Silence of the Grave is the fourth book in the Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson series, but the second to be translated into English. It was preceeded by Jar City.
Summary:
Inspector Erlendur returns in this gripping Icelandic thriller When a skeleton is discovered half-buried in a construction site outside of Reykjavík, Inspector Erlendur finds himself knee-deep in both a crime scene and an archeological dig. Bone by bone, the body is unearthed, and the brutalizing history of a family who lived near the building site comes to light along with it. Was the skeleton a man or a woman, a victim or a killer, and is this a simple case of murder or a long-concealed act of justice? As Erlendur tries to crack this cold case, he must also save his drug-addicted daughter from self destruction and somehow glue his hopelessly fractured family back together.
Original Icelandic title: Grafarþögn
Translated into English from Icelandic by Bernard Scudder in 2005.
Hardcover edition: 280 pages
Reviews of Silence of the Grave:
- Kirkus Reviews, October 9th, 2006
Awards And Nominations:
- Winner of the 2003 Glasnyckeln (Glass Key) Award by members of Skandinaviska Kriminalsällskapet (Crime Writers of Scandinavia)
- Winner of the 2005 CWA Gold Dagger Award
- Nominated for a Barry Award in 2005