‘Whale Fjord’ by Michael Ridpath

Published by Yarmer Head,
24 February 2024.
ISBN: 978-1-73961210-8 (PB)

When a human skull is discovered by two German hiker’s, Inspector Magnus Ragnarsson is called to Selvik a farm close to the shores of Whale Fjord which is about forty kilometres north of Reykjavik, to investigate.  When he and Sargeant Vigdis they arrive, they find Edda, head of the forensic unit is already there, with the news that there are two bodies. 

When asked when he was last there at the place where the skull was found, the owner of the farm Jon Sigurdsson says that he never goes to Gerdur’s Hollow, as Gerdur was a witch who was buried there three hundred years ago and it’s best not to disturb her.  However, Jon’s mother, Frida, says, ‘you are a wuss Jon’ and to the detectives, ‘if you want to know whose bodies those are, they’re probably the two people from Laxaholl farm who disappeared during the war’. A brother and sister Marteinn Halfdansson and his sister Kristin.

Frida is very helpful providing Magnus with an address, for Gudni, Kristin's son, who left farming and became an engineer, and also for an English lady who visited Iceland a few years ago and asked about Kristin. As Magus and Vigdis leave, Magnus has a call from Edda, one of the skulls has a bullet hole in it.

The story switches to August 1940 when Britain invaded Iceland in an attempt to foil any invading attack from the German’s. Lieutenant Tom Marks is a British officer tasked to defend and intercept any landing craft from a safe position protected by great mountain ridges. To confirm for himself the quality of the roads Tom set’s off in a motorcycle, hits a pothole  and comes a cropper. Slightly stunned, he is found by Kristín, a young widow from a nearby farm, who has a small son, Gudni. Tom is truly smitten by Kristin, but he is not the only one. Learning that Tom enjoys fishing the farmer invites him back to fish in his river. Tom  returns with a football for Gudni who is ecstatic.

Moving forward to 2023, as Magnus commences his investigations, there is a shocking, murder, and he is faced with, who, and why?

Magnus is aware that most of the people concerned who were around, 80 years ago, are now dead. But their descendants are still alive. Has the resurfacing of the two bodies caused other recollections to resurface?  Are there secrets that have been hidden for years. Are these secrets about to resurface?

On a personal note, Magnus has been seeing Ingileif for some years, and Ingileif has some questions for him. Questions that maybe he is not ready to answer. Vigdis, who is a single parent is stressed, as she suspects that her mother who takes care of her little girl Erla while she is working, has started drinking again. She says she has been dry for a year but Vigdis is not certain that’s true.

Whale Fjord is the seventh book in the series featuring Inspector Magnus (Jonson) Ragnarsson. I have read and loved all the previous books, and this was another intriguing mystery in this highly acclaimed series. Highly recommended,
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

Michael Ridpath was born in Devon in 1961 but brought up in Yorkshire. He was educated at Millfield, Merton College, Oxford. Before becoming a writer, Michael used to work in the City of London as a bond trader.  He has written eight thrillers set in the worlds of business and finance. In 2010 he published the Where The Shadows Lie, the first in the Fire and Ice series featuring an Icelandic detective named Magnus Jonson. He has published six further books in the series.  In between the writing the series he has published three standalone novels the most recent being The Diplomat’s Wife in 2021. He lives in London.

http://michaelridpath.com/