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Snowblind: A Thriller (The Dark Iceland Series, 1) Paperback – November 7, 2017

3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 9,477 ratings

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Taut and terrifying, Snowblind is a startling debut from Ragnar Jónasson, an extraordinary new talent.

Where: An isolated fishing village in the fjords of northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors.

Who: Ari Thór is a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavík.

What: A young woman is found lying half naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed elderly writer falls to his death. Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life.

*BONUS CONTENT: This edition of Snowblind includes a new introduction from the author and a discussion guide

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Ragnar Jonasson:

Ragnar Jonasson hailed as one of "the heirs to the Agatha Christie crown" by The Daily Telegraph (UK).

“Jonasson is an automatic must-read for me ... possibly the best Scandi writer working today.” ―Lee Child, internationally bestselling author of the Jack Reacher thrillers

"Obviously inspired by Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen,
Snowblind is old school despite its exotic setting.... With his twisty plotting, isolated location and intriguing characters, Jonasson's series is one to watch. Grade: A" ―Cleveland.com

"A classic crime story . . .first-rate and highly recommended." ―Lee Child

"A modern Icelandic take on an Agatha Christie-style mystery, as twisty as any slalom..." ―Ian Rankin

"Jonasson skillfully alternates points of view and shifts of time...The action builds to a shattering climax."―
Publishers Weekly (boxed and starred)

"This classically crafted whodunit holds up nicely, but Jonasson’s true gift is for describing the daunting beauty of the fierce setting, lashed by blinding snowstorms that smother the village in “a thick, white darkness” that is strangely comforting."―
New York Times Book Review

“A chiller of a thriller whose style and pace are influence by Jonasson’s admiration for Agatha Christie. It’s good enough to share shelf space with the works of Yrsa Sigurdardottir and Arnaldur Indridason, Iceland’s crime novel royalty.”―
The Washington Post

“Jónasson's whodunit puts a lively, sophisticated spin on the Agatha Christie model, taking it down intriguing dark alleys.”―
Kirkus Reviews

"A real find. I loved it. The turns of the plot are clever and unexpected, and Ari is a wonderful character to spend time with.
"Mystery Scene

“In this debut novel, Jonasson has taken the locked-room mystery and transformed it into a dark tale of isolation and intrigue that will keep readers guessing until the final page.”―
Library Journal Xpress

“Jonasson spins an involving tale of small-town police work that vividly captures the snowy setting that so affects the rookie cop. Iceland noir at its moodiest”―
Booklist

"Snowblind aptly depicts Ari's tension and terror as he grows ever more isolated. Perfectly capturing the pressures of rural life and the freezing, deadly Icelandic winter, Snowblind will keep readers on the edge of their seats--preferably snuggled beneath a warm blanket."―
Shelf Awareness

"If a Golden Age crime novel was to emerge from a literary deep freeze then you’d hope it would read like this." ―Craig Robertson

"Seductive … an old-fashioned murder mystery with a strong central character and the fascinating background of a small Icelandic town cut off by snow. Ragnar does claustrophobia beautifully." ―Ann Cleeves

Snowblind has the classic red herrings, plot twists and surprises that characterize the best of Christie’s work. Jonasson’s latest is nicely done and simply begs for a sequel.”―BookPage

"As dazzling a novel as its title implies and the wonderful Ari Thór is a welcome addition to the pantheon of Scandinavian detectives. I can’t wait until the sequel!" ―William Ryan

"[
Snowblind] leaves you wishing for and wanting more of its quirky, memorable characters and haunting backdrop."―Bookreporter

"Ragnar Jónasson writes with a chilling, poetic beauty―a must-read addition to the growing canon of Iceland Noir." ―Peter James

"What sets
Snowblind apart is the deep melancholy pervading the characters. Most of them, including Ari, have suffered a tragic loss. That's bad for them, but along with the 24-hour darkness closing in, it makes for the best sort of gloomy storytelling."―Chicago Tribune

"A classic whodunit with a vividly drawn protagonist and an intriguing, claustrophobic setting,
Snowblind dazzles like sunlight on snow, chills like ice and confirms the growing influence of Scandinavian crime fiction."―Richmond Times-Dispatch

"A satisfying mystery where all the pieces, in the end, fall together."―
Dallas News

"One of the 10 best works of fiction you’ll read this year."―The Durango Telegraph

