Dark Isolation (Isolated Incidents Book 1)
Her arms splayed from her sides. A pool of blood had formed around her. Her skin seemed to be paling alarmingly fast, taking on the colour of marble, as if in response to the striking crimson that surrounded her.
Her lips were blue. Her shallow breath came fast. She seemed to be looking up into the dark heavens. Then her eyes snapped shut. They switched names to fool the Vikings who tried to steal their women. There is something so compelling about an island with so much snow and so much volcanic heat beneath. Jonasson has translated 14 Christie books into Icelandic, and he was certainly doing more than just translating. He was learning the craft. Ari Thor quit his studies in theology and philosophy to take up the study of law enforcement.
An odd move that was baffling to most of his friends. He has a girlfriend named Kristin who is studying to become a doctor. She has just moved into his flat in Reykjavik when he gets an offer of a job in Siglufjordur, which is clear on the opposite side of the island in the northern part of the country. A town that frequently becomes snowed in for the winter. He takes the job without talking to his pretty, committed, soon to be a doctor making lots of money girlfriend. It seems hasty, as if he really does want to escape to some remote area to get away from….
Siglufjordur, Iceland Siglufjordur is like most small towns all over the world. He will never be accepted as one of them. The best he can hope for is that they learn to like him and tolerate him. It snows so much that it becomes oppressive. He needs reassurance from Kristin even more, but she has become more distant and evasive as the pressure of her classes takes more and more of her time.
Ari is not happy, but really there is no one to blame but himself. And then the national treasure of Iceland, Hrolfur Kristjansson, the writer of the masterpiece North of the Hills , falls down a flight of stairs and dies. He had been drinking. He was agitated by an argument with one of his friends. A tragic accident for sure. Then a young woman is brutally attacked and left in the snow to die. Suddenly, this small community has become very interesting. Ari sifts through the convoluted truths and, in the process, learns more about all the people surrounding the events than he really wants to know.
The victims prove the most intriguing of all. What really happened to that woman and why? And who really is Hrolfur? As the layers are peeled back, the new information creates more questions than answers. Now Ari is no Hercule Poirot. The little gray cells are not fully developed. Nor is he a Miss Marple, but he makes up for his lack of experience with determination and a tenacious desire to learn the truth, no matter how many broken threads of inquiry he encounters along the way. To make things more complicated for him, he is starting to have feelings for a girl there in Siglufjordur named Ugla.
My brain instantly translates that to Ugly, but she is far from that. Not only is she pretty, but she is also hyper intelligent, and most importantly of all, she is there. As a final nod to Christie, Ari brings all the suspects together at the end of the novel for the grand reveal. I enjoyed the small town in the North of Iceland. It seems like the perfect place to get a lot of reading done. The weather keeps people buttoned up, and the frequent avalanches seal off the town from the rest of the world.
Nature imposed isolation is sometimes the only way for people to find any peace anymore. Call it half a star on account. If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http: View all 20 comments. It is so incredibly cold here, near zero or below for several days. The perfect time to settle in with this story.
Although here we are without snow. When newly commissioned police officer, Ari Thor grabs the job in Siglufjorour, the only offer on the table, his live in girlfriend refuses to leave Reykjavik. He sets out alone hoping to maintain a long distance relationship until she changes her mind. He arrives in the small town, a town enclosed by mountains, people who all know each other, finds It is so incredibly cold here, near zero or below for several days. He arrives in the small town, a town enclosed by mountains, people who all know each other, finds himself very much and outsider.
At first it looks like this will be nothing more than a community service posting, but this will change when an elderly, somewhat famous past author is found dead at the foot of the stairs at the drama society. This is a very slow paced, atmospheric story, but we get to really know the characters, the flavor of the town.
Feel the claustrophobia of the cold, the snow, see into others lives, their secrets and fears. Not a thrill ride but a slow unraveling that keeps pave with the unraveling weather. Once I got used to the slower pace, I settled in nicely with this well written novel, enjoyed the multifaceted characters and was constantly surprised by the revelations.
A good solid read.
View all 24 comments. Nov 26, Emma rated it it was amazing Shelves: An incredible mix of Scandi-noir and classic detective fiction. The young policeman, Ari Thor, is a wonderful creation: So human in his thinking and behaviour. Jonasson's decision to make Ari Thor a newbie, both as a detective and member of the town, gives the character a fresh perspective, quite unlike most of the main protagonists in contemporary crime fiction.
