The Icelandic Canadian - 01.04.2006, Blaðsíða 42

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 60 #1
Arnaldur Indridason
‘A chilling read’
The Times
Tainted Blood
By Arnaldur Indridason
Reviewed by Helen Sigurdson
Published by Randon House, 275 pages,
$21.95
Tainted Blood, the gripping crime
novel written by Arnaldur Indridason is set
exclusively in Iceland. All characters are
Icelandic and all scenes take place in
Iceland and it deals with current Icelandic
issues.
Indridason has written several
Icelandic crime thrillers. He was born and
raised in Iceland. He won the prestigious
International Glass Key award for the best
Nordic crime novel three years in a row for
Lady in Green, Jar City and Silence of the
Grave. Tainted Blood was first published
under the name, Jar City, and it was his
first novel translated into English.
What makes Tainted Blood so interest-
ing to English speaking readers is that it
transports them to another country and
culture. It might be noted here that one
cultural aspect is that Icelanders use first
names, therefore, readers will get used to
police and criminals being called by their
first names. It takes the reader into the
criminal and drug addicted community in
Iceland. Although the criminal element in
Iceland seems to be a very small minority,
its impact is the same as anywhere in the
world.
During the thrilling quest to solve the
crime, we learn a lot about Iceland. We visit
many different communities and meet
Icelandic doctors, scientists, investigators,
criminals and drug addicts and people of
the general public. We also learn about
ourselves as we ponder our reaction to
criminals and deviant people.
The story begins with the discovery of
the body of a sixty-nine year old man in the
basement apartment of a house in the
Nordurmyri district of Reykjavik. As the
two detectives examine the body and con-
tents of the apartment, they discover that
the murder weapon appears to be a heavy
glass ashtray. A note on the body stating, "i
am HIM" with the last word in capital let-
ters becomes the primary clue to solving
the mystery. Detective Sigurdur Oli asks,
"Isn’t this your typical Icelandic murder?"
"Yes", Detective Inspector, Erlendur
Sveinsson answers, "A pathetic Icelandic
murder."
The two detectives who come to solve
the murder mystery are incompatible but
well balanced characters. Arnaldur has
used these officers in three of his other
novels of the same genre. Erlendur is the
quintessential detective of many books and
movies. He is middle aged , rather rumpled,
smokes, has health problems, is divorced
and is alienated from his family. Although
he is frustrated by her behaviour, he has
concern and compassion for his drug
addicted daughter. He is tenacious and
completely committed to his work and will
go to any length to solve a crime. Sigurdur