by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir (Translated by: Victoria Cribb)
SYNOPSIS
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…
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?
REVIEW
When the Snæberg's decide to hold a family reunion in a luxury hotel they weren't expecting that the police would end up joining them to investigate a possible murder. You Can't See Me is told over two different time frames - the lead up to the reunion from the POV of various family members, and then a few days later from the POV of the detectives after a body is found. Both strands are then expertly woven together as the investigation develops and the identity of the body is revealed.
As the family members begin to arrive at the remote Snæfellsnes peninsula, the weather starts to turn. This combined with the isolated location of the hotel (and the fact that there are no other guests staying), gives the story both a claustrophobic 'locked-room' feel, and also gives a nod to arguably the most well-known creepy, isolated hotel story of all time - The Shining which is just the perfect combination.
Rather than a typical Icelandic Noir police procedural, this book has more of a focus on the dynamics between all of the characters, who are essentially all suspects. The main storyline is based around a family reunion which means that there are a lot of characters (there's even a family tree to help you keep track)! The brilliance here though is that the author has developed each member of the family (as well as some staff members at the hotel) with the same level of detail. We get to know their place within the family, how they are/were treated by different people and any relevant points from their history to build up a full picture of the entire dynasty. The world the author has created is just incredible and nothing is left unanswered. Even if Crime Fiction isn't your preferred genre, you could read this simply as a stunning example of a character study.
On a personal note, having read the previous three books, I was so excited when Detectives Sævar and Hörður made an appearance - I couldn’t help but smile when I saw their names pop up. Despite missing Elma (as this is a prequel to the other books in the series), it was such a joy to be able to meet with these characters again.
I can't tell you exactly what it is that makes me love Nordic Noir so much. All I know is that I read a lot of crime and thrillers but every time I go back to one of these books I realise that nothing else can compare. The landscapes, the folklore, the traditions and culture as well as the temperament of the local people - it all shines through so strongly in this series. If you are looking for an introduction to this sub-genre, You Can't See Me is the perfect choice. The mystery revolves around two main questions - Who has died? and, Did they fall or were they pushed? meaning that the basic premise is easy to get into and then you have the option to read Books 1-3 once you've had a taster.
Another fantastic and chilling addition to the Forbidden Iceland series, I'm already looking forward to Elma's return.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Akranes in 1988, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir studied for an MSc in globalisation in Norway before returning to Iceland to write her first novel. Combining writing with work as a stewardess and caring for her children, Eva finished her debut thriller The Creak on the Stairs, which was published in 2018. It became a bestseller in Iceland, going on to win the Blackbird Award. Published in English by Orenda Books in 2020, it became a digital number-one bestseller in three countries, was shortlisted for the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Awards in two categories and won the CWA John Creasey Dagger in 2021. Girls Who Lie, the second book in the Forbidden Iceland series was shortlisted for the Petrona Award and the CWA Crime in Translation Dagger, and Night Shadows followed suit. With over 200,000 copies sold in English alone, Eva has become one of Iceland’s – and crime fiction’s most highly regarded authors. She lives in Reyjavik with her husband and three children.
Thanks to Anne Cater - @RandomTTours, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir - @evaaegisdottir and Orenda Books - @OrendaBooks for the opportunity to read and review
Fiction: Icelandic Noir / Nordic Noir / Crime Thriller
Publisher: Orenda Books
ISBN: 978-1914585722
Pages: 300pp
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