Thursday, May 7, 2009

Last Ritual - Book 51


Last Ritual
by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

Another Icelandic novel available through my library system. The story was okay, but the writing was incredibly formal and stilted. Consequently there wasn't much flow. In this case I blame the translation. Pronouns were switched or incorrect, and other words were just wrong (like See when they meant Sea). I will read the next book, but probably give up if these problems aren't fixed.

A German exchange student is found murdered at the University, but with Satanic symbols carved in his body and his eyes cut out. Was it due to his thesis in ancient witchcraft, or maybe his like minded friends, or even his drug dealer who was last seen with him? The parents don't believe the police are really trying so they hire Thora, the divorced attorney mom of two to investigate.

Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (born 1963) is an Icelandic writer, of both crime-novels and children's fiction. She has been writing since 1998. Her début crime-novel was translated into English by Bernard Scudder. The central character in the crime novels is Thóra Gudmundsdóttir, a lawyer. Yrsa is married with two children, and she also has a career as a civil engineer.
Mormon Mentions: None

No comments: