A new inciting title published by the courageous Corylus Books whose interesting books I had the chance before to feature on my blog, Harm by Iceland author Sólveig Pálsdóttir, translated by Quentin Bates is in addition of being a race for finding the culprits, also a challenge for the stereotypes we may have in the everyday real life towards each other.
This was my second by Sólveig Pálsdóttir after Fox, and it only went better. As a sidenote, both book do have outstanding covers, which do express in a simple yet strong way the emotional message associated with the book.
When the doctor Ríkarður Magnússon is found dead in his luxurious caravan, everyone - and this reader for a second too - may easily suspect his bizarre and much younger girlfriend. However, as the investigation on Westman Island advances, the pathway towards finding the truth is getting more and more sinous and despite the many hints spread all over the story, the ending may be more than surprising. All the way, there is a permanent mystery surrounding the next steps of the investigation and we may be distracted and intelligently manipulated as trying to identify the solve the mystery.
As in many other Nordic Noir mysteries, the investigators themselves - in this case Guðgeir Fransson and Elsa Guðrún - do represent complex personalities, sometimes with a troubled past, which adds infinite threads of suspense to the story.
Handfully, the author is manipulating us, the readers, as puppets, having the last word in revealing the solution. The web of intrigues is so finelly woven that distracts you more than once and one can only be delighted by the pleasure took of being involved in a mystery that require your full attention and intelligence, although not necessarily successful in solving it.
Harm is a perfectly end of the week read for those looking for an escape from the autumn setting harmful cold ways.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
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