Amid Iceland’s wild, volcanic landscape, rumors swirl of an 800-year-old manuscript inscribed with a long-lost saga about a ring of terrible power. A rediscovered saga alone would be worth a fortune, but, if the rumors can be believed, there is something much more valuable about this one. Something worth killing for. Something that will cost Professor Agnar Haraldsson his life. Untangling murder … murder from myth is Iceland-born, Boston-raised homicide detective Magnus Jonson. Seconded to the Icelandic Police Force for his own protection after he runs afoul of a drug cartel back in Boston, Magnus also has his own reasons for returning to the country of his birth for the first time in nearly two decades—the unsolved murder of his father. And as Magnus is about to discover, the past casts a long shadow in Iceland. Binding Iceland’s landscape and history, secrets, and superstitions in a strikingly original plot that will span several volumes, Where the Shadows Lie is the first in a thrilling new series from an established master.
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Takes place in Iceland and gives lots of details of Rejavik and surrounding area. Very likeable characers. Fun to read.
A lot of detail around Icelandic history and the sagas. Probably a little to much for me.
This series is my go-to when I want to read a mystery set in Iceland.
Protagonist was well developed, not so much the others. Plot was fair.
I hope there will others in a series by the author.
I couldn’t put this book down and never wanted it to end. Will be getting more of Mr Ridpath’s books and love the characters.
Loved this book. Fast read.
This is a unique mystery. It combines police procedural with Icelandic mythology. For me, this novel was fresh and original. I definitely recommend it.
Gave up with the Icelandic verbiage and descriptions. Tried twice and quit.
I really enjoyed this book. I have always been fascinated by Iceland and a chance to read about it was one I could not miss. Loved the reference to skyr yogurt. We eat skyr yogurt all the time. Just tickled me. Plus the story about the sagas and the ring were different. I also really liked the descriptions of the cities and the country in general. …
UNUSUAL well-researched setting of Iceland, excellent descriptions of the landscape & unexpected characters kept my attention. Esp absorbing were the Icelandic sagas & possible link to Lord of the Rings. Look forward to the next in the series.
I am a LOTR fan and really enjoyed how the story line connected and twisted around the LOTR saga.
Just a good old fashioned , action packed enjoyable read.
Based on some facts and containing a few real characters combined with a lot of myth and fantasy the book draws parallels between this and J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Hobbit”. A good read if you are a fan, and a very plausible history for the Hobbit itself. I enjoyed this book, the description of the country of Iceland itself was done so well, I could …
Excellent procedural in an unusual setting.
Really found the Iceland history and culture very interesting.
It’s not often you read a book set in Iceland. The history of the sagas was very interesting.
Could not put this down until finished! Loved the Iceland setting. A wonderful taut mystery full of suspense with the myths and lore of ancient history woven throughout, and an unexpected twist at the end. I’m ready for more.
Kept me guessing. Unique.
I learned a,great deal about Iceland that made me want to see it in person.