Over time, there has been a tendency to place all Nordic Crime Fiction under an umbrella of sameness, largely because the early successes in the subgenre were indeed dark, brooding pieces dripping with a cold and gloomy ambience, but the truth is much more complex—as it always is. Nordic Crime Fiction has just as much variety and experimentation as all categories of crime fiction do. Take for example The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder by Erlendur Arason. This recent debut which is undeniably Nordic and yet it feels as fresh as a field of daffodils on a Spring morning.
The Bristol is an exclusive luxury hotel in the heart of Reykjavik, Iceland. Torfi is a struggling family man, proud of his career in the hospitality industry. On the verge of losing his position at The Bristol Hotel, a minor miscommunication suddenly sends his career trajectory in a totally new direction—one Torfi is wholly unqualified for. And yet, as a respectable and devoted employee, isn’t it his duty to perform all tasks requested to the utmost of his abilities? Even if that means helping to cover up a murder.
This is the inspired premise of The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder. Erlendur Arason launches a series that will have readers anxiously awaiting Torfi’s next misadventure. A dark comedic thread winds its way through this novel, even as some very serious topics are exposed. The underbelly of a tourist destination provides plenty of fodder for the observant crime writer. All seasoned travelers have hotel horror stories, but Arason ups the ante while exploring the tricks of the hospitality trade to keep it all just on the right side of believable.
Torfi becomes a bit of the anti-hero here. Readers are witness to this man trying to free himself from a dangerous and chaotic situation that is completely out of his hands. His choices—limited as they are—are often controversial and yet, it’s impossible not to root for his success. It’s a bit like the everyman going against the system—but in this case the system is rigged, corrupt, and well-funded…oh wait, isn’t that just LIFE.
The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder is populated with a cast of unforgettable characters—both good and bad. In particular, Iceland’s homeless population is treated with a level of humanity rarely seen in fiction. As this is the start of a series, it will be interesting to see which characters continue to appear in future novels.
Any book in translation relies heavily on the person behind the words and Quentin Bates is one of the best. Bates avoids all the clunkiness that can bog down poorly translated works, but it’s also clear that Erlendur Arason’s true intentions are being respected with each carefully chosen word. The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder feels like a hermetically sealed package delivered to the reader as authentically as possible.
Check in to The Bristol Hotel today, Torfi will do everything in his power to make your stay a pleasant one—just don’t look behind the curtain or open any “employee only” doors lest you trigger The Hotel Manager’s Guide to Murder.
Disclaimer: An e-galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the translator. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
