Random Things Tours: Dead Sweet by Katrín Júlíusdóttir translated by Quentin Bates

 

When I was thinking that Icelandic Noir can´t get any better, I am offer again the chance of an even more eventful thrilling crime made in Iceland: Dead Sweet by Katrín Júlíusdóttir translated fron Icelandic by Quentin Bates and published by Orenda Books, one of my favorites publishers of high-quality crime novels in English.

The book was published in 2020 and was Katrín Júlíusdóttir´s debut novel. A former politician, an MP between 2003 and 2016, it seems she used her everyday political experience by getting the best inspiration for writing this unexpected political novel.

Óttar Karlsson, the politician whose death is the main trigger of the story in Dead Sweet, didn´t get to take part at his birthday party. Once his corpse is discovered, the police is aware that this crime would be much discussed about in the next weeks and months. However, as the investigation to catch the culprit advances, the police, particularly the smart investigator Sígurdis - another interesting and elaborated character although secondary at a a certain extent - , are getting into the darkest secrets of a popular politician. 

Karlsson, although dead, is the main character of the book, developed carefully. However, Dead Sweet is more than a book built around a person, as at the same time when we are lead through the secrets of the Icelandic politician, the action of the book itself is advancing as well, with the persistence of the spider´s web. I particularly loved the complexity of both the story and the character, leading through a spectacular, mostly unexpected ending.

Dead Sweet is a great read for anyone passionate about politics, with all its shortcomings and dark sides. But dark sides of life are always most attractive and definitely make into the best thrillers. Iceland seems to offer a neverending source of inspiration, and writers like Júlíusdóttir do have access to both the source of the inspiration and the writing talent to offer just another excellent sample of Icelandic Noir. 

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own