The Creak on the Stairs by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir – Review | Blog Tour

Translated by Victoria Cribb

WHAT’S THE BOOK ABOUT

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 by Eva Bjorg AEgisdottir – Review | Blog Tour

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK

The Creak on the Stairs marked my foray into Icelandic crime noir. It is the first book in a series featuring Chief Investigating Officer, Elma, and I will be happy to read the sequels because this is a promising debut.

After a failed relationship, Elma moves back home to Akranes, a small town in Iceland, for some peace. However, when the body of a woman is discovered on the shore by the lighthouse, Elma and her colleagues launch an uneasy investigation that pulls several skeletons out of this town’s closet.

A Good Mystery

The Creak on the Stairs is not a nail-biting thriller, but it is undoubtedly a suspenseful and dark mystery. It is also a well-executed police procedural. The author took me on the journey with Elma as she (and her colleagues) sifted through the evidence, interviewed possible leads, and tried to piece together the puzzle – why was Elísabet killed.

Further, flashbacks from the past are interspersed with the current investigation. These flashbacks provided me a glimpse into Elísabet’s harrowing childhood and the brutal pain and neglect she had to undergo. Mind you, the author paints a clear picture of the brutality without spelling any of these graphically.

Moreover, a sense of foreboding pervades the entire book. You are not certain if another calamity will strike until you turn the last page.

Terrific characterization

I relished the fact that the author gave me a peek into every major character’s psyche. I equally loved to watch how small-town dynamics shape individuals’ characters and their lives. If you are at the top of the pecking order, your life is easy. However, if you are the one picked upon, life can be crueler than hell.

To Conclude

The Creak on the Stairs is an engaging and grim Icelandic crime noir. Recommended for lovers of crime fiction.

Trigger warnings: Mentions of child abuse

The Creak on the Stairs by Eva Bjorg AEgisdottir

BOOK DETAILS

Genre: Crime Fiction || Pages: 315 || Published on 1st OCTOBER 2020 by Orenda Books

Buy on Amazon.in

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Many thanks to Anne @ Random Things Tours for organizing this blog tour. Many thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book. This does not affect my opinion on the book. I opted to provide an honest review on my blog.

AUTHOR BIO

Eva Bjorg AEgisdottir

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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