Wow, this book was amazing. I have not read Ragnar Jónasson before, but now I am ready to pick up his earlier works. This book could be read as a stand alone, but does reference characters from previous books. It ends on a cliffhanger, so hopefully there is a followup to this, as I need to know what happens.

This book takes place over multiple timelines, but all the stories come together in the end in a satisfying way. There is a presumed missing writer in the current time, and a botched bank robbery that ends in a murder in the earlier time. Plus lots of interesting characters to follow as Detective Helgi tries to find the missing woman. I enjoyed reading this, and loved that the detective was also a dedicated reader of crime fiction.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer is a fast-paced Icelandic mystery with a lot of moving parts. Famous crime writer Elín has gone missing and detective Helgi Reykdal, who is a collector of crime fiction, must figure out what happened to her. As the story unfolds we’re given snippets of an old interview with Elín, a mysterious conversation between potential robbers, and in the midst of trying to solve the crime Helgi is also dealing with his stalker ex-girlfriend. And while it’s not clear how it’s connected, we also have the fact that Helgi replaced Hilda, a detective who also disappeared.

I read through this book quickly and really enjoyed it. The fast chapters and having several interesting subplots really kept me entertained.
While all of these plots are interesting, throughout the book you’re left wondering how they’re all connected, and the answer is not fully given in this book. Our main mystery is solved but there are a lot of loose ends which never get tied up.

My biggest problem was I didn’t feel like the book was wrapped up nicely and it kind of felt unfinished. That being said, I think a lot of this comes from the fact that this book is part of a series, and I found out through research there is another whole series dedicated to Hulda. So while this book didn’t feel complete, it did make me want to read the other books to get the whole story.

It was fast paced and entertaining, and I will certainly be reading other books from this author.

Great mystery/thriller novel that gave me Agatha Christie vibes at times. This is a perfect cold weather read.

Review: The Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jónasson

I had a hard time getting into this one. While I enjoyed the first book and was glad to see Hulda return, this installment felt disconnected—there was little payoff for remembering details from the previous story. The psychological exploration of Bergthora was intriguing but ultimately frustrating, especially since Helgi, as a police officer, seemed implausibly blind to the potential danger she posed to Anita. His romantic feelings for Anita felt unearned; their relationship lacked depth and development, making it hard to invest emotionally. On the other hand, his love for books came through clearly and felt authentic. The twist was decent, but overall, the book fell flat for me. Helgi didn’t hold my interest, but I’m still planning to read the third installment in hopes that Hulda finally gets the justice she deserves.

*ARC review* As a fan of Nordic, and particularly Icelandic, crime novels, I enjoyed this book overall. There did appear to be some translation errors and typos.

The plot was engaging, and the prose was really quite lovely at times. The atmosphere of this book was similar to other Icelandic crime novels; if you enjoy Arnaldur Indriðason, you’ll probably like this book.

My ARC copy either was cut short, or this book ends on a very abrupt cliffhanger. Hopefully the published book is complete, and longer, and I hoped for a more satisfying ending!

Very enjoyable story. The characters were well written and realistic. I really liked the mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for letting me read and review an advanced copy of ‘The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer’, by Ragnar Jónasson.

Helgi Reykdal is away from home when his boss asks him to come back and investigate a possible missing person case. Little did he know that it would involve a lot more than just one missing person, and that his personal life would also be upended.

I have enjoyed Jónasson’s books in the past, and I was enjoying this story as it progressed, but the ending left me hanging.

After a well known mystery writer, Elín, goes missing, the case is assigned to Reykjavík police detective Helgi. As he investigates, long-held secrets of Elín’s and her closest friends are progressively revealed. Meanwhile, he is also interested in another missing person, a fellow police officer, and on a personal level, he is striving to solidify a new romantic relationship that his prior abusive partner tries to thwart.

This is the fourth book that I have read by Jónasson, and I have liked all of them. The story is told in three timelines, creating a fast-paced, atmospheric, and intriguing Nordic Noir narrative. The clever twists make for a compelling read. And, oh, that ending!

The character of Helgi was introduced in Jónasson’s prior novel, Death at the Sanatorium. This is not advertised as a series, and it is not necessary to have read the prior novel as this works well as a standalone. I do hope, though, that there will be another book continuing Helgi’s story as there were some questions left unresolved, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

This one had such a strong setup and vibe. The Icelandic setting? Immaculate. Cold, quiet, a little eerie. It gave me that exact moody backdrop I was craving. Helgi was a thoughtful and relatable lead, and I appreciated how grounded he felt through all the chaos.

The mystery itself was layered and really interesting. I liked the premise of a missing crime writer and how it slowly unraveled, with plenty of tension and emotional depth. That said, the timeline jumps and shifting POVs got a little jumbly for me. I found myself having to pause and refocus, especially in the middle. And while the short chapters helped keep things moving, it did start to feel like some pieces could have been a bit tighter.

The ending left me with mixed feelings. I didn’t mind the loose thread, but I definitely wanted more resolution after everything. It felt like we were building to a bigger payoff than we got.

Still, if you’re into Nordic noir, slower burns, and mysteries that lean literary, this could be a great pick. Just go in knowing it’s more of a quiet unraveling than a twisty thriller.

This was a really good story and very well written. However the ending made me think I was missing pages. Helgi was my favourite character. It felt like you could really root for him. The pacing of the book was fast, which was fantastic. Except for the ending, which I explained above. I definitely would continue reading. If I could give it 4.75 stars, I would.

This book was just alright. There is definitely room for improvement. I do enjoy that there are the different timelines that tie together as the story goes, but I kept hoping for MORE. I wanted more excitement or just something.. it was like there is a missing piece here.

