#BlogTour: THE CREAK ON THE STAIRS by Eva Bjorg AEgisdottir @OrendaBooks @annecater

Publication: 1st October 2020 – Orenda Books

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.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

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I am delighted to welcome you on my stop for the blog tour of The Creak on the Stairs, the thrilling debut novel by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir.

I really hope this is the first book in a series, because I adored it and I hope to read more about the protagonist, Chief Investigating Officer Elma. It is suspenseful, intense, and thought-provoking and I was completely addicted to the story.

Elma left her job and life in Rekjavik to return home in the small town of Akranes where everyone knows everyone and nothing much ever happens, until the body of a woman is found near the lighthouse. She was clearly murdered, but what was she doing in Arkranes? And why was she killed? Elma, together with her colleagues Sævar and Hörður, investigates, bringing to lights secrets and terrifying truths from the past…

There is something about Nordic Noir novels that really grabs my attention and I think that The Creak on the Stairs is one of the best I’ve read this year. I loved the different perspectives and the complex characters. I was immersed in the twisty plot and the chilling atmosphere and I think that the translation is amazing.

The story is told mostly from Elma’s perspective, but also from the points of view of the various characters involved in the investigation. The story also jumps back into the past, in the life of a young girl whose story is heartbreaking and dark. Even though it is never described in detail, you know exactly what is going on in this child’s life, you feel her fear and her sadness, and you know things aren’t going to end well.

So, once again, thanks to Orenda Books, I’ve discovered another terrific and intriguing Nordic Noir novel, another fantastic author to follow, and another protagonist to love. Dark and captivating, The Creak on the Stairs is a must-read for all crime fans!

A huge thank you to Anne and Orenda Books for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a copy of the novel.

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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.