STRANGE SHORES: ARNALDUR INDRIDASON trans VICTORIA CRIBB

Elinborg and Sigurdur Oli have been the lead protagonists in the last two books in this series, Outrage and Black Skies, while Erlendur has been on a walking holiday in Eastern Iceland. 

But the introspective Reyjavik detective has been sleeping rough in his parents old ruined farmhouse, wandering through the wilderness and reminiscing about the tragic loss in a storm of his younger brother, Bergur “Beggi”. Erlendur hears about a similar case  in which according to Jakob, now long dead, his wife Matthildur went to hike over to Reydarfjordur in a terrible storm and was never seen again. He begins a private investigation of this 60 year old disappearance and by questioning the Matthildur’s elderly friends and relatives he uncovers a sad story of jealousy, lust, revenge and guilt. The later resonates with his feelings about the loss of Beggi in a similar storm.

It is disappointing when a fine series ends with a fairly weak story, and one that is so depressing. I did find it very difficult to read a tale that features personal loss as such a key element. But frankly the main problem was that although the writing was atmospheric, and had some social commentary about industrial development altering the landscape and the lives of the locals, the narrative was a bit boring, with Erlendur very slowly teasing bits of the story from various elderly grumpy Icelanders.

It seems some old crime series, like old soldiers,  don’t die they simply just fade away. [with apologies to General Douglas MacArthur]

‘But then I start wondering: what about all the others?’

‘Others?’

‘The ones left behind.’ 

‘What about them?’ ‘The people I pity are the ones left to cope with the fallout. Who have to endure sadness for the rest of their lives.’