Forty Days Without Shadow: An Arctic Thriller    by Olivier Truc Order:  USA  Can Grand Central, 2014 (2014) Softcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch In Forty Days Without Shadow, you'll venture into the frigid tundra in northern Norway, the home of the indigenous Sami people. Besides raising reindeer, mining is the key activity that provides income for the natives of this area. The death of one of the local herders and the theft of a priceless Sami artifact set off twin investigations that eventually merge as Reindeer Police officers Klemet Nango and Nina Nasen try to discover why their northern patrol region is suddenly experiencing a major crime wave. As their investigation unfolds, the duo not only discovers that there is a link between the two crimes but there is also a connection to the past explorations of the frozen north by various geologists seeking gold and other mineral riches. Although the narrative plods along at times, it is still rich in local native lore and explains many of the customs of the Sami. The reader must be patient and that patience will be rewarded for the pace will quicken (perhaps thaw is the better term) and once that happens the novel will be difficult to set aside. Shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger Award, Forty Days Without Shadow adds a new dimension to the ever popular sub-genre of Scandinavian crime fiction. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews