Carl Mørck used to be one of Denmark’s best homicide detectives. Then a hail of bullets destroyed the lives of two fellow cops, and Carl—who didn’t draw his weapon—blames himself.
So a promotion is the last thing he expects. But Department Q is a department of one, and Carl’s got only a stack of cold cases for company.
His colleagues snicker, but Carl may have the last laugh, because one file keeps nagging at him: a liberal politician vanished five years earlier and is presumed dead. But she isn’t dead…yet.
Venice, 1943: Stella Jilani is leading a double life, working as a typist in the 3rd Reich Office, but smuggling out information for the Italian Resistance and using her old typewriter to produce an underground newspaper.
Her life becomes even more complicated when she crosses paths with two very different men – the cultured, enigmatic Cristian De Luca, her immediate superior at work, and friendly Jack (Giovanni), an injured British-Italian parachutist, who needs her help. …
A second story line is set 2017 — Stella’s granddaughter stumbles on an old typewriter and a box of mementoes. Determined to connect with her Venetian heritage, she begins an obsessive quest to find out what happened to her grandmother following WW II.
Not a bad book. But not great.
It was interesting to learn how the Italian underground operated under dictator Mussolini and the NAZIs.
Though not as good as Nile, I do have a lot of respect for the 3rd film. It feels true to the Agatha Christie formula.
Film students should study the cinematography and audio.
Branagh portrays the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. An ego trip.
Tina Fey is Ariadne Oliver, Poirot’s friend and a crime novelist (something like Christie).
Having lost faith in God and humanity, Detective Hercule Poirot lives in retirement in post-war Venice, employing ex-police officer Vitale Portfoglio as a bodyguard.
On Halloween, novelist Ariadne Oliver convinces Poirot to attend a séance at the palazzo of opera singer Rowena Drake and help expose medium Joyce Reynolds as a fraud. …
Gathering the other guests together, Poirot exposes _______ as the murderer. …
I tried a super popular local restaurant near a train station. AMERICAN portions.
Tastiest of all — however — was a small portion of lasagna I had with Les and Tam at a random tourist restaurant in Venice. I couldn’t recall better.
Bologna
Outside Italy, the phrase “Bolognese sauce” is often used to refer to a tomato-based sauce to which minced meat has been added. As kids in Canada we ate spaghetti and meatballs — thinking it a kind of spaghetti bolognese.
One of the most popular tours for tourists visiting Iceland is called South Shore Adventure. 11 hours hitting as many of the most popular spots as possible.
Eyjafjallajökull Glacier was quite clear the day we were there.
The Eyjafjallajökull volcano is the one that erupted 14 April 2010, shutting down flights in Europe for days.
Skogar ➙ Skógafoss
As I was there with a tour bus, middle of the day, it was too CROWDED to get isolated Instagram ego pics. Also … NO drones allowed at Skógafoss. 😀
IF I had hiked to here — as originally planned — I could have had the waterfall to myself very early or late in the day. Like this …
Not me. 😀
This is the best I could do.
Vik
Inspired by this edited photo, I climbed up above the church for lunch.
The 2nd book in the Swedish series featuring Detective Inspector Joona Linna.
Police discover the lifeless body of a young woman on an abandoned yacht.
The next day, a man is found hanging in his apartment.
When Detectives Joona Linna and Saga Bauer uncover a surprising connection between the two deaths, they will be forced to confront a relentless killer who’s always one step ahead and a ruthless business tycoon who preys on his victims’ worst nightmares to achieve his sinister ends.
I’ve been to Reykjavik a number of times now. Always enjoy the small, arctic city.
Part of Reykjavik in Iceland with the modern Hallgrimskirkja Church in the background
First thing to know ➙ Reykjavik is expensive. In 2023 I found it much more expensive than Norway, for example.
Sleeping in a hostel dorm bed is the easiest way to reduce cost.
By coincidence, Laura and John from Victoria, Canada were there on holiday. We had a fun day and a good meal — at their expense. Thanks!
The highlight was Perlan — Pearl — a natural history museum. Ticket price over U.S. $35 — but well worth the cost. In fact, we agreed that this should be the first stop for first time visitors to Iceland: Wonders of Iceland, Flight over Iceland video, Volcano video, Water in Icelandic Nature, a planetarium show called Áróra … John and I may have dozed through some of that one. 😀
This Lutheran church is a symbol of national identity since its completion in 1986.
The statue is explorer Leif Erikson (c.970 – c.1020).
This time to Reykjavik, I visited two of the local geothermal swimming complexes. Laugardalslaug has several small pools, each at a different temperature. Hottest was 44℃ the night I was there.
The word I use most often to describe Iceland is weird.
Weird landscapes, in particular.
But it’s a place of contrasts. It ain’t easy living on a remote island that might blow up at any time. The most recent volcanic eruption was only 30km from Reykjavik.
It ain’t easy living on an arctic island with this harsh climate.
Wandering the streets we stumbled on to this scene.
More random pics.
Harpa Concert Hall
Solfar monument
Until next time, Reykjavik.
I’m considering returning in 2024 with my touring bike.
Rick McCharles 