He is in charge of nothing and is frequently overruled in his opini An incredible mix of Scandi-noir and classic detective fiction. He is in charge of nothing and is frequently overruled in his opinions by the more experienced Thomas, not always to good effect. His role as 'outsider' is both an asset and a curse; his lack of knowledge about the inhabitants of Siglufjordur allows him to see them more clearly, without the lens of past experience, yet that same status accords him less authority, further exacerbated by being newly qualified and youthful.
His idealism is frustrated. He must come to understand that they are not always happy-ever-afters. Ari Thor is just one example of the exemplary characterisation employed by Jonasson. Each and every one of the people the author reveals to the reader is fully realised, their backstories utilised to provide a basis for the choices they are making in the present day. They become more than caricatures of 'the cheating partner' or 'the man with a troubled past' to people with messy lives, real motivations and flaws, each living their own private, internal lives within the small town atmosphere of Siglufjordur.
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They show the truth in the idea that you never really know the people around you, that we all hold secrets. Of course, the depth given to each individual also makes it harder to guess whodunnit The weather plays one of the most significant character roles in the novel. The storm of snow and cold underlies every scene of the book, either hovering in the background or repeatedly forming part of the character and reader experience. Alongside the remote setting of the town, it deepens the sense of isolation from the rest of society.
The town, and the people in it, are apart, by accident or by design. It is no wonder that the avalanche that blocks the only road back to 'elsewhere' only increases the sense of claustrophobia in Ari Thor, unsettling even the long-termers when things in the town seem to be taking a sinsister turn. The close knit community undergoes a transformation when it is trapped together, and when someone within their ranks could well be a killer All in all, I loved it and am very much looking forward to the next in the series Nightblind.
Thankfully, I have very little time to wait. Anything else on my TBR will be shoved aside for this, it's a perfect winter read. The howling wind outside, the wintery storm within the pages, and a nice cup of tea to finish it all off. View all 8 comments. Mar 19, Beverly rated it liked it. I enjoyed this mystery very much, I read it in 2 days and I usually don't read that fast unless its really engaging. The atmosphere of northern Iceland, the cold, the darkness, the continuous snow, is recreated completely and you feel the main character's claustrophobia and isolation so strongly.
We never really get inside the young poli I enjoyed this mystery very much, I read it in 2 days and I usually don't read that fast unless its really engaging. We never really get inside the young policeman's head, except in the most simplistic manner, he misses his fiance and is confused about a crush he develops on a girl from the town.
He is also supposedly deeply touched and molded by the loss of his parents when he was a teenager, but this too is not filled in by the author. How has this made him who he is? Maybe it will be revealed in the next book in the series. Oct 19, Selene rated it liked it Shelves: I also lost count after ten of how many POVs there were. I didn't mind the relaxed pace of the story but some areas felt too draggy and that's probably why this story acted more like a sleep aid as opposed to a more thrilling crime novel.
There wasn't a million flashback scenes and the story was told from the beginning- Genre: There wasn't a million flashback scenes and the story was told from the beginning--none of that fancy stuff where the story starts from the middle or end and works itself back towards the beginning. View all 13 comments.
May 11, Liz Barnsley rated it it was amazing Shelves: Snowblind is one of the most beautifully written crime novels I have ever come across — the depth of character, the truly gorgeous descriptive prose that puts you right on the spot — despite the claustrophobic quality of the world that Ari finds himself in I fell utterly in love with Iceland simply through the words on the page.
Story is everything though really, no matter the book you are reading — and Ragnar Jonasson has written one hell of a story — dark, unrelenting in places, magically const Snowblind is one of the most beautifully written crime novels I have ever come across — the depth of character, the truly gorgeous descriptive prose that puts you right on the spot — despite the claustrophobic quality of the world that Ari finds himself in I fell utterly in love with Iceland simply through the words on the page.
Story is everything though really, no matter the book you are reading — and Ragnar Jonasson has written one hell of a story — dark, unrelenting in places, magically constructed to ramp up the tension, all the while keeping it completely character driven and authentic. I adored Ari as a character. He is so beautifully normal yet full of depth, depicted in a way that just keeps you with him all the way. I loved how he was dropped into this small tightly knit community, leaving his girlfriend behind that relationship was very compelling and slowly realised how isolated it and he could be.
