The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer: Icelandic Mystery from Ragnar Jónasson

Last Updated on April 22, 2026

I’ve genuinely pondered for days on where to begin with this review for The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer, and for one good reason.

In order to explain it properly, I have to give a spoiler alert for another book, also written by Ragnar Jónasson.

So I’m going to try and tip-toe around it so as not to ruin it for anybody – at least that’s the plan.

Here goes…

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer is the second book in the series that features Detective Helgi Reykdal, the first being Death at the Sanatorium.

Now, these books are actually a spin-off from a previous three-book series where the lead detective was Hulda Hermannsdottir.

She first appeared in The Darkness (2013) but in a very unusual twist, the ending was not what I would call ‘conventional’ and it left all of her work colleagues in the dark as to what happened to her.

Why is that important, I hear you ask? Well, both of the Helgi Reykdal books are written across multiple timelines. So you have the modern day investigation, which in this case is set in 2012, but we also hark back to the 70s when Hulda was a young officer investigating her own crime.

The idea then is that the crime Hulda was unravelling, ends up having some baring on Helgi’s case, decades later.

As we know what ultimately happened to Hulda and Helgi does not, I imagine that somewhere down the line author Ragnar Jónasson will tie the whole thing together by having Helgi solve the mystery of Hulda.

And, just to be clear, that doesn’t happen in this book…

Disappearance in Iceland

Now that I’ve explained the backstory of the novel, and I’m still amazed I didn’t blurt out the whole mystery around Hulda, let’s crack on with more about The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer.

First off, this isn’t quintessential cozy crime. I genuinely thought it would be from the title, but it turns out to be more of an Icelandic mystery with slightly darker undertones than we would usually come to expect.

That said, it is a solid mystery into the sudden disappearance of bestselling Icelandic crime author, Elín S. Jónsdóttir.

Given her status and the fact that nobody has heard from her in a few days, Helgi Reykdal is called in to figure out what happened to her.

While attempting to piece together her last few days, which is trickier than expected given that she was a bit of a loner with no partner or children, there are few people who know anything about her movements.

At the same time we are treated to three other timelines – one from the 1960s, one ten years later in the 70s, and one from 2005 when Elin gave a very in depth interview to a journalist.

For the reader this is crucial as it allows us to piece together a much bigger puzzle than just Elin’s disappearance.

The Side Story

In the midst of his investigation, Helgi is also battling issues in his private life. Ultimately he’s quite a shy and unassuming man who loves a peaceful life, reading his beloved crime novels.

The first book in the series chartered his very toxic relationship with his now ex-girlfriend, Bergthora. He has now moved on from that and is with Anita, with whom he is very much in love.

Bergthora however is a very dangerous woman, bordering on psychotic, so Helgi isn’t nearly rid of her as much as he thinks…

A Short, Sharp Shock

At just 320 pages, the book is relatively short for a modern crime novel, but Jónasson makes every page count.

The pacing is solid, with enough twists and revelations to keep things moving, but there are moments when the darkness threatens to overwhelm the narrative.

The ending, in particular, is grim – perhaps too much so for some readers. Jónasson has a habit of leaving threads unresolved, and here he leans into that tendency, delivering a conclusion that’s more haunting than cathartic.

The Elephant in the Room: Series Continuity

Now, let’s talk about the one big caveat: as mentioned above, this book is deeply entwined with Jónasson’s previous works.

The book doesn’t offer much in the way of recap or context, which means that first-time readers may feel a bit like they’ve wandered into a party where everyone else already knows the inside jokes.

If you’ve read Death at the Sanatorium or the Hulda and Dark Iceland series, you’ll catch the connections and appreciate the depth they add.

If not, you might find yourself frustrated by unresolved subplots and characters whose significance isn’t fully explained. It’s a bit like starting a TV show in season two: you can follow the main plot, but you’ll miss some of the nuances.

Should You Read It?

So, is The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer worth your time? If you’re a fan of classic mysteries, Icelandic noir, or just enjoy a good puzzle, absolutely.

Jónasson’s love for the genre shines through, and Helgi is a detective worth rooting for, even if he’s a little rough around the edges.

The book’s structure, with its shifting timelines and layered secrets, makes for a reading experience that’s both challenging and rewarding.

But, and it’s a big but, if you’re new to Jónasson’s world, you might want to start with his earlier books. Not because this one isn’t good (it is), but because you’ll get more out of it if you understand the backstory.

For those who do take the plunge, be prepared for a story that’s clever, moody, and just a little bit wicked. It’s a mystery that respects your intelligence, trusts you to keep up, and isn’t afraid to leave a few questions hanging in the frosty Icelandic air.

And really, what more could you ask for from a crime novel?

So, pour yourself a strong coffee, wrap up in a blanket, and get ready to lose yourself in the strange, snowy world of Ragnar Jónasson.

Just don’t expect all the answers. Some mysteries, it seems, are meant to linger.