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Review: It Ends Here by Heidi Perks

Every once in a while, a thriller comes along that feels… different. Not louder, not twistier, but somehow more human. It Ends Here is exactly that — a mystery that doesn’t rely on shock value or high-speed chaos, but on a quiet, simmering intensity that keeps tightening around you page by page. The premise is already gripping: five strangers receive a phone call telling them that their loved one is inside a café being held hostage. What they don’t know is that one of the hostages is actually the hostage taker. We just don’t know who. Or why. The narrative switches between three key threads: – the detective in charge, trying to piece together motives from the shadows – the loved ones outside, desperate for answers – and the hostage taker, speaking to us directly… but always just out of reach What I loved is how we get to know the hostages through the people who love them. It creates this beautifully soft emotional layer — you care about these people even though you barely spend any tim...
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The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jónasson

 

I was lucky to receive an e-ARC of this book and, having read previous novels by Ragnar Jónasson, I was curious to see what atmosphere he would create this time. One of the things I admire about his writing is the way he manages to make a small, cold Icelandic setting feel both intimate and unsettling.


This novel begins with the sudden disappearance of Elín S. Jónsdóttir, a famous Icelandic crime writer. One winter evening she simply vanishes. The case falls to Helgi, a young detective who is not only obsessed with crime fiction but also eager to prove himself. At first the case looks straightforward, but very soon it becomes clear there is more beneath the surface.


Helgi is also dealing with the disappearance of his predecessor, a young policewoman who went missing while investigating a decades-old bank robbery. The two cases seem unconnected, yet both weigh heavily on him. At the same time he tries to build a new relationship while still carrying unresolved personal struggles.


What I enjoyed most about this book were the elements that have become Jónasson’s hallmark: the closed community where everyone seems to know everyone else, the small cast of characters with secrets, the atmospheric winter setting, and the way the story moves between past and present. Multiple mysteries run side by side and the reader is constantly asking whether they are connected. And, of course, the central question remains throughout: is Elín still alive.


Although I found some aspects of the plot predictable, I still found myself intrigued and turning the pages quickly. It is not action heavy, relying more on conversations with witnesses and the slow uncovering of hidden truths, but it kept my attention throughout. The writing style makes it an easy and quick read.


I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys small town mysteries that are engaging without being overly graphic. It is atmospheric, satisfying and solid.


Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


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