Translated by Chris Ould.
"Island of Lies" is an extraordinary book. I mean that in both senses of the word: It's exceptionally good, and it expands the boundaries of the standard mystery novel.
I've been eagerly awaiting the chance to review "Island of Lies" by the enigmatic O. Huldumann since I first read it in April. Due to the generosity of Quentin Bates and Huldumann translator Chris Ould, I was able to read "Citizen Detective" (the first book in the series) in March. I knew immediately that despite a lifetime of being a mystery buff, I hadn't read anything quite like it before. Now that Corylus Books has published "Island of Lies", I can at last help to introduce this book as a classic of its genre, although this strange and wonderful book doesn't fit neatly into any one category.
"Island of Lies" is a mystery novel which in itself is mysterious. The characters have Nordic names, but they live under a totalitarian government with a vast spying network that calls to mind East Germany or the Soviet Union. The geography is left deliberately vague, referring to hot dusty locales and ice-locked islands. The books have a unique perspective and a setting that could be described as "Kafka meets Henning Mankell", leavened by a large dose of acerbic humor.
The main character, Citizen Detective (Grade III) Arne Blöm is based in "Capital City". Blöm works within a bureaucracy whose eyes and ears are everywhere; he uses his awareness of the infinite, contradictory regulations, constant eavesdropping, and internal agency wrangling to his professional and personal advantage.
In "Island of Lies", Blöm is sent on a mission that typifies the absurdity of the government he works for. He receives a file (clunking down to his office through a pneumatic tube) and is about to throw it into his growing stack when he notices a red "chit". This flags a State case which is expected to take precedence over anything else. It contains an arrest warrant for Alber Aa Viðlund, indicted for First Degree Fraud. Under Viðlund's photo is a green rubber stamp and the single word "Deceased", dated the previous Thursday. Also in the file is a duplicate warrant with a red stamp and also dated last Thursday that says "Detained".
Blöm has been assigned to serve a warrant to a man who is either dead or not, and may or may not already be in custody.
Having worked in Capital City under an irrational, omnipresent bureaucracy for a long time, he's used to this, and chalks it up to a clerical error. His reasoning is that a man cannot be under warrant, detained AND deceased, although in this world anything is possible. Maybe there are two Viðlunds? He attempts to clarify the situation by contacting Hr. Lazlo, the Deputy Compliance Officer, who helpfully explains:
You think? According to Lazlo, only a "fifth columnist with counter-revolutionary intent" would pose as someone who is dead. The only way to clear this up is for Detective Blöm to arrest the "other" Alber Aa Viðlund, despite his belief that a dead man cannot be arrested or questioned. This Viðlund supposedly resides in Hov in the District of Huish, an island reachable only after a train ride and a ferry. Blöm, after informing his grumpy Chief of his assignment, packs a bag and begins his journey. It's not entirely to Blöm's liking:
**I Carry A Golden Torch"
Blöm's visit to Hov has clearly been planned and prepared for in advance, possibly by "the men in grey hats" who first appear in "Citizen Detective". They're like the old Stasi or the KGB; hovering in the background, listening to and surveilling everyone, intervening in the interests of the State. The case of Alber Aa Viðlund is obviously important to them. They've secretly provided Blöm with the supplies he needs to remain in Hov, even accounting for a months-long stay due to the unforeseen stoppage of ferry service due to ice. The grey hats are on top of everything, but their interest in Viðlund is as yet unknown.
Once in Hov, Blöm meets the young, naive Konstable Tolkur, who teaches full time but faithfully performs his "konstabulary" duties for two hours each weekday. He's very concerned about Blöm's arrival; why would a Citizen Detective (Grade III) be sent to his tiny island? After reassuring him, Blöm asks to meet the island's medic, a Dr. Haapala. He would very much like to verify the dead-or-alive status of Alber Aa Viðlund.
Haapala, a grumpy alcoholic, confirms that he certified Viðlund's death from natural causes. Since the other (very much alive) Viðlund is claiming indemnity by also being dead, Blöm is presented with quite a dilemma. He aims to close out the case by getting Haapala to sign a death certificate. Now that he knows which Viðlund is dead, the Viðlund in custody will have to stand trial. Is the matter settled? Not even close. There are still some questions surrounding this Viðlund's death, and Blöm is determined to investigate. There's only one thing for Blöm to do: visit the local library and brush up on his "Civil Service Employment Code" and "The Police Officer's Guide To State Regulations, Statues & Offences".
The quietly subversive Blöm uses his new knowledge to both tamp down his Chief's anger about his absence from Capital City AND augment his own salary. A few extra kronor are always welcome to a Citizen Detective (Grade III)!
During his stay, Blöm meets some curious characters: the aforementioned Konstable Tolkur, the helpful Post Mistress, the enigmatic frú Søsterline, owner of the hotel where Blöm is staying and Wiig, the Collation Agent for the Bureau of Fiscal Oversight. When Blöm meets Wiig, he wonders why such an official would be posted to an outpost like Hov:
"Island of Lies" is filled with such droll absurdities. Of course, not everything in Hov is as it seems, including the death of Viðlund, and murder is at the book's core. Blöm finds an important clue in the victim's home; several books have been burned in a fire with only fragments remaining. What books were they, and why were they burned? He also discovers that Alber Viðlund's PolitKomm intelligence file is missing from the office of the island's Morality Officer, which is highly irregular. There is much more to the death/not death of the man who is or is not detained and deceased.
"Island of Lies" is peculiar, unfathomable and absolutely riveting. Huldumann skillfully depicts the struggle to uphold the law under a government that obeys no laws except for those that keep it in power. Blöm is his voice for scathing social commentary and contempt for totalitarianism. The book stands outside of time and place but at its heart it's still a great mystery yarn.Even if you read only a few mystery books a year, or if mysteries aren't your thing, I cannot recommend "Citizen Detective" and "Island of Lies" highly enough. Unfortunately, O. Huldumann didn't achieve fame during his lifetime, but he deserves a wide global audience and recognition for his work. I can only hope that Christopher Ould takes on the task of translating more Huldumann books!
As always, please buy/order this and other books by O. Huldumann at your local independent bookstore or go to Bookshop.org and order there!
