During World War II, a young Icelandic woman named Rósamunda was found strangled outside the National Theater in Reykjavík. Because of "The Situation" (so called because of the vast numbers of Icelandic women dating the American servicemen stationed there), it was suspected that perhaps a soldier had been involved, so Thorson from the military police and Flóvent from CID team up to investigate Rósamunda's death.
Sixty years later, Stéfan Thórdarson, a nonagenarian, is found dead in his bed. At first it's assumed to be natural causes, because of his age, but then it's discovered he was smothered. And in his room is a stack of newspaper clippings about Rósamunda.
Arnaldur Indridason (Jar City, Strange Shores) has brought his understated style to The Shadow District, the first in a new series. Intrigued by the story of Stéfan Thórdarson's death, and with the permission of his former colleagues, retired police officer Konrad begins poking about into Stéfan's life--and the inexplicably ineffective original investigation into Rósamunda's murder.
With fascinating detail about Iceland's rapid shift from a rural, largely agricultural nation into a modern financial power during World War II, The Shadow District is sure to appeal to history buffs. It is also an austere yet surprisingly empathetic mystery. Indridason skillfully weaves the separate queries of Flovent and Thórson in the 1940s and Konrad in the present day, giving life to Rósamunda and her contemporaries, and creating a tension that will keep the reader guessing. Fans of Henning Mankell and Jo Nesbø will love Arnaldur Indridason. --Jessica Howard, bookseller at Bookmans