X-mas Book Flood: Jólabókaflóðið, Yule & Murder

I’ve always enjoyed reading crime novels. As a child, I read all Agatha Christie novels during my summer holidays. Recently, I’ve introduced reading to my daily life; commuting to and from work offers a perfect opportunity to read; I no longer have to wait for my holidays to do so. Yet, I’m actually looking forward to the Christmas holidays (sadly, I will only be off work on Christmas, Boxing and New Year’s Days), so I can read in the comfort of my own home (with Christmas music playing, as well as a few mince pies and mulled wine on the table). Perhaps, I’ll even have a few new books to read, since family and friends know how much I enjoy reading. Even though I neither hail from nor I live in Iceland, I have embraced the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið, or Christmas Book Flood.

Jólabókaflóðið

Jólabókaflóðið refers to the annual release of new books in Iceland in November. Every year since 1944, newly published books are listed in bókatíðindi, a catalogue distributed to all households for free. This has given rise to the tradition of giving books as presents to friends and family on Christmas Eve, and then spending the rest of the day with a book and hot chocolate. This tradition started almost out of necessity during World War II, when gift-giving options were limited due to restrictions on imports to the country. Nowadays, however, the Icelanders not only continue this tradition, but the country publishes more books per capita than any other country in the world.

Northern Lights & Murder: 3 Icelandic crime writers you should read

A few months ago, I wrote about my favorite Scandinavian ‘Nordic Noir’ crime writers, including the Icelandic Arnaldur Indriðason, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and Ragnar Jónasson. In 2018, I’ve read Jónasson’s ‘Dark Iceland’ series and ‘Darkness’ (his most recent novel to be translated into English), as well as several books by Indriðason and Sigurðardóttir, and I’ve enjoyed them all!

Arnaldur Indriðason

Perhaps the most famous of the Icelandic crime writers, Indriðason has worked as a journalist and a film critic.

His ‘Reykjavík Murder’ series, featuring Detective Erlendur, includes 14 novels. Jar City (Reykjavik Murder Mysteries 1)is the third one in the series, but was the first to be translated in English. It has been adapted into a filmdirected by Baltasar Kormákur (2006).

Available in English also are:

Silence Of The Grave (Reykjavik Murder Mysteries 2)
Voices (Reykjavik Murder Mysteries 3)
The Draining Lake (Reykjavik Murder Mysteries 4)
Arctic Chill (Reykjavik Murder Mysteries 5)
Hypothermia (Reykjavik Murder Mysteries 6)
Outrage (Reykjavik Murder Mysteries 7)
Black Skies (Reykjavik Murder Mysteries 8)
Strange Shores (Reykjavik Murder Mysteries 9)
Reykjavik Nights (Reykjavik Murder Myst/Prequel)
Oblivion

Other Indriðason novels available in English are:

Operation Napoleon
The Shadow District
The Shadow Killer

Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

Another Icelandic crime writer, Sigurðardóttir also works as a civil engineer.

Her ‘Thóra Gudmundsdóttir’ series, featuring the female attorney of the same name, includes six novels:

Last Rituals: Thora Gudmundsdottir Book 1
My Soul to Take: Thora Gudmundsdottir Book 2
Ashes to Dust: Thora Gudmundsdottir Book 3
The Day is Dark: Thora Gudmundsdottir Book 4
Someone to Watch Over Me: Thora Gudmundsdottir Book 5
The Silence of the Sea: Thora Gudmundsdottir Book 6

Other novels by Sigurðardóttir include:

I Remember You
The Undesired
Why Did You Lie?
The Legacy
The Reckoning

The Absolution

Ragnar Jónasson

An Icelandic crime writer and lawyer, Jónasson lives and works in Reykjavík, where he also teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University. He has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV-news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, and has translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic.

His ‘Dark Iceland’ series is set in and around Siglufjörður, a small fishing town on the northern coast of the country. The series features Detective Ari Thor Arason and includes five novels:

Snowblind
Blackout
Rupture
Nightblind
Whiteout

He has also written the ‘Hulda’ series, which includes three novels:

The Darkness
The Island

The Mist (not yet available in English)

Jónasson has also written short stories that have been published internationally.

