Young detective Helgi is slightly obsessed with mystery novels (who isn't) and jumps at the opportunity to look into the disappearance of a bestselling crime author Elín S. Jónsdóttir. There are no clues to what could have happened.

Not everything is from Helgi's POV. There are chapters that are during an interview Elin did 7 years earlier than present day (2012). There are also chapters from Hulda's POV, another police detective, who has also disappeared, while she is involved in finding the other culprit in a bank robber gone wrong.

I am going to justify a lot of my displeasure with this book up to differences in European versus American mystery writing. This book is kind of depressing. I can't think of anyone who had a happy ending. Also, not all the plot holes are filled. Looking at other reviews this might not even be the first book in the series which might also explain a lot as well. Definitely not that last book? Or I guess those resolutions are never coming and that is a cultural thing? The mystery part of it was a little lackluster and resolving more might have helped with that.

Even though this was book 2 of a series it can be read as a stand alone. It was a clever and entertaining read from one of my favorite Nordic authors. In this story a well known writer of crime novels disappears. Upon looking further into her missing case, more unexpected events about her life come to light! And it ends on a cliffhanger!

I received a copy of this from Net Galley, though my opinions are my own. I'm a huge fan of Jonasson, and in this book two of his detectives - Hulda and Helgi - converge, though not quite in the same timeline. Helgi is charged with investigating the disappearance of a famous mystery writer. The plot moves in and out between three timelines, and it's tough to put down. My main complaint is that the book is too short - almost a novella. But we are set up to meet everyone again - which I am definitely here for.

I believe this is the beginning of a new series. Although this is the first novel by this Icelandic author that I have read, I plan to seek out more of them. The protagonis,t Helgi, is a bookstore owner/policeman called back from vacation to investigate the disappearance of a famous mystery writer. Elin Jonsdottir. Elin had few friends, but they dated back to her college days and so ultimately are primary source of the investigation. The story goes back and forward in time to build up background and suspense until the final denouement. A second layer relates to Helgi's private life, the abusive relationship he has left and his new lover and how unknown to him how she has been threatened. Fans of Nordic crime will enjoy this latest entry. And the twist at the end calls for more.

A gripping Nordic noir that weaves together three mysteries across multiple timelines—this was my first Ragnar Jónasson read, and I’m already itching for more.

Set in Iceland, the novel follows detective Helgi Reykdal, who’s reluctantly pulled back into work while visiting his mother, after a famous crime novelist, Elín Jónedóttir, suddenly vanishes. But that’s only the beginning. As Helgi digs deeper, he’s also confronted with the lingering disappearance of the detective who once held his position—and shadows from his own past that refuse to stay buried.

Told through past and present events, with scattered interview excerpts woven throughout, Jónasson crafts a clever and fast-paced narrative filled with subtle clues, unexpected turns, and atmospheric tension. I especially appreciated the layered structure and how each timeline unfolded with just enough intrigue to keep me guessing.

The story is brisk, the chapters short, but there’s no shortage of depth. Every page has you questioning what’s real, what’s connected, and what’s coming next. And that ending? Let’s just say I’m hoping we haven’t seen the last of Helgi—or Elín.

If you enjoy intricately plotted mysteries, moody settings, and detective protagonists with a literary soul, this one’s for you. A solid addition to the world of Nordic Noir, and a compelling introduction to Jónasson’s writing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I'm a fan of Ragnar Jonasson but I was a bit disappointed by this book. Mostly because his others have been superb.
Detective Helgi is tasked with finding a missing writer and his success could make his career. He has moved out from a horrendous sadistic relationship that was difficult to read about and excited about a new love. His own story is interwoven with the search for the missing writer. Another detective seems to be missing but no one seems to care.
I liked the unfolding of the mystery, The ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. And we never did learn about the missing detective.

