I read this courtesy Minotaur Books and NetGalley. In this mystery set in Iceland, we have a twist on the true case of Agatha Christie. The famed author disappeared, no trace, before she reappeared, and she never explained where she had been and why she had done so. Here, Elín S. Jónsdóttir disappears—and she never reappears. Her closest friends claim not to know anything, not why she would vanish. She was happy! She had no enemies! No idea, they say. She’s probably out there plotting a new book! Well, maybe… Or maybe not. Helgi the detective is assigned this thankless case because, he suspects, his boss has it in for him for whatever reason. As Helgi investigates the disappearance, he realizes that there are questions that don’t seem to have answers. It doesn’t help that his ex-girlfriend, unhinged and violent, threatens his current girlfriend, distracting him when he needs to solve the case before the press gets hold of it. This book is tightly plotted, and as I read, I was met with a feeling of dread. I didn’t want it to end because I was afraid of the ending!
#MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Set in Iceland, crime writer Elin goes missing, and detective Helgi must solve this mystery before the press catches wind. All of those close to her are considered a suspect, and the list is wide ranging. But Helgi soon learns that there was a lot more to Elin than the fascinating crime novels she wrote. We get a deeper dive into Elin's background, but in the process of that, another storyline emerges - that of another detective.

This was a very quick paced book, and rarely have I read crime mysteries like this that were able to a) move at a decent pace, and b) not get muddled in boring details. In this instance, I could not believe the book was over so quickly, and I felt that everything was laid out in a concise yet quite entertaining manner. The atmosphere in this book was also done well, and overall I just fell very present and invested in this read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A mystery surrounded in mystery that spurrs a mystery!

Another phenomenal thriller by Ragnar Jonásson! From the very first page, "The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer" plunges you headfirst into intrigue. A vanished author? That's merely scratching the surface of this page-turning narrative. The investigation unfolds amid layers of deception, hidden truths, and jaw-dropping twists that will have readers clutching their books in suspense! Jonásson proves himself a mastermind of misdirection, delivering a knockout story that kept me guessing(and occasionally cursing in frustration) until the final revelation...what an exhilarating read!

I love all books Ragnar Jonasson writes so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book to review. This book was definitely one of his best. There were so many threads and Hulda was in this book, too! The Hulda trilogy was a favorite of mine and I was so happy to see her make an appearance here.
Helgi has taken over after Hulda’s strange disappearance in the CID. He still has a box of her stuff in the office. No one else seems concerned about her disappearance but Helgi is still looking into it.
He is called away from a visit north to see his Mom for the disappearance of a famous author. Sensing a chance to further his career, he reluctantly comes back to Reykjavik to investigate.
Helgi has a new love interest, Anita, after the trauma he suffered with Bergthora previously. He is unable to come to terms with the abuse he suffered and is still wracked with guilt.
Also, there are references to the golden age mysteries which I had to stop and explore mid reading as well. I could linger in Helgi’s bookstore for hours.
This book, well I cannot quite describe it. The writing is spare but the detail and feelings conveyed are anything but. The translation works so well. I savor each chapter not wanting the story to end. I want to stay with these characters longer. I do think this works better if you already know who Hulda is so do yourself a favor and make sure you have read her novels first.
I look forward eagerly to the next book by this author and thank you so much for this ARC from Netgalley, Minotaur books and the author.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Best seller author goes missing winter day. Is there more than just a disappearance or is there nefarious working. No clues are present as a young detective must figure out what is going before the press finds out. It was just an average read.

I'd never read this author before but this was a fascinating look at a woman writer who goes missing suddenly after her latest novel is a smashing success like her previous books. Elin had done an interview that hadn't been released, and after her disappearance, he husband Helgi is reluctant--but sometimes eager--to hear it as it may provide clues as to her whereabouts. Many things come in to play here--an old bank robbery, a dead inmate, and lots of speculation! It's a journey in itself!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Wow! This story switches back and forth between several timelines as you read. The events of the past, tied to the events of the present, with excerpts from an interview taken in-between… plenty of unexpected twists… very interesting story. I’m glad that I was given an advanced reader copy and I’m happy to leave my honest review.

A sequel to Death At The Sanatorium and a part of the Hidden Iceland series, the book follows young poiceman Helgi as he tries to solve the case of a missing mystery writer while dealing with a complicated personal life. Author Jónasson and character Helgi are both mystery fans, especially of Golden Age Crime writers like Agatha Christie. But while the case calls to mind Ms. Christie's own disappearance in 1926, the film is more of a modern mystery, not really setting clues for the reader to figure out as the puzzle masters of old did. This is not to say this book doesn't work. It does very well, and it's a pleasure to follow along with Helgi on his investigation as well as agonize with him over his issues with his past and present girlfriends. The books three part narrative - Helgi's investigation, the mystery writer Elín S. Jónsdóttir's interview, and Hulda from the Hidden Iceland series's robbery investigation - all move toward the solution. The book ends, as does the previous Death in a Sanatorium, in a cliff hanger, seeming to set up Helgi's next search into Hulda's disappearance. A great addition to Jónasson's ouvre.

I enjoyed the plot of the mystery surrounding the disappearance of famous Icelandic crime writer, Elin S. Jonsdottir, whose absence is being investigated by a young detective, Helgi. Elin's public and private life are gradually revealed as the book progresses, and the result of Helgi's search then comes as no surprise.

Helgi's suspenseful private love life is added as a separate story, which makes the detective more human and realistic to the reader, and contributes to the novel's interest.

This is not a noir mystery as so many Nordic mysteries are, but an enjoyable read, nevertheless.

Death At The Sanatorium was one of my top books of 2024, so I could not wait to get straight back to Helgi and his amazing crime library!
In this story, crime author Elín S. Jónsdóttir goes missing and Helgi is tasked with trying to find her before the press get involved and escalate the situation. With no real clues and with Elín keeping a very small circle of friends, Helgi decides to interview them one by one. The more he gains their trust, the more they are willing to share and their stories and information lead Helgi down a path he was trying to avoid.

Given that both this and the first book had that 'Golden-age' feel, it felt completely appropriate to include references to Agatha Christie and her own disappearance, and I loved that this had a big influence on the story. Helgi is fast becoming my favourite fictional detective and I am going to count down the days to the third and final book in the trilogy.

With the disappearance of a writer of crime fiction one cannot help but think of the mysterious eleven day disappearance of Agatha Christie. Not surprisingly, the author incorporates that into this book, having Helgi tell Anita about it when discussing possible explanations for Elin Jonsdottir’s disappearance.

I liked the references to and discussion of classic crime novels, including some with which I was not familiar. I also appreciated Helgi’s respect for books.

There are multiple subplots in the book, and I admit I was not expecting how two of those subplots would intersect.

Although the book is being marketed as a standalone book, I think the reader will benefit from having read “Death at the Sanatorium” to have the background on Helgi, including his abusive relationship with Bergthora which he is too ashamed to admit.

Also, the story ends with a cliffhanger, so a sequel is necessary.

Scandinavian noir hold great appeal for me as well as many other writers. This is a police procedural of sorts, although the policeman is much different than usual—-a very reflective book lover who has a big secret. Hegli is at the beginning of a love affair and handling a very big case. He’s the perfect officer to find a missing crime writer. One of his methods in his search is to read golden age crime novels about missing persons. I felt there was not sufficient pay off for the buildup and the ending …. However, I loved the characters Hegli and Anita.

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.