*3.5 stars

I would call this mystery a police procedural. It is set in Reykjavik, Iceland in the year 2012 but the timeline also goes back to the years 1950 and 1983. The protagonist, Helgi Reykdal, is re-examining a cold case from 30 years ago, when 2 deaths occurred at an old tuberculosis sanatorium, in an effort to finish his dissertation for a post-grad degree in criminology.

He has a couple personal decisions to make too. The Reykjavik police are keen to hire him to work for them but he's tempted to go back to the UK to finish his schooling. His personal life is in rather a mess: he and his live-in girlfriend, Bergthóra, have knock-down, drag out fights that have the neighbors reporting the disturbance. Should he stay with her and commit to buying a home together or give it up as a lost cause? His one solace is retreating to his favorite Golden Age mysteries from Agatha Christie and the like, inherited when his father's bookstore when it was sold.

The cold case is very intriguing with several interesting characters. Just whodunit? Then a new murder occurs and Helgi worries that his digging has stirred the pot and made a murderer nervous. I have to say the ending left me shattered. I'm sort of hoping this is the beginning of a series and there's more to come!

Note: I enjoyed the look into the author's background and how that shaped his character Helgi in the section titled 'And Then There Was Christie.' I too grew up reading Dame Christie's books so I could definitely relate to his experiences.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via
NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed here my own.

A chilling mystery set in an isolated sanatorium. Jónasson’s atmospheric storytelling and intricate plot make this a gripping and suspenseful addition to the genre.

This is another thrilling book from Ragnar Jonasson. Think insane asylum mixed with girl with the dragon tattoo meets da vinci code. While not as gripping as his previous novel Outside, it is still a chilling winter noir

This was a fun read. My first Jonasson book, although not my first Nordic detective thriller. I appreciated the quick chapters, and that the three timelines (okay, two mainly, with a few scenes set decades earlier than either) were pretty easy to keep straight. I did have the perp’s identity figured out very early on and wasn’t surprised, so I’m subtracting a star, and one more for the cliffhanger ending — I like resolution in the end of my books, and felt like too many ends were left open for a sequel that didn’t need to be in order for me to come back for book 2.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC to check this book out early!

This author's name was familiar to me, but I had not read any of his other books. This definitely feels like Nordic noir, so if that's your thing, you'll probably enjoy this. With multiple timelines and POVs, we follow a police officer writing a dissertation on a decades-old case as he explores the events surrounding the case.

I'm still trying to decide how much I like the Nordic noir style. It was a fine enough mystery, but I wasn't compelled to keep coming back to it whenever I had a spare moment. It was a quick read. If you aren't sure if it's your style, I'd recommend trying it.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MinotaurBooks for a free copy of #DeathAtTheSanatorium by Ragnar Jonasson. All opinions are my own.

Death at the Sanatorium was slow and light on action. The author chooses to tell the reader about things that happened more often then let us experience it ourselves. The plot meandered and was good when we got back to it. The atmosphere was possibly the best part of this entire book. I left the whole thing more sad than anything else.

This is such a gripping tale of an old murder suicide that a graduate student begins looking into- thinking it was rather a double murder. This book holds your attention all the way to the bitter end. And that ending…

This book was a well written police procedural type of book set in Reykjavik, even though it started out with the premise of completion of a graduate thesis. In fact, while the thesis is mentioned throughout, we don't see much of the academic side. The deaths alluded to in the title occured some time ago at a sanatorium in a small town in the north of Iceland. The main character Helgi conducts a series of interviews, which I have a hard time understanding how they contribute to a thesis, and winds up doing police work. The plot is interesting, but more interesting are the personal stories and the progress of the 'investigation'. And right from the start we see that Helgi is in a troubled, very abusive relationship and I have to ask myself why he hasn't already left. Although it is rare for men to be the abused party, it does happen, and I would like to see more depth to this element. Perhaps it is in Jonasson's earlier works, which I haven't read, but now will. And I'm quite hopeful for another addition to this series, as I'm hooked on the story lines introduced here.

I was given this ARC by the publisher and NetGalley; the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

A Master’s Thesis Turns Real

Helgi Reykdal has returned to Iceland after completing his classes for a Master's in criminology in England. He only needs to complete his thesis. He selects an almost 30-year-old case of two murders to conduct a thorough academic analysis. While the case is closed, questions concerning the conclusions of the original police investigation remain, and the motive is still unclear. The novel opens with the police knocking on his door. He just had a loud row with his wife, and his upstairs neighbor called the police.

