Customer Reviews

Last Rituals

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Last Rituals: Icelandic Novel of Secret Symbols, Medieval Witchcraft and Modern Murder by internationally acclaimed author Yrsa Sigurdardottir and translated into English by Bernard Scudder will thrill readers with the finely written mystery and more intimate look at a glimpse of Iceland as the background, a country that intrigues but often remains mysterious. The author combines an obscure part of history with dark psychological details while also creating a realistic and sometimes humorous backdrop in the characters investigating this unusual case.

Thora Gutmundsdottir, a divorced mother who started her own legal partnership receives a phone call from Germany from the Amelia Guntlieb who had been given her name by one of Thora's former professors. Amelia's son was murdered in Iceland and the family needs assistance. The Guntliebs do not feel the local police investigated their son's case thoroughly. Amelia proposes that Thora work with Matthew Reich, a man who spent 5 years with the Munich CID. Although Matthew has the investigative skills needed, he does not know the Icelandic language well enough to ask questions and mix with the locals well enough to get real answers. Certain shocking details of Harald's murder are just too mysterious, eerie and gruesome to believe the murder is connected to a drug deal gone bad. Does someone have a personal vendetta against Harald? After initial reservations, Thora accepts the case and Matthew hands over a dossier detailing many of the particulars of Harald's life. Do the details of his murder relate to his studies of history or to some dark hidden aspect of his personal life? Are the gruesome details a measure of the killer's rage or a clue to the identity of some mysterious group? What does the strange symbol mean? Harald had gone to Iceland to study Medieval history. In particular, his research compared Icelandic witchcraft with witch burnings, execution and torture in Medieval Germany. Whereas women were often the target of witch burnings in Germany, in Iceland, the majority of witches executed were men. Does this difference have any bearing on Harald's research in Iceland? As the investigation narrows, the two discover Harald began to develop strange practices while in Iceland. An investigation into Harald's personal life in Iceland as well as in Germany unearths more and more secrets. Thora and Matthew's investigation takes them through the history of Iceland in many forms and the author gives the reader a fascinating view of both historical and modern Iceland. The more clues they find, the more mysterious the murder appears and the two are no longer sure whom they can trust.

Yrsa Sigurdardottir creates the perfect balance between realistic characterization and a darker multi-faceted mystery that intrigues the reader as it unfolds. As the details of Thora's family life interfere with her investigation, the reader sees a glimpse of her as whole person ---one who cares for her children as only a devoted mother can but also as a person whose life has endowed her with a delightful sense of humor and a sense of compassion that underlies her investigation. The developing relationship between Thora and Matthew provides delightful humorous twists to accompany the terrifying secrets and relationships they uncover. The mystery itself grabs the reader's attention from the very beginning and heightens with each successive revelation of clues. Suspenseful twists and turns lead to a climax where all the pieces carefully prepared from the very beginning fall together and yet still surprise the reader in unexpected and unforgettable new ways.

Yrsa Sigurdardottir's novel will appeal a wide variety of readers with an interest in Iceland from those with a mere curiosity for this unique country all the way to those with a more thorough knowledge from travel or studies of Icelandic literature. The author interweaves well known aspects of her native land such as the Icelandic horses, lava fields and various landmarks with a humorous look at the pronunciation of the Icelandic language and local driving customs into the plot and interchanges of the characters themselves. Those curious for a closer more in depth look at Iceland will appreciate the author's look at the effects of a small population, the history of Icelandic law and religion and the results of globalization on the daily life of local residents. At all times, the author integrates these details so closely into characters and the structure of the novel so that the pace of the mystery unfolds fluidly with a touch of humor and heightening of the mystery.

Scholars quite familiar with Medieval Norse manuscript history and literature will be thrilled to discover the realism in Yrsa Sigurdardottir's portrayal of the intricacies of Icelandic manuscript history. The author details this history through Thora's investigations of Harald's actions and relationships so readers unfamiliar with this aspect of Icelandic history easily follow the unfolding mystery. The author creates the best of two worlds ---- the reader follows a realistic portrayal of Iceland's unique place in Medieval history and literature without being weighed down by a pedantic academic treatise but her attention to precision makes Last Rituals a more intriguing read than some of the missing codex, manuscript, symbol novels in current vogue. Yrsa Sigurdardottir's careful attention to detail and its seamless integration into the very heart of her writing style make Last Rituals one of the best recent novels in the genre.

