They appear to hate the man and Erlendur gradually uncovers the doorman's sad history, how he was once a famous treble, a child star but how his voice broke during an important performance and he became an abomination to the father who had previously adored him.Īnother person of interest is Henry Wapshott, a British record collector who proclaims his adoration for the choirboy Gulli used to be. The family, father and sister, of the dead man make no bones about the fact that they have not seen Gudlauger for 30 years and do not regret that fact. The author presents us with a somewhat strange cast of characters. The father, naturally enough, protests his innocence despite others testifying that he is unusually strict with his son. They suspect the injuries have been inflicted by the child's father but the lad refuses to speak. In another case, Erlendur and Elinborg are looking into a horrible assault on a young boy.

He has died from multiple, savage stab wounds to his chest. Not only was Gudlauger Egilsson deprived of any joy he might derive from entertaining hotel guests at the Christmas party, a condom, empty of bodily fluids, attached to the man bears witness to the fact that Gulli has also been disappointed by the withholding of more than one Christmas treat. They are called to an up-market hotel in order to investigate the death of a Santa, more usually employed as doorman/handyman for the establishment. It is nearly Christmas, a season which Erlendur is not anticipating with any degree of joy, unlike his assistant Elinborg, who tends to throw herself heart and soul into the preparations. It's a shame that non-Icelandic speakers have had to wait three years before being able to read the latest in the adventures of Erlendur, that unfortunate detective of the frozen north. Award-winning author Arnaldur Indridason shows, in his 2003 novel VOICES, just why he is so popular in Iceland.

Voices indriðason novel