This novel has only one main storyline thread, which starts as a study of an old closed case for his master thesis and then morphs into an actual reinvestigation. During the initial phase of the novel, the 1983 investigation is shown to be faulty, so I, like Reykdal, want to know who murdered the two persons. The list of possible suspects is small. To enhance interest, the author employs extensive use of flashbacks. During the latter phase of the novel, another death ratchets up the suspense. Reykdal had several issues working against him. The primary problem is his dysfunctional relationship with his partner, Bergthóra, significantly affecting his ability to work on his thesis. The others are his desire to work in England and a significant witness to the murders does not want to talk to him. This main storyline captured my interest and kept it to the novel's end.

As mentioned, much of the background is provided by Reykdal's introspection into his relationship with his partner and his future with her. This introspective approach is also used to delve into his personal history and the reasons that led him to his current situation. His potential position in the Reykjavík police criminal investigation division adds another layer of complexity. The way he navigates this police connection before being hired is programmatic for me. These aspects of the novel added to my enjoyment of reading it.

Aspects do not exist in this novel that can cause readers to stop reading. Intimate scenes are non-existent. Objectionable language is very infrequent. There is only one scene of violence, and it is over in a flash. Some scenes may lead to violence, but the actual violence is left to the reader’s imagination. I found reading this novel on an e-reader advantageous. I made extensive use of the easy access to the Internet. I needed to look up the meaning of some words and find the location of towns or regions in the novel. This is a standalone novel, so no dependency exists on what happened in an earlier novel.

I enjoyed how the author keeps all suspects viable to the novel’s end. This is not unusual, but authors seem to throw in someone who was never a suspect. Hints did not favor one of the suspects until the reveal. This is the primary reason that I could not stop reading. I had a problem with how Reykdal used his temporary police service and his current offer to a police position to suggest some official connection to his inquiries. Also, an incident in the novel disturbed me and left a bad feeling from this novel. It was not so severe that I regretted reading this novel.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Minotaur. I still recommend reading this novel. Also, I did not lower my Must-Read ranking of this author. This is based on reading six previous novels, some in a series and some standalone. I am looking forward to reading further novels by this author. I have enjoyed reading this novel and rate it with four stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Minotaur Books. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

A slow burn mystery that’s about a cold case of a murder in a sanatorium. Atmospheric and gripping. RJ has such a way of turning a tale that’s very original. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

Can’t go wrong with an Icelandic thriller.
This is a spinoff from his Hidden Iceland series.
Three timelines. Multiple narrators. Not difficult to keep them straight. Suspense is top notch. I did not have this one figured out until it was revealed. Had an inkling as to where it was headed and how the timelines intertwined but didn’t call the suspect. Probably going to be a sequel by the looks of the ending. Can’t wait!!

This isn't my first Ragnar Jònasson novel, and it will not be the last 😀 In Death at the Sanatorium, Jònasson introduces a new character, Helgi, who is a graduate student working on a criminology dissertation. This dissertation reviews the police work of a long ago murder at the sanatorium in his hometown. As he interviews the people who were touched by the murder, interesting details are revealed. At the same time, we learn more about Helgi. This murder mystery starts out slow, but really hits a good pace after a few chapters. I really enjoyed meeting Helgi and hope to see him again soon.

I would like to thank Minotaur Books [St Martin's Press] for providing me with an early copy of Death at the Sanatorium in exchange for my honest review.

This book has been translated from the Icelandic and I have to say that it is very well done. I have read a few books that have been translated to English and this was one of the few that was very well done and did not feel clunky. There were only a couple phrases that were a bit funny but over all it was easy to read through without any hiccups.

Helgi is writing a dissertation about the handling of an investigation at the old Sanatorium before he begins his police career. As he looks into the people involved in the original case he finds there are holes and unanswered questions that itch at his love for detective stories.

We have different time lines happening that eventually lead up to 2012 when Helgi begins his research and we are allowed to read different points of view of people who were involved in the original case.

I enjoyed reading about the history of the Sanatorium and how things evolved and the characters have changed over the 30 years of our story.

The ending, even though the mystery is solved, left me wanting more! I was made there wasn't at least one more chapter or epilogue, but usually that is a sign of a good book, when you don't want it to end.