Harald Guntlieb has been brutally murdered and a friend of his is accused of the crime. The family isn't satisifed with the investigation, however, and requests the services of Thora Gudmundsdottir, a local attorney. Matthew Reich is already working on the investigation but needs help navigating through the country as Iceland is completely foreign to him. Their investigation is going to take them along a bizarre and twisted path, a path into the history of Iceland's involvement in witchcraft, sorcery, and even torture.

The depth of history on Iceland and its association with witchcraft is simply fascinating. I'm unfamiliar with any of the history but the author presents it in an interesting manner. The details are often gory and the murder, along with the physical appearance of Harald prior to his death, is rather gruesome. Please be forewarned that this is an intense, even bizarre story at times. That is not to say that it isn't good, as it definitely is!

Thora is an intriguing character. The story focuses primarily on the investigation, but the glimpses into her personal life offer a portrait of a loving and caring mother. The contrast between the two mothers, Thora and Amelia Guntlieb, is startling. Thora's interactions with her son provide a much needed positive note to counterbalance the darkness that is portrayed in LAST RITUALS. I loved the way Yrsa Sigurdardottir made some very subtle but important statements about family, particularly in the midst of dysfunction.

LAST RITUALS is clearly not a tale that will appeal to all. The grisly details alone will discourage some readers. The style is very unique as this book has more the feel of literature than your typical thriller. LAST RITUALS is an intense read, but one easily worth reading.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann

Subtitled: An Icelandic Novel of Secret Symbols, Medieval Witchcraft, and Modern Murder

Rekyavik lawyer Thóra Gudmundsdottir gets a very unusual request. A German student, Harald Guntlieb, has been found murdered in the History Department building at the University-with some gruesome details. Even though a young man has been arrested, the family back in Germany wants help in making sure the investigation has been thorough, and that the police have the right man.

The Guntlieb family is wealthy, and they send a representative who works for them often, a German ex-policeman, Matthew Reich, He brings some documents to help Thóra, and will assist in the research. Against her better judgment, Thóra takes on the case-she is a single mother with two children and needs the money.

Some details about the grisly murder suggest sorcery. Harald was interested in witchcraft, and searching for a medieval manuscript written by a member of the Catholic Church who was a fanatic about seeking out witches, torturing and killing them. Harald seems to be more on a hunt for the manuscript than working on his thesis. Thóra and Mathew follow his steps, with the grudging help of Harald's friends Halldor, a medical student, and Marta, Briet, Brjann. And Andri. Hugi, who is accused of the murder, is resigned to his fate, but the circumstantial evidence against him is slowly chipped away by Thóra's investigation.

I was surprised by the outcome of the inquiry, and by the reasons for the mutilation of the corpse. The plot twists and turns in the historical search-and the unraveling of the motives for the murder are spellbinding. The setting is dark and dour, with Iceland's cold, snow, and treeless landscape depicted in detail. Thóra and her relationship with her children, co-workers, and with Mathew, is a delight.

Armchair Interviews says: Fortunately for mystery lovers, this is the first of a series.

I read a glowing review of this book that inspired me to pick it up. While I think the review was rather too effusive, this was an interesting first book and I think the author has the potential to develop into something really special, given time and experience. Still, because this is a translation, it is difficult to know if some of the more awkward prose is due to the writing itself or if it's due to the translation. Either way, the book could do with some more polish.

The biggest minus of the book, in my opinion, is that Thora's personal life isn't really developed enough to be in the book. I felt oddly off balance whenever reading these details because they seemed sometimes like the author threw them in there and then didn't really go anywhere with them. Thora seemed much to casual about some of the events in her life--especially when it comes to the humongous bomb that her 15-year-old son drops on her. I have a hard time believing any mother could be as sanguine as Thora is, distracted by the case or not.

The real strength of the book, then, is in the mystery. I read a lot of mystery novels but I've never read one that's taken a foray into this particular territory and so it made for a nice change of pace. The murder victim's interest in witchcraft made for some interesting cultural lessons not only about Iceland but also about Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. The author also did a nice job making the victim's family mysterious and revealing a surprising plot twist at the end. Harald is anything but a sympathetic character and while I've read mystery novels where the victim isn't the nicest person in the world, Harald's personality added an interesting twist.

