The Girl Who Died - Ragnar Jonasson

 The Girl Who Died - Ragnar Jonasson

She read

It is the 1980s and Una, who has not been particularly successful in her life in Reykjavik,  takes a job teaching at the “edge of the world”.  It is dark, dismal, cold Skálar, population 10, including the 2 children she will be teaching.  The citizens, quirky all, are not particularly welcoming to Una. And, it seems the house, in particular the room she is occupying, may be haunted by the ghost of a young child who died in the 1920s.  

This Nordic noir is highly readable, atmospheric, and engrossing, although it was 

difficult for me to find any likable characters.  Una, despite the early tragedy in her life (hinted at in the beginning and fully revealed later in the novel), is kind of annoying.   

I typically do not like the supernatural.  While this had touches of it, it was tolerable for me.  

Read this book for its depiction of a small closed society and its richly created setting, not for suspense,  twists and turns or compelling plot.  

****