In Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessmen Murders we have Nordic Noir done well, very well.

An Icelandic forensic geneticist becomes involved in a search for some historically meaningful chess pieces.

A centuries old diary, missing chess pieces, friends, lovers, and colleagues who may not be who or what they claim to be are all a part of Brynja Pálsdóttir’s search.

This was an intriguing read; I didn’t want to stop once I started. I like most of the characters, some of them more than others. But that is where the author’s magic comes into play.

I was certain I knew the identity of the murderer. I was wrong and am thrilled to have been.

This is a great read. I look forward to more from this author.

Ivory Bones is an engaging and well written forensic archaeology/history/art mystery by Dr. Sara Winokur. Released 4th Feb 2025, it's 308 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

Told in a dual-timeline during Viking times and the modern day, a medieval diary ties together the protagonist, a forensic scientist, and long lost priceless missing chess pieces. MC Brynja is intelligent and honest, and dealing with personal issues from her own family's past and she makes an appealing foil for the unscrupulous forces who seemingly have no qualms against committing murder to gain the artifacts.

The author (who is a geneticist) manages to convey the necessary technical information for the function of the mystery without getting overly bogged down with technical jargon or unnecessarily complex info-dumping. The inclusion of the diary as a literary device was slightly more problematic (Anna, a slave, has and keeps writing in the diary, which was not taken from her, writing openly and frankly about her circumstances. Books were *highly* valuable at the time; she was captured by corsairs...).

The actual mystery is well constructed. It's not at all derivative, but the style reminded me of Kathy Reichs, Karin Slaughter, and similar genre authors. There are some brutal descriptions in the book, specifically the realities of the slave trade, and some violence in the modern era.

Although it's the second book featuring the main character, the mystery is self contained in this novel, and it works fine as a standalone.

Three and a half stars. It would make a good choice for forensic science mystery fans, and potentially a good buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I absolutely loved the setting, the information on Iceland, the archaeological detail and the descriptions of the various processes and procedures. The mystery was almost secondary to this, while still being quite compelling. I found the style of writing to be engaging and easy to follow, despite the level of detail included.

Blogger did not cooperate with me on this cover which was so intriguing and interesting and gave you an idea of where the story will go.

Set in Iceland was totally different in this mystery murder story. The environment and the location added a depth to the story which was a good one. How location and descriptiveness could set a story apart was amply seen in this story.

A forensic geneticist has a dark history amongst her own family and when the famous Chessmen disappear she is drawn into the case. A woman’s diary written in 1627 outlining the tragic story of abduction by Corsair warriors and the woman’s tale of her sad life gives the clues as to where the rest of the chessmen could be. It also brings Brynja into the focus of a deadly assassin.

The story of murder, survival and betrayal hits hard because the leak is close to home and the dangers are very close to Brynja. Depicting a very dark period of Icelandic history, with details of the slave trade was harrowing reading but must not be forgotten either. The workings of a police force and a forensic unit in Iceland was very modern, and polished.

Enjoyable and informative read.

I'm landing on 3★ here because I would give it 4★ for the story, but only 2★ for execution. The author has a bad case of explainitis, so although I was entertained, I was also quite exhausted from reading this book. Going into it, I didn't realise there had been an earlier book with the same main characters - I didn't really find this to be a problem, and could absolutely read it as a standalone.

Icelandic forensic geneticist Brynja Pálsdóttir receives a mysterious package from a New York acquaintance, Detective Claire DeLuca. It contains a very old diary, a map and some bones. The diary was written by a young woman named Anna, who had lived on the island of Heimaey and was abducted during the so-called Turkish Raid of 1627. Claire has asked Brynja to translate the diary in order to shed light on whether the bones might relate to a contemporary crime. Brynja is intrigued, and as she becomes engrossed in the diary, she begins to think it might contain clues as to the whereabouts of the famous, missing Lewis Chessmen.

There's a mystery, there are murders and of course there are the fascinating Lewis Chessmen. The story moves along at a really good pace, mostly in the present day, and just enough in the past (via Anna's diary). I was genuinely surprised by the ending, which is always a bonus with a book like this. It could have been a really great read but for a couple of things.

Firstly, there's the author's tendency to over-explain. She clearly knows a lot about Iceland - the culture, the geography, the language and the history - but she seems to want to convey every little piece of knowledge. This made the narrative very choppy for me. And so many facts were gratuitous. For example, there's a contemporary scene where a relative is visited (and never mentioned again). A character remarks that the get-together is hygge. Then the author explains what hygge means. It seemed so contrived. But to make it worse, it even happens in the diary entries!! Who on earth writes a diary entry, uses a word, then explains on the page what the word means??

My other issue was to do with the diary itself, because the author has committed one of my literary crimes. I'll call it out whenever I see it. The diary is written in the present tense, in complete sentences (perfectly narrative), including those explanations that irritated the hell out of me. Who does that? I always find it unrealistic, and particularly so here, where it's already kind of a miracle that Anna can write at all.

Other readers may not have a problem with these things, and may be prepared to overlook them (even appreciate them). If they do, there's a good story to be enjoyed.

