I’m not sure how I stumbled across The Girl Who Died; I think author Ragnar Jonasson blurbed another scary book that I’d read and loved. I thought, if I loved that book, I’d probably love books by this author, too.
The Girl Who Died, despite its off-putting title, was a really enjoyable read. It’s brimming with tension and atmopshere, suspense and mystery. Main character Una spontaneously accepts a teaching job in the ultra-remote Icelandic village of Skalar. You wonder what Una’s gotten herself into pretty early on. Hers is an uneasy situation since there’s no way out of Skalar, which is located on the very tip of Iceland and has only 10 inhabitants, and is staying in what seems to be a haunted house.
Oh, and did I mention that the next town is a good 30 minutes’ drive away? YEAH.
If it were present day, Una’s isolated life might seem more charming than ominous; however, The Girl Who Died is set in the 1980s. I don’t know about you, but I tend to forget there was a time when we weren’t constantly connected to rest of the world via computers, cell phones, internet, and WiFi. Which is funny because I’m a child of the 80s, when the only way to communicate with someone was to call them using the wall telephone or go visit them. Now, in 2022, I’ve forgotten what it’s like to ever feel completely cut off from the world.
The Girl Who Died did an excellent job of reminding me of what that’s like. Una’s sense of isolation seeps into every aspect of the novel like a dense, wet fog. Jonasson plunges you into a starkly breathtaking world, where the deep chill comes not only from Skalar’s arctic waters, but Una’s icy reception into the oddly insular little town. Most of the story revolves around Una’s interaction with Skalar’s townspeople, who all seem a little…off.
Much to my delight, there’s a traditional haunting in The Girl Who Died, though it tends to take backseat to fact that Una’s also haunted by her past…and a drinking habit she’s developed over the years. While I wished for a bit more ghostly drama, I enjoyed the intrigue Jonassan creates around Una and the townspeople.
When it comes to the ending of The Girl Who Died… I dunno. I expected more from it. The ending didn’t ruin my enjoyment or appreciation of the book, but I was hoping for something a little more dramatic given all that had already gone down in Skalar.
Still, The Girl Who Died is a solid, unique read. The wintry descripions of on-the-edge-of-the-world Skalar somehow make you want to pack your bags and start over there, just like Una. The atmosphere of the book is moody and brooding, but it draws you in completely. If you want a little mystery, if you’re intrigued by the quirks of (very) small town life, or if you want a peek into another culture, I recommend giving this novel a try.