Death at the Sanatorium will be available at your local bookseller or public library on September 10 2024

Helgi Reykdal, a criminology student, is concluding his dissertation focusing on a murder-suicide that took place thirty years ago at a former TB sanatorium in Northern Iceland. Despite the case being deemed 'solved' at the time, Helgi decides to revisit the investigation by interviewing former suspects, most of whom are reluctant to relive the past.
In his personal life, Helgi faces challenges with his girlfriend, who pressures him to take a local police job and move from their rented flat to a more permanent home. Her erratic behavior jeopardizes both their relationship and Helgi's cherished collection of Golden Age mysteries, inherited from his bookseller father. During particularly rough patches with his girlfriend, Helgi finds comfort in his favorite mystery novels. This novel pays homage to the genre and to Agatha Christie, whom the author, an ardent Christie fan has translated 14 of her books into Icelandic.

Although a standalone work, the novel briefly references Reykjavik detective Hulda Hermannsdottir, a character from Jónasson's popular Hidden Iceland series, who was involved in the original case thirty years ago. The atmospheric plot unfolds through short chapters with shifting timelines and various narrators, which can be challenging to follow in the audio version. However, the audio narration does smooth out the pronunciation of Icelandic character and place names. Jónasson’s latest offering is poised to captivate fans eager for more Nordic Noir.

An enthralling read by the Icelandic author Ragnar Jonasson, the first of his that this reader has experienced, but certainly not to be the last.

This sequel to “The Darkness” can be read and enjoyed successfully as a standalone novel, (as I did,) with the loss of some backstory in the main characters. However, after reading (and loving) this story, I for one, do intend to go back and read more of this author, including this first prequel.

Helgi Reykdal is a thirty-something former Icelandic cop, now studying for an MA in criminology, who appears to have a somewhat sinister secret personal life. Helgi is writing his academic dissertation on a thirty-year-old unsolved series of murders that took place in a rural Akureyri (Northern Iceland) sanatorium. Once (back in the 60’s and 70’s), this sanatorium was a depressing death-cloaked institution, doing its best to cope with slews of bed-ridden patients, (many of them tragically doomed), suffering from the largely-incurable Tuberculosis (chillingly known as the White Death).

Now an administrative institution housing two doctors, two nurses, and a creepy caretaker, as Helgi delves deeper into the mystery housed at the sanatorium — tracking down the former house staff, interviewing them and attempting to recreate the factors driving the crimes thirty years ago — we, the reader travel along with him, absorbing a winding and weaving story that spans current day (2012 in this book, and the timeline of Helgi’s experiences ) and 1983 (the year of the original crimes and the people involved).

Fascinating and slow-burning, this tale unfolds as a sort of Icelandic “film noir” - deeply atmospheric, insular, and with undercurrents creaking as they run deep. This mystery is also reminiscent, and inspired by (as explained by the author) crime novels of yore featuring detectives in hats, little old ladies, and Belgians with magnificent waxed mustaches. Glorious literary fodder for this reader in youth, as clearly was also the case for this author.

I enjoyed this book tremendously, including its two-part ending (satisfying in part one, and a total cliff-hanger in part two) and am looking forward to reading more of this series and this talented author.

Note: I reviewed the audio version of this story, made magnificent by the velvet tones and immersive performance of the narrator Sam Woolf. Truly a treat to listen to and experience what was already a wonderful story, made even more entertaining in this medium.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

Four and a half stars

I am drawn to Icelandic authors. I like their dark take on murders, the atmospheric environment, and the exciting plots. I especially liked Jonasson's last book, "Reykjavik," which he co-authored with Katrin Jakobsdottir. In this, his latest book, Jonasson, is again at the top of his game.

In 1983, at a former tuberculous sanatorium, a nurse was found brutally murdered. Detective Sverrir arrests the groundskeeper, only to release him when the chief physician is found dead. The cause of death is suspected suicide - overcome by his guilt of the murder of his colleague. The case is closed.

Flash forward to 2012. Helgi Reykdal is completing his master's in criminology. His dissertation focuses on the 1983 deaths and the police investigation. As he digs into the past, he begins to doubt the competency of the police investigation, but the lack of cooperation of those involved makes him wonder what they are hiding. Soon, the past and present collide, and what Helgi uncovers threatens to reveal long-held secrets and again endanger lives.

This is an intricately plotted book with interesting characters and excellent pacing. The back-and-forth timelines reveal clues to the murderer and the long-buried secrets that add to the absorbing story. If you enjoy good suspenseful crime fiction, I recommend this book. 4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is September 10, 2024.

