past. It is a mystery why these people are even together on this trip. Not all are outdoor enthusiasts or enjoy hunting or hiking.

There is a vivid sense of place. The characters experience a drastic change in the weather and face a deadly blizzard with whiteout conditions and are chilled by the rapid drop in temperature and the howling wind. There is a distinct possibility of dying from hypothermia. As the snow piles up, they struggle through the drifts and are relieved to find a remote hut where they can find shelter.



Once the others enter the cabin, there is an unexpected, frightening shock. Some feel they would be safer outside facing the raging storm. A couple of the group members depart into the wilderness and drifting snow to find a place where they can call for help. Will they survive in this desolate outdoors?
Their initial jolt turns to anxiety and panic for those spending their first night in the hut. Tempers explode, causing past dislikes, suspicions and hate to surface under claustrophobic, disturbing conditions. Their sense of dread, the eerie confined space, and the bone-chilling cold brings out the worst in these flawed characters. Darkness increases as snow piles up against the windows, setting nerves on edge.

There is an uneasy foreboding of devastating consequences. Troubling moral judgements conflict with self-survival. I found the ending inconclusive and lacking in the sense of justice. Ambiguity and hints of repercussions in the future caused me to lower my overall rating. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a tense Icelandic setting with plenty of suspense and an unravelling of personal secrets and motivations. A gripping, evocative, and agonizing story.

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Brrrr ~ I am a fan of Icelandic authors (books in translation), and I can’t explain it. Still, I enjoy their different perspectives and find that books set in Iceland reflect this unique country’s wonderful ambiance. In the book Outside by Ragnar Jonasson, we have four former college friends reunited for a weekend hunting expedition near Reykjavík. Side note: have you ever had a feeling in your gut that something isn’t right? This book confirms you should listen to your gut. Four friends depart for the weekend, and they don’t all return. Between the palpable tension, the brutal Icelandic winter white-out weather conditions, and deeply buried secrets, you have a setting for a freaky story. It’s a guess to the end who is going to survive. If you like a solid thriller with revenge as a core motive, this book is for you. I certainly enjoyed it. #death #thriller #whodunnit #scary #coldAF #whiteout #Iceland #murder #mystery #crime (Pub Date: June 28) @netgalley #netgalley @minotaur_books @ragnarjo #Outside #RagnarJonasson
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Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and author Ragnar Jonasson for this ARC; my thoughts and review are my own and without bias.

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This book was so good! I want to see more from this author in the future!! I couldn't put this book down. What a page turner!!!

I've liked others by this author but this one didn't work for me. The setting was described very well and it made me even colder just reading it. I didn't like the characters, usually there is one I can relate to and the ending didn't do much for me. Will try again with the author

I found the blurb interesting, but the story didn't live up to my expectations. I found the plot to be a bit underdeveloped, as were the characters. There was a lot of repetition, and that could've been remedied with a tighter edit. The ending was quite abrupt and unsatisfying.

Outside is a dark and entertaining read that sent chills down my spine! I love an atmospheric thriller and this one delivered!

Genre: thriller
Pub date: 6/28/22
In one sentence: Four friends are stuck in a snowstorm in the Icelandic highlands, and not all of them will live to tell the tale.

This is a short novel that packs a punch in its pages. Jonasson leads the reader through the perspectives of all four friends, and wow, this group has a ton of secrets. They were plenty of moments that made me gasp. 3 stars because there were a few plot points that were underutilized and the ending was a bit rushed. But if you like Icelandic thrillers, I bet you'll like this one. It made me want to visit Iceland - but definitely not in the winter.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for providing a NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review.