The author gives a perfect sense of a place where everyone knows everyone else and yet somehow secrets are still buried just beneath the surface, it was endlessly fascinating. I think I would have been fascinated even without the crime element. Overall this was a marvel of a read. I adored it with the true passion of a reader — it has everything you could possibly want if you want to be engaged, slightly haunted, completely entertained and I really cannot recommend it highly enough.
Heavenly writing, stonking good story and characters that will stay with you long after putting it aside. View all 4 comments. Dec 02, Paula Kalin rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Scandi nordic crime fans. Recommended to Paula by: Here is a scandi-nordic crime series worth reading! The setting is fantastic.
The novel takes place in Northern Iceland in an old fishing village that only has one mountain pass to get into. Ari Thor, newly graduated from police academy, takes a job on a whim in this isolated village after the retirement of one of their officers. Snowblind starts out slow, but builds up pace as the book progresses and then it explodes! For a supposed town where nothing happens Ari Thor uncovers a recent murder as well as one that happened years ago.
Lots of interesting twists! Thanks to Miriam for recommending the series after reading 5. View all 16 comments. This book is the author's first to be translated into English. It was interesting, although mostly plodding along slowly. Much was made of the darkness, the snowy weather, and claustrophobia created by the surrounding mountains, but I didn't really feel it. That helped the atmosphere of the book. The crimes can be found in any old crime novel, but how they are handled in this book are This book is the author's first to be translated into English.
The crimes can be found in any old crime novel, but how they are handled in this book are kind of lackadaisical. It's mostly the rookie cop doing the investigating and putting all the pieces together, both current and from the past. A second book, Nightblind, is due this summer and I will eventually read it. View all 12 comments. After reading Blackout , the second of the Dark Iceland series published in the U.
In this small town, where fish used to be the way of life, the winter snow is a living, breathing presence that impacts function, emotion and even crime and solution. The centerpiece of the story and the town is After reading Blackout , the second of the Dark Iceland series published in the U. The centerpiece of the story and the town is a play about to be performed by the local Dramatic Society. There are personalities galore at the rehearsals leading up to opening night but shortly before that night there is a fatal accident.
A well known community member dies in an accidental fall. But Ari Thor questions--was it an accident? Then there is another suspicious death. This one ratchets up the tension in the town and the story. There are many twists and turns as Ari Thor and Tomas, his boss, work to unravel what has and is happening in the village.
Ari Thor has to battle his impulsive nature which can lead to "rookie" errors or miscalculations and his sense of claustrophobia and being overwhelmed by the closely surrounding mountains and constant snow. Using the geography and an interesting mix of characters, who all seem to have something unexpected beneath the surface, Jonasson has created a captivating story. I was seeing Snowblind everywhere. All over social media it was being talked about and I was kindly given an actual copy by the publisher which totally made my day The book reads like an old fashioned whodunnit with great characterisations, twisty plotting that doesn't give much away and great place settings.
It tells the story of Ari Thor, a newly qualified police officer, who accepts a position of work in a remote part of Iceland, Siglufjordur.
A small fishing to I was seeing Snowblind everywhere. A small fishing town with inhabitants that have been there for generations so everyone pretty much knows everyone. Ari comes along and is immediately known as the outsider, joining what is a very small police presence within the town. A woman's body is found in the snow. A halo of red blood seeping through the cold whiteness she looks as if she's been carefully positioned there.
An elderly and highly successful author is also found dead at a local amateur dramatic society theatre. Are these murders linked? What follows is a fairly slow paced telling of discovery as the story is spun out. Almost all characters present are given a backstory which gives the story real depth and the town itself takes centre stage as we get a real feel of the cold, remoteness and sheer beauty of Siglufjordur.
I was really intrigued by the place and found myself looking up the town on the internet to be able to actually visualise the mountains and lakes. The book is slow in parts but overall it works really well and the last portion of the book had my heart beating so fast I thought it was going to beat itself out of my chest!
The ending I didn't see coming at all and thought that was very well done. In short, I really enjoyed Snowblind, mostly for the character development and placement but I also developed a soft spot for Ari Thor so was pleased to hear there will be more from this young officer. View all 5 comments. May 19, Mackey rated it really liked it Shelves: I like that they are slow, methodical, exacting and every single detail is important.
