That's interesting. I've never considered the sagas very similar to crime fiction--I relate them more to Westerns.
The commenter is right that a killing done in the open and in daylight (and announced as specified by law) was not considered murder by the Norse. However, there was still a legal procedure to go through, and you were certain to be assessed a heavy manslaughter fine. If the family of the deceased had enough juice, you were also likely to suffer outlawry, at least for a specified period of time. Outlawry for the Norse didn't mean quite what it does to us.
Interesting. Adrian McKinty (the first commenter) is Irish, although he's done a lot of travelling. I wouldn't be surprised if he spent a stint in Iceland.
Also, I think I'll have to read some Kerr. I really like hardboiled.
More evidence of God's providence: Lars, on the day that you mention Chandler, Peter Rozovsky at Detectives Beyond Borders is relating good, old Raymond to Icelandic sagas. Check it out.