Thanks to NetGalley for loaning me this book sadly they didn’t let me finish it, it disappeared after page 198 leaving me in the dark on a number of loose ends that had not been tied up, or maybe this is a cliff hanger. This was a fast read with chapters alternating between 4 time periods. There are two missing persons, one a famous author the other a police woman, a crazy ex girlfriend who gets violent when drunk, a bank robbery and an interview with the missing author. While we get to know and like Helgi the policeman looking for answers. There’s a link for all the chapters, only I still have some missing links. Great book, will have to purchase to complete the links.

Good book, predictable a smidge but still liked it. Totally open for a sequel. If there isn’t then I’m not a happy person :)

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Helgi, voracious reader and lover of Golden-Era mysteries is back. In another read that reminded me of Indriðason’s Erlendur series, he is investigating a disappearance. For almost the whole novel we’re not even sure if a crime has been committed. The missing person is Elín Jónsdóttir, bestselling author of crime novels who, following the example of Sjöwall and Wahlöö, only wrote ten books. Another disappearance haunts Helgi, that of his predecessor Hulda, who defied the male-dominated profession and became a top cop. Some chapters follow her and, even if they are pertinent to the overall plot, they felt a little disconnected from the rest of the story. There aren’t too many suspects, the red-herrings are minimal, and most of the novel follows Helgi trying to find out everybody’s secrets, including Elín’s. We also see his personal life, as he tries to get over a traumatic breakup with a new girlfriend. But his psycho-ex won’t let him go. I was surprised that I was as invested in the disappearance, as I was in Helgi’s life, since I’m normally not too interested in those parts. The plot had a satisfying ending, but there is a part that is left hanging and I really, really hope we’ll get another novel that tells us what’s going to happen.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books.

Umm, where's the rest of the book? It just ends mid-scene. Plus, there's a side plot that never goes anywhere or has any resolution at all. I don't understand why the 1970s chapters were included. They added nothing to the story and only serve to give some background information about the missing Hulda. I assumed her chapters would explain what happened to her husband and daughter and eventually give a clue to her current disappearance. Nope. There was no explanation for any of that, and I genuinely don't understand the point of her chapters. Also, once Helgi is told what happened, he calls Elin's friends and family to tell them without confirming anything. The person could have been lying to him for all he knows so it was baffling and unrealistic to not confirm things first. Up until the terrible ending however, I was thoroughly enjoying this mystery. I was invested in finding out what happened to Elin, and I loved all the references to Golden Age mysteries. A couple of the twists really surprised me. It went by very quickly too and it only took me a few hours to read it. I'm honestly not sure how to rate this book. The bulk of it gets 5-stars, but the ending was so unfinished I don't know if I should take off one star or two. I suppose I'll say 3.5 stars rounded up, but I do hate the way it ended.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

An Icelandic detective who loves crime fiction and runs a bookstore travels to the capital to solve a missing persons case. A famous mystery author, who wrote ten books and then retired, has vanished. Her story, and that of another detective, are woven in. There's also a creepy ex behaving threateningly, which the detective unaccountably fails to address even though other people are in danger. That seems convenient for the plot but inconsistent with the character (and generally manipulative for the reader - a ticking time bomb that has little to do with the mystery).

I was a bit stunned when I got the ending. This is it? A whole thread is left unresolved and unaddressed. I was sort of warming to the story but then - oops, the end. It may be a cliffhanger, but it wasn't set up very well and I was annoyed I'd invested the time.

Another excellent read by a very inventive author of mysteries! Basically it is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma complete with some astounding twists. It grabbed me until I finished it and went looking for some earlier books by the author.
It is translated from the Icelandic by Victoria Cribb.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Pub Date Sep 09, 2025 ***** review @bookbub @goodreads #storygraph
#TheMysteriousCaseoftheMissingCrimeWriter by Ragnar Jónasson @ragnarjo @minotaur_books @vickycribbtranslator @stmartinspress #internationalcrimeandmystery #mysterythriller #suspense #nordicnoir #mixedtimeline #relationships #missingpersons #icelandicthriller #addictedtoreading #detective #bookaboutbooks #unputdownable #sneakyhumor @librarythingofficial

Detective Helgi Reykdal loves mystery fiction, so when the opportunity to investigate the disappearance of a prominent crime writer arises, he can't wait to investigate. The book follows Helgi's efforts to unravel the secrets behind the author's absence (is she dead or just missing?), while also including two additional storylines: one involving Helgi's former colleague, Hulda, and one dealing with Helgi's abusive relationship with his former girlfriend.

