320 pages

4 stars

I have read many of Ragnar Jonasson’s novels and have enjoyed them all. I found this book to be a delightful departure from his previous writings.

This book has several things going on. We meet Helgi, a police detective who has a passion for the “old time” crime writers. He easily gets lost in nostalgic episodes of days gone by. These musings refresh and invigorate him.

He is assigned the disappearance of a very famous Icelandic crime novelist, Elin Jonsdottir. Helgi interviews Elin’s publisher, friends and acquaintances.

A flashback provides the reader the story of Hulda. She was the first woman who became a police officer. She was very dedicated and smart. She is asked to interview a prison inmate who committed a bank robbery where a security guard was killed. Hulda is to find out who his accomplice was.

Another flashback provides the reader with the text of an interview Elin gave to a magazine reporter. A very interesting interview, complete with surprises.

When the reporter tells Helgi about the interview, and subsequently shares it with him, the case of Elin’s disappearance explodes.

What follows is a fast-paced conclusion.

What bothered me about the book are the loose ends. What happened to Hulda? What happens to Helgi’s relationships with the two personal relationships? Hopefully this is the start of a series. I was especially interested in Hulda. She was such a brave and likable woman.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

A most delightful and absorbing cozy Scandi-mystery, set in Iceland (wonderful backdrop!) and referencing and resonating with illustrious Golden Age Mysteries, such as Christie, Tey, and Van Dine.

Several aspects of this mystery resonated with me, so I am eager both to read the author's earlier stories, and to look ahead to extension of this protagonist, an endearing character with a fascinating background and in-depth personality.

As a lifelong devoted reader, son of a bookshop owner (and now once again himself owner of his late father's bookstore), our protagonist is never happier than when engrossed in fiction [a good thing, because his life is sometimes a hard row to hoe!). Although a police detective, he revels in the puzzles of mysteries and of police cases (and he certainly is involved in a puzzle here, quite reminiscent of the disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926). Also, his recent past as the author subtly reveals it is both unusual yet very common. I shall say no more as I don't wish to reveal the story; but I will note that the author, Ragnar Jonasson, posseses a keen and in-depth understanding of this type of circumstances and of both victimization and gaslighting narcissism.

In all, THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE MISSING CRIME WRITER is a novel I wholeheartedly recommend!

Very clear-cut, well-written mystery with a police detective. However, the final cliffhanger was tough for me! Will we get more??

Great writer but I really could not get into this story. Thanks for the opportunity to read but it was just not for me. Good Luck with the boo.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jonasson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

St. Martin's Press
Pub Date: 9-9-25

Thank you @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and @ragnarjo for the opportunity to read this eARC.

". . . all secrets have a way of coming out in the end."

My first Ragnar Jonasson did not disappoint! I couldn't put this book down and finished within 24 hours. The structure, especially the interview format, is very effective, introducing Helgi, Elin, and Hulda across three timelines.

Go in with nothing but the brief description and enjoy!

Looking forward to future installments.

"Helgi’s imagination instantly took flight. He didn’t know Elín personally, he’d never met her, but the case fired up his interest to such a degree that he was even prepared to cut short his holiday and return to Reykjavík. It was the link to literature, the intriguing fact – if he were honest – that a crime novelist should become the subject of a criminal investigation."

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by new to me author Ragnar Jónasson, published by Minotaur Books / St. Martin's Press, is a stand alone thriller.
One winter evening author Elin goes missing. No clues, without a trace.
Assigned Detective Helgi has his work laid out for him, but what he finds übersteigt every imagination of his.
Suspenseful, hanging on the edge of the seat thriller, 4 stars.

RUDE! This ending was so very rude - you can't do that to a person!!!!

This is my first time reading Ragnar Jónasson's work, and I think I've fallen a little in love with Helgi and his book-lovin'-crime-solvin'-manner.

Helgi is on a bit of a break visiting his mom when he receives a call from his boss that a famous crime writer has gone missing. He heads home to take the case and in the next few days Jónasson strings together a great story. Without giving too much away we have the primary missing person case, a secondary case involving the previous holder of Helgi's job, and a stalker.

It's a quick read with a fast paced story and short chapters. However, that didn't mean that the story was skimped on, each section is a day, and the story is over in less than a week, it doesn't give you long to get to know Helgi or the people he interacts with, but it gives you enough to want more, as does that ending...which I'm still smarting about.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for this opportunity.

All hail the King of Nordic Noir!

Few authors can weave multiple plot lines together with such precision and ingenuity as Ragnar Jonasson. In his latest novel, Jonasson proves once again why he is one of the only writers who can combine his considerable skill to become a triple threat as an outstanding author in crime, mystery and Nordic noir. From the first chapter to the final, masterful reveal, The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer is gripping, intelligent, and utterly absorbing.

The novel showcases Jonasson’s signature ability to craft suspense, weaving together intricate narratives that culminate in a breathtaking and perfectly executed conclusion. He cleverly weaves his newest novel into the fabric of his earlier works, seamlessly incorporating beloved characters and familiar themes. The playful nod, "There was a rumor the author was a former prime minister!", adds an extra layer of intrigue for devoted fans, while ensuring the story remains inviting to newcomers.

Every twist keeps you on edge, and the ending delivers a brilliant payoff that lingers long after the last page is turned. Whether you’re a devoted follower of Jonasson’s work or a newcomer to his dark, atmospheric storytelling, The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer novel is a must-read.

