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Where the Shadows Lie (Fire and Ice)
 
 

Where the Shadows Lie (Fire and Ice) [Kindle Edition]

Michael Ridpath
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)

Print List Price: £7.99
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Review

Praise for "Where the Shadows Lie" and Michael Ridpath:

"Michael Ridpath is on the war path, trouncing the Scandinavians on their home turf. This is international thriller writing at its best, fine characters, page turning suspense and a great, fresh location." --Peter James, #1 international bestselling author of "Dead Like You"

"The latest novel by British crime writer Ridpath is highly imaginative, with a striking setting and a marvelous story... Ridpath does a fine job of immersing us in Icelandic culture, and Magnus, who is the anchor of a proposed series of novels, is a thoroughly fascinating character, not so much a fish out of water as a man reconnecting with his own heritage. Exotic and compelling, a first-class mystery." -"Booklist," starred review

"Ridpath smoothly melds history, legend, and a police procedural in this first of a crime series set in Iceland... Ridpath deftly explores the influence myths have on contemporary, credit-strapped Iceland." --"Publishers Weekly"

"This highly atmospheric and addictive thriller brings in elements that will entice both crime fiction and fantasy readers. If your readers like a treasure-hunting chase, give them this one. With Tolkien groupies, Internet hacking, and revenge, this title has no shortage of appeal. Clearly, Ridpath, the author of eight financial thrillers, has his own trilogy in mind." --"Library Journal," starred review

"Michael Ridpath's latest offering, "Where the Shadows Lie" is a tight mix of crime and lore that takes the reader on a journey from crime-ridden streets to the slopes of a mysterious volcano. Fast-paced and well written, Ridpath keeps your attention while exploring 10th century sagas, corrupt policemen, contract killers, fanboys, family secrets, and a magical ring... Ridpath's research into Iceland and its people, customs, and geography, makes the British author seem native. "Where the Shadows Lie" has a lot going for it and the reward is worth the journey." --"Suspense Ma

Review

Praise for "Where the Shadows Lie" and Michael Ridpath:

"Michael Ridpath is on the war path, trouncing the Scandinavians on their home turf. This is international thriller writing at its best, fine characters, page turning suspense and a great, fresh location." --Peter James, #1 international bestselling author of "Dead Like You"

"The latest novel by British crime writer Ridpath is highly imaginative, with a striking setting and a marvelous story... Ridpath does a fine job of immersing us in Icelandic culture, and Magnus, who is the anchor of a proposed series of novels, is a thoroughly fascinating character, not so much a fish out of water as a man reconnecting with his own heritage. Exotic and compelling, a first-class mystery." -"Booklist," starred review

"Ridpath smoothly melds history, legend, and a police procedural in this first of a crime series set in Iceland... Ridpath deftly explores the influence myths have on contemporary, credit-strapped Iceland." --"Publishers Weekly"

"This highly atmospheric and addictive thriller brings in elements that will entice both crime fiction and fantasy readers. If your readers like a treasure-hunting chase, give them this one. With Tolkien groupies, Internet hacking, and revenge, this title has no shortage of appeal. Clearly, Ridpath, the author of eight financial thrillers, has his own trilogy in mind." --"Library Journal," starred review

"Michael Ridpath's latest offering, "Where the Shadows Lie" is a tight mix of crime and lore that takes the reader on a journey from crime-ridden streets to the slopes of a mysterious volcano. Fast-paced and well written, Ridpath keeps your attention while exploring 10th century sagas, corrupt policemen, contract killers, fanboys, family secrets, and a magical ring... Ridpath's research into Iceland and its people, customs, and geography, makes the British author seem native. "Where the Shadows Lie" has a lot going for it and the reward is worth the journey." --"Suspense Ma


Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 983 KB
  • Print Length: 351 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0312675038
  • Publisher: Corvus (1 Jun 2010)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B003Y3BLL2
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #33,035 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 54 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A splendid read 9 Jun 2010
By Simon Clarke TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Michael Ridpath is a brave author.Having written 8 successful financial thrillers ,his latest novel
(the first of a series)is set in Iceland.Iceland with its population of just over 300,000 already has
two excellent renowned indigenous crime writers in Arnaldur Indridason and Yrsa Sigurdardottir.Yet,
despite the odds ,Ridpath has pulled it off.He has written a well-researched exciting thriller with
a vivid sense of place.

Magnus Jonson is a detective in Boston USA,of Icelandic descent,who has been seconded to work with
the Reykjavik police as part of his witness protection programme,someone wants him dead.Upon arrival
in Iceland,a Professor of Icelandic studies is murdered.It soon becomes apparent that this death is
related to 800 year old saga,and a powerful ring,which inspired Tolkein's 'Lord of the Rings'.

