If you're familiar with Arnaldur Indridason's 'Reykjavik murders' series, then you'll already know what a fine writer he is. If you haven't come across these novels before, they will appeal to anyone who enjoys Ian Rankin or Henning Mankell. Indeed the main character, Inspector Erlendur, does bear an uncanny similarity to Rebus and Wallander. Like them, he is a melancholic, middle-aged man who has been through an acrimonius divorce, has a difficult relationship with his daughter and spends many an evening alone in his flat eating warm-up meals. However, Erlendur is no pale imitation of other detectives and Indridason has successfully created a character who is intriguing and likeable in his own right. And after all, who wants a happy detective?
'Voices' in the third novel in this series and in my opinion, it's Indridason's best yet. Not only is the plot highly original, but I really felt that Indridason has found his voice as a writer, establishing a style that is very much his own. The judicious use of flashbacks manages to provide an extra dimension to the investigation and in this novel we also gain more of an insight into Erlendur's personal history.
Iceland may not seem the most fertile ground for a series of crime novels given it's reputation as one of the safest places in the world, but it is precisely this civilised backdrop that makes a murder twice as shocking. And if you thought that Iceland was all about geysers rather than geezers, prepare to be surprised!
With one novel a year, there is no danger of the 'Bergerac effect' where a seemingly safe place suddenly becomes more dangerous than the Bronx and Indridason's plots are plausible and compelling. If you like thoughtful, well-written crime fiction, then try this writer.