Today is my stop on the blog tour The Creak On The Stairs by Eva Bjorg AEgisdottir. Many thanks as always to the wonderful Anne Cater and Orenda Books for the invite.
The first in the electrifying new Forbidden Iceland series, The Creak on the Stairs is an exquisitely written, claustrophobic and chillingly atmospheric debut thriller by one of Iceland’s most exciting new talents.
SYNOPSIS:
When the body of a woman is discovered at a lighthouse in the Icelandic town of Akranes, it soon becomes clear that she’s no stranger to the area.
Chief Investigating Officer Elma, who has returned to Akranes following a failed relationship, and her colleagues Sævar and Hörður, commence an uneasy investigation, which uncovers a shocking secret in the dead woman’s past that continues to reverberate in the present day…
But as Elma and her team make a series of discoveries, they bring to light a host of long-hidden crimes that shake the entire community.
Sifting through the rubble of the townspeople’s shattered memories, they have to dodge increasingly serious threats, and find justice … before it ’s too late.
My Thoughts:
The Creak On The Stairs (Forbidden Iceland 1 ) is a debut novel by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and what an amazing start to this new nordic noir series. It hooks you straight away, as does the Icelandic setting and you know you are in for a thrilling read with a darker side emerging as you turn the pages.
The characters are well developed although still with an air of mystery after the book ends, leaving you intrigued and wanting to know more, the hook for book number 2. Elma is a very likeable protagonist although like I've mentioned you don't know much about her. On the face of it it appears she has recently split up from her boyfriend and moved back to her home town, you are given a little more detail about this towards the end of the book but are still left not completely knowing the full picture.
As Elma is joining the police force in Akranes, the author has done an amazing job of introducing the other characters to the reader as Elma meets them, hence making you feel like you are right there besides her.
The story line was fascinating and is written in a dual timeline; a mysterious young child telling her chilling, dark story and Elma's investigation into the body found by the lighthouse. I loved how the story was written and was completely captivated by the descriptive imagery, the emotive language and plot as it unfolded. The pace quickened as the story was told, revealing more layers and depth. Although this novel is the first in the series and the story can be read as a standalone I felt the author was easing me in slowly, making sure the characters and setting were very visual in my mind, preparing me for the next book.
There are some very dark and twisted moments in the book that really haunt you and evoke emotion yet it is balanced beautifully so that you can enjoy the novel without being weighed down with the harrowing and disturbing story line. There is plenty of suspense and a lot of surprises that I didn't quite see coming. Overall a really enjoyable, thrilling read and I will definitely be looking out for Forbidden Iceland 2.
AUTHOR:
Born in Akranes in 1988, Eva moved to Trondheim, Norway to study my MSc in Globalisation when she was 25.
After moving back home having completed her MSc, she knew it was time to start working on her novel. Eva has wanted to write books since she was 15 years old, having won a short story contest in Iceland.
Eva worked as a stewardess to make ends meet while she wrote her first novel. The book went on to win the Blackbird Award and became an Icelandic bestseller.
Eva now lives with her husband and three children in Reykjavík, staying at home with her youngest until she begins Kindergarten.
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