I love that when I'm finished reading them I have learned something that I didn't know before either about the location, the people, an ethnicity, something. They aren't just another "I killed a woman with a gun, I'm a sick bastard," book. That said, this is the American debut of the international bestselling author Ragnar Jonasson's mystery. I've waited forever to read it and it did not disappoint. It started out slowly as we learned who everyone was and the ending could have been wrapped up more quickly but from what I understand his books only get better from here.
It was great to read a real police procedural once again. I really enjoyed the protagonist's introduction as a new police officer in a tiny town in the arctic circle. I caught the feeling of claustrophobia in the heavy snowfall and isolation I liked the characters and the setting and I'd love to read the follow-up set in this town during Spring. Hopefully it will be released in the U. May 16, Christine rated it it was amazing.
Snowblind has been widely acclaimed this year.
As soon as I started reading, I could see why so many readers had fallen in love with it. Snowblind is the first in a series of books by Icelandic author Ragnar Jonnason. It has been translated into English by Quentin Bates. Snowblind takes us into a small isolated community in the north of Iceland, a place where everyone knows everyone and it takes forever for newcomers to integrate. Into this peaceful and dull environment, we follow Ari Thor a youn Snowblind has been widely acclaimed this year. Into this peaceful and dull environment, we follow Ari Thor a young police officer in his first post.
This is a quiet town, where the police have very little to do. A woman is found half naked and bleeding out in the snow. An elderly esteemed author is discovered dead at the local amateur dramatics society. The peace is shattered. Can Ari Thor track down a killer? One of the things that hits you about this book is the beautiful chilly and increasingly close atmosphere.
While my stagnation became more evident and quite frankly more embarrassing. To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog. This is one of the most relatable articles I have found on this topic. The answers lie within each of us. Secrets are revealed and alliances laid bare.
There is an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia. Ari Thor feels it and it eats away at him. As the Winter season becomes harsher and the tiny town is cut off from civilisation by snow, this only grows. We know that evil lurks, within this small community; linked to the amateur dramatics society. The tension escalates, as we fall under its spell.
There is a lovely cast of diverse characters, as well as the shining lead in young Ari Thor. From Palmi, the playwright to Tomas, the chief of police to the Anna, the young future teacher, we soon start to get a handle on this community and who is who. There are plenty of suspects in this Icelandic whodunnit. It is a place of hidden secrets, jealousies and reasons for a spot of murder. I am utterly relieved to learn that this is the start of a series.
We need to know what happens next to Ari Thor, our intrepid young police officer.
There is really something special about Snowblind, with its mix of classic crime and Scandinavian quirkiness. It is easy to get into, highly atmospheric and incredibly exciting. It is an exceptional translation, without any clunky English. Look out for this one!!! Jul 07, Inken rated it did not like it. What emerges from reading this novel is a deeply raw and confronting piece of literature. Maguire shows two very different sides to a crime but manages to sync them together finely.
Chris was a realistically drawn character, Maguire manages to get into the innermost thoughts, feelings and fears of this character extremely well. I also found the touch of the supernatural an interesting theme which added further appeal to this page turner. I looked at the conclusion of the book as a commentary on any crime — does locking away an offender truly bring closure to the loved ones of victims of a crime? Harrowing, thought provoking and brilliantly written, An Isolated Incident offers the reader a very personal insight into the aftermath of a terrible crime against a young woman.
I urge all readers to consider selecting this confronting but absorbing psychological thriller. Feb 01, Michael Livingston rated it really liked it. This is a fantastic book - well plotted, brilliantly characterised and deeply political, it covers the aftermath of a brutal murder in a small Australian town from the perspectives of the victim's sister and a journalist in town to report on the crime. Chris, the sister, is a brilliant character - one of the most memorable in recent Australian literature - and its her side of the story that was the strongest.
May, the journalist, is a useful plot device, but I felt less connected to her as a rea This is a fantastic book - well plotted, brilliantly characterised and deeply political, it covers the aftermath of a brutal murder in a small Australian town from the perspectives of the victim's sister and a journalist in town to report on the crime. May, the journalist, is a useful plot device, but I felt less connected to her as a real person her romantic struggles didn't ring particularly true to me either. There's an edge of anger to this book - anger at the ongoing epidemic of violence against women and anger at the complacency of Australian society in its responses to it - it felt like a companion piece to The Natural Way of Things in some ways and is likely to be just as successful.
