Helgi is assigned a new case, a famous author has gone missing, but he has to keep it low key, no appeals in the media as she is a very private person and her friends, although concerned are sure she will reappear. Threaded through is the story of a bank robbery where only one person was convicted, and the policewoman, Hulda, who is tasked in trying to get the man to reveal who committed the robbery with him. Hulda disappeared shortly after leaving the police and Helgi has inherited her office, he feels her disappearance was not taken seriously and decides to look into it further.
There is also the added drama of Helgi’s ex now harassing his new girlfriend. I do hope there is a follow up to this as we are left with not knowing what happened to Hulda nor the outcome of Helgi’s private life. A really good read with plenty happening.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

An Icelandic novelist vanishes. At the start of the book, policeman Helgi is minding a bookshop for a friend. Then he has a call from his boss in Reykjavik to say that a famous crime writer is missing. The story is interspersed with clips from an interview with the novelist, through which the reader learns more about her career and character. What makes this book enthralling is the strong characters, Helgi’s back story and the gradual realisation of why the author disappeared. Will look out for more books from this author.

Ragnar Jonasson's The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer presents readers with an intricate web of mysteries, layered timelines, and the stark beauty of Icelandic landscapes. This is the second instalment in this series and even though it was read as a stand-alone, in hindsight, reading the previous book would have enriched my experience.

The freezing temperatures and Icelandic locations help set the mood for a mystery that is both chilling and haunting.

The narrative unfolds through several timelines, each offering unique pieces to the puzzle. In 2012, detective Helgi investigates the baffling disappearance of renowned crime writer Elin Jonsdottir. The 2005 timeline presents Elin giving a taped interview to a journalist, while a 1965 thread pulls us into a discussion of a bank robbery.

If that weren’t enough, Helgi’s investigation is further complicated by the mysterious case of his predecessor, Hulda, who also vanished under suspicious circumstances. This interlocking of mysteries keeps the pages turning and the reader guessing. Each twist and turn is delivered with careful pacing, ensuring that the stakes remain high from start to finish.

It did take some time getting into the flow of the author but I am happy that I stuck with it. The inconclusiveness of not finding out what happened to Hulda and the abrupt ending was disappointing but I suppose that is explained by this being a series and hopefully these points will be addressed in the next instalment.

Overall this was an entertaining read which I really enjoyed.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

This was an interesting read. At times, I found it confusing yet intriguing enough to continue reading as there are several different layers of stories being told at the same time. I'm pleased I stuck with it, as the layers unraveled and suddenly unconnected pieces of information made sense. I did not see the ending coming and will now be looking out for the next book to see how things are resolved.

A new author to me and an interesting read.
The main detective protagonist is entwined with three disparate plot lines, one an actual case, one something he is dipping into and one he isn’t aware of closer to home .
All is seeming resolved at the end albeit not in expected ways .
All three are good scenarios on their own but I found them all a little confusing to keep on top of .
Will definitely try another of his books in future.

This is the second book in the Helgi Reykdal series and I do recommend reading book one first although this would read as a stand-alone. Helgi is a police officer who has recently escaped an abusive relationship and is now seeing Anita and is considering moving in together. He loves reading golden age mysteries and is a big fan of Agatha Christie, as is the author and that is clear in his writing, which is quite simplistic and easy to read, verging on cosy.

Briefly, in 2012 Helgi is investigating the strange disappearance of bestselling crime author, Elín Jónsdóttir, who seems to have disappeared without trace to the consternation of her friends. His investigations lead him back to two other distinct thread in the book, 1965 when students are planning a bank robbery and 2005 when Elin offers to do an interview with a journalist but with one proviso, it must not be released until after her death. Helgi is also, unofficially, looking into the disappearance of his predecessor Hulda Hermannsdottir, which has never been solved. Meanwhile, Helgi’s partner is concerned that his previous partner may be stalking her.

As another big Christie fan I always enjoy this authors books and I did find this one particularly entertaining, despite the massive cliffhanger ending which had me checking my copy to make sure there wasn’t a bit missing! I need the next book now. It’s an intriguing mystery with all the threads neatly tied together, albeit not completed in all cases. A good fun read. 4,5⭐️

I loved Ragnar Jonasson's Dark Iceland series so I was excited to read this one, which features Helgi from some of his previous books.

