Many writers over the years have written books in the spirit of Agatha Christie but no one has mastered the art more than Ragnar Jónasson. Death at the Sanatorium is the latest triumph from the author. It is a book which says goodbye to Hulda Hermannsdottir who was the star detective of the Hidden Iceland trilogy. As Hulda readies for her forced retirement, we say hello to Helgi Reykdal. The story involves a crime which took place in 1983 and is revisited in 2012. Jónasson skillfully alternates the two time periods in this engrossing mystery and the investigations of Hulda and Helgi. You won't put this one down until the final page. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I so enjoy this author’s Icelandic mysteries and this one is no exception.

The past comes back to haunt a young police officer taking time to write his dissertation on an unsolved murder from years ago and how the police handled it. This journey will take him on a path of discovery for himself and the solvability of the case.

Told with flashbacks to the characters involved and tied in to a current murder, the ending will surprise you.

Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jónasson was a fast-paced an somewhat engaging read for me. Jónasson skillfully navigated between characters and timelines and it was extremely easy to follow. The storyline built nicely but I thought the frequent references to the main character’s interest in classic detective fiction and whodunnits throughout was a little overdone. Despite its early promise, I felt the story was a bit flat and didn't quite deliver the unexpected twists and turns or red herrings I typically expect in an exciting thriller.

Jónasson is a solid storyteller and he successfully created the eerie atmosphere of a small town in Northern Iceland. Where this story fell short for me was creating any tension, mystery, or puzzle-solving, and I found the characters to be flat and mostly unlikable. Helgi, the protagonist, was interesting and had potential to become a compelling character but there was something missing and I couldn't get emotionally invested in his story arc or personal struggles. While the novel moved at a steady pace, it lacked a sense of urgency, and I felt more like an observer of the story as it unfolded rather than being fully drawn in. Additionally, some of the dialogue felt stiff and formal, which might be due to the translation rather than Jónasson's writing.

Overall, Death at the Sanatorium is a fast-paced, easy read. Unfortunately, it lacked the complexity and tension I usually expect in Nordic Noir and crime thrillers, and I finished the story feeling like it simply ended without any urgency or surprises.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Ragnar Jónasson for an advance copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness I need a sequel! As a fan of Dark Iceland and Hidden Iceland I feel like I was predisposed to love this book. The duel timelines worked so well and I liked the slow reveal of Helgi and Bergthora's relationship. My only small complaint is that I would have liked to have had more chapters from Hulda's pov. I think readers who are a fan of Ragnar Jonasson's work will love this book, though anyone who enjoys dual pov / dual timeline mysteries will probably find this book to be right up their alley. I throughly enjoyed this novel and sincerely hope we get more from this universe.