For investigator Jakob Weber, the case seems clear-cut, almost unexceptional, even though there is some suggestion that Iselin lived parts of her life beneath the radar of both family and friends. Rumours that a killer is on the loose begin to spread, terrifying the local population and leading to wild conspiracies. Into Thin Air is a seriously dark and absolutely compelling Nordic noir crime thriller. I was drawn into this book immediately. The prologue left me in no doubt that we were dealing with a horribly creepy killer who had more than one killing under his belt.
Karlsson sets his opening scene so well that the hairs on the back of my neck were prickling before the end of the first page.
There are so many things to like about Into Thin Air. Jakob Weber is a good detective, highly regarded by his superiors and has strong leadership skills. A bereavement in the last few years has however left him still grieving and his few smiles are reserved for his beloved Jack Russell, Garm. She has transferred in from Kripos in Oslo and is looking forward to working in the Joint Unit for Intelligence, Prevention and Investigation with Jakob.
Noora is staying with an old friend while she looks for her own flat. The other team members are Armann Femris who is the father of a teenage girl and a bit of a rocker. Armann is also an experienced investigator with a solid reputation. Josefine Skog, the last member of the team has a young daughter named Anna. The plot concerns the disappearance of a number of young women.
Then her bloody T-shirt is found near the path. Into Thin Air is told from from multiple perspectives including that of the killer. This change of voices works really well and creates a strong dynamic to the plotline. Ian Giles is a seasoned translator and the dialogue and the plot flow very well which is a tribute to the translation which is both unobtrusive and accomplished. Verdict : Into Thin Air is immersive, exciting and intelligent. The depiction and descriptions of North Norway are excellent and his characters stand out from the page as three-dimensional, living people.
