Reykjavik Nights by Arnaldur
Indridason
Inspector Erlendur keeps thinking
about Hannibal the homeless man he sometimes chatted with who was found drowned
months ago. It was ruled an accidental
death, but was it? Between night shifts
working traffic, responding to domestic disturbance calls and foiling burglaries
Erlendur begins an off the record investigation of his own, one that leads him
to believe Hannibal’s death was anything but an accident.
If you’re thinking of visiting
Iceland this is probably not the best series to read since it shows the dark
underbelly of the city. That said, what
is detailed here, a small homeless population, the lack of services for victims
of domestic violence, drug trafficking and a high preponderance of drink
driving (as they call it) are truly the ills of the city and country. Murders are extremely rare, hence why
Hannibal’s death would be considered accidental and not investigated too
thoroughly.
A short, quick police procedural highlighting
everyday life of a police officer in Reykjavik with a tight plot and
construction.