The bank piece was interesting.. but we never get closure on the missing detective that is entwined here as well.

I get adding information on what’s going on in Helgi’s life with his ex and current girlfriend- but they add nothing to the story at all. Maybe that’s what I’m missing from the story?? The point of all that?? Like hopefully there is a part two because to throw all that together the last few pages seems rushed and pointless.

Or perhaps I wanted more detective work than Helgi just talking to the same people over and over. Just weak character development.

The conclusion of it all was just, bleh. Which I think was a word that could describe the entire book.

When a bestselling crime author disappears in her native Iceland, her best friend, her publisher, and others question if she's missing on purpose, dead, or the victim of foul play. Detective Helgi dives into the investigation of this author and her many secrets. Of course, the people he interviews want to shield their reclusive friend from public scrutiny, others have secrets of their own to hide, and a few others lie.

The characters were well-drawn and believable, the dialogue worked well, and the pacing moved the story along at a fine clip.

Oh, but that ending. The aftereffect of reading this story is the regret of missed opportunities. Each character lost something valuable because of a missed opportunity, the feelings unspoken, the details overlooked, the action not taken. All paid a high price for the miss.
I'd like to thank the author, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader's copy of this mystery/thriller. This book debuts September 9, 2025.

I received an ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

When I skimmed some of the other reviews before reading, I was disappointed to see this described as part of a series; I never like to start a series except at the first book. However, as far as I can tell, it is more of a spin-off with the character of Hulda mentioned, but not a main character. I could be wrong, but if this is basically a spin-off, I didn't feel that back story was missing. Or if it is actually part of a series, then the author competently re-established past events, and I did not feel lost.

That said, it took me a while to get into this book. There are 2 timelines as well as chapters arranged as an interview. The reader doesn't know what character is speaking in some of the past timeline, and we also don't know who the interviewer is/when it takes place. I probably would have DNF'ed if this were not a NetGalley read.

However, the book is really not long, so I powered through and was getting intrigued in about the last 20%. I enjoyed how the timelines all came together. I did not, however, like the reveal of just what happened to the crime writer! It felt anti-climactic and sad. Plus, it was described in a short paragraph, after an entire book wondering. The very last chapter is sad and ends on a total cliffhanger. I literally kept trying to go to the next page on my Kindle.

I will read the sequel (assuming there will be one!) because I hate cliffhangers

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I held off for a couple of days before reviewing this because I thought that I was missing the second half of the book - talk about an abrupt cliffhanger ending.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a police procedural taking place in 3 seperate timelines that all interconnect, and all 3 were interesting and kept me engaged which is rare for a book of this style
Now I’m going to spend most of my time waiting to find out if/when the follow up book will be released !!

A thrilling read that will make any aspiring author pause before writing their next crime thriller! Each page uncovers more and more of the truth and I found it hard to put down!

A very interesting read about the disappearance of an author, who happens to be a crime writer.
It gave me a close feel to Agatha Christie and her real like disappearance during some of the investigation scenes. This is a translation copy and some of the names were a guess for me, but that can always be fun coming up with the pronunciations.
I was unaware this was a series, but that did not deter from the story at all! It felt like a standalone and was an enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All comments and opinions are my own.

While trying to move forward with his life and career, Helgi searches for a missing author, contends with an old flame and looks into his predecessor’s life and career. Filled with darkness and suspense this thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer is a love letter to classic crime fiction wrapped in a clever, quietly chilling mystery. Ragnar Jónasson has crafted something deceptively simple here—on the surface, it’s a missing person case set against a remote Icelandic backdrop, but underneath, it’s a meditation on storytelling, legacy, and the darkness writers court to create.

This book isn’t flashy or twist-filled in the usual sense. Instead, it unfolds with a slow, deliberate grace that feels almost old-fashioned—in the best way. Every clue, every quiet moment, builds a steady tension. And just when I thought I had a handle on where it was going, Jónasson tugged the rug out from under me—not with a loud reveal, but with a whisper that hits just as hard.

The atmosphere is stark and haunting. You can feel the isolation, both physical and emotional. And the literary elements—references to authors, questions about what fiction owes to truth—gave it a meta edge that made my inner book nerd very happy.

If you enjoy mysteries that are thoughtful, atmospheric, and rooted in character rather than spectacle, The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer is a slow burn worth savoring. Quietly brilliant and deeply satisfying.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer
Hegli Reykendal, a detective in the crime bureau in Rykavik, was called away from his vacation to locate Elin Jonsdottir, a best selling crime writer. Elin lived alone and had not been seen for a few weeks.
Hegli began his search by interviewing the author’s closest friends: Lovisa, a retired judge, Thor, an attorney and Rut, her publisher.
While the investigation was going on, Anita, Helgi’s current girlfriend, was being stalked by his former girlfriend, Bergthora. Bergthora was an abusive person with mental problems and had never accepted that Hegli ended the relationship.
The story takes place in three different years: 1965 when two young people plan a bank robbery that took a fatal turn, 2005 when Elin gave an interview to a media personality but requested it be released after Elin’s death and 2012 when she went missing. There is also a story about a female detective, Hulga Hermannsdottir, who had inhabited Helgi’s office before her disappearance years before.
I enjoyed the story because it was located in Iceland, a part of the world I have visited. It gives an insight into the Icelandic people and their culture. I also liked the way the author, a an internationally acclaimed Icelandic writer, kept us in suspense until the very end.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2025/06/27/book-review-the-mysterious-case-of-the-missing-crime-writer-a-mystery-by-ragnar-jonasson/