The book seems very well researched, though I'm certainly no scholar of history. It is very detailed and well plotted and this is what makes me think that with some work and some polish, this author has the potential to become a fine writer.

Those looking for something quite unusual and new by way of a mystery or thriller now have "Last Rituals."<
Its author is an Icelandic Civil Engineer who has also written five children's novels. Now, she has turned her hand to mystery and produced one of the best mystery/thrillers in many years, in any language.<
Ably rendered into English by Bernard Scudder, "Last Rituals" is the story of a struggling attorney who agrees to help investigate the murder of a German student in Reykjavik. There are a great many complications. The police already have a suspect, but the victim's parents don't believe he did it. Thora Gudmundsdottir must also work with a retired German policeman sent to Iceland to aid in the investigation.<
What they find is far from simple, including the fact that the student was in search of the original manuscript of the legendary "Malleus Maleficarum," the Medieval "Witch's Hammer." He also, they find, was involved with a black magic cult. Eventually, they must journey deep into the dark history of Iceland and into some of the darkest corners of the modern world.<
"Last Rituals" is wonderfully paced, rich in characterization, superior in story. It is such a satisfying book that readers will insist the next book by Sigurdardottir appear like magic!

Last Rituals opens with Thora facing Christmas coming with a bank account in need of CPR when she recieves a call from the mother of a murder asking Thora to investigate her son's death. Thora doesn't want to take the case, but with her law office struggling to pay the bills, she feels she has no choice. Thora soon meets with family representative Matthew Reich and the sparks begin to fly. This novel is a real page turner as Thora and Matthew investigate the last few days of the murder victim's life. There is a wonderful sense of being in Iceland with all its beauty and freezing temperatures. Surprisingly, there is humor sprinkled throughout the book to offset some of the macabre details of Last Rituals. The budding romance between Thora and Matthew was an added bonus. Hopefully, the reader will not have long to wait before the sequel to this book, "My Soul To Take", is published. To anyone who enjoys a Nordic mystery, I say "Highly Recommended"!

In Reykjavik, Iceland, the police arrest a drug dealer for murdering and mutilating German college student Harald Guntlieb. However, the victim's affluent parents do not believe the police caught the right person; they cannot comprehend why a drug dealer would asphyxiate a victim rather than just shoot him, not carve out their son's eyes nor carve ritual symbols on his chest. They assume their offspring was killed in a witchcraft homicide.

Still seeking closure, the parents send trusted family friend Matthew Reich, a former CID agent, to Iceland to investigate. He knows even before he leaves the continent that he will require local assistance so through Harold's grieving mom Amelia, Matthew hires lawyer Thora Gudmundsdottir, a single mother, to assist him on the case as she speaks his language as well as that of the locals. They follow up on the odd LAST RITUALS by looking into Harold's life in Iceland and learn he belonged to a strange group that participated in unusual sexual rites and had a passionate fascination with medieval witch-hunts. As they dig deeper, they find the case spiraling out of control even as Thora's family life intrudes.

Thora makes this exciting Icelandic whodunit an entertaining read as she struggles between balancing a complex investigation with the demands of her children especially her teen son. Matthew knows he can go nowhere without her as he does not speak the language besides being a foreigner no one would cooperate with him. Thus her family needs intrude on the case driving Matthew to distraction. The mystery is clever as the audience will find many suspects to choose from even while the police seek to end the case with a second arrest of a student. LAST RITUALS is a terrific investigate thriller.

Harriet Klausner

I enjoyed Last Rituals to large extent, and am delighted to find a new Icelandic author to follow. I won't go into the plot too much, since others have gone into it in depth. I found some of the conversation inconsistent and out of character and I wonder whether this is due, in part to the translation.

