The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jonasson

 

I usually enjoy Ragnar Jonasson's books. He's dark, and his settings are atmospheric. I especially liked Reykjavik and Death at the Sanatorium, both of which had interesting characters and excellent plots. This book, which brings back a character from Death at the Sanatorium, billed as a standalone, ends so abruptly that I wondered if this isn't meant to be a series.

Helgi Reykdal is enjoying a break from his police duties among his beloved vintage crime novels when he is asked to look into the disappearance of popular crime writer Elin Jonsdottir. None of her friends or associates has heard from her, so Helgi has little to go on. On top of that, he is under pressure to find Elin before the press breaks the story. The more Helgi digs into Elin's life, the more secrets he uncovers, leading him to believe there are multiple reasons for her disappearance. 

The story shifts focus from Helgi's investigation, set in 2012,  to another disappearance, that of a police detective, years earlier, and the case of a bank robbery that she was investigating. Jonasson does a good job of weaving the subplots together, but the reader is left hanging about the solution of one of the storylines. Additionally, the ending was so abrupt that I wondered if some pages were left out. 

The pacing is good, and the plots are intriguing, so I was caught up in the book from the start. I wish it hadn't ended on a cliffhanger with an unresolved plot line. 

3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is September 9, 2025. 

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