"Snowblind was beautifully written, the landscape alone makes for good reading." ―Biblophile Book Club

"Jonasson has no qualms about detouring the narrative to detail a supporting player's unhappy childhood or long-running marital woes. Perhaps he's trying to capture that small-town aura of everyone knowing everyone else's business. Whatever his motivation, he definitely shows a knack for the whodunit business."―
Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Jonasson has produced a tense and convincing thriller; he is a welcome addition to the roster of Scandi authors, and I really look forward to his next offering." ―
Mystery People

"Snowblind is morally more equivocal than most traditional whodunnits, and it offers alluring glimpses of darker, and infinitely more threatening horizons." ―The Independent (UK)

"Snowblind is a dark, claustrophobic read, and Jónasson evokes perfectly the 24-hour darkness, the biting cold, the relentless snow and fear of a killer on the loose in a village suddenly cut off by an avalanche. His crisp, bleak prose is an exemplary lesson in how to create atmosphere without producing over-inflated books that would cause their own avalanche if dropped." ―Crime Review

"Ragnar Jonasson is a new name in the crime writing genre and I urge anyone who is a fan of Nordic crime noir to rush out and get yourself a copy of
Snowblind this you will want to add to your collection. It is really that good." ―The Last Word-Book Review

"Ari Thor promises to be a complex and fascinating series sleuth."―Popular Culture Association, Mystery and Detective Fiction Reading List

"Jonasson's realistic but dramatic storytelling, sleight-of-hand shifting of point of view, and underreported attention to the imminent national crisis make
Snowblind a riveting read. A worthwhile contribute to the growing and increasingly popular Scandinavian noir tradition."―Reviewing the Evidence

"If you are a fan of nordic noir that is an excellent example of the crime fiction genre, look no further. This series needs to go on your must read list."―The Suspense is Thrilling Me

"The plot is built cleverly as there are only a few people who could have perpetrated the crimes and it all comes to a not obvious conclusion in this well written and engaging novel. I think it does make it more sinister as you never really know if he is safe walking around in the deep snow and perpetual dark. Who can he trust?" ―
lacremedelacrime

"If Arnaldur is the King and Yrsa the Queen of Icelandic crime fiction, then Ragnar is surely the Crown Prince … more please!" ―
EuroCrime

"The descriptive prose Jonasson uses is gorgeous and even the actual crime scenes themselves are oddly beautiful sounding. There is a mature elegance to his writing style that really captivates the reader."―Novelgossip

"[Ari Thor's] investigation...uncovers many old village secrets that had simmered for a long time before they boiled over into murder. And, though he makes mistakes, Ari Thor has good investigative instincts and succeeds in proving himself."―
Book Loons

"A classic whodunit set in a stark place with a twisted ending."―AuntieMWrites

About the Author

RAGNAR JÓNASSON is an international number one award-winning and bestselling author who has sold over four million books in thirty-six territories worldwide. He is the only Icelandic author to have entered the Wall Street Journal bestseller list. Jónasson was born in Reykjavik, where he also teaches copyright law at Reyk­javík University. He has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV news reporter, and, since the age of seventeen, has translated fourteen of Agatha Christie’s novels into Icelandic. He is the co-founder of the Reykjavík internation­al crime writing festival Iceland Noir. His critically ac­claimed international bestseller The Darkness is soon to be a major CBS Studios TV series, starring Lena Olin as Hulda, directed by Lasse Hallstrom. Ragnar's novel, Outside, is in development as a feature film by Ridley Scott's production company.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (November 7, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 125014468X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250144683
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.45 x 0.85 x 8.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 9,477 ratings

About the author

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Þ. Ragnar Jónasson
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Ragnar Jónasson was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, where he works as a writer and a lawyer and teaches copyright law at Reykjavík University. He has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, and, from the age of seventeen, has translated fourteen of Agatha Christie's novels. He is an international Number One bestseller.

The Darkness is the first novel in his Hidden Iceland series, to be followed by The Island and The Mist.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
9,477 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book's story and writing style. They found the writing smooth and poetic, with excellent descriptions of Icelandic weather and culture. The characters were described as intelligent and observant. However, opinions differed on the mystery content, character development, and pace - some found it intriguing and enjoyable while others felt it was slow-paced and dull.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

94 customers mention "Readability"80 positive14 negative

Customers enjoyed the book. They found the plot captivating and the characters engaging. The book held their interest and was a quick read.

