Today I’m pleased to be taking part in the blog tour for A Creak On The Stairs. My review is written with thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me on the tour and to Orenda Books for my copy of the book.

Blurb:

When a woman’s body is discovered at a lighthouse in the Icelandic town of Akranes, investigators discover shocking secrets in her past. First in a disturbing, chillingly atmospheric new series.

When a 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 collegues 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.

Review:

My first thought upon finishing A Creak On The Stairs was astonishment that it is a debut novel. Aegisdottir’s writing is simple in style, yet it conveys so much and I could feel the emotion behind every word. I must also credit Victoria Cribb, the translator, for being able to bring these words to an English audience so beautifully.

Set in the Icelandic town of Akranes, A Creak On The Stairs is really atmospheric and a large part of this comes from the location. The landscape is beautifully described, but I also loved the claustrophobic sense that comes from everyone knowing everyone and the way this affected the investigation. I grew up in a town similar to (but not quite as close knit as) this, so I could really appreciate the feelings that were evoked in the residents.

There are very few leads at the beginning of this investigation but I loved the way that Aegisdottir threw the reader clues and red herrings all the way through so we could try and piece it together ourselves. This was enhanced by the flashback scenes, which often meant the reader knew some of the information before it reached the police and gave us a much clearer picture of the victim and her life.

Aegisdottir touches on some very difficult subjects in A Creak On The Stairs and this gives the novel a very sinister undertone which adds an extra layer to a very poignant plot.

I understand that The Creak On The Stairs is the first in a series, and I can’t wait to learn more about Elma and her team as it continues.

A Creak On The Stairs is available from Amazon.

You can follow the rest of the blog tour here: