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The Girl Who Died

The chilling Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year from the bestselling author

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The Girl Who Died

By: Ragnar Jónasson
Narrated by: Amanda Redman
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE NAIL-BITING NEW STORY FROM THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR


'TEACHER WANTED ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD . . .'

Una knows she is struggling to deal with her father's sudden, tragic suicide. She spends her nights drinking alone in Reykjavik, stricken with thoughts that she might one day follow in his footsteps.

So when she sees an advert seeking a teacher for two girls in the tiny village of Skálar - population of ten - on the storm-battered north coast of the island, she sees it as a chance to escape.

But once she arrives, Una quickly realises nothing in city life has prepared her for this. The villagers are unfriendly. The weather is bleak. And, from the creaky attic bedroom of the old house where she's living, she's convinced she hears the ghostly sound of singing.

Una worries that she's losing her mind.

And then, just before midwinter, a young girl from the village is found dead. Now there are only nine villagers left - and Una realizes that one of them has blood on their hands . . .

Shortlisted for the Fingerprint Awards Audiobook of the Year Award

Praise for Ragnar Jónasson

'Is this the best crime writer in the world today? If you're looking for a mystery to get lost in during lockdown . . .' The Times

'A world-class crime writer . . . One of the most astonishing plots of modern crime fiction' Sunday Times

'It is nothing less than a landmark in modern crime fiction' The Times

'This is Icelandic noir of the highest order, with Jonasson's atmospheric sense of place, and his heroine's unerring humanity shining from every page'
Daily Mail

'Triumphant conclusion. Chilling, creepy, perceptive, almost unbearably tense' Ian Rankin

'This is such a tense, gripping read' Anthony Horowitz

'Brilliantly effective. Each book enraptures us' The Times Literary Supplement

'Superb . . . chilling . . . one of the great tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction' Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month

'A classic crime story seen through a uniquely Icelandic lens. First rate and highly recommended' Lee Child

'Chilling - a must-read' Peter James

'A stunningly atmospheric story. Pitch-perfect, beautifully paced. Ragnar Jónasson is at the top of his game, and a master of the genre' Will Dean

'Darkly claustrophobic . . . Perfect mid-winter reading' Ann Cleeves

© Ragnar Jónasson 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Crime Thrillers Mystery Police Procedurals Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Thriller Fiction Crime Village Christmas Winter

Critic reviews

Intriguing . . . This spooky novel draws on Icelandic sagas to create an atmosphere of growing menace.
An intensely gripping mystery, Ragnar Jonasson is a poet of the "dark, wet and cold", of the "gloom, cold and rain". The climactic revelations are credible and moving
A creepy tale
A master of the Icelandic thriller
With the bleakest of landscapes and some supernatural undertones, this is one creepy thriller that'll have you leaving ALL the lights on
Spooky, sophisticated. Jonasson is strong on atmosphere
Invigorating Iceland-set slice of Nordic Noir
With his trademark elegant prose and atmospheric sense of place, Jonasson weaves a slow-burning, haunting tale with a chilling ending
A chilling psychological thriller with an unexpected ending that will haunt the reader
Haunting psychological novel tinged with the supernatural
All stars
Most relevant
Good story and narration but I'm confused as to era set...videos, chequebooks all implied set in late 20th century! Over an hour in but no reference to date...can someone help 🤣

When is this set

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I do like Amanda Redman's style with the Ragnor Jonasson books, she captures that everyday sense of normalcy, then mixes it with chills, fear, & the writer's multi-layered morals of the characters.

Listened to this very quickly, couldn't put it down.

Lots of layers & twists

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Not only was it a good story, Amanda Redman does a great job in making Una alive in the story. Amanda’s little interludes singing lullabies prove she can sing too.
Good choice

Enjoyed it a lot

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With Halloween approaching, I went in search of a unique, unsettling story. After a short while, I uncovered The Girl Who Died, and was instantly gripped by the premise.

The setting of a remote fictional town in Iceland called Skálar, population 10, provides a perfectly bleak backdrop to this wonderful slow-burner. The gradual unravelling of the secrets held by the insular and unwelcoming townspeople, amidst suspicious deaths and disappearances, had me engrossed from start to finish. This was bolstered by the wonderful performance by voice actress Amanda Redman, whose ability to switch voices at the drop of a hat gave life to the characters. 5 stars!

Equally Unsettling & Cosy

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Atmospheric and thrilling.
Beautiful writing, fabulous narration.
This author can do no wrong; pure joy.

Stunning

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