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It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica – Review | Overhyped or Worth the Read?

If you’ve seen It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica all over Bookstagram and are wondering if it’s worth the hype, here’s my honest, spoiler-free review. I went into this one with really high expectations. When a thriller is everywhere, I expect something that completely pulls me in and keeps me hooked. Unfortunately, that wasn’t quite my experience. This It’s Not Her book review is a bit of a mixed one for me. There were definitely elements I enjoyed, especially the multiple POV structure. I usually love when thrillers are told from different perspectives, and here it was done well. It added depth to the story and kept things moving. However, I really struggled with the teenage perspective. It just didn’t fully work for me and made it harder to stay engaged with the story overall. As a psychological thriller, It’s Not Her had all the right ingredients, but the twists didn’t land the way I expected. There were enough hints throughout that I could see parts of the reveal coming, so it didn’t fe...
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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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