Ragnar Jonasson novels — Ragnar Jónasson’s ‘Dark Iceland’ novels

Rupture

This is possibly my Icelandic favorite to date. Written by Ragnar Jónasson, ‘Rupture’ is the 4th novel in the ‘Dark Iceland’ series to be published; yet, the events in ‘Rupture’ take place a year after ‘Blackout’ and before ‘Snowblind’. Therefore, if we are to put the five ‘Dark Iceland’ novels in chronological order, ‘Rupture’ comes 3rd. Like the other four novels, it features young policeman Ari Thor – an Icelandic Hercules Poirot.

On a rainy evening, Robert and Sunna make love in their Reykjavik apartment. When a door slams, Robert ventures naked in the living room. Not only is there a door ajar, but he also notices wet footprints all the way to the bedroom.

Meanwhile, the town of Siglufjörður on the north coast of Iceland is in quarantine due to a fatal case of a highly-infectious disease: haemorrhagic fever. Under such circumstances, Ari Thor decides to look into an old case. Back in 1956, two couples and a newborn live in isolation in Héðinsfjörður, when one of the two women, Jorunn, suddenly dies. The Police investigation concludes that it was an accident, but was it really? When a family photograph also showing a young man appears, 60-year-old Hedinn decides to seek Ari Thor’s help to solve the mystery of his aunt’s death.

Back in the country’s capital, Snorri Ellertson, son of the prominent politician Ellert Snorrason, gets killed in a hit-and-run. Shortly afterwards, an 18-month-old child gets kidnapped – something that never happens in Iceland. Young journalist Isrun works on both cases, whilst helping out Ari Thor with his mid-twentieth-century case.

‘How do these stories/cases link to each other, or do they not?’ is the question that springs to the reader’s mind. Yet, in Isrun’s mind, they simply don’t. However, Jónasson, reminiscent of Agatha Christie, not only manages to skilfully intertwine them, but he also turns Ari Thor from a detective into a storyteller, who, like Poirot, presents his hypothesis to his audience (and Jónasson’s readers) only to reveal a solution that nobody had anticipated.

The Darkness

‘The Darkness’ is the first novel on Ragnar Jónasson’s much anticipated ‘Hidden Iceland’ series. It is followed by ‘The Island’ and ‘The Mist’, but only the former has been translated into English.

Set in Reykjavik, it features Hulda Hermannsdóttir, a female Detective Inspector fast-approaching retirement. With only a few days to go, Hulda re-opens the case of a Russian asylum-seeker who was found dead on a remote beach near the Icelandic capital. Even though she was found to have died of suicide, Hulda has her doubts…

If you have enjoyed Jónasson’s ‘Dark Iceland’ series, you won’t be disappointed by ‘The Darkness’. Not only it is a page-turner from start to finish, but also it has a very unexpected -to say the least- ending. Most importantly, it gives us an opportunity to glimpse into the darkness of the past and present Icelandic society. Jónasson touches on several issues such as immigration, domestic violence, and the position of the woman in the modern society and the work environment.

So, if, in keeping with the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið, you’re looking for a book to gift to family or friends this Christmas, then ‘The Darkness’ is definitely worth considering.

Yule & Murder: 13 crime mysteries to read this Christmas

As much as I enjoy reading Scandinavian crime novels during the winter months, when it’s dark and cold, I also love reading Christmas murder mysteries. Come November, I visit Waterstones only to be confronted with a large number of books whose titles combine Yule and murder. So, to remember the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið, here is my own bókatíðindi:

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas

This is the first and only Christmas-themed novel by my all-time favorite crime writer, Agatha Christie. First published in 1938, it has also been published under the titles ‘Murder for Christmas’ and ‘A Holiday for Murder’. As the original title suggests, it features her famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. The events take place over 7 days, from the 22nd to 28th of December. It’s been a few years since I first read it, so I think I may read it again this year, one chapter on each day.

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrees

This is a collection of six short stories written by the famous crime novelist; it is also her only first edition published in the UK that contains stories with both Hercule Poirot and her other famous sleuth, Miss Marple.

The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories

This is another collection of Yule crime, this time by another female English crime novelist: P.D. James. First published in Christmas editions of magazines and newspapers, two of these four short stories feature James’s poet-detective Adam Dagliesh.

Mistletoe and Murder

Carola Dunn is a contemporary crime writer, who was born and raised in England but now lives in America. ‘Mistletoe and Murder’, the 11th book in the Daisy Dalrymple series (a.k.a. ‘Cosy mysteries set in England in the 1920s’), not only takes us back almost a century ago, but also takes us to the beautiful county of Cornwall, where we celebrate Christmas with Daisy’s family. To make it even better, there’s a murder on the menu.

