Unearthing of a long forgotten crime

books:


	• Silence of the Grave (Reykjavik Murder Mysteries, No. 2) Arnaldur Indridason Picador, 2007 - 304 pages average customer review:based on 19 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

You Owe it to Yourself!

I just finished reading 3 books (in 3.5 days) by a wonderful author I've recently discovered: Arnaldur Indridason & he's Icelandic.
The 3 books that have been translated into English are: JAR CITY (2004), SILENCE OF THE GRAVE (2005) & VOICES (2006). Two more are scheduled for release late next year and I can hardly wait!!!

It's truly a fascinating read and it pulled me in FAST, drawing me to the next novel and then the next at a pretty fast clip.

There's not the kind of action, drama, gruesomeness that is in many crime/thriller novels these days. There is a feeling that you accompany the detectives on their journey to a resolution. You can feel the cold, see the landscape, experience the smells and the warmth of a fire!

It's like watching a foreign movie. You're drawn into an interplay with the characters as they evolve. If Arnaldur Indridson's books were made into movies, they'd need Alfred Hitchcock as the director. Both can (could) tease you with fear that's been subtly created.

I can't say enough. Check this author out yourself.

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Sometimes better than the original

As I write this 11/19/06 the film "Mýrin" (Tainted Blood, Jar City, Nordermoor) has just won 5 Eddas (the Nordic Oscar). I am normally niggardly with stars, 4 for my best liked, 5 for masterpieces, 3 for well liked. Last year Silence of the Grave won the Golden Dagger, the English Detective Stories' award. As I read it in the original version, I viewed mr. Scudder's translation at the same time. Indridason is not the best of stylists and Scudder sometimes betters him. I remember one sentence off hand."Erlendur veit ekkert í sinn haus" verbatim means "E. knows nothing into his head." I think most people would translate it "E does not have a clue" but Scudder renders it "Erlendur does not know his arse from his elbow." I can remember there were more instances like this, where Scudder lifts the text to a higher standard. I am not as critical as mr Klovsjö of Sweden (see his critique on amazon.co.uk) but I agree that the solution of the plot was a little thin and the main character's personal issues are a bit à la Martin Beck. Sjöwall / Wahlöö are obviously better writers though and must surely have won a golden dagger at some point. This depends on the translator though, and Bernard Scudder owns a big part in Indridason's golden dagger. I suggest that Icelandic readers read Scudder's translation, and everyone else, i.e. those who can read English.

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a very engaging read

This is the second installment in Arnaldur Indridason's Detective Inspector Erlendur Svinssson series, and it definitely does, in my opinion, top "Jar City" -- the first book in the series. Evenly paced and highly suspenseful, it is no wonder that "Silence of the Grave" won the Golden Dagger Award. I certainly was riveted by this novel and (literally) read on relentlessly till the very last page.

When skeletal remains are discovered at the building site of a new housing estate, Detective Inspector Erlendur Svinsson and his team are called in to take charge of the case. The first thing the team must do is establish just how long the skeleton has lain buried, and then determine if this indeed a case of murder, or something else. And if certain members of Erlendur's team (Detective Sigurdur Oli in particular) aren't too sure why they're wasting so much time on a cold case, it is obvious that Erlendur holds to the belief that every suspicious death deserves an investigation, and that Erlendur at least feels that there is something suspicious about this mysterious burial. Elendur's quest to learn the truth will take him back to Iceland during W.W.II, and to the guilty secrets of two families in particular. This case will also lead him to reexamine on his own past and his own failed relationships with his ex-wife and his two children, and to wonder if it is not too late to repair the damage...

Arnadldue Indridason is a very gifted storyteller, and I have to thank both him and his brilliant translator, Bernard Scudder, for the 4 very pleasurable hours I spent reading "Silence of the Grave." The novel was evenly paced, taut and completely riveting. The book is divided into two subplots -- one subplot deals with the events of the past, while the other subplot centers on the current investigation. It is not an easy thing to do, going backwards and forwards in time, while still managing to maintain a level of suspense and to keep readers guessing as to the identity of the unearthed skeleton. And yet, the author managed this feat with ease, skill and finesse. And even though I expected and suspected certain developments, the denouncement still took me by some surprise. Truly, "Silence of the Grave" was very well done, and if you're looking for a fresh voice in the police procedural genre and one that will hold your interest from beginning to end, you will want to check both "Silence of the Grave" and "Jar City" out.

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Unearthing of a long forgotten crime

In the award winning "Silence of the Grave", Arnaldur Indridason again demonstrates that he's an extremely accomplished crime drama author. This excellent novel intertwines two stories from the past and the present surrounding a police investigation conducted by Reykjavik inspector Erlendur and his team. During construction in the elite Millenium Quarter on the outskirts of Reykjavik, human remains were discovered. Construction was halted and an archeologic team was brough in to work the site and remove the skeleton.

Meanwhile in flashback fashion Indridason relates a story of a family who lived in the Milennium Quarter area back around the time of World WarII in a long gone chalet. The family of two sons and a daughter who was both physically and mentally disabled by a childhood bout of meningitis, was subjected to despicable and disturbing domestic violence. The nurturing mother was beaten severely and regularly by her monstrous husband who was playing out his sadistic inner demons by ruining her life. As the novel progresses the two stories begin to meld.

Indridason is terrific in his ability to develope the character of Erlendur who struggles with his personal life. A large ago divorce estranged him from his children. His daughter Eva Lind a long time drug addict who is seven month pregnant was found after being missing lying in a pool of blood. She is now resting in a coma in a local hospital. Her infirmity resulted in an unfortunate meeting with his banshee like ex-wife whose still simmering hatred for Erlendur resulted in a hurtful encounter. Indridason delves deeply into Elendur's personality giving us insight into where his motivations have evolved from.

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Accomplished Writing

Not having read this in the original language, it's hard to make the same comparison as have other reviewers; but regardless, I found the book well crafted. The characters have depth, complete with their foibles. I thought the plot was original and therefore gains a star.

I could not have guessed the ending, or any of the twists and turns, and that's worth another star. I did not find the ending trite as did others, but felt that Arnaldur wrapped it up rather solidly, believably, and compassionately. In fact, the entire book was a concise tightly wound edition and the author and the translator have a great deal to offer readers looking for more suspense writers, especially foreign ones.

As others have already mentioned this book is about family and what each successive generation hands down to the next and how the next generation deals with the last generation's legacy. (Sorry for the overuse of the term generation) I always like to give Golden Dagger Award winners a try and so far Indridason does not disappoint.

I will read his work again. And, I do hope it's translated as well next time. Kudos to Scudder, especially if he improved the original work. I believe Indridason has found an audience in the U.S. 4+

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reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4

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