Jan 28, Lizzy Chandler rated it really liked it. Country NSW and a young woman is brutally murdered. Her sister is a local barmaid who, while still emotionally involved with her ex, has her own ideas about how to conduct herself in relation to love and sex. Another young woman, a journalist, arrives on the scene to report the sensational crime. She has her own problems, personally and careerwise. More pressing is the question, how do women really think and behave?
And wh Country NSW and a young woman is brutally murdered. And what, if anything, has that to do with the epidemic of violence towards them that is gripping Australia? A tough, confronting read. Aug 14, Liz Barnsley rated it really liked it. An Isolated Incident is a different kind of crime novel which focuses not on the whodunit or the investigation but on the aftermath of such an event.
In this case the Sister of the victim and the young reporter sent in to cover the case are under the spotlight and it is a hugely immersive character study, a truly human story that creeps up under your skin. Chris is a hugely sympathetic character- far from perfect but slowly spiralling down as days go by, you feel every inch of her emotional trauma. An Isolated Incident is a beautiful, brutal, utterly riveting psychological drama, one that takes an edgy and insightful look at crime from the underneath of it all, it is darkly complex and completely compelling throughout.
Apr 17, Kimbofo rated it really liked it Shelves: An Isolated Incident by Emily Maguire is one of those novels that refuses to be boxed into a simple category. It dances a fine line between crime thriller and literary fiction. To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog. Mar 19, Cass Moriarty rated it really liked it.
Emily Maguire's novel An Isolated Incident Picador books is currently short-listed for the The Stella Prize, and comes on the back of a number of fiction and non-fiction works written by this author on the subject of domestic violence, mysogyny and attitudes towards women. The narrative is a taut psychological thriller, with a vicious crime, several suspects, and a possibly unreliable narrator. W Emily Maguire's novel An Isolated Incident Picador books is currently short-listed for the The Stella Prize, and comes on the back of a number of fiction and non-fiction works written by this author on the subject of domestic violence, mysogyny and attitudes towards women.
When her brutalised body is discovered days later, the inhabitants of the small town of Strathdee come under the microscope, particularly her sister, Chris, who narrates the story in first person in combination with the reports of May Norman, a journalist in town to gather the facts.
As the police investigate the horrific crime, and Chris tries desperately to uncover the truth, everyone is under scrutiny. This story is interesting on a number of levels. Firstly, the narrative itself is page-turning, the plot full of twists and turns. Secrets are revealed and alliances laid bare.
Secondly, the book is an eye-opening exploration of the media's obsession with pretty dead girls, and with how the facts surrounding the victim's life can be twisted or manipulated according to the crime. Bella seems at first to be 'an angel', pure and good, and her death is treated with disgust and anger.
But her sister Chris presents a different archetype - coarse and rough, she has had a hard life, and her actions and choices - particularly around sex - leave her receiving little or no sympathy from those involved in the investigation. And this is where the novel becomes really interesting - the examination of how a woman's character and behaviour determine the treatment she receives not only from law enforcement, but from local townspeople, and even her neighbours and famiIy. I didn't find Chris to be an especially likeable character, and indeed, in the book she finds others treating her with a certain disgust, or keeping her at arm's length, because of her lifestyle choices.
She is tough, rough, street-smart and 'easy'. People don't trust her. Often, she doesn't trust herself. The gritty language and vivid depictions of her almost animal desires directly correlate with her unsympathetic treatment. This is also a book about grief, about the pain of losing someone, and about the myth of 'closure'. The scenes involving Chris doubting her sanity as she senses the presence of her dead sister were surprising to me - I didn't expect them in this story at all - but while they were unusual, I think they added to the complex miasma of grief surrounding Chris, with her mental state unbalanced as she struggles to find a way to live without her sister.
The slight supernatural tinge is a little unnerving, but perhaps it is supposed to be, just as it would be in real life. The conclusion, when it comes, is almost an anticlimax - but then, this story is not about WHO did it or finding the identity of the murderer, it is rather about the WHY, and it certainly opens up a lot of discussion points about domestic violence, victim shaming, those who prey on vulnerable women, and those who make money reporting on these crimes.
The characters in the book are multi-dimensional, and nothing is black and white. Some have terrible, deal-breaking flaws, and yet are capable of the most intense love and tenderness. Some are upright and proud, and yet when you scratch the surface, you uncover a disturbing dichotemy. This story explores the notion of inherent stranger danger, and examines the idea that most danger lies much closer to home. And it investigates with a critical eye the role of the media in such crimes.
