num_pages: 400
description: In the wake of an earthquake, the water level of an Icelandic lake drops suddenly, revealing the skeleton of a man half-buried in its sandy bed. It is clear immediately that it has been there for many years. There is a large hole in the skull. Yet more mysteriously, a heavy communication device is attached to it, possibly some sort of radio transmitter, bearing inscriptions in Russian. The police are called in and Erlendur, Elínborg and Sigurður Óli begin their investigation, which gradually leads them back to the time of the Cold War when bright, left-wing students would be sent from Iceland to study in the ‘heavenly state’ of Communist East Germany. The Draining Lake is another remarkable Indriðason mystery about passions and shattered dreams, the fate of the missing and the grief of those left behind.
language: English
title: The Draining Lake
titlecomplete: The Draining Lake (Inspector Erlendur #6)
characters: Sigurður Óli, Elínborg, Erlendur Sveinsson
genres: Audiobook, Crime, Thriller, Noir, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Detective, Scandinavian Literature, Nordic Noir, Mystery
ratings_count: 12822
places: Leipzig, Reykjavik (Reykjavík), Iceland
series: Inspector Erlendur, Inspector Erlendur [English Translation Order]
awards: awardedAt: 1230796800000
name: Barry Award
category: Best Novel, awardedAt: 1230796800000
name: Macavity Award
category: Best Mystery Novel, awardedAt: 1199174400000
name: Prix du Polar Européen
publisher: Harvill Secker