Set in Iceland in 1829, Burial Rites, by Hannah Kent, is the story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, a woman convicted (alongside two others) of the murder of two men. While awaiting execution, she is sent to live out the remainder of her days on an isolated farm. The family who live on the farm are less than happy with this arrangement, and are convinced that they will all be murdered in their beds. During her stay, she is ministered to by a young assistant priest, Thorvardur Jonsson, who, on repeated visits, tries to get her to talk about herself and to come to terms with what is about to happen. The tragedy that has been her life story slowly unfolds, and those around her start to see Agnes as a young and vulnerable woman, rather than a dangerous criminal. The writing is haunting at times, and the underlying threat of Agnes' fate that is drawing closer to day by day can be felt like the constant vibrations of distant drumbeat, even in the lighter moments. The book is emotionally engaging and you cannot help but root for the central character and hope that there will be a last minute reprieve for her. The relationship which develops between Agnes and Margret, the mother of the family she is placed with, moves from suspicious disgust to open tenderness. All the characters are well drawn and the pacing is superb. Even more poignant is that the book is based on real events. I read the audio edition which was fabulously narrated by Morven Christie. I can heartily recommend this book, but be warned, it is bleak, it is dark and will stay with you for some time.
My STAR rating: FOUR.
Length: 384 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.99.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.
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