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Like Charlotte Wood's The Natural Way of Things, it is a dose of reality, an ugly depiction of how women are perceived, and how they are treated. Feb 03, Claire rated it really liked it. This was a compelling but bleak read. This, more than anything is a catalogue of violence against women, and a pointed comment on social misogyny, and the temporal and misogynistic nature of the reporting of crimes against women. Bella Michaels was last seen leaving from her job on a Friday evening. Her friends and family are concerned when they can't get in touch with her over the weekend.
They contact the police, but since she is twenty-five years old, they assume she's taken off for the weekend with friends. Her family and close friends think; differently, her sister Chris refers to her as the "the world's youngest grandma" she's very responsible and would never do anything to worry her family. Her brutalized body is d Bella Michaels was last seen leaving from her job on a Friday evening. Her brutalized body is discovered the following Monday on the side of the road leading out of town. Strathdee is a small town in Australia, that's pretty safe, so this murder rocks the community.
Everyone seems to know everyone, and they all loved Bella, she was a special young lady that was beautiful, yet extremely kind. Her older sister, Chris is utterly unhinged after she has to make the identification of the body and speak with police. Chris is several years older than Bella and works in a local pub, and after her divorce, it's common knowledge that she's taken up with several truckers who have stopped off at the pub while driving through town for a night of fun after work.
Chris is an attractive woman for her age, but she's all heart. Her ex-husband Mack comes down to help her deal with the death of her sister, Bella. The last thing Chris wants is to deal with all the media; not to mention some of the detectives' innuendo of her free spirit lifestyle compared to Bella's they are as different as night and day.
This case is going nowhere; the media has lost interest and left, Chris is trying to deal with this as best she can. At first, she goes back to work until she starts suspecting everyone around her as the monster who killed her sister. Chris finds herself immobilized by this fear that eventually takes over her life. This is an excellent psychological thriller, Ms. Maguire pulls you in from the beginning and holds your attention to the very end.
At times it's like the protagonist, Chris is speaking to you the reader directly which made it even more interesting. The way she weaves Chris's grief and torment it keeps the reader wondering what is fact and fiction. It really does begin to play on your mind. I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this e-galley in exchange for my honest opinion, the opinions I expressed above are my own.
Oct 11, Lisa rated it really liked it Shelves: The title An Isolated Incident is ironic: That is because they — like everyone else in Strathdee — know the men who are violent to their women, and they know the kind of violence they routinely inflict. When another woman is murdered in the town, the police know exactly who has done it and they wrap up the case almost overnight, a phenomenon we see so often in perfunctory media reports that it is commonplace. To read the rest of my review please visit https: May 28, Andrea rated it really liked it Shelves: In the small truck-stop town of Strathdee, a pretty young nurse is brutally assaulted and murdered - and that's before the book even begins.
But don't be fooled by the blurb saying this is a psychological thriller, and thinking it's all about catching the murderer. I wouldn't say it's a thriller, although there is a distinct air of mystery as we don't find out who the killer is until the final pages. But it does have definite psychological leanings. Maguire skilfully and methodically In the small truck-stop town of Strathdee, a pretty young nurse is brutally assaulted and murdered - and that's before the book even begins. This book was deservedly shortlisted for the Stella Prize. May 29, Donna rated it it was ok Shelves: An Isolated Incident Emily Maguire I was looking forward to reading this 'Psychological Thriller' and was hoping for some who dunnit twists and turns, some hard core 'lets get the murderer' type story but what I got was a story of those left behind, there sad sorry lives and sexual undertones that made this book a bit 'off'.
I didn't really enjoy it and found the narrative much like listening to someone on a stage narrating a story in a play. It was not a page turner for me, was not at all thrillin An Isolated Incident Emily Maguire I was looking forward to reading this 'Psychological Thriller' and was hoping for some who dunnit twists and turns, some hard core 'lets get the murderer' type story but what I got was a story of those left behind, there sad sorry lives and sexual undertones that made this book a bit 'off'.
It was not a page turner for me, was not at all thrilling and ended on a real low due to the randomness of who the actual murderer was.
An Isolated Incident
Apr 08, Tony Nielsen rated it it was ok. I've given An Isolated Incident a two star rating which means that it was ok. Truth is that I have probably been over-generous. Yes, I did finish it and that was actually the worst part as the finale or conclusion to this murder mystery was actually the weakest part of the story. I am very familiar with small-town Australia, as I've lived there, but I didn't feel a connection from the two main narrators to either their location or their relaying of the plot. The key fact is the murder of 25 year I've given An Isolated Incident a two star rating which means that it was ok.
