I always connect Christmas with snow and ice, even if it rarely materialises here in London. And what better way to get in the mood for the season than grabbing a couple of proper winter reads.
The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves (Vera Stanhope #9)
Detective Vera Stanhope gets lost in a blizzard on her way back from work. When trying to read a sign post, she discovers another car stuck in the snow with a baby on the back seat, but no driver. Later, a young woman is found dead in the vicinity and Vera and her team have a new case on their hands.
I’ve read this book twice already. As usual, Cleeves’ characters kept me mesmerised from page one. They have flaws and weaknesses, they have complex relations to each other and sometimes they have such miserable lives, that my heart aches for them. Add to that Cleeves unique ability to describe a location to the extent that readers feel they have actually been there and you have – in my opinion – some of the best contemporary crime fiction out there.
Like in most of Cleeves novels, the actual identification of the murderer is just a bi-product. The central part is the human drama and the process of slowly getting to know the characters, discover their secrets, figure out how they fit together. The story plays out in a snow-clad Northumberland in December and culminates at winter solstice, i.e. the darkest evening. To me this is the perfect winter read.
Title: The Darkest Evening [2020] Author: Ann Cleeves Format: Audiobook Genre: Crime Fiction
The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vesaas
Believe it or not, I’ve also read The Ice Palace twice, but for very different reasons. This is a deceptive little novella. On the surface, it’s short and easy to read. But afterwards I had the distinct feeling of not getting even close to the depths of the story. Actually, I felt very much like one of the characters, Unn, when she lies on the frozen lake and catches an enticing glimpse of the weeds and shellfish below. I could sense there were deeper meanings behind the written words, but I felt I was separated from them by a thick layer of ice.
The story is about two eleven year old girls. Siss is the popular girl in school, Unn is the newcomer arriving to stay with her aunt, when her mother dies. Immediately, there is an undefined curiosity and attraction between the two girls, but before they get to know each other properly, Unn disappears.
The ice palace, an enormous ice structure around a partly frozen waterfall, is highly symbolic with various possible interpretations.
To Unn in particular, the ice palace holds a strange fascination, similar to the mutual fascination between the two girls. The “rooms” in the palace each have a separate meaning, reflecting parts of Unn herself and her volatile emotions. There is the room with a hostile ice forrest, the room of tears, the miracle room filled with light and finally the room with dripping icicles, jagged walls and a deafening noise from the waterfall, from which you can go no further.
In relation to Siss, the ice palace could be interpreted as the lump of ice taking possession inside her after the disappearance of Unn. It paralyses her and her surroundings are highly worried.
Reading The Ice Palace for the second time was a better experience. It engaged me much more emotionally and I really appreciated the layers, complexity and symbolism in the story. Veesas’ writing is beautifully haunting. His descriptions of the frozen landscape are like poetry and the budding relationship between Siss and Unn is wonderfully portrayed and filled with unspoken meaning.
Title: The Ice Palace [1963], translated by Elizabeth Rokkan Author: Tarjei Veesas Format: eBook Genre: Scandinavian Fiction
As iit happens, I’ve just finished an Ann Cleeves – the first I’ve read of her Shetland books – and much enjoyed it. I was lucky enough to hear her speak a couple of years ago, at an event organised by our local independent bookshop. She’s a warm and engaging speaker, so if you get the chance too – take it!
Ah that must have been fun, I would love to hear her speak. I’ve always wondered if there is a connection, so you tend to find authors of books you’ve enjoyed more interesting? I suspect not… But I will take your advice if I get the chance!
I found The Ice Palace similarly intriguing yet distant. Glad to hear it improved on a reread 😊
Yes, I found it much more interesting when rereading. I can’t rule out, it was due to me not giving it the attention it deserved, when reading it the first time, though.
Thanks for that list. I have read many books by Ann Cleeves but none of the Vera series. (I have seen the television series). But I’m definitely going to read The Darkest Evening. Love the photograph!
Oh, I really hope you will enjoy The Darkest Evening, I thought it showed Ann Cleeves at her best! And I should hasten to say, that it isn’t one of my photographs, I found it on pexels.com. Thanks for stopping by!
I haven’t heard of either books but your praise and love for these make me want to explore them for sure And for you to reread them both too? That has to mean something. And speaking of meaning. I like how the second reread gave you even more insight on deeper potential meanings. It’s what I hope all my future rereads will offer me too! Excellent reviews as always! 😀
I suppose, I should have mentioned that The Ice Palace really is very short, otherwise I wouldn’t have reread. For audiobooks, it is very different. I tend to do other stuff whilst listening, and when I am grocery shopping or doing something which requires a bit of attention, I prefer to listen to books which are not too demanding or sometimes books I have listened to before. Thanks! 😀
I’ve collected most of the books in the Cleeves series and really want to get started. I like the focus on character development. Excellent reviews, Stargazer💜
Oh, really, I hope you will enjoy them. In a way I envy you, that you haven’t started on her series yet, both the Shetland and the Vera series are amongst my favourites. Thanks Jonetta! 😀
I have both series!
So have I! The Shetland series is obviously finished, but I think / hope there will be more Vera books.
I can see why you picked these for wintry reads :-). Ann Cleeves must be a really good writer if you don’t mind rereading a novel where you already know from the first time who the killer is. I know it’s not only about that but I imagine it must be a big part of the plot anyway. Great reviews!
Yes, her novels are definitely character driven, which I guess is unusual for crime fiction. It is the same for P. D. James, another of my crime fiction favourite authors. I read them for the characters, rather than the plot. I just finished a P. D. James novel and I was so sad when it was over, I just wanted to keep reading about the characters and know what happened in their lives afterwards. Thanks Inge! 😀
I had to look up P.D. James’s books but they’re detective novels, something right up my street too!
They are great if you like character driven stories. But perhaps you would find them a bit slow compared to modern thrillers.
OOoo I love the look and feel of the cover of THe Ice Palace! Why did you decide to pick it up the second time despite not enjoying it the first time? I’m a lazy reader and wouldn’t have bothered lol
Yes, it’s such a nice cover, isn’t it? I wouldn’t say, I didn’t enjoy it the first time around. I thought it was ok, but I felt sure there was more to this novella than I managed to pick up on the first read. I don’t like te feeling of having missed out, so I tried again. Luckily, it was very short and it was definitely worth the second attempt. 🙂