Iceland’s premier crime writer, Elin Jonsdottir, has gone missing and this is the starting point of this wonderful new mystery. Helgi Reykdal will be assigned the case, perfect for a book lover like him. This trail he follows vers off in different directions and by the brilliant ability of the author these paths will converge in a stimulating, exciting conclusion. Bank robbery, a missing police detective, 4 friends not to be trusted, and an unexpected sibling….and let’s not forget Helgi’s psychotic ex-girlfriend….whats not to like?

And the ending….well let’s just say I had a few not very nice words today at the ending. Please, Mr. Jonasson, write the next one soon.

Highly recommended!

Ragnar Jónasson brings us back to Iceland for a chilling, fast-moving mystery with a literary twist!

In this latest Golden Age Detective inspired installment, we follow Helgi, a detective still searching for clarity in both his work and personal life, as he takes on the strange case of Elín S. Jónsdóttir, a celebrated but retired author who has suddenly vanished.
To get the most out of this book, it helps to be familiar with the earlier stories. Knowing Helgi’s history makes his emotional investment in the case feel more layered, and the tension with his ex carries extra weight. And then, of course, there’s Hulda. Her reappearance gives me hope that she will feature again.

Helgi’s investigation unfolds through interviews with Elín’s small circle of friends and professional acquaintances, while the narrative alternates with flashbacks from both Elín’s time as a law student, transcripts from an interview she does as well as some narrative from Hulda’s past. These shifts are smooth and add a slow-burning suspense to the story without ever dragging the pace.

This one is lean and tense. I read it straight through in one sitting and was completely pulled in.

#RagnarJónasson #StMartinsPress #NordicNoir #Themysteriouscaseofthemissingcrimewriter

Ragnar Jónasson created a noir book by having several people killed off during the story. I won't say who was killed but it was a very interesting ending. I can see how he used each character in his book to create the necessary data to finally kill them off. Let's just say you won't be surprised by who they are. I will say that our hero, Helgi Reykdal, wasn't killed, and he liked reading Agatha Christie, and other older authors at that time. I liked this story very much and I hope you will too.

The year is 2012 when police officer Helgi is called away from his vacation to work on the case of a missing writer. He loves nothing more than sitting in his late father's dusty bookshop, surrounded by books he'll probably never sell, settling in for a long session of reading. His boss informs him that Iceland's best-known mystery writer, Elin Jonsdottir, has been reported missing after not turning up for several appointments with friends. Although he's disappointed that his holiday (which included visiting with his elderly mother) has been cut short, he's excited to try to figure out what happened to Elin, especially since there's a literary aspect. To help motivate him, he brings along some books from "Golden Age" mystery writers that feature disappearances. Back in Reykjavik, he begins by speaking with the people closest to Elin: her editor Rut and Rut's husband Thor as well as retired judge Lovisa. They had all been at school together many years ago and had kept their close friendships alive, meeting for regularly scheduled outings. It seems no one has heard from Elin for over a week and since she refuses to use a cell phone, they have no idea how to get hold of her. Meanwhile, Helgi has recently started a new relationship with the calm and gentle Anita, which is a relief after his last girlfriend. Helgi has never told anyone, but his former partner Bergthora was abusive to him, culminating in a horrific attack that finally forced him to leave her. She has tried to contact Helgi, but now she has resorted to stalking his new girlfriend Anita, alerting Helgi that something must be done to stop Bergthora.

I had a lot of problems with this novel, starting with:

Sort of shoe-horned into the story are a few chapters from the perspective of Hulda Stefansdottir, who held Helgi's job before him with the police. Hulda has apparently also disappeared. Even more shocking, no one in the police force (her former co-workers) seems that bothered. There is a box of Hulda's belongings in Helgi's office that he intends to "sort through" to see if he can find any clues to her disappearance, but he never gets around to it. There are several chapters from Hulda's point of view in the mid 1970s sprinkled throughout the story, from her time as a police officer struggling with a male-dominated and misogynistic police force, but nothing that adds to what might caused her disappearance. I'm sure maybe this is part of a long arc over several novels to get to the bottom of what happened to her, but it's not very helpful to anyone reading this as a standalone novel. Her disappearance is mentioned followed by some random chapters from 40 years ago and then nothing . . .

There is also a story of a long-ago bank robbery where a guard was killed. One person, Einar, was arrested for the robbery (although it's never explained how he was caught) and sentenced to a prison term. His accomplice was never identified. This was another strange aspect to this story as it seems the police only ever interviewed Einar following his arrest. If they'd done any research into his background, his potential accomplices would have been pretty obvious.

Then Elin's life doesn't add up. She dropped out of law school and worked as a teacher for a year. Afterwards, she returned to Reykjavik and STARTED teacher training college. After she had been working as a teacher. For a year. With apparently no qualifications.

Another ridiculous thing is when the mystery of Elin's disappearance is apparently solved, Helgi doesn't follow up or confirm any of it. He simply calls everyone he's interviewed as part of the disappearance and repeats what he's been told. He doesn't check to see if any of it is true, he just accepts it and repeats the story back to all of the people concerned about Elin. Would a police officer really not check the facts before claiming the case was solved and telling everyone?

The story is interesting and engaging, but lots of head-scratchers and things that don't add up makes this a disappointing overall read.