"Ivory Bones" by Sara Winokur is a mystery novel that delves into themes of identity, belonging, and the complexity of human relationships. The dual-timeline mystery is set in modern time Iceland and in the 17th century Iceland and Mediterranean as well as the New World.

The main character, forensic scientist Brynja Pálsdóttir, is well-developed and grapples with her sense of identity and the expectations placed on her by her family and society. Throughout the story, she encounters various challenges that force her to confront her past and make difficult choices about her future.

Supporting characters play crucial roles in shaping her experiences, including friends who offer support and sometimes complicate her journey, as well as family members whose relationships are pivotal to her understanding of herself.

Winokur's writing style is engaging, making it hard to put the book down. I read it in 3 days (nights).

Thank you Netgallery for the ARC.

Icelandic geneticist Brynja investigates a series of deaths linked to the rare Lewis Chessmen, uncovering a centuries-old mystery. Pursued by an assassin, she must navigate a web of deceit and betrayal to solve the case before it’s too late.

I loved the Icelandic setting of this novel. I wish I’d read the first book in the series first. The mystery is fast-paced, and the characters interesting.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessman Murders by Sara Winokur 3 ½ stars

I found this book to be a fascinating read. I enjoyed learning about the history of Iceland, its culture and a tiny bit of its language through the interactions of the characters and from an old diary of a young girl kidnapped from its shores by Barbary pirates in 1627. Iceland sounds like such a beautiful place, although it can be very cold and forbidding.

What appealed is how this far past and a murder(s) committed in the present are connected. The author was genius in weaving a story that captures the imagination and connects the present to the past through the skill of Brynja Palsdottir, a forensic geneticist . The only times it bogged down for me, is when the ‘science’ became too detailed, (it interrupted the flow, and the mentions of the despicable things her parents (especially her father) did without explanation, to me, were distractions. I still want to know what the parents did. But it captured and kept my attention, and that is what a good story does.

Thank you to NetGalley and Briarstone Press for this advance copy.
I will post this review on Goodreads and Amazon..ca

This unique dual-timeline mystery features a police case set in modern Iceland and a historical story line set in the seventeenth century at the time of the ‘Turkish raid’ on Iceland in 1627. The historical element is communicated through a diary kept by one of the abducted Icelanders which emerges as evidence in the modern-day case.
There’s a lot to enjoy in this fast-paced crime novel. Any story set in Iceland is going to have the country itself as a main character. The author makes the most of the fabulous setting, and happily does not butcher the names, though at times the mentions of Reykjavík restaurants and national landmarks sound a little like a tourist guidebook.
Where this book really shines is in the depiction of the DNA laboratory where the main character works. The author’s background in genetics enables her to depict a genetics lab setting and work atmosphere with a natural confidence and authenticity that an outsider would be unable to replicate. How DNA evidence is used, and what it can prove, is explained well for the layperson.
The famous Lewis Chessmen, an incomplete set of chess figures carved from walrus ivory in the 12th century, are the link between the historical and modern-day story lines. The historical aspect of the story highlights a remarkable and terrifying real event that is little known outside of Iceland. Sections of the 17th-century diary are interspersed through the modern story and offer a clue to part of the mystery. The story of the kidnapped girl is compelling, but reads more like a modern historical novel than a 17th-century diary. If you suspend your disbelief about the way the ‘diary’ is written, it is a vivid counterpoint to the main narrative.
The relationships between the characters in the modern-day story savor strongly of the soap opera. This makes them feel rather flat. The prose also lacks polish in many places. But for these aspects, Ivory Bones would have a higher rating from me. The concept and setting are great, and I hope there will be more books in this series.

Less characters or better dialogue. Felt stitled at times, and I wanted more focus on the murder mystery. Anna's diary entries were my favorite parts. The historical aspect was very interesting. All of the side quests took me away from the original plot.

It is unnecessary to explain mitochondrial DNA to every new person FMC came across in the book. 1 time was enough for the reader. There is too much over explaining in general.

Enjoyed the ending

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This book has plots – and intrigue. There are complicated murder plots, a diary of a historical Icelandic woman, a load of history, along with friendships, betrayals, loyal colleagues, government officials from 3 countries, and a touch of romance. Some of the history were things I had never encountered before, and had to look up and verify its historical fact – although the book is fiction. There are historical artifacts at the center, along with subplots surrounding them.

The book vividly describes Icelandic scenery, attractions, food, drink and culture. The protagonist also helps at a refugee center, and they touch on the plight of Afghani refugees.

The end wraps up all of these intertwined plots in a way that I, as a reader, found to be both adequate and pleasing. I’m shocked that this many plots could be developed so thoroughly in 300 pages.

As a work-from-home mom, my days are filled with juggling deadlines, Zoom meetings, and snack requests. By the time evening rolls around, I’m ready to escape into the pages of a good book—something that can transport me far from the chaos of my daily life. Sara Winokur’s Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessman Murders did just that, and then some. It’s a rare gem that kept me hooked from the first page to the last, combining a gripping mystery with a deep dive into Iceland’s haunting history.

