The Killing Bay by Chris Ould

First Line: He worked on his knees now, as if praying.

International activists have arrived on the Faroe Islands intent on putting an end to the traditional whale hunts. Feelings are running high when a woman known to be working with the activists is found brutally murdered mere hours after a confrontation between the two groups. The circumstances seem designed to light a fuse to this emotionally charged situation.

As local detective Hjalti Hentze begins to investigate with some help from British Detective Inspector Jan Reyna, he quickly learns that crucial evidence is being hidden... and that this murder has other, very sinister, aspects to it.

Having mostly enjoyed my first visit to the Faroes in Ould's The Blood Strand, I was eager to read this second book in his series. I found it to be better than the first, although hampered by some of the same problems. However, one of the problems is not the pronunciation of Faroese words and names. A simple pronunciation guide is right in the front of the book, and I found it to be invaluable.

The Faroe Islands are a commanding, almost otherworldly, setting, and the author certainly knows how to bring it to life by including cultural traditions like the grind (pronounced "grinned") or traditional whale hunt. The landscape is awe-inspiring. Many of the roads that connect the islands take advantage of existing volcanic tubes, although I doubt very much that I could persuade myself to travel through this particular one:  

So far all the tunnels I've been through had had two traffic lanes, and they were all lit. The Árnafjarđartunnilin took me by surprise because it had no lights and the road narrowed to a single lane. It was like driving into a mine, with no indication of how far and how deep you would have to go. It was unnerving and the roughly cut passing places carved out of the rock didn't make it any less so.

Jan Reyna is still there trying to learn more about his mother. He's much more comfortable with the people and culture than he was in the first book, and he does help Hjalti Hentze with the murder investigation from time to time. Reyna's chapters are written in the first person to separate his opinions from those of his Faroese counterpart. Hentze is by far the more interesting character in my opinion. This investigation is complex and extremely interesting-- and made more difficult by Hentze's relationships with some of the suspects.

Once again, like The Blood Strand, there is a lot to like about this book, but The Killing Bay also suffers from way too much middle that does little to advance the characters or the plot. I will continue to read this series for the simple reason that I am very intrigued by the mystery that surrounds Jan Reyna. I must know what it is! 

The Killing Bay by Chris Ould

ISBN: 9781783297061

Titan Books © 2017

Paperback, 464 pages

Police Procedural, #2 Faroes mystery

Rating: B-

Source: the publisher  


 

The Blood Strand by Chris Ould

First Line: By the time Heri Kalsø had paid for his coffee, Annika Mortensen was already outside, leaning on the wing of the patrol care to smoke a cigarette.

Jan Reyna is a British police detective, but as a child he and his mother fled the remote Faroe Islands. Now he's back. His estranged father has been found unconscious with a shotgun by his side and someone else's blood at the scene. When a man's body washes ashore, Reyna has to wonder if his father is responsible.

At first his quest for answers is made easier by pairing up with local detective Hjalti Hentze, but the more he learns about his family and the more he learns about his mother's reasons for leaving means Reyna is going to be faced with some tough decisions.

Two years ago I read another crime novel set in the Faroes, and I've become intrigued with these remote islands that are found between Iceland and Norway. Author Chris Ould gives readers a good feel for the setting and the customs of the people and even provides a brief basic pronunciation guide to the language which comes in very handy (although the book is not overloaded with Faroese words).

Local policeman Hjalti Hentze was my favorite character, due in part to the fact that he explained local procedure and customs, but also because of his dedication and attitude. Jan Reyna, on the other hand, was abrasive and secretive-- understandable when readers take into consideration that he was spirited away from his home as a small child and-- to his knowledge-- none of his Faroese family tried to get in touch with him. We soon learn that one of the secrets he's hanging tight to involves his life in the UK, and we should be learning more about that in the next books in the proposed trilogy.

Reyna's negative attitude toward most of what he encountered in the islands made me a bit impatient with him, and  it was interesting to see how the author dealt with this as the story progressed.

There's an awful lot to like about this book, but I found it hampered by "too much middle" which slowed the pace down to a crawl. Yes, a small part of that slowness was due to the fact that most of the evidence had to be flown to Copenhagen for analysis (the Faroes are a part of Denmark), but it cannot be held accountable for it all.

Chris Ould has a marvelous setting and two main characters that deserve to be fleshed out even more. Although I did find The Blood Strand to have a flaw or two, I'm still looking forward to the next book in the series.  

  

The Blood Strand by Chris Ould

eISBN: 9781783297054

Titan Books © 2016

eBook, 352 pages

Police Procedural, #1 Faroes Novel

Rating: C

Source: the publicist 

The Last Refuge by Craig Robertson

First Line: There comes a moment in the wrestle for life when the distinction between opposing sides is blurred to the point of blindness.

John Callum has turned his back on his former life and has gone to what he considers the back of beyond-- the Faroe Islands-- for a fresh start. The islands, an autonomous country within the kingdom of Denmark, are northwest of Scotland and halfway between Iceland and Norway. It is a good place to begin anew. Even though Callum finds work and makes a few friends, he's finding it hard to adjust to the fact that the sun never sets at this time of year. What little sleep he does manage to get is ripped to shreds by horrible nightmares.

Then the unthinkable happens. Someone is murdered-- a crime that's almost unheard of in this peaceful, remote place-- and when the Danish police show up to investigate, it doesn't take long for them to have their prime suspect firmly in their sights: John Callum. Even Callum isn't certain that he's not the killer, but with the Danish police not looking at anyone else, he knows he's got to be responsible for his own fate.

The Last Refuge grabbed me from the first page and wouldn't let go until the very end. The setting is absolute perfection. Few people have even heard of the Faroe Islands. (I am one of the lucky ones; after seeing a stunningly beautiful photograph of towering green cliffs and cascading waterfalls, I learned that it was taken on one of the eighteen islands that make up the archipelago.) Craig Robertson puts readers right in the middle of this incredible landscape and shares not only its beauty, wildlife and remoteness, but the towns, the people, and the customs and language as well. My reaction to the setting was visceral and immediate.

But setting alone does not make a book. To it, Robertson adds a strong cast of characters. John Callum is a man filled with secrets, and although readers quickly learn how horrifying his nightmares are and how quick-tempered he can be, they somehow know that he is a man who can be trusted, a man who can be a friend. Robertson makes them want to shake Callum until he tells them why he ran away from Scotland-- and it's a secret that takes a long time to unveil.

Karis, the woman with whom Callum falls in love, is alluring and mercurial. She has secrets, too. Many of the secondary characters do, and Callum even has a difficult time figuring out the local inspector, Broddi Tunheim, who refuses to go quietly into that good night once the Danish police have made their entrance. These three characters-- and others-- shine brightly in this tightly woven plot that has so many twists and turns.

Yes indeed-- The Last Refuge is a perfect blend of story, character and setting, each of which illuminate and strengthen the others. Sometimes bleak and desolate, it's an enthralling look deep into a man's soul and deep into a fascinating place. I highly recommend it.

The Last Refuge by Craig Robertson

ISBN: 9781471127731  

Simon & Schuster Ltd. © 2014

Hardcover, 400 pages

Literary Mystery, Standalone

Rating: A+

Source: publicist