Death at the Sanatorium alternates between three timelines: 2012 where Helgi is writing a criminology dissertation on one of the most notorious murder cases in recent Icelandic history, which seems to him still unsolved more than thirty years later; 1983 when the deaths occurred; and 1950 when the sanatorium was still serving its original purpose, caring for patients with tuberculosis. This book, which self-consciously pays homage to golden age murder mysteries, also alternates between multiple characters, as the truth slowly unfolds.

This is my first Ragnar Jónasson, but it won't be my last. I knew that I would enjoy the Icelandic setting, and the descriptions of the old sanatorium, but I also loved the way Jónasson vividly and concisely creates a sense of setting for every location the story moves between; from Helgi's basement flat, lined with bookcases of old detective novels, to the modernistic box that has functioned as Reykjavík police station since the 1960s. There is something almost cinematic about the writing, but it never lingers too long on unnecessary detail at the expense of plot.

Death at the Sanatorium has one of the best openings I've read in a while. I loved the way it uses short, punchy chapters throughout, but the opening chapter was particularly effective, leaving me unsure of what I was about to read or who I could trust. I was hooked from the very start of this one. It also kept me guessing until the very end, as the solution to the case is revealed to be one that makes perfect sense but that I never would have guessed. It helps that each of the characters feel like fully-formed people, engaging but realistic, and with so much richness to their lives above and beyond their involvement in the murder mystery. However, all of that depth does mean that I wasn't fully convinced by how all the (more minor) storylines were wrapped up. I would love to see these threads continued in another book in the series.

Death at the Sanatorium wasn't quite a five-star read for me, but I enjoyed it very much. A page-turning read that managed to surprise me, and has introduced me to an author I will definitely be reading more from.

Overall this was quite an enjoyable read about an old murder investigation being studied by criminology student Helgi. The story is told through multi POV over multiple different dates. It moves at quite a good pace throughout but unfortunately I found the ending where the reason behind the murders is exposed a bit underwhelming.

An average read. I wanted to like it more but there were so many bits that either didn't make sense or should have been explored more. The ending was a little disappointing too. It just had an overall feel of a good story but just poorly executed.

This was a very pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the whole atmosphere building and how the story is told by different POVs. I enjoyed the building of the characters too. For me was a easy to read book that keep me hooked and I really liked how it went and how it ended. Is rare now days see a book that don’t disappoint you in the end. But this was a very good reading for me

Death at the Sanatorium is a classic murder mystery set over multiple.timelines. Ragnar Jonasson is a master of suspense as he slowly ratchets up the tension while always keeping readers guessing and properly riveted.

I read this book quickly and I enjoyed seeing the crime be reinvestigated and interviewed, good build up of pace and tension too.

A good mystery told from the perspective of criminology student Helgi with flashbacks from characters who were present in the sanatorium at the time of two suspicious deaths.
I enjoyed the multiple aspects of storytelling but the story overall didn’t blow me away. I didn’t like the very ending of the book. Whilst I guess the narrative of Helgi’s relationship was peppered throughout the book, the last page, for me, was a bit random and frustrating.

A fairly quick read but a tense and atmospheric thriller with unsolved murder cases at a sanatorium being revisited 25 years later by a criminologist with his own issues.

All the witnesses are reinterviewed and have their own reasons to be reticent.

The excitement and tension builds and I greatly enjoyed the ride.

Only six employees were occupying one wing in what was once a tuberculosis hospital. But the population of the Akureyri Sanatorium unexpectedly reduced even further.

When a nurse, Yrsa was found brutally murdered it would seem that with a handful of suspects, the murderer would easily be rooted out. But despite a few false starts (with the initial arrest of the caretaker) and the apparent suicide of one of the doctors, the trail goes cold.

So it is only 2 decades later, when a young criminologist with an interest in murder mysteries decides to investigate after joining the police force - from which the earlier detective on the case is about to retire - that the case is revisited. But even if the mystery does get solved, what other old tensions and long-held secrets will get stirred up in the process...?

This is a interesting piece of storytelling and the atmospheric description of events around the old sanatorium brings it alive in the reader's imagination.

The cover and marketing for this book suggest that it will lean more towards cosy crime - perhaps with a historic bent - than the dark Scandi-style police procedurals than Jonasson is known for. This is misleading, as Death at the Sanatorium hews closely to the style and plotting of his previous books.

Overall it moves at pace, but I found the decision to leave the reader guessing whether main character Helgi was a domestic abuser an exceedingly odd one, to say the least. Despite guessing what the twist would be, it left me unable to sympathise or even like him which spoiled my enjoyment of the book.

I enjoyed this but wasn’t the best of his books. Quite simple and I felt like there could have been a bit more set back in time in the sanatorium to give you a better understanding. I do get why there isn’t though as it’s the way the story is told. Apart from that, it was a fast read and it does keep you engaged. I will always read anything he writes.