I liked the idea of a well-read detective dipping into crime fiction to inspire him to solve a mystery. However, I didn't know any of the authors mentioned (who I expect would have been familiar to the readers of the original Icelandic version), which made it hard to relate. The mystery itself is fairly straightforward, I found myself more interested in the second mystery in the flashback about his predecessor, Hulda, which I gather will is the focus of the next book in the series. I was a bit surprised by the ending which leaves us with a cliffhanger in terms of his personal life. I actually went back to check and see if I had a fault version of the ebook as it seemed an odd place to end the book!

A recommended read for fans of Icelandic fiction and detective stories with multiple mysteries.

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was initially an intriguing mystery with very strong echoes of Agatha Christie’s mysterious disappearance nearly a century ago. There were also links to an earlier unsolved missing person case as well as a bank robbery. There were several time lines and different POV and in the beginning, these were not always well formatted and it was a bit confusing.
This is apparently the second in a series although there is nothing in the blurb to indicate this. The basic plot is a standalone but Helgi’s personal life has a story that obviously runs through both books. I liked the character of Helgi and felt that his own storyline of life with an abusive partner was well intertwined with the investigation into the writer’s disappearance. This was a fairly interesting plot but it all felt very low key and the resolution to it seemed to be achieved with very little effort on Helgi’s part.
What I didn’t really get at all was the inclusion of the unsolved disappearance of Helgi’s predecessor. Apparently she is the main character in some of the author’s previous books but I didn’t see any point to her POV being included in this novel especially as the case didn’t seem to progress any further.
I was also really frustrated by the ending. It wasn’t even a cliff hanger, just very abrupt. The event itself wasn’t a surprise but to leave it as the final page felt as though the book was unfinished. I guess that this is part of the author’s style and it will be carried on in future books but it spoilt things for me.
The Case of the Missing Crime Writer was an OK read but the seemingly irrelevant plot strand and ending (or lack of one) probably mean that I won’t read anything more by this author.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

It is so lovely to be (albeit virtually) back in Iceland with Ragnar Jónasson's latest book 'The Mysterious Case Of The Missing Crime Writer'.
Elín Jónsdóttir, a retired famous Icelandic crime writer, has disappeared without a trace. Helgi Reykdal is called back to Reykjavik from his hometown of Akureyri to investigate the case. The mystery evolves in three different timelines which converge with unexpected twists towards the end. There was a bank robbery nearly 50 years ago where a bank employee was shot. In 2005 an interview is recorded where Elín is talking to a journalist and reveals astonishing information. In 2012 Helgi investigates the disappearance, meets Elín's friends and discovers long held secrets while trying to manage his private life.
This is another brilliant thriller for all fans of Islandic Noir! I very much enjoyed following Helgi's latest case and am now impatiently waiting for the next installment!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for the ARC.

This was a lovely atmospheric mystery. The plot was compelling with numerous strands pulled together neatly to make for a riveting read. The main character is great, a thoughtful, wounded detective with a sharp eye yet on the outside of the establishment. The most irritating aspect of this book was the cliffhanger at the end. The mystery was solved but the loose ends were left open and directed you towards the sequel. Frustrating!

Three time zones in this intriguing, very dark and twisted story.
1965, students decide to commit a Bank robbery, but everything changes when a gun is put into the plan and a man is shot.
2005, Elin Jonsdottir is an accomplished crime writer, who has written ten books in the past twenty years. When she is interviewed by a journalist, she tells her that “ life is just one big crime novel.”” Elin prefers to read books about justice and punishments, her stories are based upon the lives of her friends, so, this interview must not be published until after her death, there are sensitive secrets hidden.
2012, Elin has vanished, her friends are concerned. What price is loyalty to her friends?
Helgi Reykdal works for the Police. He is an avid reader of the Golden Age crime stories, a fan of authors such as Agatha Christie and Josephine Tew. He is brought in to investigate her disappearance. Have her books upset someone, or have they revealed a dangerous secret.?
Helgi has recently split from his abusive girlfriend, she is an alcoholic, and a manipulative and domineering woman. She is now stalking his new lady love.
A slow burner of a story, but these three threads are woven together so beautifully and when they all come together, most events make sense, but, there must be a third book in order to tie up the bombshells dropped in the final pages?
A wonderful page turner of a book. I rated it as five stars. Recommended to my library and reading groups for consideration.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my advanced copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review. I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

An intriguing tale of the investigation into a missing author that also involves an interview that took place a while ago plus a bank robbery from even earlier. Somewhat confusing and I found that the thread that knits it all together came rather late. The investigator’s own personal life was another distraction culminating in the shock ending that sets up another episode so I’m not too sure about this one having been a fan of previous stories.

