Atmospheric, reflective, melancholy and shaped by the unmistakably harsh landscape that defines Iceland, this book was a perfect example why I love to read Icelandic crime novels. Even better to have the opportunity to read it whilst travelling around Iceland, which enabled me to visit the locations Indriðason has written about. I loved losing myself in the snow covered fictional landscape, thoroughly intrigued by the mystery Erlendur is determined to solve. Even though this is not a cheerful book, at times questioning the essence of life and death that defines us, I felt an affinity to Erlendur that made me get all the previous books in the series to explore his back story.