Arnaldur Indriðason Books In Order

Publication Order of Inspector Erlendur Books

Chronological Order of Inspector Erlendur Books

Publication Order of Detective Konrad Books

Publication Order of Reykjavik Wartime Mystery/Flovent and Thorson Thrillers Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Icelandic author and writer of crime-fiction, Arnaldur Indridason is well known and equally well regarded for his unique brand of suspense, intrigue and realism as he makes influential waves within the thriller genre. Particularly well known for his series featuring protagonist ‘Detective Erlendur’, he continues to write this ongoing set of novels for his ever-increasing audience. With a cinematic treatment of his book ‘Myrin’, which was to become ‘Jar City’, this popularity looks set carry on building both nationally and internationally.

Early and Personal Life

Reykjavik born on the 28th of January, 1961, Arnaldur Indridason was the son of Indrioi Porsteinsson, another Icelandic author of great repute. Graduating from the University of Iceland in 1996, he came out with a degree in history before continuing his career in journalism, along with being a film critic as well. It’s this interest in history that has informed much of his writing career as he focuses on sagas filled with political turmoil and intrigue, spanning across generations. A forerunner in his field, he is considered a luminary by others with his influential yet popular brand of crime-fiction.

Looking at family relationships too, he takes inspiration from the world around him as his location informs a large quantity of his work. Not without awards as well, he has continually received critical acclaim for his novels that look at grand themes such as justice and retribution. With a strong moral compass of his own, his work continues to draw in readers from across the globe, as his books have been translated into over twenty-one different languages, whilst being published in over twenty-six different countries. This popularity shows no signs of stopping anytime and will continue to grow from now into the foreseeable future.

Writing Career

Publishing his first book, ‘Sons of Dust’, in 1997, Arnaldur Indridason was to introduce his readers into the world of Detective Erlendur for what was to be his most popular series to date. Although his initial two novels have yet to be translated into English, his subsequent books have made him an author popular not just in Iceland, but all across the world as well. This popularity has seen him topping many of the bestseller lists time and time again, as he’s become one of Iceland’s most profitable authors of recent times. Further evidence of this can be found in the fact that his novels are ranked seven of the ten most popular books on loan from the Reykjavik City Library as of 2004.

With the film ‘Jar City’ produced in 2006, he saw his novel ‘Myrin’ adapted for the big-screen, which was directed by Baltasar Kormakur. This film received much praise as it was awarded the ‘Crystal Globe Grand Prize’ during the 2007 ‘Karlovy Vary International Film Festival’. Not without his fair share of awards himself, Arnaldur has been given the ‘Glass Key Award’ in 2002 and 2003 for the best Nordic crime novel. He also managed to claim the ‘Crime Writer’s Association Gold Dagger Award’ for his novel ‘Silence of the Grave’ in 2005. Recently in 2013 he was awarded the ‘RBA International Prize for Crime Writing’, which further reinforced his international status within the crime genre field. All of this success shows no signs of finishing anytime soon, as he plans to produce more of his infamous brand of idiosyncratic crime novels as he gains an ever widening audience.

Myrin

This was the first novel by Arnaldur Indridason that was brought to film in 2006 and its title translates to ‘The Bog’ in English. Also known known as ‘Jar City’ and ‘Tainted Blood’ abroad, it features Inspector Erlendur for his third book in the series, although this is the first translation into English. In it Arnaldur brings his readers into the setting of Reykjavik where a man is found murdered in his flat. Lonely and old, the only clue to be found left by the killer is a photograph depicting the grave of young girl, alongside a cryptically written note. It soon transpires that this old man was previously implicated in a crime many years prior, but it never came to trial. With that it appears that the past has resurfaced once to more to haunt them all.

As they look to reopen this once forgotten case, it quickly comes to light that there may be a lot more to it than what initially appeared upon the surface. Scratching away the layers, they soon uncover a web of lies and deceit that goes much deeper than any of them ever expected. The trail of forensics then starts to lead them through a network of secrets that have been tentatively guarded for many years now, as they begin to find out the facts behind the fiction. What will they uncover and what does it all really mean? Are some things best left in the past? Can they overcome their many personal conflicts clouding the truth as their investigation takes them through the dark and murky underworld of Jar City?

Arctic Chill

In what is the fifth installment of the Inspector Erlendur series, Arnaldur Indridason this time brings his audience into the normally quiet suburbs of Reykjavik as a young Thai-boy who was only ten years old is found dead and frozen to the sidewalk during mid January. All the evidence says that this wasn’t accidental as he’s also found with stab wounds in his stomach, so it is with this that Erlendur has his next case. It then soon transpires that the boy’s half-brother is also missing and nowhere to be found, so they must work out whether he played a part in the crime or if he’s just fearful for his own life. Whilst many believe the killing to be racially motivated it appears that there could be a sex-offender suspected in the area, who was spotted nearby.

Unearthing a large amount of tension in the area, the Inspector looks behind what appears to be a multicultural society based on tolerance and acceptance to discover what may be some ugly truths. Taking a controversial look at an apparently outwardly liberal community on the surface, Arnaldur Indridason aims to take a deeper look, as Inspector Erlendur attempts to confront secrets buried from his own past, one soaked in a tragedy that’s been long hidden up until now.

2 Responses to “Arnaldur Indriðason”

1. ann thorpe: 4 months ago

   I have just started reading the novels, I have got hooked on the Insp Konrad books as I like his character. I haven’t yet gof into the Erlendur books, are they from the same timeline, and would the two have known each other ?

   Reply
2. Jim Filkins: 2 years ago

   I bought Arctic Chill while traveling in Iceland just something to pass the long hours driving Hwy 1 in Autumn. Now I am hooked and went back to Jar City and now in order. Something about Deland it touches me and I want to know what.

   Reply