Title: Snowblind

Author: Ragnar Jónasson

Genre: Nordic Noir

Publisher: Orenda

Publication Date: 23rd October 2025

Rating: 4/5

Cover:

Summary:

SNOWBLIND:  

Siglufjörður: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors – accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thór Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik – with a past that he’s unable to leave behind. When a young woman is found lying half-naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life.
 
An avalanche and unremitting snowstorms close the mountain pass, and the 24-hour darkness threatens to push Ari over the edge, as curtains begin to twitch, and his investigation becomes increasingly complex, chilling and personal. Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness – blinded by snow, and with a killer on the loose.
 
Taut and terrifying, Snowblind is a startling debut from an extraordinary new talent, taking Nordic Noir to soaring new heights.
 
FADEOUT – NEW!

When Ari Thór Arason receives a staggeringly high bill for a foreign credit card that was taken out in his name, his life takes a turn he never anticipated. The bill in question belongs to his namesake – his father, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances when Ari was only a child.
 
Seeking answers, Ari Thór travels to London to investigate, hoping to learn the truth about what happened to his father all those years ago, and discovering far more than he could ever have imagined…

Review:

I love a bit of Nordic Noir and I’d heard of this series before so I was pleased at the chance to finally give it a read – and it didn’t disappoint. Snowblind starts with a striking first scene and then retreats to set up the story and all the characters a bit. Ari is an interesting main character to follow – I didn’t necessarily find him hugely likeable but I did find him compelling. I actually rather liked that he’s not put forward as this ‘perfect’ genius seasoned detective who gets everything right all the time – it felt more authentic and his flaws and mistakes made the narrative all the more intriguing for me. The real star of Snowblind has to be the setting, however, the small village that is only accessible via a single mountain tunnel adds a brilliant sense of atmospheric tension and claustrophobia which seeps off the pages beautifully. The small town setting is also perfect for a thriller as, as is often the case in insular communities, Ari is not necessarily immediately trusted and is sometimes seen as an outsider. The writing is sharp and often rather haunting – and I very much enjoyed the way the mystery came together and unfolded. This 10th anniversary edition also included a prequel, focusing on the question of what happened to Ari’s father and I found it worked beautifully at providing context for where we find the character in Snowblind. If you enjoy Scandi or Nordic Noir then I would definitely recommend picking this first instalment in the Dark Iceland series up. There is simply something undefinable about Icelandic-set crime stories and mysteries that seem to completely and utterly draw me in and Snowblind is no exception to that trend! 

★★★★

Thank you so much to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising it. I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

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