This is a very slow, melancholy read with a bleak setting and a tragic ending.  I thought the historical details were interesting, but I never became very invested in the story.   While it's not a long book, it took me a long time to read because other books I was reading were far more engaging and less somber.  I've owned a paperback copy of this for years, but will probably put it in a box to donate or sell as I don't see myself ever rereading it.

In the author's note at the end, Kent says some other books written about the Illugastaðir murders "hold a common view of Agnes as 'an inhumane witch stirring up murder'.  This novel has been written to supply a more ambiguous portrayal of this woman."  Unfortunately, I think by making Agnes an ambiguous and mysterious character, Kent inadvertently made her a bit flat and uninteresting. 

The multiple points-of-view and tense in the first chapter made for a rough start to the novel.  Agnes' perspective is in 1st person, present tense.  Tóti's perspective is in 3rd person limited, past-tense.  And the Jónsdóttir family is introduced in what I think is supposed to be 3rd person omniscient, but came across more like 3rd person limited with head-hopping between each member of the family.  Luckily, after the first chapter, Kent mostly sticks to the perspective of one family member, Margrét, in 3rd person limited, past tense, like Tóti. 

Other than those POV issues, the writing was decent, so I might try another of Kent's books in the future.  Especially considering that Burial Rites was Kent's debut novel, so presumably her writing will have improved with later books.

If you're looking for another literary novel about a woman murderess in the 19th century I recommend Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, which I remember liking a lot more than this.

this was a good read, I enjoyed all the description of the Icelandic nature and how that impacted their lives in the 1800s. I think I set myself up for disappointment in that I thought it would have a great plot twist but it was what I thought it would be originally, so I was little saddened by that but as a true crime story, makes sense 

I think this story was well written and atmospheric. Agnes is a very sympathetic character up to a point. I have some minor hang-ups over the ending.