Snowbilnd by Ragnar Jónasson

Siglufjörður: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors – accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thór Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik – with a past that he’s unable to leave behind. When a young woman is found lying half-naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life. An avalanche and unremitting snowstorms close the mountain pass, and the 24-hour darkness threatens to push Ari over the edge, as curtains begin to twitch, and his investigation becomes increasingly complex, chilling and personal. Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness – blinded by snow, and with a killer on the loose.

The plot is so complex, in such a delicious way that I can't really go back and tell you some about what is happening in this book. So I will stick to the very short basics. 

Ari Thor gets a job offer with the police in the very north of Iceland, he takes it without any hesitation and moves there leaving his girlfriend behind. Arriving in a small town where nothing ever happens, he will soon discover that this isn't so true after all. 

I was intrigued from the start, what was absolutely incredible is that this is completely different from anything I have ever read before. And I don't mean just because it's in this idyllic place I never dreamed of or because the people's names are unique. What really does it, is the fact that you aren't just left wondering who committed the crime, but also what the crime is, who was wronged and when it happens. There is little clues there to prepare your mind for something to come and other then that, it leaves you wondering. 

The author switches between the characters and we get backgrounds of many of them here and there. And at first I thought, do I really need to know this? But as the plot thickened, I realised that everyone is slowly being tight together in a way I could have never imagined, this had my lips forming a massive O many times. 

I could have never ever predicted what is to come in this book and how it is going to end. The story has earned my respect and wonder with every passing page. 

The plot is unique, mysterious, thrilling and shows the authors incredible talent. But it's not only the plot that impresses. The characters are so complex, all in their own way. You will go from hating to liking some and vice versa, you will suspect everyone and you will come to love some too. 

And last but not least I wanna visit this place. No matter if it's snowed in and completely torn away from any other place. It sounds beautiful and idyllic. I want to see it with my own eyes. 

As I moved towards the end of this book o couldn't turn the pages quick enough, I didn't want to go to sleep before I finished it and all this while I didn't really want it to end either, because I wanted to read much more. I think this book gets better as you get further into it. About a third in I would say the book is good, once it's finished the answer is it's incredible. I can't praise this enough. 

Personally I love Snowblind very much and I can't wait to start Nightblind. Already giddy to get back to the small town, where nothing ever happens. 

Thank you to Karen at Orenda Books for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.