"...Upon retirement, they returned home. The plotting was very good and I did not have it solved until the author revealed it...." Read more

"...comes with great characters; a wonderful sense of place; a cleverly constructed plot; and that introspective, claustrophobic feeling that often..." Read more

"This book was just OK...." Read more

"...Great character development and plot with an ending that surprised me, but made total sense...." Read more

44 customers mention "Writing style"36 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the book's writing style. They find it smooth, poetic, and well-written, with a great sense of atmosphere. Readers describe the language as clear and descriptive, and they praise the author as an excellent young writer. The characters are well-drawn and sympathetic.

"Beautifully written, SNOWBLIND comes with great characters; a wonderful sense of place; a cleverly constructed plot; and that introspective,..." Read more

"...The prose is quite unremarkable and straightforward, which made it a quick read, but the style is more "tell" than "show," so it is a bit bland and..." Read more

"...Jonasson’s writing is smooth, even in translation. But there is something odd about how Amazon numbers the books in the series...." Read more

"...development and plot with an ending that surprised me, but made total sense...." Read more

31 customers mention "Snow content"27 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's snow content engaging. They appreciate the vivid descriptions of Icelandic weather and culture, as well as the remoteness of the icy environment. The book is described as a well-written mystery set in a snowy town with characters both hot and cold.

"...thoughtful and retrospective style of books, there was much to be admired in SNOWBLIND...." Read more

"Enjoyed SnowBlind - the characters, the mystery & the location. Jonasson’s writing is smooth, even in translation...." Read more

"...The snow, the cold, the darkness--set the perfect background for this novel...." Read more

"...Ari Thor is an appealing personality. And the Icelandic landscape is so beautiful and foreboding, for the first time in my life, I feel like..." Read more

10 customers mention "Intelligence"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's intelligence and descriptive writing to be great. They describe the protagonist as observant and intelligent, with good descriptive abilities. The setting of Iceland is appreciated for its uniqueness. Readers appreciate the clever hints and police procedural aspects. Overall, they consider it an entertaining and respectable example of its genre.

"...Ari Thor is observant and intelligent. He has all the makings of a superb investigator, but his youthful energy gets him into trouble...." Read more

"...But the police procedural part of the book is great. After this book, stories get much better...." Read more

"...n't change your life, but it is entertaining and a thoroughly respectable example of its genre." Read more

"The setting, isolated Iceland, sets this detective novel apart. This was a pleasant story, and I will at least sample the next novel in the series...." Read more

78 customers mention "Mystery content"41 positive37 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the mystery content. Some find it intriguing and enjoy discovering the dark secrets, while others feel the writing is bland and monotonous. The location feels repetitive and underwhelming.

"...Not so in SNOWBLIND. In a series of clever little tricks the reader, who by this stage is likely to be as committed to solving the mystery as Arason..." Read more

"...it a quick read, but the style is more "tell" than "show," so it is a bit bland and lacking in depth...." Read more

"Enjoyed SnowBlind - the characters, the mystery & the location. Jonasson’s writing is smooth, even in translation...." Read more

"...and the descriptions of the location felt repetitive and underwhelming relative to the actual landscape...." Read more

57 customers mention "Character development"39 positive18 negative

Customers have different views on the character development. Some find the characters wonderful and engaging, while others feel there is little insight into them other than the protagonist.

"...Ari is a likeable protagonist who is learning on the job. He is honest and fair. He is treated as an outsider from the south...." Read more

"Beautifully written, SNOWBLIND comes with great characters; a wonderful sense of place; a cleverly constructed plot; and that introspective,..." Read more

"...The characters felt very underdeveloped and the descriptions of the location felt repetitive and underwhelming relative to the actual landscape...." Read more

"Enjoyed SnowBlind - the characters, the mystery & the location. Jonasson’s writing is smooth, even in translation...." Read more

16 customers mention "Pace"5 positive11 negative

Customers have different views on the pace. Some find it fast-paced and full of surprises, while others say it's slow-moving and dull.

