Life was never going to be a bed of roses…
Tony is a young man who has always been on the losing side in life. He was brought up by his troubled, alcoholic mother who had a past of her own as a talented ballerina, until a life-changing accident brought her dreams to a sudden end. As her own ambitions for fame and success were crushed, she used cruel and brutal methods to project them onto her young son – with devastating consequences.
There’s no doubt that a body found on Reykjavík’s Öskjuhlíð hillside has been there for a long time. The case is handed to veteran detective Valdimar, supported by Ylfa, who is taking her tentative first steps as a police officer with the city’s CID while coping with her own family difficulties.
It’s not long before it’s clear a vicious killer is on the loose - and very little about the case is what it appears to be at first glance.
It's my pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for The Dancer by Óskar Guðmundsson today. Many thanks to Ewa Sherman and Corylus Books for inviting me and for my advance copy of the novel.
Nordic Noir is characterised by its depiction of brutal crimes and examination of the dark underbelly of society but The Dancer, the first in a new series by Óskar Guðmundsson is even darker and this relatively short but cleverly plotted novel is certainly not for the faint hearted. Without giving away any spoilers, there is mention of violence towards animals and while it happens off the page, more sensitive readers should be warned. This isn't torture porn, however, and while undoubtedly an unsettling read, it is also a moving character study of a man's descent into madness. As such, it almost veers into horror territory at times, particularly in the later chapters.
The atmospheric opening paragraph of the prologue soon gives way to something far more disturbing. By the time the unfortunate – and at this point unnamed victim – is mercilessly dispatched, it's already clear that this is a portrait of extreme violence and a damaged mind. The identity of the killer is known to the reader but while his actions become increasingly depraved, Oskar Guðmundsson is still able to elicit sympathy for him throughout the book.
This is a police procedural of sorts, with the experienced Valdimar teamed with rookie Ylfa to investigate the murder of a man who was already believed to have died in an accident. The narrative never becomes bogged down with the intricacies of the case, however and even the quieter chapters frequently seethe with tension. Although the plot is mostly concerned with the titular Dancer, Valdimar and Ylfa are interesting characters and I'm sure their personal lives will continue to be explored as the series progresses. It is Tony who is the most intriguing character and as the storyline reveals more about his troubled life, it's impossible not to become grimly fascinated by him.
Tony has his own flat but spends more time with his invalided mother and although he ostensibly cares for her, it is evident that their relationship is mutually dependent albeit horrifically damaged. It briefly appears as though Tony may find some respite when he joins a group of young dancers and is given a role in their upcoming production. His alcoholic mother was once a promising ballerina herself and has cruelly pushed her son, resulting in him spending years being bullied and ostracised by his peers. It finally looks as though he may have friends and perhaps even be taking steps towards a relationship but the scars of his past run deep.
His already fragile mind is irreparably broken by the terrible combination of his harrowing childhood and the shocking discoveries he makes here. The physical wounds are painfully apparent but it's the psychological trauma which ultimately leads to the unspeakable nightmare which dramatically unfolds. The closing chapters are especially compulsive and although the barbarism is hard to bear witness to, I found it impossible to tear my eyes from the page. Praise should also go to Quentin Bates whose translation captures all the intensity and emotion of this gripping study into paranoia and savagery.
The Dancer isn't an easy read and it would be wrong to describe it as enjoyable. However, it is a bleak, thoughtful and empathetic exploration into betrayal and how an innocent child can ultimately grow into a monster, and as such is an utterly compelling, powerful novel. Óskar Guðmundsson is an author to watch, I look forward to reading his next book.
The Dancer is published by Corylus Books, purchasing links can be found here.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
About the Author
One of the rising stars of Icelandic crime fiction, Óskar Guðmundsson has been writing since he was a youngster, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that his novel Hilma was published – and was an immediate success, winning the Drop of Blood award for the best Icelandic crime novel of 2015.
This was followed by a sequel, Blood Angels, in 2018. The first of his books to be published in an English translation, The Commandments is a standalone novel which appeared in Iceland in 2019.
All of Óskar’s books have been bestsellers and rewarded with outstanding reviews. The TV rights to Hilma have been acquired by Sagafilm.
His latest book is The Dancer, which has been published simultaneously as an ebook, audiobook and paperback – accompanied by an original song in which Óskar’s words have been put to music featuring some of Iceland’s leading musicians.
Óskar’s talents don’t end there, as he’s also an artist and has held a number of exhibitions of his work.
About the Translator
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