The plot has interest, as it is structured into two main time periods involving investigations into Lara’s disappearance by three different individuals. Unfortunately, the novel does not fulfil its potential. The group agreed that the book is not a good example of the crime genre in a number of aspects. It is slow in pace, bereft of tension and poorly written. This may be due to its co-authorship, and it may also have lost some meaning through the translation process from Icelandic to English. Nevertheless, it remains very humdrum, with characters that are not fully developed, some unexplained or unexplored incidents and a disappointing climax.
At next month’s meeting on July 2nd, we will be discussing two non-fiction books by renowned authors: A House of Grief by Helen Garner and Wifedom by Anna Funder.
Barbara Rogers, on behalf of Meg Dillon