This is a nicely written, taut, and well plotted procedural with one foot in the American cop/FBI genre, and one firmly fixed in ScandiNoir. Although it's the fourth book in the series, it worked well enough as a standalone for me since I had no familiarity with the series beforehand. The author is adept at providing background without spoon-feeding, and I didn't feel the lack of prior engagement with the characters too keenly. I found it intriguing enough that I do intend to go seek out the prior books.
The author is adept at plotting and the technical aspects of writing compelling and realistic dialogue and characterization. This is a very readable book. The action is split between Buffalo and Iceland and is richer and more nuanced for the dual settings. The plot is also split between the current murder of an Icelandic tourist in Buffalo, and the long-ago cold case disappearance and murder of a young boy in 1978. Main character Lauren is also trying to navigate her relationship with her work colleague who suffered a job related head injury and has moved into her house (with his dog, Watson).
I like that Lauren is intelligent and well spoken as well as a bit of a badass. She has a moral compass and is mature and strong. She's loyal and driven and a good protagonist.
The action is brutal and bloody in some places and the language is also raw and rough. 'R'-rated, more or less. The book includes some more mature themes such as violence against homosexuals, drug use, etc.
This is a well written modern procedural with a satisfying (if melancholy) denouement. Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
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