Death at the Sanatorium is as immersive a read as one can expect from a mystery. You’re thrown into the middle of a mystery from the first page. No, it’s not the one at the book’s center, but it’s still a stressful mystery. You could say Jónasson slams his foot on the gas and barely lets up. When he does, it’s enough to let you catch your breath before he slams it down again.

Death at the Sanatorium skillfully weaves three timelines and multiple POVs. Each chapter is titled with the year and the character we are with, making it easy to follow. The timelines, set roughly 30 years apart: 1953, 1983, and 2012, are seamlessly integrated, ensuring you’re never overwhelmed.

From my research on Death at the Sanatorium, it appears to be the end of a series and possibly the beginning of another. But don’t worry if you aren’t familiar with the series because Jónasson ensures you won’t feel like you’re missing anything. The book is a standalone masterpiece, welcoming both new and returning readers.

Death at the Sanatorium is the second of Jónasson’s books that I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and it certainly won’t be the last. His writing style, often compared to Agatha Christie and other Golden Age mystery writers, is a delight for any mystery lover. If you enjoy Christie’s work, you’ll also appreciate Jónasson’s.

I am a big fan of Jonasson’s books, and this is the 8th book I’ve read by this talented author. This story takes place in Iceland, both in northern Akureyri and Reykjavik. The sanatorium in the title is in Akureyri, where a murder took place in the 1983, in an old, creepy building that was originally used for tuberculosis patients. This is a police procedural, told in different timelines and different points of view, and is easy to follow. This is a really good book, and I recommend reading this book and all of his books!

This is a brilliant, intelligent, compelling book. Jonasson, an Icelandic fan of Agatha Christie from a child, had read all the available books translated by the time he was 17. At that point, craving more, he simply went to the publisher and asked if he could translate more of her work. They agreed, and Jonasson was treated to a master class in plot, structure, character and setting as he did his translation work. The lessons took. Like Christie’s, his books are perfectly structured, have memorable characters that are distinct from one another, and always feature a wonderful setting. Oh, and they are also short, another lesson he gleaned from Agatha.

His latest book is set in a sanitorium that had previously been used for TB patients. By 1983, when much of the story takes place, the building is pretty empty but kept functional as a research facility while the government decides what to do with it. The staff: skeleton. One of the nurses, Tinna, is an early riser and always arrives first (also gaining overtime at the beginning of the day rather than the end of the day). One morning, as she enters the building, something seems off – and indeed, when she goes to check in her supervisor’s office, she finds the woman dead, several of her fingers cut off.

The investigation kicks off, and as readers, we are also reading a part of the story that takes place in 2012, where Helgi, who is working on a master’s in criminology, has decided to investigate the now 30 year old case as his thesis. Helgi also has something going on with his partner, which is another mysterious thread of the story, and the partner is keeping him in Reykjavik where he ultimately plans to join the police instead of returning to the UK as he had wanted to. It’s a contentious point between them and for much of the book, Helgi’s plans, other than investigating this old crime, are up in the air.

He’s a good investigator, however, and he interviews most of the people involved who are still alive. In true golden age fashion, it’s a very tight group of suspects, and there is some ambiguity to how the case was resolved. It’s true the crimes stopped but most concerned aren’t completely sure the outcome was the correct one. Jonasson also takes the reader inside the lives of the sanitorium staff – nurses, doctors, the building caretaker – and illuminates their lives, past and present.

He’s such a good storyteller I was unsure of the culprit until the very end of the novel, though I shouldn’t have been. The atmosphere of both Reykjavik and the old sanitorium, with its ghosts of TB patients, are certainly a major part of the story as well. I know this is a book that’s been translated, obviously, but the crispness and spareness of the prose as well as the tightness of the plot seem to speak to some kind of Icelandic ethos. Jonasson takes the lessons he learned from Christie and make the form his own, as all the best writers are able to do. This is one of the reads of the year.

Can we talk about the ending of this book?!? Ok, we can’t because I refuse to ruin it but WOW!

Ok, I love this author and was so excited for his newest book. This one did not disappoint. I’ll let you read the synopsis on your own, but it’s a fast paced mystery with a wild ending. I really enjoyed how the author tied the past storyline to the present. The reason behind everything that happens is believeable, and makes sense! What a fun ride!