Ragnar Jónasson thriller to reach four countries this year

A new crime novel by Icelandic author Ragnar Jónasson is being published in four countries this year, mbl.is reports. Svartakóf is already out in Iceland and is due in France at the end of October, followed by the United Kingdom and the United States in November.

The French edition is titled Jour Blanc. In English, the book will be called The Body in the Bath, a title chosen by its British publisher. Jónasson said British publishers often look to Agatha Christie when choosing book titles.

The novel is the third in a series featuring crime scientist Helgi Reykdal, following Hvítidauði and Hvítaloft. The story follows Helgi as he faces a difficult situation shortly before Christmas. Jónasson described it as a Christmas story with a festive atmosphere and a darker mood.

Svartakóf is Jónasson’s 20th book. He said it was completed a year ago, giving him time to have it translated and seek an endorsement from author Anthony Horowitz, which appears on the cover. Jónasson celebrated the book’s publication at an event in Safnahúsið.

He is continuing an international promotional tour. Last week, he appeared at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, where he spoke about his books and Christie to an audience of 600. He also visited four German cities, including Cologne, where he addressed 400 people at a literary festival event in the city’s broadcasting centre.

In late October, Jónasson will attend the opening of an exhibition about Christie at the British Library. He said he had been interviewed about translating Christie’s works into Icelandic and writing books inspired by them. The interview was recorded in winter, and visitors will be able to see it alongside the Icelandic translations, he said.

Jónasson has also been working on a thriller with Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, scheduled for publication next year. He said the book was nearly finished and that he had begun writing his next solo novel.