Ragnar Jonasson has penned a claustrophobic mystery that kept me riveted from the first page, Ari Tho Arason, a rookie policeman from Reykjavik leaves his girlfriend and his past behind to accept a post in Siglufjörður, a small, quiet fishing village in the north of Iceland. The town, isolated by a road that is often blocked due to snow, is rocked with murders in the winter of 2009. How to find a murderer in a town where everyone knows everyone and their secrets. It's up to Ari, the outsider, to find the murderer before he or she strikes again.

Jonasson does an excellent job in this mystery, both in the plot and his descriptions of Siglufjörður, a town that holds many secrets. Added to that, the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in the town. Ari is young, and does make many mistakes, but his tenacious ability to see that justice is done serves him well. Fans of Nordic crime and perhaps Louise Penney will enjoy this Icelandic treat. I cannot wait for the sequel.

Thank you St. Martin's for the Net Galley copy in exchange for this unbiased review.