If you like plots to be linear and told through a single character’s viewpoint, this novel will drive you batty. If, conversely, you’re a more relaxed reader and love stories that snatch you up by surprise and carry you along in unrelenting suspense, then this brilliantly woven tale will give all you crave ... what makes the book’s suspense excruciating is its creepiness ... if you relish seeing how ordinary people of good heart and intentions can get twisted off the right path, and sink deeper into serious trouble while they wrestle with their consciences, then The Island will satisfy your desire to think, feel, and shudder to its logical and somewhat surprising resolution.
Fans of [Agatha] Christie’s work will feel right at home in Jonasson’s latest release; fans of Nordic Noir will similarly find the atmosphere Jonasson develops in The Island right up their alley ... Perhaps the greatest joy is witnessing the masterful way author Jonasson ties the novel’s seemingly disparate plotlines together ... Jonasson has proven himself once more to be a master of the kind of clever, unfussy-yet-shocking plotting that defines the legacy of Agatha Christie ... onasson ups the ante in his latest release, infusing his newest crime novel with a dark atmosphere, breathless suspense, and a masterfully crafted plot. wasn’t sure he could top the stellar launch of this trilogy, The Darkness, but I’m very happy to be proven wrong, because top it he has.
...The Island... leaves [Jonasson's] win streak intact and strengthened ... Hulda is an instantly relatable character, solidly if not entirely comfortably in middle age and no stranger to the darkest of tragedies. Known for her ability to ferret out the truth in homicide cases, her rank and salary do not remotely match her abilities, which may or may not change in future volumes. Explosions and karate are notably absent here, and as such it is the perfect balance to an afternoon of watching, say, John Wick ... The Island is a quiet and suspenseful book full of whispers, but you will hear every word.
Another suspense-laden Icelandic gem: Jónasson’s confidential, intimate prose evokes both Iceland’s harsh, beautiful solitude and the deep connections Icelanders forge.
Jónasson, who could give lessons on how to sustain a chilly atmosphere, sprinkles just enough hints of ghostly agents to make you wonder if he’s going to fall back on a paranormal resolution to the mystery. Don’t worry: The solution is both uncanny and all-too-human.
