Welcome to Litsy!

The 4th installment of Sigurdardóttirs‘ Children‘s Home series confronts domestic abuse, non-consensual filming of sexual acts, and humiliation from the impact. A man found hanged with a nail imbedded in his torso in an Icelandic lava field starts the case. The ending is sad and satisfying, and the resolution is one of “If you had been there/If you had seen it/I betcha you would have done the same”. A great read within a great series.

The third installment of Sigurdardóttirs‘ children‘s home series will resonate with social media generation, and victims of bullying. In this installment, the crimes are intertwined. The murder of bullies; how their viciousness to victims created a ripple effect. The scheme is sorrowful, meticulous and nauseating. Hits home thematically. Personal note: Please be kind to others. This is fiction, but kindness is real.

Random book from our home library:

📖 On an Irish Island by Robert Kanigel

😳😳😳

The second installment of the Children‘s Home series does not disappoint. Like the first, Sigurdardóttir goes all in on story, macabre death and twisted pasts fracturing lives. Det. Huldar and psychologist Freyja don‘t take away from the story, which I liked. The book is a thriller and true page turner.

⭐️⭐️

Mixed reviews on this one. It‘s time I either #ReadOrDonate

Incredible in the same way a fast paced and scandalous procedural is. The stories Sigurdardóttir writes are always a treat. This debut in a newer series is typical of the Nordic/Baltic crime genre. Yet for all the darkness and gore, her inventiveness in how the crime is uncovered applies real world tech and her knowledge to her creative narrative. Devouring the series!

I debated between giving this book a pick or a so-so. It is an extremely quick read and I did enjoy the end and how it brought everything together. I also enjoyed the setting of a wintry, 19th century Iceland. I was a bit confused by all the characters but the end wrapped it up nicely and the pieces all fall into place. I'm glad I read this book but just feel a little underwhelmed by it. Probably won't stick with me, but it was worth the read.

I tried a few times and made it about 30% into the book before I bailed. The concept was intriguing and I wanted to like it, but I just found my mind wandering every time I turned it on.