Voices

Voices (2003/2006) Arnaldur Indridason translated by Bernard Scudder

There has been a murder in one of the fancy hotels. A particularly nasty murder, with a man in a Santa suit, in a compromising position, stabbed to death. Inspector Erlendur and the rest of the police have been called in, but nothing is at it seems, from the man himself–a doorman who lived in a small room in the basement–to any possible suspects.

First, Erlendur seems more and more curmudgeonly with each book, but that doesn’t make the story any less enjoyable or him less likable.

He didn’t listen to modern music. For a long time after hearing people at work talking about hip-hop he thought it was a variation of hopscotch.

That is just marvelous.

Second, I like that there are other cases going on, despite the rush to discover who murdered the doorman.

Third, Erlendur becomes more and more sympathetic as we learn more about his past–the event that all but destroyed his childhood. I can’t imagine such an event and a loss at that age. And although we’d learned about the event in a previous book, this time we learn more of the reactions of the rest of his family, and more of how it changed and shaped Erlendur.

It’s quite interesting.

Also, I learned what Gullfoss and Geysir are (a waterfall and a geyser in Iceland) so that’s just a BONUS.

One last thing–pay attention to how the murder victim is referred to as the story progresses. It’s fascinating how he changes from Santa to the doorman to a man with a past and a history.
Rating: 7/10

Published by Minotaur Books

 
 

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