My Soul to Take: A Novel of Iceland (Hardcover)

~ Yrsa Sigurdardottir (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Sigurdardóttir's engaging second crime novel to feature attorney Thóra Gudmundsdóttir (after Last Rituals), Jónas Júlíusson, a client Thóra assisted with a land purchase in West Iceland, calls for more help. The superstitious Júlíusson, who believes one of the farmhouses on the land he bought to develop a spa and hotel is haunted, invites Thóra to stay at his facility and investigate. Her arrival coincides with the discovery under some seaweed on the beach of the sexually abused corpse of architect Birna Halldórsdóttir, who was working on a new building. Júlíusson, who apparently sent a text message arranging a rendezvous with the victim at the time and place where she died, becomes the prime suspect. The lawyer shifts gears from ghost busting to amateur sleuthing. As Thóra pursues an array of suspects and clues, Sigurdardóttir keeps readers guessing whodunit. (May)
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From Booklist

Thora returns in her second case (following Last Rituals, 2007), this time representing a client convinced that a ghost is haunting his newly acquired property, a resort on the west coast of Iceland. Thora heads out to the coast to consult, looking forward to a weekend without her children. Markedly more cozy and less macabre than the previous book, this one is also slower paced, both in the reading and the investigation. Thora does not believe in the ghost, but when bodies start turning up around the resort, she decides to poke around. The historical elements and leisurely investigation are reminiscent of Indridason’s Erlendur series, but it has a much brighter outlook, and unlike Erlendur, Thora is not a depressed, alcoholic loner—just a slightly stressed single mom and small-time lawyer. Suggest to fans of Asa Larsson’s Rebecca Martinsson series, another Scandinavian lawyer and murder investigator, or Helene Tursten’s Inspector Huss novels, starring a happily married mother of two. --Jessica Moyer

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061143383
• ISBN-13: 978-0061143380
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,563 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting Icelandic amateur sleuth, May 8, 2009

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Jonas Juliusson buys a health spa in Snaefellsnes on Iceland's west coast with the help of his attorney single mother of two Thora Gudmundsdottir. However, he fears the property is haunted so he invites Thora to stay and investigate, which she agrees though feeling he is being silly heeding local myths.

Upon arriving at the spa, Thora is greeted with the mutilated corpse of architect Birna Halldorsdottir who designed the new building. Jonas is the prime suspect since he sent the victim a text message to meet him at the place she was found dead. A second body also battered is soon found. Thora quickly changes her inquiry from ghost hunting to homicide hunting.

MY SOUL TO TAKE is an exciting Icelandic amateur sleuth mystery starring a wonderful attorney who begins to slowly find clues that lead to several suspects with motives. The story line is fast-paced from the moment the single mom finds the first corpse and never slows down as the brave lawyer makes her inquiries while another body surfaces. Sub-genre fans will enjoy this fine mystery while seeking Thora's last case (see LAST RITUALS).

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good reading!, June 4, 2009

By	Margaret Dybala "too many books, too little time" (Pearland, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"My Soul To Take" is the first book I have read by the author, but it certainly won't be the last! This was a lovely mystery, with lots of well constructed red herrings! I almost always know "who dunnit," but in this one, I didn't see the resolution!

It starts in the 1940s in rural Iceland. A sweet little girl is killed. We flash forward to today: a hotel has been built near where the girl was killed (although no one knows about her), and there are questions of hauntings. Then, contemporary killing begins! Our heroine, a lawyer, goes on the hunt to figure out what is going on. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who reads this review, so enough said!

This story is awash in possible motives, history, family gothic, etc. It is well constructed, with perfect pacing. If you love a good mystery, you will love this one.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No Need To Take Souls: They're Given, May 26, 2009

By	J. Moran (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book's prologue, set in 1945, depicts someone cruelly leading a small girl to her death, a scene all the more terrifying because it involves no physical violence. Sixty-one years later, Thora Gudmundsdottir, lawyer and divorced mother of two, gets a call from Jonas Juliusson, a former client who now owns and runs a New Age resort on Iceland's west coast. Thora represented him in the negotiations for the purchase of the land for the resort. Now Jonas claims that the property has a hidden defect and he wants compensation from the sellers. According to Jonas, the defect is that the existing hotel and the grounds are haunted.Thora is skeptical both about the haunting itself and whether it can be a grounds for compensation. But she agrees to represent Jonas again.

Thora arrives and soon learns that the body of a brutally murdered woman has been found. The murdered woman was Birna, the architect for the resort. The police find evidence that links Jonas both to the original crime and to a second equally brutal murder of a hotel employee, making Jonas the chief suspect. Thora, as Jonas's lawyer, finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and one with supernatural undertones. She works the case with her German boyfriend who has arrived to visit her.

The mystery is well-plotted and tragic as the original evil ruins lives when it is committed and years later ruins later generations. The characters are well drawn and come across as real people. All of them have flaws and good points.

The story meanders a bit in the early stages as Thora, lacking much information, flails around; but it picks up impetus as she learns more and moves to a complicated and exciting conclusion. Thora's romance and her dealings with her kids fit naturally into the story and are additions rather than merely distractions. The evil is scary because it is unnecessary yet readily committed. Evil is so easy. A good story and well done.