Arctic Chill

Arctic Chill (2005/2009) Arnaldur Indriðason and translated by Bernard Scudder and Victoria Cribb

This is, I believe, the fifth book in the detective Erlendur series, and I continue to like Erlendur and enjoy spending time with him despite myself. Erlendur is a broken and often not very nice man, and there are many reasons to not like him, yet I find myself enjoying this book.

Possibly because there is a very dry humor under everything.

His home was furnished with handsome, trendy furniture, a magnificent kitchen and expensive flooring. Graphic prints decorated the walls. All that was lacking was the faintest sign that anyone actually lived there.

An Asian boy is found dead in the courtyard of his apartment complex, and everyone is both horrified by his death, and wondering whether the attitude of Icelanders towards immigrants is behind the murder.

One of the things I particularly liked about this story is how we see Erlendur juggling several cases, as well as his problematic relationship with his children and watching is his mentor, Marion Brem, die.

What I find most fascinating about this story is my reactions to Erlunder, especially his interactions with his children. I get so mad at him for how he reacts of Eva Lind, yet at the same time I feel terribly sorry for the young boy trapped in Erlunder, still searching for his brother.

I also found the reaction of Icelanders to immigrants fascinating, and in many ways similar to what I see here in the US.

‘We want foreigners to come here and do shitty jobs at power stations, fish factories and as cleaners, then pack up and leave again when we don’t need them any more,’ Elínborg said. ‘“ Thanks for the help, don’t hurry back!” God forbid that we might get stuck with these people. But if they do insist on coming here, they can stay away from us.

This may be a difficult series for some people to like, but I find myself wanting to learn more and more about Erlunder, no matter how much of an ass he is.
Rating: 8.5/10

Published by Minotaur Books

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