Um... not sure about this one. I haven't read the first book in the series, and maybe that would have prepared me for this one more. I found the writing very simple - possibly it was the translation - and the use of first names all the time seemed strange - though maybe this is how it is in Iceland.

There isn't a lot of meat to it, and it's not exactly gritty, yet not quite cosy either. I suppose I was expecting either a Scandi Noir, or (because the author's name and the title made me think of it) a Hundred-Year-Old-Man type wacky story. This is neither. I guessed all the revelations well before they happened, though this doesn't particularly bother me.

The ending came so suddenly, I couldn't quite accept it was the end of the book and kept swiping at my Kindle to get to the next page. It felt unfinished to me, though on reflection, the unfinished bits will no doubt be picked up in the next book.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer Ragnar Jonasson
5 stars

The second book in the Helgi Reykdal series

This is the second book in the Helgi Reykdal series and it is as good, if not better, than the first. Helgi is a very likeable character who is into crime novels. He has finally extricated himself from his toxic relationship with Bergthora and is in the early stages of a new one with Anita who is totally different.

When a very famous Icelandic crime writer goes missing Helgi is delighted to be given the case to solve as he is hoping to move up in his job and as Elin S Jonsdottir is very famous his reputation will be enhanced. However there are no real clues not only as to how she has disappeared but also why. As Helgi interviews her few friends he seems to be getting no closer to finding out what has happened.

The book goes back to the past involving the disappearance of Hulda Hermannsdottir many years before, and a bank robbery that she was investigating. To begin with, this appears totally incidental but this author is a master of drawing together threads in the story. There is also a transcript of an interview given by the missing author to an apparently random journalist. The story moves between all these apparently random threads until eventually we discover how the whole narrative comes together.

I really enjoyed this book and the ending was totally shocking making sure that I will definitely be looking out for the next one in the series. I have read some of this author's stand-alone books and have never been disappointed..

Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

I'm really enjoying this series. Helgi is a wonderful character, a little different to your typical Detective, and very bookish. It makes him an outsider in amongst his fellow Detectives in a way, but no bad thing as he is the perfect investigator for this particular crime, especially given his part ownership of a bookstore and the missing person being one of Iceland's most famous crime writers, a woman who came to define the genre before the genre was even a thing. The big question, aside from where Elín Jónsdóttirn has vanished to, is why she would go missing. The more Helgi digs, the more questions he is faced with as it is clear that not only Elín, but her friends, seem to be nursing a whole host of secrets. But are any of them dangerous, or is the reason for Elín's disappearance altogether more innocent.

This is a kind of homage to golden age crime fiction but with a very modern edge. If you have read Helgi's first outing, Death at the Sanatorium, then you will know that Helgi has been through the ringer in the past, that he is a very scholarly kind of character, and that his passion is for traditional crime fiction and psychology - both of which can come in very handy in this particular case. Helgi's preoccupations may be very present day, and his own past is, sadly, anything but in the past, but the styling of this mystery is a touch more of the traditional styling, with a succession of unexpected discoveries and friends who give over that duplicitous feeling, excelling at only providing half truths, so much so that you have to wonder if they really want their good friend found at all. Add in the missing Elín, giving the whole case a very Agatha Christie style feeling, and it makes for a compelling read.

The narrative moves between present day and the past, including outline details of a past crime, an investigation led by Helgi's predecessor, Hulda Hermannsdóttir (yes that Hulda), and an interview given by Elín to a journalist some years before her disappearance. At times I did wonder how all of the various threads might draw together, but Ragnar Jónasson is a very skilled storyteller and you know that you are in safe hands so can just relax and go with the flow. It is really intriguing that Hulda is drawn into to the story and I will be interested to see where the author leads this particular storyline in the future. There is another element of the story which comes to a rather dramatic, if not inevitable, head by the end of the book, and although a touch sad, it fits with Helgi's circumstances and I was actually good that this part of the story has been carried from one book to the next. It makes it feel more authentic in a dark and twisted kind of way.