The key fact is the murder of 25 year old Bella Michaels, who to all intents and purposes is a saint in waiting in her hometown of Strathdee. Now her sister Chris is a very different story, although they were very close. Chris is a drunk, a semi-prostitute and the opposite of Bella.
Struggling in that she is just weeks into a role as a reporter for a start-up on-line news site. Not one of the reads I will remember for Mar 31, Kate Walton rated it liked it Shelves: Good, but it had the potential to be so much more Neither of them seemed to have anything in the way of friends and both were totally wrapped up in how their value as women related to their men.
The ending was also a huge disappointment. Sure, we find out who the killer was, but we learn nothing about him -he's just some random new character introduced as the kille Good, but it had the potential to be so much more Sure, we find out who the killer was, but we learn nothing about him -he's just some random new character introduced as the killer, and that's it, that's the end of the story. Why did he kill Bella? What happened that night? Was it premeditated or did something go wrong? Emily Maguire missed a big opportunity there to explore why women are so frequently killed by their intimate partners, which seemed initially to be what the book wanted to do.
Also what was with all the dead animals that may or may not have been linked to Bella's death? Were they related or just a coincidence in the end?! Sep 01, Marie McLean rated it it was amazing. Well written with real, gritty characters, its primary theme is violence against women and the fleeting social media interest in these crimes. I found this novel totally absorbing. Young, pretty, innocent Bella goes missing in the carpark of an aged care facility at the end of her shift.
She is found brutally murdered a few days later. The injuries to her mutilated body are so heinous that it is believed a group of perpetrators may have been involved. The novel centres around three main female characters. Bella the murder victim , Chris her older sister and May a reporter.
The story is narrated from two points of view - Chris and May. Chris is the stronger character and so well drawn that you come to know her intimately. The author has cleverly used two different points of view - Chris being written in first person and also speaking directly to the reader, whilst May is written in third person. A strong bond forms between the two women.
Towards the end of the novel I began to worry that the perpetrator would not be revealed, but he is, and the ending was one of my favourite parts of the novel. Therefore the crime appears to be more shocking. The way the police treat her is skewed by the way she dresses and behaves. It is an indictment of societal attitudes towards the way a woman presents herself, rather than the crime itself, which should never have happened in the first place.
This book gets my vote for the Miles Franklin award.
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This one was not for me. Initially I was impressed with the writing which is honest, raw and sometimes confronting. I quickly realised that this was not about a murder investigation but about how people from different 'sides' of the story - particularly a grieving sister and a crime reporter - experience what has happened and how the impact will play out on their lives. There are serious issues here of misogyny, sexual mores and violence toward women - issues which were taken up, also brutally This one was not for me.
There are serious issues here of misogyny, sexual mores and violence toward women - issues which were taken up, also brutally but also brilliantly in Charlotte Wood's award winning The Natural Way of Things. But whereas in that novel I found things to enrich me, even in the most brutal of circumstances, I could find no such nourishment here. About two-thirds of the way through I felt that Maguire was just ploughing deeper and deeper ruts of misery. This is not why I read. I don't avoid harsh issues - far from it - but there has to be some hope, some light.
Perhaps I could have found this if I had finished the novel but I felt lacerated and just couldn't bear to read any more. Jul 10, Suzie rated it it was ok Shelves: I'm in the minority here, I think. The more I think about this book the less I like it. Jun 23, Claudia Aubert rated it it was amazing. I really enjoyed this book, good characters and descriptions of an Australian country town. Not so much much a mystery but a story about grief, the media and how society treats victims of crime. Oct 27, Jo rated it liked it Shelves: I am admittedly a prude about sex.
I don't naturally gravitate toward books with graphic sex. So part of the reason, this book was not my cup of tea was the take on sex partners and how many there were. If that doesn't bother you, then you may enjoy this book more. I also didn't enjoy the descent into grief. This book was more focused on how a person's life is destroyed when a loved one is violently snatched than on the whodunnit part. I think others will really resonate with the book. This was very readable, but something was a bit off. Maybe it was just that the message was very unsubtle?
But I guess in my fiction I want that message to be a bit more stealthy, to creep up until it's inarguable fact embedded in one's thought processes.