Ragnar Jónasson!

To get ready for our holiday in Iceland, nothing beats an Icelandic crime novel during Belgium’s July heatwave.

What I particularly like about this author is how quickly you can read his different novels while still having a genuinely enjoyable time.

The book is called La Mort en blanc. It is the first volume in his new trilogy, with Helgi as its main character… at least at the beginning.

Part of the story takes place in a sanatorium in Akureyri — we were going to drive past it during our holiday, and the owner of our Airbnb used to work there! — while the rest unfolds in Reykjavik.

The story moves between several periods, but Ragnar Jónasson handles them masterfully: you never lose track. The plot is enjoyable, although I personally found the resolution a little too easy.

Perhaps the author’s main aim was not really to make us search for the culprit, but rather to introduce us to his characters, their stories and their secrets.

All in all, La Mort en blanc remains an enjoyable and fast-paced read, perfect for getting into the right mood before setting off to discover Iceland.