Walpurgis Tide

Faroese author Isaksen makes his English-language debut with this relentlessly suspenseful mystery featuring Det. Hannis Martinsson. Hannis has given up his detective career and returned to his native town of T%C3%B3rshavn on the Faroe Islands, a Danish territory, where he plans to make a living by writing for foreign newspapers and magazines and doing some consulting. In the midst of unpacking, an unpleasant British man, Mark Robbins, appears at his office and offers Hannis a hefty sum to investigate a double murder. Jenny McEwan and Stewart Peters, two environmental activists in their 20s whom Mark sent to observe the Faroe whale hunt and report back to his organization, the Guardians of the Sea, were found dead on the beach with their throats slit amid the slaughtered whales. Mark gives Hannis no choice, threatening that if the killers aren't found, there will be severe repercussions for Denmark. Isaksen explores the ancient Faroese occupation of whale hunting while spinning a thoroughly engrossing story. (Oct.)