Where the Shadows Lie

By: Michael Ridpath

Narrated by: Seán Barrett

One thousand years ago: an Icelandic warrior returns from battle, bearing a ring cut from the right hand of his foe.

Seventy years ago: an Oxford professor, working from a secret source, creates the 20th century’s most pervasive legend. The professor’s name? John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.

Six hours ago: an expert on Old Icelandic literature, Agnar Haraldsson, is murdered. Everything is connected, but to discover how, Detective Magnus Jonson must venture where the shadows lie....

©2010 Michael Ridpath (P)2011 Isis Publishing Ltd

Engaging

A good story with fun tie-ins to the sagas and the Lord of the Rings. I didn't really like the main character that much, but having said that, I'll still check out more books from this series. He might grow on me.

Hmm . . . Verry In-ter-est-ing

Police procedural/somewhat errant main detective/antagonistic fellow cop/love interests. That's the regular stuff. The new twist is that the mystery is tied to Icelandic sagas and LOTR. So an interesting new slant and, since most of it takes place in Iceland, an interesting setting. Main character was more a normal guy than a caricature and most other characters were realistic. Also, and I'm not sure why, though there was certainly narrative suspense, it wasn't a white-knuckle thriller. I enjoyed it and will probably try his next book at some point.

Wonderful!

Admittedly I have an obsession with Iceland but also love LOTR. This story was fascinating!!!