4/29/14

Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indriðason



★★★½

GENRE: Mystery
SUBJECT: Spousal abuse, deserted grave
Setting: Reykjavik, Iceland
CHARACTERS: DI Erlendur Sveinsson, Eva Lind, Elinborg, Sigurdur Oli, Grimur, Simon, Mikkelina, Benjamin Knudsen
DATE READ: April 25 - April 30
NO. OF PAGES: 293
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , MYSTERYCAT
SOURCE: MCL Library

PLOT:....................................................................4.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................4.00
STYLE:..................................................................3.50
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.00
Threshold Quality.................................................4.00
Average..............................................................................................3.50

A skeleton is discovered on the site of new building construction and the police have to first determine who the victim is, how long it's been buried, and then the cause of death.  At the same time as the body excavation is taking place DI Erlendur and his team are trying to find out who may have lived in the old housing projects that once stood on the site.

Erlendur is distracted, however, because his drug addict daughter is in a coma and he can't stop blaming himself.

Each time that I've sat down with this series, I have a hard time because the names of the characters are so different from what I'm used to.  But each time, I've been very glad that I read the book.  The writing, style and plotting are excellent.

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