For my stop on Ragnar Jónasson’s Blog Tour today I’m reviewing NIGHTBLIND and giving one lucky reader the chance to win a limited edition hardback of NIGHTBLIND signed by both the author, Ragnar Jónasson, and the translator, Quentin Bates.

Firstly, for the review:

What the blurb says: “Siglufjördur – an idyllically quiet fishing village on the northernmost tip of Iceland, accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thór Arason – a local policeman, whose tumultuous past and uneasy relationships with the villagers continue to haunt him. The peace of this close-knit community is shattered by the murder of a policeman – shot at point-blank range in the dead of night in a deserted house. With a killer on the loose and the dark arctic winter closing in, it falls to Ari Thór to piece together a puzzle that involves tangled local politics, a compromised new mayor, and a psychiatric ward in Reykjavik, where someone is being held against their will. Then a mysterious young woman moves to the area, on the run from something she dare not reveal, and it becomes all too clear that tragic events from the past are weaving a sinister spell that may threaten them all.”

Ragnar Jónasson conjures up another deeply atmospheric mystery with NIGHTBLIND, the second book in the Dark Iceland series.

Set five years after the events that took place in the first book – SNOWBLIND – we find Ari Thór reunited with his girlfriend, Kristin, and now father to a son. The shooting of a police officer – the first such shooting in the area – puts him firmly into the community’s spotlight, and sees him reunited with his previous boss and mentor – Tómas – who had left Siglufjördur to take a promotion in the city. With the complexities of the investigation increasing as local politics and deep buried family secrets are exposed, Ari Thór struggles to keep the tensions in his personal life at bay as he battles to crack the case.

Using the setting to maximum effect, Jónasson’s NIGHTBLIND plays out against the dramatic backdrop of the approaching Icelandic winter. The small-town community is more open to Ari Thór’s presence, although he is still considered an outsider even after five years of living there, and the history of its residents and the long held secrets kept within the families there are difficult for him to uncover. This adds to the claustrophobic feeling evoked by this isolated village location, and raises the stakes for Ari Thór as he perseveres with lines of enquiry in the face of opposition.

Beautifully written, NIGHTBLIND is Icelandic Noir at its finest – a modern take on a golden age style mystery, with an extra touch of darkness and an Icelandic twist.

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN a beautiful limited edition hardback copy of NIGHTBLIND that’s signed by the author, Ragnar Jónasson, and the translator, Quentin Bates, here what you need to do:

Tweet the link to this post (using the Twitter button below) OR retweet one of the CTG tweets about the giveaway. [You’ll also need to follow me on Twitter, so that I can send you a direct message should you win]. Rules
(1) One entry per reader (2) UK residents only – due to postage costs – sorry! (3) I will draw the winner at random (4) No cash alternative (5) The competition closes for entries at 9pm GMT on Thursday 7^th January 2016 (6) The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Good luck! *** THIS COMPETITION HAS CLOSED AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ***

Find out more about Ragnar Jónasson and the Dark Iceland series by hopping over to the fabulous Orenda Books website. And be sure to follow Ragnar on Twitter @ragnarjo

You can also click this link to head over to Amazon to buy NIGHTBLIND

And don’t forget to check out all the other great stops along the route of the NIGHTBLIND Blog Tour …