This is the 6th book in the series, but I have only read books 3, 4 and 5 due to the order that they were translated into English.  I really like the characters,  Inspectors Erlendur, Elinborg and Sigurdur Oli form a formidable team.  The murder case here takes them back to the cold war and soviet spies, communist East Germany, and left-wing student groups.  There are also glimpses into Erlendur’s personal life through his relationships especially with Marion and Eva Lind.

The historical elements and the modern mystery are smoothly intertwined to make for a story that has good pacing and flows.    The characters are fully fleshed out and engaging with all their very human flaws.  I have enjoyed all the books in this series so far and look forward to reading more!