- Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Vintage (7 Aug 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099494140
- ISBN-13: 978-0099494140
- Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 2.2 x 17.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 188,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Draining Lake
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More About the Author
Product Description
Country Magazine
'A brilliant new mystery... It is Indridason's most gripping book yet'
Review
`the story soon has you caught in it icy grip. And the scenery is spectacular'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I generally do not like intertwined story lines and flash-backs, and I hate the phrase 'unputdownable'.
'The Draining Lake' has two intertwined story lines and I thought it, erm, unputdownable. The atmosphere, the characters, the dialogues, the story itself... it is a long time ago that I was so fascinated by a book, and I promptly ordered all the other available books by Andridason. In the beginning, the only problem was to get used to those Icelandic names, and remember who is who. But now I won't forget them anymore!
'The Draining Lake' has two intertwined story lines and I thought it, erm, unputdownable. The atmosphere, the characters, the dialogues, the story itself... it is a long time ago that I was so fascinated by a book, and I promptly ordered all the other available books by Andridason. In the beginning, the only problem was to get used to those Icelandic names, and remember who is who. But now I won't forget them anymore!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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After reading all the Steig Larsson books, I have really enjoyed reading other books set in Norther Europe. 'The Draining Lake' is set in Iceland, about as far north as you can get. I loved this book, and really couldn't put it down until I'd finished it. It's a fantastic story, partly set in Berlin during the post war period, and partly in Iceland in the present. It is crime fiction, but the Cold War setting gives it a whole new twist, and sets it apart from the run of the mill murder story.
Detective Erlendur is a fascinating, very human character with his own problems that beset him and drag him down. He is a little like Wallender in that respect, but although his situation often seems bleak, I didn't find this book depressing. There are some very sad moments in the book, and the Icelandic landscape is used to emphasise this, but there are also touches of humour that lift the plot. I enoyed this book so much, that I have scince read 'Jar City' which was equally good, and is the first book in the series, and have ordered the next one as well.
Detective Erlendur is a fascinating, very human character with his own problems that beset him and drag him down. He is a little like Wallender in that respect, but although his situation often seems bleak, I didn't find this book depressing. There are some very sad moments in the book, and the Icelandic landscape is used to emphasise this, but there are also touches of humour that lift the plot. I enoyed this book so much, that I have scince read 'Jar City' which was equally good, and is the first book in the series, and have ordered the next one as well.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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Add Iceland to the list of settings for a detective novels, as Arnaldur Indridason is translated into English. It was well worth doing too, as the result is a well told story which combines the Cold War and the present.
Although the pace which was a little slow at times, there was always the sense that you needed to read on, partly because of the original tale and partly because of the characters, who were all well drawn. The Icelandic names did take a bit of getting used to though, so that might have made the pace fell slow.
I would have given this 5 stars but for the relentlessly downbeat fell of the book, which did, at times, get a little wearisome. Having not read any of his other books, I am not sure whether that is a feature of the author's work, or indeed the Icelandic condition, but I will enjoy finding out when I next come across his books.
Although the pace which was a little slow at times, there was always the sense that you needed to read on, partly because of the original tale and partly because of the characters, who were all well drawn. The Icelandic names did take a bit of getting used to though, so that might have made the pace fell slow.
I would have given this 5 stars but for the relentlessly downbeat fell of the book, which did, at times, get a little wearisome. Having not read any of his other books, I am not sure whether that is a feature of the author's work, or indeed the Icelandic condition, but I will enjoy finding out when I next come across his books.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Another cracking read
The draining lake is as i have said in the title of my review is another cracking read by arnaldur indridason. Read more
Published 1 month ago by oldginger ebbw vale
great book
Really enjoyed this as I have all his books. If you like Jo Nesbo then you'll probably like this. Well written and despite being translated from icelandic no clunkyness.
Published 1 month ago by JAY
A crime novel that delves into Europe's past
I am new to Indridason (although I had seen the film of 'Jar City' before reading this book), and this book impressed me. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. Pawley
Another enjoyable read
This book took me a little while to get into because it is written as two intertwining stories. One in modern times where Detective Erlendur and his team are investigating a... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. S. N. Pattison
Atmospheric
Wow, if atmosphere was a character Iceland would have top billing in this novel. The evocation and sense of time and place is absolutely second to none in this book. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Brian Hamilton
A gripping read you won't regret
The Draining Lake, in my opinion, is the best of the Reykjavík books featuring the gloomy police detective Erlendur. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Jennifer Thomson
Loved it.
Picked this on a punt, never read this authors work before, but I absolutely love Iceland the country, so figured I would give this a shot, and I had trouble putting this one down. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Clashcity Rocker
A welcomed international and historical dimension
The forth in the Reykjavík Murder Mystery series follows Erlendur, Sigurdur Oli and Elinborg as they investigate the murder of an unidentified man who was discovered as a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. Milton
perfect as usual
This is my 5th book from Arnaldur, the 4th in the Erlendur series. As usual it is perfect, and I remain amazed by his skill at conveying all this atmosphere and story with such an... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ramses
Excellent installment to superb Icelandic crime series
A skeleton is discovered in the bed of a lake that is drying out after an earthquake has caused some seismic disruption. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Maxine Clarke
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