Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first novel by Icelandic writer Yrsa Sigurðardóttir. The story revolves around Thora a lawyer who is divorced. She has a difficult relationship with her ex and a couple of children. She works in a small law firm and finds herself being recommended to represent a dead man in a curios murder. The family are not convinced that the man in custody is guilty.
This brings her into contact with a German who works for the deceased´s family. He is a Mr Fix It and soon they become entangled. Thora is something of an amateur sleuth and easily antagonizes the police.
The plot line follows ancient scripts,sorcery and early settlement on Iceland. The old ways throw up some gruesome elements. Might be challenge for those who have not seen Icelandic names and are unfamiliar with patronymic surnames.
However it was a good read with a nice surprise ending.