A very interesting and fast paced mystery that kept the grip on me from the first page to the last. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery set in present-day Iceland, with ties to past centuries and places far from Iceland. Reading this book made me want to visit Iceland in their summer, particularly their museums.

The main character is Brynja Pálsdóttir, a forensic geneticist. She is involved with a murder that occurred in New York after a police officer there (Claire) there had reached out to her. A woman was killed and buried in New York with one of the Lewis chessmen, very old and valuable. Claire had found the diary of a murdered woman, written in a foreign language, and after talking to Brynja, she mailed the diary to her to translate. There is also a romance although it is more in the background.

I'm glad I read this book, and recommend it highly. I had not read the first book in the series, but had no difficulty in following the second book. I received an e-arc from the publisher Briarstone Press and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Present day New York City. A body is found at a construction site. With it an Icelandic old world chesspiece. The police investigation that follows leads to Iceland and the Corsairs of North Africa back to New York City and the early days of Manhattan.
When an old diary turns up we go back in history and follow the life of Anna, the girl captured in Iceland by the Corsairs and taken all around the world as their servant. There is a short gruesome inclusion of the slavetrade, on African as well as American soil. The chesspieces have a prominent place in both worlds. Meanwhile in present day the team solves the murder while coming to grips with history.

Ivory Bones is a fast paced murder mystery, built around an interesting subject, set in attractive surroundings. A good story, that could have done with a smaller cast of characters.

Thank you Netgalley and Briarstone Press for the ARC.

Thanks to Sara Winokur, Briarstone Press, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reading Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The author uses her science background and knowledge of Iceland to good effect is this mystery involving the famed Lewis chessmen. There is a great sense of place as the story moves around Iceland.

The main characters are well drawn, and the story moves along nicely. The story builds on connections to a centuries old diary and moves back and forth between 1600’s history and the present-day mystery. Along the way you’ll learn a bit about Iceland and Iceland history as the story develops.

This is the second book featuring the main character Brynja, but although actions from the first book are occasionally referenced, this book can be read independently from the first.

5 stars

This is a wonderful novel. We are introduced to Forensic genealogist Brynja Palsdottir who works in a high tech laboratory in Iceland. She also has a penchant for getting involved in murder investigations.

When a colleague from New York, Claire, who is a New York City detective, sends her bones and a diary from a recent excavation, Brynja is intrigued. The diary is written in Icelandic. Claire wants to know if the bones belong to a person from Iceland.

At the same time, one of the Lewis Chessmen has been stolen from the museum in Reykjavik. The murder of a museum guard was committed during the theft.

The diary indicates that the Lewis Chessmen were in possession of the family from which the bones originated.

This is a dual time story. We are treated to the story of a Barbary pirate raid on a small village on an Iceland island. Most of the inhabitants were captured and sold into slavery. The diary is the story written by Anna, the owner of the bones and a captured slave. It is compelling and devastating. A very moving story.

Meanwhile more murders occur in Iceland. Claire visits and causes headaches for Brynja.

This is a fast paced and nearly flawless book. I had to keep turning the pages well past my bedtime. I am most certainly going to read more of Ms. Winokur’s work. The characters are most interesting and their backgrounds give hints of their personalities. There is some mild romance in the novel, which I don’t particularly care for, but did not affect my enjoyment of the book.

I truly enjoyed this novel and recommend it to anyone who likes dual timeline novels, historical mysteries or just a very good read.

I want to thank NetGalley and Briarstone Press for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions cited in this review are solely my own.

I thought that this would be something very technical but it was a read murder and love affair that was amazing and a real treat. The main character is Brynja Pálsdóttir who was the Chief of Forensics at Legacy Genetics. She was contacted by Claire who was a police officer from New York who found a diary of a woman who was killed and buried with a chess piece from the Lewis Chessman. Brynja was sent the diary to translate, but someone was killed an another chess piece was lost. That was what set off Brynja into finding out if anyone was related to the woman in New York. I won't give anymore hints as to what happens but you will be surprised as to all the different scenarios. Read this book and I really recommend it.

I loved Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessmen Murders! This book had me hooked from the start. Brynja, a forensic geneticist, gets pulled into a thrilling hunt for the missing Lewis Chessmen, and the mix of modern suspense with a historical story made it so engaging.

The diary from the past adds a fascinating layer, and I couldn’t wait to see how it all connected. Brynja faces a lot of twists and turns, and I found myself guessing who she could trust the whole time.

The chilly Icelandic setting and the rich history really brought the story to life. If you enjoy a good mystery with a bit of history, I definitely recommend this book! It’s a fantastic read that keeps you on the edge of your seat!

I absolutely loved Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessmen Murders! This captivating mystery takes readers on a thrilling journey through history and intrigue, centered around the enigmatic Lewis Chessmen, a set of medieval chess pieces that serve as the backdrop for a gripping tale of murder, deception, and hidden truths. I highly recommend Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessmen Murders for fans of historical fiction and mystery. It’s an engaging, well-crafted story that will keep you guessing until the very last page.