The Grimsson Series #12
A stand-alone series
Blóðdropinn, The Icelandic Crime Award 2024
The Best Crime Novel of the Year 2024, selected by Morgunbladid Daily
Only Death Was a Witness is the twelfth gripping installment in the series featuring the unorthodox detective Hordur Grimsson, a character who has become a standout in contemporary crime fiction.
Detective Hordur Grimson’s days are far from thrilling. Stuck investigating corporate price-fixing, he longs for the days of solving real crimes. But during a routine lunch break, he intercepts a strange message from an unknown voice on the police’s private radio channel. Is it a genuine threat or a twisted prank? His superior dismisses it as a joke, but Hordur isn’t so sure.
When the mysterious broadcast repeats the next day, Hordur is given a green light to dig deeper into the enigma. Who is using the police frequency to make these cryptic declarations, and what are they planning? With only a sliver of a lead, Hordur dives into a relentless investigation, chasing clues through Iceland’s darkest corners. As time ticks away, the day of reckoning looms ever closer. A fierce westward storm is forecasted, but Hordur senses a more sinister force gathering strength. Could this be the prelude to a terrorist attack on Icelandic soil?
English translations available
ABOUT THE SERIES
Hordur Grimsson, a relentless detective in Reykjavik, is known for his striking emerald green eyes, rust-red hair, and muscular build. He balances a demanding career with family life, using unconventional methods and a unique sensitivity that allows him to sense events before they happen. His intense focus on work often strains his relationship with his wife and son, despite his deep love for them.
Hordur’s intuition and physical presence make him a formidable detective, but the emotional burden of having taken a life adds to his psychological strain. The series explores his growth as a detective and family man, delving into his internal conflicts and emotional journey, and highlighting themes of justice versus personal sacrifice, the toll of duty on relationships, and balancing strength with sensitivity.
“This is a high-stakes adventure where the police face an imminent threat to the lives of Reykjavik’s inhabitants in a race against time. The plot is fast-paced and exciting, with the countdown around which the story revolves gripping the reader firmly. At the same time, the author continues to develop the colorful character and inner conflict of the flawed police officer, Hordur Grimsson, in a convincing way. The character descriptions are vivid and multi-dimensional, and the atmosphere of fear and horror is quickly and skillfully built up. At the same time, humor and subtle nuances of human life are carefully woven into the narrative. The text is rich in imagery, and both the setting and plot unfold vividly in the reader’s mind.”
REVIEW FROM THE FINAL JURY, BLÓÐDROPINN, THE ICELANDIC CRIME AWARD
“Detective Hordur Grimsson faces an ambiguous yet menacing threat in a gripping crime novel that unfolds into unexpected tension with action and a fast-paced narrative. The storytelling is vivid and impactful, with a well-crafted plot that keeps the reader hooked until the very end.”
JURY‘S VERDICT
Blóðdropinn, The Icelandic Crime Award 2024: Finalist
Five stars out of five
★★★★★
“Only Death Was a Witness is [Stefan Mani’s] most magnificent book to date … among the best Icelandic crime novels.”
SG, MORGUNBLADID DAILY
“… the most enjoyable book I’ve read about Hordur Grimsson and the most thrilling. It completely captivates you … the plot is well-crafted and convincing.”
INGIBJORG IDA AUDUNARDOTTIR, KILJAN NATIONAL TV
“Incredibly entertaining.”
KOLBRUN BERGTHORSDOTTIR, KILJAN, NATIONAL TV
“A book in the spirit of Tarantino, suitably bloody and suitably funny. But above all, cool.”
THE LITERATURE WEB
“If you like Nordic Noir for its darkness and strong lead characters then Stefan Mani is your guy.”
YRSA SIGURDARDOTTIR, CRIME WRITER
