Inspector Erlendur Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order

For English-speaking readers, navigating the Inspector Erlendur series (also known as the Reykjavík Murder Mysteries) requires a bit of strategy. Because the first two novels in the series have never been officially translated into English, and the prequels were published much later in the run, reading in pure chronological order can disrupt the emotional payoff of the series. Therefore, we highly recommend reading the books in the order they were translated and released in English. This path allows you to experience Erlendur's character development and the gradual unfolding of his tragic backstory exactly as international audiences did.

The English Translation Reading Path (Recommended)

This is the most practical path for English readers. It starts with the international breakthrough novel, Jar City, and follows Erlendur and his team through the main story arc before looping back to the younger years of his career in the prequels.

1. Jar City / Tainted Blood (Original: Mýrin, 2000; English translation: 2004) – The perfect entry point. Erlendur investigates a lonely old man’s murder, leading to a decades-old crime and genetic secrets.
2. Silence of the Grave (Original: Grafarþögn, 2001; English translation: 2005) – A skeleton unearthed on a construction site reveals a dark history of domestic abuse. This book won the prestigious CWA Gold Dagger Award.
3. Voices (Original: Röddin, 2002; English translation: 2006) – Set during the festive season, a Santa-clad doorman is murdered in a Reykjavik hotel, prompting Erlendur to move into the hotel to unravel the victim's secret past.
4. The Draining Lake (Original: Kleifarvatn, 2004; English translation: 2007) – An earthquake lowers the water level of a lake, exposing a skeleton tied to a Cold War spy ring.
5. Arctic Chill (Original: Vetrarborgin, 2005; English translation: 2008) – A young multicultural boy is found frozen in his own blood, exposing racial tensions and cultural challenges in modern Iceland.
6. Hypothermia (Original: Harðskafi, 2007; English translation: 2009) – Erlendur becomes obsessed with a woman's apparent suicide, leading him to investigate unofficial cold cases of missing people.
7. Outrage (Original: Myrká, 2008; English translation: 2011) – A spin-off novel focusing on Erlendur’s colleague Elínborg. Erlendur is on leave in the East Fjords, forcing Elínborg to take the lead in a domestic homicide case.
8. Black Skies (Original: Svörtuloft, 2009; English translation: 2012) – Another team-led spin-off, focusing on Sigurður Óli. While Erlendur remains absent, his junior colleague investigates a blackmail case that goes horribly wrong.
9. Strange Shores (Original: Furðustrandir, 2010; English translation: 2013) – The emotional climax of the main series. Erlendur returns to the harsh landscapes of his childhood home in the East Fjords, searching for answers about his brother's disappearance decades earlier while investigating a historical cold case.
10. Reykjavík Nights (Original: Reykjavíkurnætur, 2012; English translation: 2014) – A prequel featuring Erlendur as a young traffic officer in the 1970s, working the night shift and investigating the suspicious death of a homeless man.
11. Into Oblivion (Original: Kamp Knox, 2014; English translation: 2016) – Another prequel. Erlendur is now a junior detective working alongside his mentor Marion Briem, investigating a death near the controversial US military base at Keflavík.

The Complete Icelandic Publication Order

If you read Icelandic (or other European translations such as French or German, which have translated the entire catalog), you can read the series in its original publication order. This order includes the first two novels and the untranslated chess-themed prequel:

1. Synir duftsins (1997 – Untranslated: Sons of Dust)
2. Dauðarósir (1998 – Untranslated: Roses of Death / Silent Kill)
3. Jar City / Mýrin (2000)
4. Silence of the Grave / Grafarþögn (2001)
5. Voices / Röddin (2002)
6. The Draining Lake / Kleifarvatn (2004)
7. Arctic Chill / Vetrarborgin (2005)
8. Hypothermia / Harðskafi (2007)
9. Outrage / Myrká (2008)
10. Black Skies / Svörtuloft (2009)
11. Strange Shores / Furðustrandir (2010)
12. Einvígið (2011 – Untranslated: The Duel / The Match)
13. Reykjavík Nights / Reykjavíkurnætur (2012)
14. Into Oblivion / Kamp Knox (2014)

