Book Review: The Creak on the Stairs by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir

The Creak on the Stairs by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir
Length: 315 Pages
Genres: Mystery/Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Violence, Gore, Stabbing, Bullying, Animal Death and Torture, Sexual Abuse of a Child, and Domestic Violence

"She had to remind herself that she wasn't a little girl anymore. That the real evil wasn't to be found lurking in dark corners but in the human soul."

Lately, I've been feeling an itch that only Nordic-Noir can scratch -- with snow-covered mountains and sparkling fjords, complex relationships, and of course, murder. While I'm a huge fan of Scandinavian TV and films, I'm not sure I've ever dipped my toes into the literature. The Creak on the Stairs has been on my to-read list for quite a while, so I decided it would be as great a place as any to start!

Chief Investigating Officer Elma hasn't been home to Akranes, a small port-town on Iceland's west coast, in over a decade. Most escape to the glittering capital of Reykjavík, but there are those who remain, who like the familiarity of the same faces, the same stories...and the same secrets. Elma isn't one of those people, but after a heartbreaking end to a long-term relationship, she needs the change. She is welcomed back as a daughter of Akranes, and finds an easy friendship with her new partner, Sævar, that could definitely develop into more.

Things seem quiet, but usual, for a small town -- until the body of a woman is found on the beach near the lighthouse -- is she a victim of a simple hit-and-run? Or something more nefarious? None of the locals recognize her, though she has striking dark hair and eyes, a standout in blonde-haired and blue-eyed Iceland. When she is finally identified as Élisabet, a woman who lived in Akranes as a girl, dark secrets, long since hidden, bubble to the surface. By all accounts Élisabet hated Akranes, so what could possibly have brought her back? Through small scenes at the beginning of each chapter, we learn about Élisabet's troubled childhood -- the loss of her father and baby brother, her mother's drug addiction, and most troubling, the man who comes up her stairs at night.

This book was a breeze to read, and had that sort of dry narration that Scandi (according to my very well-read sister) writing isn't complete without. Now that's not my preference when it comes to prose, I very much enjoy a well-crafted description and deep-psychological dives into the characters, but I found it didn't hinder my enjoyment whatsoever. I figured out one part of the mystery fairly early on, but the rest was a pleasant surprise, and one I stayed up late trying to discover!

And if you're still craving more, you're in for a treat: Ægisdóttir published the second in the series, Girls Who Lie, last July!