If you are looking for adrenaline pumping action, then this won't be the book for you. It is more sedate in pace, but still as utterly compelling, relying on good old fashioned mystery and misdirection, used to great effect and which had me glued to the pages. There are a number of suspects, assuming that something untoward has happened, perhaps even including the missing writer herself, for reasons that will become clearer in the reading. You can really feel the author's passion for golden age crime in this series, as well as his general love of crime fiction, all of which has led to another really enjoyable mystery that has left me wanting the next book really rather soon please.

This is a wonderful mix that includes some Golden Age mystery vibes and modern Icelandic noir, with detective Helgi digging into the secrets of a missing author. The multiple timelines make it a fast and engaging read, with secrets to be unpicked in-between the lines.

There are clever twists and interesting characters which keep you gripped. But, fair warning, this book ends on a huge cliff hanger that brings the book to a smashing halt. I can't wait to find out what happens next.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer (a nice, short title for social media) by Ragnar Jonasson is the second outing for detective Helgi Reykdal.

This time, Icelandic crime writer, Elín S. Jónsdóttir has gone missing, leaving no clues behind, and it is up to our detective to investigate before the media finds out.

Ragnar’s love of Agatha Christie and knowledge of classic crime writers shines through in this page turner. You don’t have to know about Christie’s disappearance to enjoy it, but it gives it more depth - a quick google will help.

I guessed some of the things going on but not all - Ragnar’s so good at leading you down a different path than the one you expected, cleverly using Christie’s methods as well as his own.

This is a fast, fun read, out I think, in the UK on 21st Aug.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer, and it's no wonder why. Ragnar Jónasson has been hailed as a "world-class crime writer," with The Times even asking, "Is this the best crime writer in the world today?"

Jónasson’s credentials are impressive. A huge fan of Agatha Christie, he has translated 14 of her novels into Icelandic. He credits her with greatly influencing his writing style and teaching him many technical skills. So, we’re off to a great start.

Jónasson clearly enjoys developing and fully understanding his characters, often featuring the same lead detective in multiple books, such as his Hulda series. The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer is the second book featuring the new detective Helgi, who first appeared in Death at the Sanatorium as a young criminologist writing his thesis on a cold case. In this second outing, Helgi is now a new detective called to investigate the disappearance of a crime writer. Hulda also makes an appearance in both of Helgi’s books, no doubt to the delight of her fans.

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer revolves around the sudden disappearance of Elín S. Jónsdóttir, a famous crime writer. One winter night, Elín just vanishes without a trace, leaving no clues at all. Helgi is under pressure to solve the mystery of Elin’s disappearance before the media find out. As he talks to those closest to Elín, he discovers that her life was just as mysterious and filled with secrets as her books.

I loved this book and read it quickly, hooked from the very first page. The plot - or rather, plots - are intricately woven, drawing readers into the secretive world of Elín S. Jónsdóttir. Alongside the main mystery, there is also a personal storyline relating directly to Helgi.

Jónasson skilfully explores Helgi's personal struggles and professional challenges, adding layers to his character that make him more believable. His journey to uncover the truth is compelling. The feelings and, sometimes puzzling, actions of Elin’s close friends are carefully examined and before long they too feel real to the reader.

The loving descriptions of the stark beauty of Iceland add to the story. Overall, the Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer is a thrilling and enjoyable read, combining richly detailed plot with well-developed characters. The ending came as a shock and has guaranteed that I will read the next book in the Helgi series—once I’ve read his first outing, of course.

I really appreciated the creativity and effort behind this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Mixed views on this, the second book featuring Helgi and fifth (i think) featuring Hulda (in flashbacks).
Jonassan’s love of Golden Age mysteries shines through in this, with parallels drawn between the central mystery of the missing author and various classic novels. We effectively have three or four storylines running in parallel - the missing author, Helgi’s personal life (picking up six months on from the previous cliffhanger assault), an interview with the author seven years ago, and a robbery that ended in a death back in the 60s that Hulda was involved with in the 70s.
This is all fine and Jonassan can manage multiple timelines as well as normal. But… the central mystery is undercooked and curiously handled (possibly a cultural issue) and I just didn’t buy that this how they would be investigating the case, and this undermined the book for me

The other elements were stronger and it’s good to see Helgi get suspicious about Hulda’s disappearance. The ending is another brutal smash to black (if this was a TV series). I like the approach - it’s unusual and leaves a genuine cliffhanger