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The body in the bath
Author: Ragnar JónassonPage Count: UnknownPublication Date: Expected publication 2026-11-10 APL The ghosts of Christmas past are about to come back and haunt Helgi Reykdal in Ragnar Jónasson's latest mystery, The Body in the Bath. And I'm not just talking about the snow-covered streets of Reykjavík — I'm talking about the personal demons that have been plaguing this young detective since the untimely death of his girlfriend, Aníta. But, of course, that's not the only body we're dealing with here — there's also the titular body in the bath, Bergþóra, Helgi's ex-girlfriend, whose lifeless form is about to turn Helgi's world upside down. —What's the deal with these Scandinavian authors and their obsession with dark, wintry landscapes? I mean, I get it, it's atmospheric, it's moody, it's the perfect backdrop for a good ol' fashioned murder mystery. But can't we get a little more...sunshine? A little more...hope? I guess that's just not the vibe Jónasson is going for here. So, Helgi's got a lot on his plate — grief, anger, a dash of guilt, and a whole lot of suspicion. His colleagues are turning against him, and he's got to clear his name before it's too late. But as he delves into the past, into the unsolved disappearance of his predecessor, Hulda, the lines between past and present start to blur. And I'm left wondering — what's the real mystery here? Is it the body in the bath, or is it Helgi's own fractured psyche? —It's like Jónasson is playing with the idea of trauma and how it can warp our perceptions of reality. Helgi's not just investigating a crime, he's investigating his own past, his own relationships, his own sense of self. It's a clever move, and it's definitely going to keep me on my toes. But here's the thing — the synopsis is a bit vague, and I'm not entirely sure what to expect from this book. Is it a traditional whodunit, or is it something more complex, more layered? I mean, Jónasson's got a reputation for crafting intricate plots, but I'm not seeing a lot of that in the synopsis. Maybe that's intentional, maybe he's trying to keep us in the dark, just like Helgi. —I'm reminded of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series, the way she weaves together past and present, the way she explores the darker corners of the human psyche. And maybe, just maybe, Jónasson is trying to do something similar here. But we'll have to wait and see. One thing's for sure, though — I'm intrigued. I'm curious to see how Jónasson's going to navigate the complexities of Helgi's character, how he's going to balance the personal with the procedural. And I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out for this one when it drops in November. —Oh, and I just got a text from my daughter, reminding me that her science fair is tomorrow, not next week. Guess I've got some last-minute judging to do. #IcelandicNoir #Mystery #Thriller