Ringed by steep mountains, this bleak village is cut off from the rest of Iceland and from the modern world. The locals are adamant that Iceland's legendary huldufólk - hidden people - had a hand in the death. Magnus finds their superstition suspicious... As he digs deeper, Magnus discovers that the victim was not a popular man, leading him to suspect that other, more human, passions are at work...

    He has come to take over the Directorship at Asgard Park, an old mental Institution in upstate New York. The young academic has no way of knowing that his new position is bait in a bigger game. He is about to uncover a misguided conspiracy run from the asylum. His predecessor at the helm, a man obsessed with Intelligent Design, is using vast resources 'to protect the chosen children'.