The Darkness Knows : A Novel

Retired detective Konrad returns to a haunting cold case in The Darkness Knows by Arnaldur Indridason, the "undisputed King of the Icelandic thriller." —The Guardian (UK)

A frozen body is discovered in the icy depths of Langjökull glacier, apparently that of a businessman who disappeared thirty years before. At the time, an extensive search and police investigation yielded no results—one of the missing man’s business associates was briefly held in custody, but there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him.

Now the associate is arrested again and Konrad, the retired policeman who originally investigated the disappearance, is called back to reopen the case that has weighed on his mind for decades.
When a woman approaches him with new information that she obtained from her deceased brother, progress can finally be made in solving this long-cold case.

In The Darkness Knows, the master of Icelandic crime writing reunites readers with Konrad, the unforgettable retired detective from The Shadow District. This is a powerful and haunting story about the poisonous secrets and cruel truths that time eventually uncovers.

Praise for Arnaldur Indridason:

"The Darkness Knows is a tragic tale...the intrepid Indridason reveals that the only escape from the past is death." —The Times (UK)

"Indridason methodically builds a portrait of Iceland with a large cast of nuanced characters unsettled by past events...The intricate plot poignantly depicts community crosscurrents, past and present." —Kirkus on The Darkness Knows

"As fascinating as this caper is, it is Konrad’s persona that holds the reader. A recent widow, with a checkered past, Konrad is greatly flawed." —David Rothenberg, WBAI/Radio on The Darkness Knows

"Indridason is an international literary phenom." —Harlan Coben

"One of the most brilliant crime writers of his generation." —The Sunday Times (UK)

“A haunting and elegant novel . . . a writer of astonishing gravitas and talent." —John Lescroart on The Shadow Killer

"There's always a solid sense of history in Arnaldur Indridason's moody Icelandic mysteries. With his usual delicate touch, Indridason weaves in just enough folklore to remind us that a nation can never live down its legends." —New York Times Book Review on The Shadow District

"The undisputed King of the Icelandic Thriller." —The Guardian (UK)