Reviewed by Craig Sisterson
Just how low do people sink to get away with murder? A human skull unearthed on the outskirts of Reykjavík. A neighbourhood dispute turned deadly. A daughter, trapped at sea, looking for answers. What police officers Týr and Karó don't know is that these events are all linked through a terrible tragedy, many years ago, when a trawler caught fire on the waves, the crew trapped inside. The answers lie buried at the bottom of the cold Icelandic Sea...
A modern-day queen of Nordic Noir, Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurðardóttir has been thrilling readers around the world for more than twenty years, courtesy of three different series (including a six-book series starring quick-witted lawyer Thóra Gudmundsdóttir, and another six-book ‘Children’s House’ series starring child psychologist Freyja and police detective Huldar), along with a range of standalones. Her crime and thriller tales have been translated into 30 different languages, and read by millions.
Sigurðardóttir's nineteenth novel to be translated into English, The Depths is the third instalment in her most recent ‘Black Ice’ series featuring police officers Týr and Karó, and forensic pathologist Iðunn, following on from Can’t Run Can’t Hide and last year’s The Wake.
A skull is unearthed at a recycling centre on the outskirts of Reykjavik. A dangerous neighbourhood feud escalates into a murder investigation. A young woman working as a chef on a large fishing boat, looking to follow in the footsteps of her late seafaring father, is trapped at sea. How is a decades-old tragedy entwined with these disparate current-day events?
Sigurðardóttir, a civil engineer by trade, has a masterful touch for tension, and for constructing atmospheric, atypical thrillers laced with human psychology and disturbing aspects among the action and investigations. The fishing boat setting is a rare one in the genre, and Sigurðardóttir brings it to vivid life in all its pressures and proclivities, along with the 'neighbours at war' suburban tensions, and more common city and suburban investigations. There's also some character conflict, tensions, and secrets among the series characters, to keep the tension levels high.
Overall, Sigurðardóttir weaves a fascinating tale that should please fans old and new; The Depths is another chilling, thrilling read from an excellent storyteller.
Craig Sisterson is a lawyer turned writer, editor, podcast host, awards judge, and event chair. He's the founder of the Ngaio Marsh Awards, co-founder of Rotorua Noir, author of Macavity and HRF Keating Award-shortlisted non-fiction work SOUTHERN CROSS CRIME, editor of the DARK DEEDS DOWN UNDER anthology series, and writes about books for magazines and newspapers in several countries.
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