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.

When Icelandic forensic geneticist Brynja Pálsdóttir, haunted by her family’s dark legacy, is drawn into the search for the missing Lewis Chessmen, she becomes a pawn in an assassin’s deadly game.

A centuries-old diary, written by a woman abducted during the brutal Barbary pirate raid on Iceland in 1627, lands on her desk. Brynja soon realizes the woman’s story may hold the key to finding the priceless medieval artifacts. 

As Brynja digs deeper, she becomes the target, surrounded by deception and unsure of whom she can trust: the NYPD colleague hiding her own motives, the sculptor whose family lays claim to the chessmen, the lover she has spurned, even her own assistant.

As the past and present collide, betrayal, loss, and survival transcend time and place.

Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessmen Murders is a gripping blend of Nordic noir, historical intrigue, and murder mystery, where ancient secrets and modern dangers force Brynja to face a dark, inner truth before the assassin makes their final move.

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.

If you enjoy plot driven books, history, mystery, and facts about Iceland, Ivory Bones will be perfect for you. I really enjoyed the first book (Double Blind) and I do think you should read that first in order to truly understand this world and the story. This book improves upon the first one in that it feels less like school/textbook about Iceland and more like a real story with some Icelandic tidbits placed in proper places. I loved the historical mystery in this one that slams back into modern day and our characters. I read it in one sitting because I really wanted to find out what happened.

I say plot driven book because the character development is a little strange or not existent in some places. Our MC breaks it off with her almost fiancé, she immediately hooks up with someone else and he's dating someone else literally the next day, and yet they were/are so in love to almost get married? Makes no sense and is never really addressed. Maybe they're just messy people (even though their jobs and personalities suggest otherwise.) But the plot works, and that's where my personal enjoyment in books is! Overall, definitely give this a read if you're in need of a good mystery.