"...The story, not the plot, evolves slowly, intertwined with portraits of the town's characters who are part of the novel...." Read more

"...case, it never did develop; it was more like a slow-moving creep towards an uninteresting crime and its mundane solution...." Read more

"...Nothing shocking, nothing startling, evenly paced, decently written, characters were believable, sympathetic even...." Read more

"As much as I wanted to like this book it was too slow. The book wasn't able to build any suspense or sense of urgency to solve anything...." Read more

15 customers mention "Sense of place"10 positive5 negative

Customers have different views on the book's sense of place. Some find it fascinating and enjoy the descriptions of the city, weather conditions, and Icelandic culture. Others feel the book lacks depth and repetitive descriptions of the location.

"...I really liked this book a lot. The location was one of the most fascinating locations that I have read about...." Read more

"...the style is more "tell" than "show," so it is a bit bland and lacking in depth...." Read more

"Beautifully written, SNOWBLIND comes with great characters; a wonderful sense of place; a cleverly constructed plot; and that introspective,..." Read more

"Enjoyed SnowBlind - the characters, the mystery & the location. Jonasson’s writing is smooth, even in translation...." Read more

Slow start...worst ending :-(
3 out of 5 stars
Slow start...worst ending :-(
I didn't like the beginning of the story as it never really meshed. The real story began when Ari Thor moved to Northern Iceland...it was a bit slow. I didn't guess the whodunnits. Ending was like someone shut the door in your face and walked away?? WHAT??
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2017
    Ari Thor is just starting out in his career as a policeman. He is living in Reykjavik Iceland with his girlfriend. He is applying for a job and is offered a position in Siglufjordur which is a northern fishing village 50 miles from the Artic Circle. He takes this position with hope that his girlfriend Kirstin will move with him. Kirsten is put out by Ari accepting this northern most position without discussing it with her and stays in Reykjavik.

    I really liked this book a lot. The location was one of the most fascinating locations that I have read about. Siglufjordur is an actual village in Iceland. It is very difficult to travel to in the winter and was actually cut off by an avalanche in this book. The weather is claustrophobic to Ari with all the constant snow and darkness.

    Ari is a likeable protagonist who is learning on the job. He is honest and fair. He is treated as an outsider from the south. It seemed so many of the characters were born in Siglufjordur and had left for awhile to go to Denmark. Upon retirement, they returned home. The plotting was very good and I did not have it solved until the author revealed it. The book was translated and flowed well. I am going to continue with this author and series. I thought the book was intriguing. .
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2015
    Beautifully written, SNOWBLIND comes with great characters; a wonderful sense of place; a cleverly constructed plot; and that introspective, claustrophobic feeling that often appeals to fans of Icelandic and Scandinavian crime fiction. Coupled with a lyrical translation by Quentin Bates there was not an off-key note from start to finish.

    The first in the Dark Iceland series sees Ari Thór Arason take up his first job as a policeman far from his previous life, and girlfriend based in Reykjavik. There’s a number of changes explored in this move - Arason’s willingness to go for a start, leaving his girlfriend and the life they were building, and the consequences of that decision. The move to such a small, isolated, insular type of community is also a big change for a boy from the city. Getting used to the dynamics and personalities of this small place give the author a chance to really move his character outside his comfort zone. Then there is the cut-off, isolated location itself. Literally cut-off by the weather, another challenge for Arason comes from that idea of being trapped.

    Surrounding a man struggling with so much change with a plot that’s a particularly elegant version of the locked room scenario works well. The cast of character are framed within this small society, locked off due to weather, and therefore outside of everybody’s control. The violent assault and suspicious death that occur must have been perpetrated by an insider creating a sense of vulnerability and suspicion. Often this idea of the entire list of possible perpetrators pushed right into the spotlight from the start can wobble a little. Obvious red herrings, or under concentration on one person can make them stand out as if there was a lighted, pointed arrow hanging over their heads. Not so in SNOWBLIND. In a series of clever little tricks the reader, who by this stage is likely to be as committed to solving the mystery as Arason, could easily be as confused as he is. None of these tricks, however, are overt, until reflection back at the end of the novel.

    The setting of cold, dark and overbearing climate might be a cliché of this sub-genre but here it is perfectly done. The use of the weather as the reason for the isolation, means it already has a focus and is part of the story. To involve it more, as a factor that affects everyone’s thinking and actions as well works. As does the blend of eccentric and normal, long term residents and newer arrivals, people who have adjusted to the place and those that are still struggling. The really personal elements, the romance, the longing and the resignation of loss worked well, pitched perfectly within the protagonist’s searching for meaning and explanation for life.

