...atmospheric, binge-worthy, and a contender for favorite book of the year ... The Darkness has all the brooding atmosphere of the Dark Iceland books with a creativity and breath-of-fresh-air protagonist all its own ... There’s an addictiveness to The Darkness that elevates this read—Jonasson beautifully balances slow-burning plotting with binge-worthy tension, and the result is just plain gripping ... Beyond the story’s compelling protagonist, there is the ever-present 'character' of Iceland ... Ragnar Jonasson has always been a superb writer, but there's a precision of plotting - and a willingness to take risks - on display here that elevated this book over the Dark Iceland series for me.
A complex, fascinating mix of Icelandic community and alienation, atmospheric tension, and timely issues ... Jónasson’s latest series is another must-read for crime fans who follow the work of Arnaldur Indridason and Yrsa Sigurdardóttir.
...a new crime trilogy that is quite different from his previous books. What the two series have in common is the manifestation of Jónasson’s careful development of memorable characters and his plotting skills ... a bit of a slow boil, though it certainly roars at the end ... this trilogy is off to an addictive and compelling start.
If you think you know how frigid Iceland can be, this blistering stand-alone from Jónasson (Blackout, 2016, etc.) has news for you: It’s much, much colder than you’ve ever imagined. Warmly recommended for hot summer nights.