Murder in the Snow: A Cotswold Christmas Mystery

Gladys Mitchell takes us from Cornwall to Cotswold in her festive murder mystery. ‘Murder in the Snow’ is one of the 66(!) novels featuring psychiatrist-detective Mrs Bradley. It was first published in 1950 with the less Christmassy title ‘Groaning Spinney’. An Agatha Christie contemporary, Mitchell was an early member of the Detection Club along with Christie herself.

The Santa Klaus Murder

Another country-house mystery, this time by Mavis Doriel Hay, another female English crime novelist, also of the Golden Age of British detective fiction. Unlike the previous authors, however, Hay only published three mystery novels, with ‘The Santa Klaus Murder’ being her last one, published in 1936.

Agatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye

M.C. Beaton is another contemporary female British crime writer who has written a large number of mysteries, including 29 in the ‘Agatha Raisin’ series. Published in 2007, ‘Kissing Christmas Goodbye’ is the 18th in the series. It finds Agatha working in her detective agency in the modern-day Cotswolds. Whilst planning for the Christmas celebrations, she tries to solve Mrs Tamworthy’s murder…

Holiday Grind & Holiday Buzz

Let’s now move from England across the pond to New York City, where Cleo Coyle’s ‘Coffeehouse Mysteries’ take place. This is where Village Blend manager, head barista and amateur sleuth Clare Cosi discovers two dead bodies, in the 8th and 12th books of the series (published in 2009 and 2012 respectively). Coyle not only captures the festive atmosphere of the Big Apple, but also shares delicious recipes and coffee-making tips.

Sugar Cookie Murder

From New York, let’s now go to Minnesota. This mid-western state is where Hannah Swensen lives (and bakes). Hannah is the owner of the Cookie Jar, Lake Eden’s most popular bakery. She is also an amateur sleuth and the heroine of 23 published novels and novellas. Published in 2004, ‘Sugar Cookie Murder’ is the 6th novel in the Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke. Like all the books in the series, it also features a number of delicious and easy-to-bake recipes.

Two collections of festive short stories by Fluke, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier followed in 2007 (‘Candy Cane Murder’) and in 2010 (‘Gingerbread Cookie Murder’). Two festive novels also followed: ‘Christmas Caramel Murder’ in 2016 and ‘Christmas Cake Murder’ in 2018.

The Chocolate Snowman Murders: A Chocoholic Mystery

When Lee McKinney moved from Texas to Michigan, to help her aunt, Nettie TenHuis and her chocolate business, little did she know she would investigate 17 murders in JoAnna Carl’s ‘Chocoholic Mysteries’. Published in 2009, ‘Chocolate Snowman Murder’ is the 9th in the series and so far the only festive one.

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross

I don’t think that James Patterson needs an introduction. Or Alex Cross, for that matter. The forensic psychologist has featured in 27 Patterson novels, including three that were later made into films starring Morgan Freeman (‘Kiss the Girls’ and ‘Along Came a Spider’) and Tyler Perry (‘Alex Cross’) as Cross. ‘Merry Christmas, Alex Cross’ is the 19th novel in the series and was published in 2012.

On that note, one of my favorite books published (and read) in 2018 was The President is Missing written by Patterson and former US President Bill Clinton.

Christmas at the Cupcake Café

Set part in London part in New York, Jenny Colgan’s ‘Christmas at the Cupcake Café’ follows Issy Randall’s romantic and culinary adventures. Who is Issy? The owner of the Cupcake Café that we first met in Meet Me At The Cupcake Café back in 2011.

Back to Britain now… Author of romantic fiction, Jenny Colgan, has actually written a number of Christmas-themed books that are set in England and follow the success of some of her other novels. These include Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery (Cornwall), The Christmas Surprise (Derbyshire), Christmas at Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop (also in Derbyshire) and the most recent An Island Christmas (Scotland). They may not be murder mysteries, but they do include recipes.

Pupcakes: A Christmas Novel

This is a Christmas novel, albeit not a murder mystery. Written by Annie England Noblin, it is set in Memphis, Tennessee, it features Teddy Roosevelt, a cute pug. Need to say no more…

https://youtu.be/g1CTTGpeUvA

Bjork’s take on a classic Icelandic Christmas lullaby