The fast-moving plot takes us deep into the saga'a history,and is set against the backdrop of the
sinister beauty ,of post credit-crunch, Iceland.A splendid read.Very highly recommended.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A Return To Form for Michael Ridpath 18 Feb 2011
By C. Green TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first came across Michael Ridpath when his debut novel Free to Trade was published back in the mid-nineties. At the time it made a bit of a stir with its, then, fresh mixing of murder mystery and financial thriller. It was also a pretty decent book, even if not a classic. After Free to Trade the author continued to mine the same 'financial thriller-cum-whodunnit' seam for the next ten years. Some of his earlier efforts, such as Trading Reality, were okay, although they've dated badly. Later novels however, began to feel tired and derivative and after tackling On the Edge I felt he'd gone to the 'evil financier in diabolical plot' well once too often and I skipped his next novel See No Evil.

I've been tempted back by his latest thriller, 'Where the Shadows Lie', by both the positive reviews it was receiving on Amazon and the fact that for the first time the author has used a setting that isn't even indirectly related to high finance or big business. Instead 'Where the Shadows Lie' is a murder-mystery set almost entirely in Iceland and focused on the history and myths of that small but remarkable country.

For a British author of financial thrillers this sounds like quite a big leap in terms of subject matter and genres, but it is one that Ridpath makes with reasonable success. The central mystery itself feel original and is complex enough to keep this particular reader guessing until well into the book's final third. The characters are, for the most part, reasonably well conceived and drawn, even if Ridpath lumbers his lead, Icelandic/American Cop Magnus, with an unncecessarily convoluted backstory. The sense of place, vital for a book of this sort where the location is a selling point, is strong and you get a real feel for Iceland, its people and its culture. Even the fictional links between the murder-mystery and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, a plot device that could have felt vaguely ridiculous, work well and give the story a fresh twist. Ridpath manages to keep things grounded whilst allowing just enough of a hint of a supernatural undertone to creep into the narrative to spice it up.

It all makes for a highly enjoyable and very satisfying read. Its not going to win any awards for being high art or rewrite the thriller rulebook; Ridpath's prose style is too functional and prosaic, lacking any real lyricism, and there are plenty of writers pumping out thrillers set in Scandinavia and Iceland. Nor is it by any means perfect. In addition to some questionable decisions about Magnus' backstory there's also a somewhat superfluous and underpowered romance tacked on and a vaguely ridiculous 'hitman' subplot that should have been jetisoned. Despite these flaws however, 'Where the Shadows Lie' marks a welcome return to form, as well as a fresh approach, for Michael Ridpath. I will be interested to see where he takes Magnus in the next book in what is being called the 'Fire and Ice' series, 66 North (Fire and Ice).
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read 6 Jun 2010
Format:Hardcover
Ridpath interwines Icelandic culture and language is neatly interwoven with a fastpace plot that keeps the reader guessing until the end. The central character is well developed; Ridpath explores his background that was also centered in Iceland, bringing both the character and Icelandic history to life. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes crime fiction, has an interest in Iceland or fans of Lord of the Rings. The author also gives a note at the end, explaining what is his own and invention and what is real, which proves useful as Ridpath demonstates a wonderful ability to blur the line between fact and fiction.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars An absorbing, exciting, crime thriller.
This book is a great introduction to Iceland and to Magnus Jonson, an American detective. It is an absorbing, exciting, crime thriller, which borrows from old Icelandic Sagas that... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Lili
4.0 out of 5 stars well worth reading
really enjoyed this book and overall it kept u guessing all the way through. for me the ending was a bit sudden.
Published 8 months ago by steph
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent read
This is my first micheal redpath book and will definitely not be my last, what an author.He knows how to write a story to keep your interest absorbed all the time. Read more
Published 8 months ago by oldginger ebbw vale
2.0 out of 5 stars Promising beginning ......
When I started this book it seemed promising --- it is reasonably well written and I liked the idea of a murder mystery set in Iceland. Read more
Published 10 months ago by jbc
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable - looking forward to next one in series
Chanced on this as will was in the Kindle 'bargain bin' and was pleasantly surprised at how good a read it was. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Lucky Luke
3.0 out of 5 stars Deep in the shade (paperback edition - not kindle)
Several years ago I read Michael Ridpath's financial thriller 'Free to Trade' which I thoroughly enjoyed. I came to this book with great hopes. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Noel
5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling read
I came across this book whilst searching for more Scandinavian crime stories to read (as I had temporarily caught up with my favourite writers series). Read more
Published 11 months ago by Alison Gray
3.0 out of 5 stars Hard Work
Magnus Jonson a Boston Cop who originally comes from Iceland transfers back to that country to assist the local police improve their handling of serious crimes and to escape into a... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Shaggy Dancer
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining yarn
Page turner...good choice of location...characterisation so so but it works! Now, more than before, I want to visit Iceland. However, I am not likely to be reading the sequel.
Published 12 months ago by G. D. Busby
3.0 out of 5 stars This is not a 5 star book
This book is a well written thriller, police investigation type book, however it is not special and does not, in my opinion deserve 5 stars. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mrs. Lisa-jane Cameron
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‘NOT ANOTHER FUCKING elf!’ &quote;
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The word saga meant literally what is said in Icelandic. &quote;
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Snorri Gudmundsson, the National Police Commissioner. He was a small man with shrewd blue eyes and thick grey hair brushed back in a bouffant. &quote;
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