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order

For readers who prefer a strict chronological progression, the timeline of Erlendur’s life and career looks very different from the publication order. The chronological order shifts the prequels to the very beginning, tracing Erlendur's journey from a young street cop to his final case:

1. Einvígið (Set in 1972 during the Fischer-Spassky World Chess Championship. Focuses on Erlendur's mentor, Marion Briem, with a young Erlendur appearing briefly.)
2. Reykjavík Nights (Set in the mid-1970s. Erlendur is a young traffic officer haunted by the plight of Reykjavik's homeless population.)
3. Into Oblivion (Set in the late 1970s. Erlendur is a fresh detective working under Marion Briem.)
4. Synir duftsins (Set in the late 1990s. Erlendur's first published investigation.)
5. Dauðarósir (Follows shortly after the events of the first book.)
6. Jar City
7. Silence of the Grave
8. Voices
9. The Draining Lake
10. Arctic Chill
11. Hypothermia
12. Outrage (Erlendur is absent, traveling in the East Fjords.)
13. Black Skies (Erlendur is absent, still in the East Fjords.)
14. Strange Shores (Erlendur's final chronological case, set immediately after his return to his childhood home.)

The Caveat of Chronological Reading

We strongly recommend against reading the series in chronological order for first-time readers. Arnaldur Indriðason wrote the prequels with the assumption that readers are already familiar with Erlendur’s character, his broken family dynamics (including his estranged daughter Eva Lind and son Sindri Snaer), and the heavy weight of his survivor's guilt. The central mystery of Erlendur’s life—the childhood loss of his younger brother, Beggi, in a mountain blizzard—is a slow-burning thread that reaches its peak in Strange Shores. Reading the prequels first diminishes the power of this mystery and exposes Erlendur's background too early, stripping the mid-series books of their atmospheric, melancholic suspense.

The Elínborg and Sigurður Óli Spin-offs

As the series progressed, Indriðason made the bold choice to sideline his famous detective. In Outrage and Black Skies, Erlendur is completely absent from the stage, having retreated to the remote East Fjords to seek solace and look for his brother's remains. Instead, the author elevates Erlendur's long-time colleagues at the Reykjavik police force:

• Elínborg in Outrage: This installment focuses on Elínborg's distinct approach to police work. Known for her interest in cooking and writing, her investigation of a gruesome domestic crime is quieter, focusing deeply on the psychological toll of trauma and violence against women.
• Sigurður Óli in Black Skies: Sigurður Óli is Erlendur's American-educated, more aggressive colleague. This book dives into his personal life, his marriage troubles, and his struggle to navigate the corruption and greed of Iceland's pre-financial crash banking boom.

These two books are essential reading. They are not mere side stories; they provide crucial narrative space, explaining what Erlendur was doing (and not doing) in the years leading up to the final book, Strange Shores.

What to Know Before You Start

Before stepping onto the icy streets of Reykjavik with Inspector Erlendur, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

• The Untranslated Gaps: Do not worry about starting with Jar City (Book 3). Indriðason writes each mystery to stand on its own, and the transition into Erlendur's world via Jar City is seamless. The missing first two books do not impact your understanding of the characters.
• The Theme of the Lost: In Icelandic culture, people lost in the wilderness hold a deep, mythic significance. Erlendur’s obsession with missing persons cases is both a personal pathology and a reflection of this cultural trait. Almost every book contains a secondary story about someone who vanished years ago, mirroring the loss of his brother Beggi.
• A Slow, Melancholic Pace: The series is famous for its slow, introspective tempo. Rather than high-speed car chases, expect atmospheric descriptions of desolate Icelandic weather, quiet interrogations, and deep reflections on the rapid modernization of Icelandic society.