The Creak on the Stairs by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir (translated by Victoria Cribb)

Today is my stop on the tour for The Creak on the Stairs, the first book in the new Forbidden Iceland series, and the debut crime thriller from Eva Björg Ægisdóttir. Huge thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation and to Orenda Books for my review copy. I have since purchased my own ebook. 

The Blurb:

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.

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.

The Creak on the Stairs was published by Orenda Books as an eBook on 14th March 2020 and in paperback on 1st October 2020. You can purchase it from Orenda, Hive, Waterstones and Amazon. 

My Review:

Orenda Books has opened up a whole new world to me with their wonderful selection of translated fiction. I always know I'm in for a treat, and this was no exception. So a huge shout out to the amazing translators, in this case Victoria Cribb, who have enabled me to read these wonderful books. And I loved the wee Icelandic pronunciation guide - so helpful! 

Elma has returned to her home town of Akranes following the end of a relationship & taken up a job with the Akranes police, having previously been with the Reykjavik force. She worries that the pace of life in Akranes will be too sedate for her but not long after her she takes up her new role the body of a woman is found on rocks near the lighthouse. Once the body is identified Elma discovers that although the woman grew up in Akranes she had moved away and held a deep hatred for the town. The key to the solving her murder must be discovering what brought her back, and the investigation finds possible links to some prominent members of the community, stirs up unpleasant memories and uncovers dark secrets. 

The prologue to this book is in two parts and the first of these is incredibly descriptive and evocative. I found myself holding my breath as I read... The story is told in a dual timeline, one in the present day (2017) and the second made up of flashbacks to the late 1980s and early 90s. 

I loved Elma. Damaged and fragile, she has moved back to escape the pain of her recent relationship, but holds some doubts about returning to her childhood home. However, she slips into her new role with relative ease and is accepted by her new colleagues. She soon develops a good relationship with Sæver and boss Hōrður and they make a good team. Elma is hardworking, tenacious and not easily discouraged. In fact, she's not averse to going behind her boss's back of she feels it necessary. I liked that alongside her strengths, we caught glimpses of her sadness and uncertainties, doubts about herself and her feelings. It made for a more rounded, believable character, one with whom I'd like to share a bottle of wine and a good blether! 

The storyline. Oh gosh, what can I say about that? It's a painful, powerful one, with threads like a spider's web all linking together. We learn how events in the 80s and 90s shaped one woman's life and rippled right though to 2017. My stand out characters (other than Elma) are Elisabet and Ása. Neither wholly likeable but both with hidden depths. Ása, particularly, touched me. This is a female centred story, with a difficult theme (which might be uncomfortable for some) handled with a delicate touch. But we see the pain, nevertheless, as dark truths surface. 

This book touched me. I was thinking about it long afterwards. There is a photograph mentioned early on which is so well described I could see it, and it troubled me. Read the book and you will see why. Also, reading it is like peeling an onion, discovering layer after layer. And I just wanted to cry at the denouement. So well written. Powerful, poignant and emotive, this is a very strong start to a new series which I am really looking forward to. 

The Author:

Born in Akranes in 1988, Eva moved to Trondheim, Norway to study her  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.