    Even allowing for a personal liking for these dark, thoughtful and retrospective style of books, there was much to be admired in SNOWBLIND. Those aspects that are typical of the sub-genre are really well executed, those that are a little outside the norm were elegantly delivered. The second in the series, NIGHTBLIND is due out on December 1st. That should be in around 11 days, 4 hours, 20 or so minutes, give or take a few minutes.

    [...]
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2020
    This book was just OK. The prose is quite unremarkable and straightforward, which made it a quick read, but the style is more "tell" than "show," so it is a bit bland and lacking in depth. I don't understand all the glowing reviews touting the sense of moodiness and tension this book supposedly has. One cannot simply keep repeating that "nothing ever happens in Siglufjörður" or keep throwing the word "claustrophobic" around and hope for a successful sense of atmosphere. It makes me wonder if all the glowing reviews are from people who don't read much outside of genre fiction, where the bar on literary quality is much lower. Ultimately, though, I liked the character of Ari Thor enough to finish this book, and I might even read the rest of the series, but I am not expecting great Nordic noir.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
    Enjoyed SnowBlind - the characters, the mystery & the location. Jonasson’s writing is smooth, even in translation. But there is something odd about how Amazon numbers the books in the series. The book title says one thing and the Amazon annotation says another. The books are intended to be read in the order of publication. Snowblind (2010); Blackout (2011); Rupture (2012); Whiteout (2013); Nightblind (2014); Winterkill (2020).
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023
    I love snow, and this book set in dark and snowy Iceland drew me in totally. The snow, the cold, the darkness--set the perfect background for this novel. Great character development and plot with an ending that surprised me, but made total sense. (I don't like books that allow me figure out everything before the end.) I read all types of genres besides fiction, and the historical and geographical books I've read on our countries in the north totally line up with what this book conveys. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2020
    Perhaps it's because it was translated into English, but the story felt very choppy. The characters felt very underdeveloped and the descriptions of the location felt repetitive and underwhelming relative to the actual landscape. I've traveled to Iceland a few times - it's one of my favorite places on Earth - but the descriptions in this book did very little to capture the remoteness, the sheer vastness of the skies, the violence of the wind and snow, and the isolation you truly feel in most of the outer edges of the island. The emotions the characters were feeling seemed stunted, and the overall story itself was sort of forgettable. I finished it just to get to the end, but based on that experience have decided against reading through the series.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Monica
    5.0 out of 5 stars um suspense cheio de surpresas e a descrição do fiorde foi espetacular
    Reviewed in Brazil on October 6, 2022
    O ritmo da leitura é muito bom, os personagens são bem descritos
  • lyntrom
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great start to a new series
    Reviewed in Canada on December 2, 2021
    It's interesting that many of the stories / TV series of Iceland are set in this remote northern former fishing village. As a new police officer trained in Reykjavik, Ari Thor jumps at the chance for his first job only to be told by his chief "Not much happens here". Nothing could be further from the reality that Ari experiences and it puts his skills to the test as he tries to resolve a death of a famous author, that may or may not have been accidental. I also liked that as a newcomer to the village, Ari struggles to adjust and worries that he may also be seen as an outsider. The harsh winter storms leave him feeling claustrophobic. He no longer has his former partner living with him as she had to remain in the capital to complete her medical degree and is feeling lonely. It's a great plot with many characters and unexpected surprises right until the end.
  • Client Kindle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Palpitant du début à la fin !
    Reviewed in France on October 2, 2024
    Très bien écrit, l'histoire vous tient en haleine jusqu'au bout, et restitue parfaitement l'ambiance du grand nord.
    L'enquête est soignée.
    Passionnant .
  • Peter Dare
    4.0 out of 5 stars New Cop Makes Good
    Reviewed in Spain on June 30, 2022
    A young police officer moves to a country post and becomes involved in the local scene with all its scandals. A bit difficult to follow sometimes because of the Icelandic names.
  • daniela clemmons
    3.0 out of 5 stars Island
    Reviewed in Germany on January 15, 2021
    Die Skandinavier können gute krimis schreiben. Dieses Buch war nicht schlecht hat aber manche Lücken. Ich denke dass die nächsten in der Reihe besser sein könnten.