Hypothermia

A Reykjavik Thriller

By: Arnaldur Indridason

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

Iceland’s best-selling novelist and a winner of the CWA Gold Dagger Award, Arnaldur Indridason is an international phenomenon highly regarded for his engrossing crime fiction. In Hypothermia, Inspector Erlendur contends with personal demons while investigating a woman’s suicide. Although there are no signs of foul play, Erlendur gradually exposes a sinister plot.

©2010 Arnaldur Indridason (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews

“… psychologically astute, beautifully told, and filled with insight into matters of life and death.” ( Booklist, starred review)

Very Fine Quiet Mystery!

I really enjoyed this book. Of course, George Guidall is the perfect narrator. It is not a wild suspense novel but a lovely tale involving several stories that seem separate but become all intertwined together. Highly recommended!

Suicide is a Missing Person's Case too.

I like mysteries, but this writer does something more. Arnauldur Indridason's stories are thought provoking long after the book is finished. This tale creeps up on you. This is my favorite Inspector Erlender story and the narrator does an excellent job with the characters and the Icelandic names. The end was very moving.
I hope Audible will procure more of Indridason's books. Really excellent!

Icelandic Mystery

I went to Iceland and toured it recently and I thought this would be a nice complement to that trip. I was right. I don't want to give away the story here - almost anything is a spoiler - but suffice it to say that the author uses seemingly unrelated incidents in the book to resolve the mystery. It's kind of quirky in that regard, but ultimately satisfying. Having been to Iceland it was easy for me to recognize the settings and appreciate the characters. Audible has this book a part of a series, but it seems to be a stand alone story in my opinion. The narrator did a nice job with the Icelandic names and place names. So the bottom line - this book is unusual for a mystery, but satisfying. I gave it four stars because the first half of the book was a bit confusing. I'm not sure if there was another way to write it, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

Twisty in a Few Sordid Ways

It's always interesting to see how different people's minds come up with different ideas in life. To write about wanting to die and how to 'try to do it medically' is a fascinating subject to most of us in the civilized world.

Indridason does a fantastic job of creating the visual story in ones mind to follow along as the plot twists and turns. Leading you off on a different direction, you think you know what comes next and then it's a little twist again with another small surprise. Well done. I'd read another one of his books again soon.

AMAZING story Line -

What made the experience of listening to Hypothermia the most enjoyable?

This is an author I would continue to read forever :) The story like was diverse and interesting. The plot very unique and I have now chosen George Guidall as my one and only fav narrator. The whole experience was riveting. I enjoyed the plot development and the characters stay very real and true. The only flaw I can speak of his the authors interpretation of the women in this book. They seem totally dysfunctional. Their attitudes seem similar. They are all " rather angry" save one or two that seems to be rather dislodged.. sometimes it is hard to listen since it just does not seem as if they have grown up at all.. lol . Other than that, it is a wonderful listen.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The movement of it was fast paced, and very unusual. I found it very refreshing and unique. He involve, just enough of science to keep the novice spellbound . But does not go into too much detail as to make it sound like a science text book. It bounced around just enough to keep me following the thread and unfolded the past and the present in the characters minds in a flawless and seamless manner. Wonderful !!!

Have you listened to any of George Guidall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

They are all WONDERFUL... He is the BEST !!!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Under The Ice...

Any additional comments?

I have downloaded a new book of the same auther.. I will start in today :) I just can't wait..

Persistence pays off!

The publisher's summary is sufficient.

This is a new author for me. The setting in Iceland is also different.

Erlendur joins other literary police detectives that are exprienced, follow their instincts, don't always get along well with others, and seem to do as they please. Of course his persistence pays off. He solves a crime and two disappearances and seems to be confronting his own demon as the book comes to an end. Since there will be no prosecutions after all of his work and he still has to come to terms with a lifelong personal issue, it seems that the book could end at a low point. However the author deals with it appropriately and the end is satisfying.

George Guidall is an excellent narrator.

Stories in the cold

Nice to listen and discover another country and habitants through that book. The deceive character has perseverance to open up the mysteries. Well done.

ho-hum

What would have made Hypothermia better?

There was no sense of urgency in the story.

What was most disappointing about Arnaldur Indridason’s story?

The premise seemed good on the surface, but I never found a compelling connection with any of the key charactors.

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

George did another super job in narration; I purposely listened to the story because he usually is tied to such good books. His Icelandic language skills were amazing.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

Avoid this book.

More, please

This was a really great listen. I had my doubts for the first five minutes or so, as the story begins and the setting is described. There were so many Icelandic place names, and each so long that it seemed that Mr. Guidall, who I think is a very fine narrator, was reading nothing else. I was intrigued, but felt that it was a distraction to hear them all on audio, that maybe it would be better to just read the book. Well, this distraction soon passed (or I got used to it), in any event, Indridason's tale soon has you completely in its thrall. The details of the case, the clues develop slowly, with Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson painstakingly interviewing an ever widening group of individuals, all the while denying that he is really conducting an official investigation at all. It's just him, out there on his own, asking quiet questions, and more quiet questions. You are inside his head, and it's a very interesting place to be. In some ways it reminded me just a bit of Columbo, in that you have a detective who seems to be a bit dense at times, perhaps, and certainly in dogged pursuit of the truth, in a way that those in his headlights seem exasperated by. Why won't Erlandur just go away? What is he after? You feel the discomfort of being under his microscope more and more as the story develops.
I thought it was great, and can't wait for Audible to purchase the rights to the rest of the series.

More Indridason

What made the experience of listening to Hypothermia the most enjoyable?

I love Erlendur. He is so determined. Please we need more Indridason on Audible.com

What about George Guidall’s performance did you like?

His voice is so soothing.