I just cannot visualise a top executive of a German Bank, the immaculate, correct Matthew who has been sent to direct solicitor, Thora, saying in a foreign language (English)'Okay, mate!' 'Well, folks' when speaking to strangers - Germans are instinctively more formal than that in their language.
I don't think she would say 'Bollocks' at the beginning of a sentence in speaking to Matthew in English either, he doesn't really speak Icelandic - it just it didn't sound natural, used only once and not signalled by earlier speech patterns. Sometimes the characters speak so formally and then suddenly they are speaking in colloquial English, that just doesn't sound right.
I never got a very clear visual idea of the main protagonists, apart from the fact that Matthew dresses inappropriately for the weather, in expensive formal suits and dress shoes and Thora is the opposite in Michelin man puffa jackets.

There were one or two loose ends that weren't resolved, part of the will of the murdered young man was supposed to be read only after the burial, and we never find out for sure who inherits the bulk of his fortune, although there are guesses.

Also, I thought the research showed too much. When an author goes to a lot of trouble to delve into a subject like witchcraft in the Middle Ages, there must be a temptation to put it all in, not waste it! I think the novel would have been improved if there had been less detail included.

However, It was a pretty good effort and I shall read the next one in the series to see how the characters develop.

I am a fan of Scandinavian thrillers/police procedurals and have enjoyed all the works of Karin Fossum (such as The Indian Bride (Inspector Sejer Mysteries) and Black Seconds (An Inspector Sejer Mystery)), Arnaldur Indridason's The Draining Lake: A Thriller (Reykjavik Thriller), and recently Johan Theorin's The Darkest Room: A Novel and Echoes from the Dead. There are many other Scandinavian authors that are also good such as Asa Larssen, Stieg Larssen, Mari Jungstedt, Henning Mankell, and so on. When I came across the two translated works by Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurdardottir, I thought I'd give them a try.

"Last Rituals" has an interesting premise - recently divorced, single mom Thora Gudmundsdottir finds herself in a financial pickle as she struggles to pay the bills and provide for her two children, 16-year-old son Gylfi and a young daughter. Though she works as a partner in a law firm, the practice is small and not a financial success. So, when a certain Frau Guntlieb from Germany calls upon Thora's services with the promise of lucrative fees, Thora's interest in piqued. She is asked to help investigate the circumstances surrounding Harald Guntlieb's murder (Frau Guntlieb's son), a grad student at the local university who was found killed with both his eyes plucked out (interestingly, the eyes are nowhere to be found). Thora is assisted in her efforts by investigator Matthew Reich (who works for the Guntlieb family). The pair start off with a certain amount of animosity on Thora's part, but the relationship gradually thaws out. As the pair investigate Harald's life and his inner circle of friends, Thora also has to deal with some domestic issues surrounding her son.

The story itself is interesting, and the secret life of Harald Guntlieb makes for fascinating reading - especially the themes of witchcraft, occult, etc. However, the novel reads like some sort of academic treatise on the subject - numerous pages are devoted to descriptions of Harald's field of interest, and facts about medieval torture, witchcraft, etc. which bogged down the pace of the story. This is not a fast-paced novel of suspense, but a very slowly simmering whodunit which takes such a long time setting the premise that it almost lost my interest. I only persevered because of the rather interesting plot and also because after plodding through the first half of the novel, I just had to discover how everything turns out. The slow way in which the story unfolds may also be attributed to translation problems - this novel is translated from the Icelandic, and though I'm not familiar with the language, the novel does read rather awkwardly, sounding stilted in many places. I do not find this to be the case with the Swedish procedurals which have been translated into English.

On the whole, I would say this is an intriguing investigative mystery for its subject matter, but poorly paced, and plodding for the most part. I am still going to give Ms. Sigurdardottir's other novel a try to see if there's an improvement, but I would certainly recommend the works of authors mentioned at the beginning of this review over this.

Thora Gudmundsdottir (have I mentioned how fascinated I am by the Icelandic patronymic naming system?) is very... normal. She's a lawyer, but not the usual sort you find in crime novels. She specializes in contractual law. When a German woman offers her more than her yearly salary to find out who really murdered her son, Thora finds she really can't refuse. After all, she's a divorced mother of two whose car is in the shop, yet again. Thora is matched up with Matthew Reich, who works for the family of the murdered young man. Thora and Matthew start out awkwardly, but soon grow into an easy companionship that pulls you through this story of witchcraft and rituals and bitterness and jealousy. I doubt we'll see more of Matthew later in the series, but I wouldn't mind it. I liked the simplicity and realness of Thora, and I look forward to meeting her again.