Good candy - I enjoyed reading it and will forget it by tomorrow. I do feel the lack of the intervening story, but it sounds like this is a publication issue and I'll get to read it out of order later. That's fine, I'm already losing the details. ( )

Ok but I enjoyed Snowblind better. This is the second book written in the series but the last in the chronology of books. ( )

It was a bit difficult at first, getting used to the names and places but one gets used to it. When the story started out with a new detective, I thought the last one was finished. It wasn't until I finished the story and read some of the reviews, did I find out that the books are not in sequence. The story did take a leap forward, omitting a few years of the main character's life.

There are two story lines going at the same time and I was unable to put them together till near the end, intentionally written that way. The main character is weak, easily taking offence at any small remark to the point that it overwhelms him. ( )

Siglufjörður is a quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, just south of the Arctic Circle, and the setting for Jonasson's iconic policeman, Ari Thor Arason. While presented as Book 2 in the Dark Iceland series, there are three books that take place between Snowblind and Nightblind, during which time five years have passed. Ari Thor's new boss is called out to an abandoned house, where he is gunned down in the opening scene. Ari's old boss is called north to lead the investigation, reuniting Ari Thor with his mentor. The story is well told, and the reader is treated to a slice of small-town life, replete with politics and personalities; Jonasson can certainly write: "He enjoyed the winter as well, with its all-enveloping darkness that curled itself around you like a giant cat." However, the chapters with excerpts from a diary were distracting and nine pages of accolades for his previous book is excessive. ( )

I have to say that I love the Dark Iceland series, the only problem is that each instalment is too darn short. I really ought to read slower to make the experience last longer but my eyes seem to have other ideas as they scoot across the page greedily devouring every single line.

We are reminded again that nothing ever happens in the sleepy arctic town of Siglufjörðor, until someone is shot. We meet back up with our favourite fictional Icelander, Ari Thór, who has finally talked his girlfriend, Kristín, into moving to Siglufjörðor where they live with their young son, Stefnir. Ari Thór is off work with flu so his new police inspector, Herjólfur, is covering his shift. Herjólfur is called out to an abandoned house frequented by drug dealers where he is shot at point blank range, leaving Ari Thór to wonder whether he was the intended target.

With Herjólfur clinging on to life, but unlikely to regain consciousness, Ari Thór's old boss, Tómas, returns to help with the investigation. In between the investigation there are tantalising snippets from a diary that had me completely riveted with questions pouring out of my brain like an avalanche. Whose diary is it? Is it past? Is it present? Can I read any faster to find out?

Nightblind is another stupendous instalment from Ragnar Jónasson. As ever, the landscape feels like a main character itself, as the words on the page magically transform into a landscape painting in my head. I have to applaud the translation of Quentin Bates in addition to the talented writing of Ragnar Jónasson; absolutely nothing is lost in translation, but everything is gained as the ingenious words paint such a vivid picture.

I was slightly confused as to which order I should read the books as the UK series order differs from the original. When I've read them all, I'll decide if it really matters but at the moment I just want to read them all in whatever order I can. I can only presume that the order will matter in the development of Ari Thór and Kristín's relationship as in Nightblind, Ari Thór seems completely oblivious to Kristín's feelings. I think their relationship is as cold as the temperature outside in Siglufjörðor but time will tell whether they can survive the cold, dark winter.

Nightblind is so good I have two copies of it: one a treasured signed first edition, that I handle with kid gloves, and a kindle copy to which I added copious effusive notes. Bring on book 3, Blackout. ( )