The wealthy, powerful Snæberg clan has gathered for a family reunion at a futuristic hotel set amongst the dark lava flows of Iceland’s remote Snæfellsnes peninsula.

Petra Snæberg, a successful interior designer, is anxious about the event, and her troubled teenage daughter, Lea, whose social media presence has attracted the wrong kind of followers. Ageing carpenter Tryggvi is an outsider, only tolerated because he’s the boyfriend of Petra’s aunt, but he’s struggling to avoid alcohol because he knows what happens when he drinks … Humble hotel employee, Irma, is excited to meet this rich and famous family and observe them at close quarters … perhaps too close…

#YouCantSeeMe @evaaegisdottir @OrendaBooks @victoriacribb 
#RandomThingsTours @annecater @RandomTTours #IcelandNoir #NordicNoir #ForbiddenIceland

As the weather deteriorates and the alcohol flows, one of the guests disappears, and it becomes clear that there is a prowler lurking in the dark.

But is the real danger inside … within the family itself?

My Review

In the previous three books, Detective Elma was the central character, but in You Can’t See Me, the leading investigators are Sævar and Hordur – it’s the prequel so Elma hasn’t appeared yet – though to be honest they don’t figure that much at all.

The story focuses around the wealthy family Snæberg who have booked an ultra-modern and hugely expensive hotel in the Lava fields for some kind of reunion. There will be lots of wonderful food and drink (and boy do they drink – they all seem half pissed nearly all the time), plus trips out including one on a boat and evening fun for all.

There are numerous points of view – from teenager Lea, to her mum Petra, Tryggvi, the partner of Aunt Oddny (who almost dies because of her alcohol abuse), and hotel employee Irma, whose disadvantaged childhood makes her want to meet this famous lot.

There are lots of other characters whose points of view we don’t hear, including Petra’s cousins Viktor and childhood bosom pal Steffy, the dreadful, though film-star handsome, cousin Hakon who chucks cocaine into the mix, Petra’s brother and parents, Harpa, who is almost 18 and encourages Lea to drink, and Edda who runs the hotel.

Then one of the guests goes missing (though who is it – we don’t know till almost the end) and there also appears to be a prowler about. This was an unusual and very clever twist as I didn’t guess who was missing right up to the point of being told who it was.

The hotel is in the middle of nowhere with snow and storms all around – no wonder untoward things happen – and virtually no escape. It’s all very complicated and it takes a while to remember who is who (though sometimes it doesn’t matter with the more minor characters), and I found it fascinating. Money may not be the root of all evil in this case, but it doesn’t always make you happier.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours

About the Author

Born in Akranes in 1988, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir studied for an MSc in Globalisation in Norway before returning to Iceland and deciding to write a novel – something she had wanted to do since she won a short-story competition at the age of fifteen. After nine months combining her writing with work as a stewardess and caring for her children, Eva finished The Creak on the Stairs. It was published in 2018, and became a bestseller in Iceland. It also went on to win the Blackbird Award, a prize set up by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and Ragnar Jónasson to encourage new Icelandic crime writers. It was published in English by Orenda Books in 2020. Eva lives in Reykjavík with her husband and three children and is currently working on the third book in the Forbidden Iceland series. Follow her on @evaaegisdottir

Orenda Books is a small independent publishing company specialising in literary fiction with a heavy emphasis on crime/thrillers, and approximately half the list in translation. They’ve been twice shortlisted for the Nick Robinson Best Newcomer Award at the IPG awards, and publisher and owner Karen Sullivan was a Bookseller Rising Star in 2016. In 2018, they were awarded a prestigious Creative Europe grant for their translated books programme. Three authors, including Agnes Ravatn, Matt Wesolowski and Amanda Jennings have been WHSmith Fresh Talent picks, and Ravatn’s The Bird Tribunal was shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award, won an English PEN Translation Award, and adapted for BBC Radio Four ’s Book at Bedtime. Six titles have been short- or long-listed for the CWA Daggers. Launched in 2014 with a mission to bring more international literature to the UK market, Orenda Books publishes a host of debuts, many of which have gone on to sell millions worldwide, and looks for fresh, exciting new voices that push the genre in new directions. Bestselling authors include Ragnar Jonasson, Antti Tuomainen, Gunnar Staalesen, Michael J. Malone, Kjell Ola Dahl, Louise Beech, Johana Gustawsson, Lilja Sigurðardóttir and Sarah Stovell.