I liked Helgi, and the principal mystery was interesting. However, the solution was a bit of a let-down. The perpetrator is discovered, and while the identity of the murderer is a surprise, I had the sense that the case could have been solved more quickly if Helgi had just asked the right people a few questions. I did appreciate the storyline about the domestic abuse directed towards Helgi. This is a serious problem which is sometimes treated as a joke. His suffering is not discounted just because he is a man and is therefore not supposed to be a victim.

The main problem for me is the plotline involving Hulda. This is presented with little background information and never reaches any kind of satisfying conclusion. This was so confusing I did a little research and discovered Hulda is the central character in other Jonasson books. I have not read any of these, so I just couldn't understand the inclusion of her story in this book. I can only assume Helgi will look into her disappearance in a future installment of this series.

This book is unsatisfying as a stand-alone, but I imagine it would be much better for readers who have completed at least some of Jonasson's Hidden Iceland series involving Hulda.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed reading The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer. At first, I thought it was odd that there seemed to be several different storylines (the missing crime writer, the disappeared detective, and the storyline regarding Helgi's ex). Still, by the end, it all started making more sense, and I could see how much of it tied together. This book leaves off on a cliffhanger, leaving me wanting more. I hope there will be a sequel. I'd love to know what happens next!

I found this too be both interesting and confusing. There was a lot going on - 3 disappearances, in total - and lots of side drama (which was totally unnecessary)… the time jumps took getting used to but overall it was a pretty solid read. I felt the ending was bonkers and unsatisfying - I’m not sure the reader ever actually knew “for sure” how things played out… the pieces were just kind of stated aloud by characters and the reader couldn’t tell (or at least I couldn’t) if those characters were believable or unreliable. I’m giving it 4 stars, but it’s probably more like 3.5 or so.

This was a slightly confusing book. There are three stories going on at once, but they do start to converge and part of it makes sense. There is in-depth character building, but I can't say I was overly fond of Helgi. He seems to be a slightly immature young man who gets used by people. I felt sorry for him. The book ends with a cliff hanger and I am hoping the next book gets a bit better answers the rest of the mysteries.

Ragnar Jónasson remains an author I always seek out. This book does not disappoint. I couldn't put it down. At first I thought it would be a hand-off of Agatha Christie's disappearance and the theories that abounded about it, but this book gave a new perspective. I love the pacing of the book, a chance to settle into the cold landscape and characters. Wonderful!.

5 stars.

An Icelandic detective, Helgi, is assigned to investigate a missing crime writer, Elin. The story is told with frequent flashbacks to different years, with only hints to what it all means. I enjoyed the overall story and different plot lines, and the characters are well drawn out. I also enjoyed the detective’s love of reading. However, the ending left me with many questions. It seemed as though there was a chapter missing, when it all came to an abrupt end and some puzzles weren’t solved. Despite issues that do not seem to add up, the story was engaging. I was left wanting more. With thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Another great story by Ragnar! Glad that this story begins that Helgi has definitely left his abusive relationship and appears to truly be in love! Good old pound paving to solve this mystery..,good story! Not too dark (sometimes his are!)

A skillfully crafted Icelandic "who done it." The narrative moves through time, plotting developments into three different mysteries; all through the eyes of police officer, Helgi Reykdal. One story concerns a missing crime novelist (hence the title). The second, is a missing police officer whose position Helgi filled. Each of these stories intertwine. The third concerns the mystery of Helgi's life and how violence follows him even when all he wants is to curl up with a good detective novel. The book leaves the reader wanting more. Will there be a sequel? One can only hope.