What do you think?
Rate this book
Forbidden Iceland #4
Le Clan Snæberg
Le puissant et fortuné clan Snæberg s’est rassemblé dans un hôtel perdu au milieu des coulées de lave sombres de la péninsule isolée de Snæfellsnes, en Islande.
Petra Snæberg, une designer d’intérieur à succès, est inquiète de la tournure que peuvent prendre les événements. Elle se soucie également de sa fille Lea, une adolescente perturbée, dont l’activité sur les réseaux sociaux a attiré des followers peu recommandables. Tryggvi, le seul étranger au clan toléré par la famille, se bat contre l’alcool, une addiction qui lui a déjà fait commettre le pire. L’employée de l’hôtel Irma jubile à l’idée de pouvoir enfin observer de près le célèbre clan familial… D’un peu trop près, peut-être ?
Tandis que le temps se détériore et que l’alcool coule à flot, l’un des membres du clan disparaît. La menace d’un rôdeur augmente la tension. Mais le vrai danger ne se trouverait-il pas… à l’intérieur de la maison ?
Maniant le suspense d’une main de maître, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir nous immerge dans un huis clos puissant, un décor isolé où rien n’est comme il semble l’être. Les sombres secrets et le passé douloureux de la famille Snæberg remontent peu à peu au jour, jusqu’à ce que la vérité, effarante, soit révélée.
Petra Snæberg, une designer d’intérieur à succès, est inquiète de la tournure que peuvent prendre les événements. Elle se soucie également de sa fille Lea, une adolescente perturbée, dont l’activité sur les réseaux sociaux a attiré des followers peu recommandables. Tryggvi, le seul étranger au clan toléré par la famille, se bat contre l’alcool, une addiction qui lui a déjà fait commettre le pire. L’employée de l’hôtel Irma jubile à l’idée de pouvoir enfin observer de près le célèbre clan familial… D’un peu trop près, peut-être ?
Tandis que le temps se détériore et que l’alcool coule à flot, l’un des membres du clan disparaît. La menace d’un rôdeur augmente la tension. Mais le vrai danger ne se trouverait-il pas… à l’intérieur de la maison ?
Maniant le suspense d’une main de maître, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir nous immerge dans un huis clos puissant, un décor isolé où rien n’est comme il semble l’être. Les sombres secrets et le passé douloureux de la famille Snæberg remontent peu à peu au jour, jusqu’à ce que la vérité, effarante, soit révélée.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2022
331 people are currently reading
1028 people want to read
About the author
Eva Björg Ægisdóttir
12 books715 followersEva Björg was born and raised in Akranes, the small town featured in her books. The Creak on the Stairs was her debut novel. The book went on to win the Blackbird Award and became an Icelandic bestseller. In 2021 The Creak on the Stairs won the British Crime Writers Association (CWA) New Blood Dagger.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews
January 31, 2024
The Snæberg family should really start up their own chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous. I mean, I get it, I'm not much of a drinker and I'd probably feel the need to drink copiously if I had to spend that much time trapped in a hotel with my family, too. But there are only a few characters who don't spend the entire book stumbling around drunk, and the majority of them are hotel employees. Sheesh.
But, with that said, I mostly enjoyed this book. It's a slow burn of a thriller and the important details are revealed at a very, very leisurely pace, but it was kind of like watching a slow-motion train wreck – I just couldn't look away. The Snæbergs are one hot mess of a family.
And speaking of the Snæbergs, there are a whole lot of them. I gave up on trying to remember who was who pretty early on and just consulted the family tree whenever I got too confused. They're also not very nice people for the most part, so don't expect to find very many sympathetic characters here. Almost every family member has a secret or two that they're withholding from the others, and some of them are pretty awful – it's really a wonder that only one of them winds up dead at the bottom of a cliff.
The mystery itself is well-written – you know at the beginning of the story that someone has died, but you don't know who until the very end. There are lots of red herrings related to the deceased's identity, and I personally didn't guess who it might have been until right before the reveal. The ending is a little abrupt and there are a few subplots that don't really get much (or in some cases, any) closure, but overall it was a fairly satisfying conclusion.
You Can't See Me is technically the fourth book in a series, but since it's a prequel it really doesn't matter much. There's a small bit at the end that is obviously introducing the main character of the series, Elma, which seems a little out of place if you haven't read the other novels. Otherwise, though, it works perfectly well as a stand-alone and I didn't feel that I was missing out on anything by not having read the previous books.
My overall rating: 3.75, rounded up. If you like Icelandic noir and books about rich people behaving badly, you should consider giving this one a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orenda Books for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
But, with that said, I mostly enjoyed this book. It's a slow burn of a thriller and the important details are revealed at a very, very leisurely pace, but it was kind of like watching a slow-motion train wreck – I just couldn't look away. The Snæbergs are one hot mess of a family.
And speaking of the Snæbergs, there are a whole lot of them. I gave up on trying to remember who was who pretty early on and just consulted the family tree whenever I got too confused. They're also not very nice people for the most part, so don't expect to find very many sympathetic characters here. Almost every family member has a secret or two that they're withholding from the others, and some of them are pretty awful – it's really a wonder that only one of them winds up dead at the bottom of a cliff.
The mystery itself is well-written – you know at the beginning of the story that someone has died, but you don't know who until the very end. There are lots of red herrings related to the deceased's identity, and I personally didn't guess who it might have been until right before the reveal. The ending is a little abrupt and there are a few subplots that don't really get much (or in some cases, any) closure, but overall it was a fairly satisfying conclusion.
You Can't See Me is technically the fourth book in a series, but since it's a prequel it really doesn't matter much. There's a small bit at the end that is obviously introducing the main character of the series, Elma, which seems a little out of place if you haven't read the other novels. Otherwise, though, it works perfectly well as a stand-alone and I didn't feel that I was missing out on anything by not having read the previous books.
My overall rating: 3.75, rounded up. If you like Icelandic noir and books about rich people behaving badly, you should consider giving this one a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orenda Books for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
December 29, 2023
In nevelen gehuld van Eva Bjorg Ægisdottir is deel vier in de reeks IJslandse moorden. Ægisdottir is zelf een IJslandse en al haar vertaalde werken spelen zich daar ook af. Vanuit het duister ontving zelfs de prijs voor Beste IJslandse thrillerdebuut van het jaar, de zogenaamde ‘Blackbird Award’.
De familie Snaeberg heeft zich verzameld op het afgelegen schiereiland Snaefellsnes voor een reünie. Van buitenaf lijkt iedereen het perfecte leventje te leiden. Rijkdom, luxe, uitstapjes naar de mooiste bestemmingen, uitnodigingen voor de chicste feesten. Ze lijken het allemaal te hebben gemaakt in het leven. Maar in het hotel komen er barsten in hun pantser en wanneer iemand verdwijnt in een storm, komen al hun geheimen bovendrijven.
In nevelen gehuld staat aangeduid als een vierde deel, maar is in feite een prequel en speelt zich af voor Vanuit het duister. Het boek is beschrijvend, de lezer zal merken dat Ægisdottir vertrouwd is met de streek en weet waarover ze spreekt. Het verhaal voelt al mysterieus aan vanaf de eerste zinnen. De lezer krijgt ook een stamboom aangereikt die zeker handig is om de verschillende personages uit elkaar te houden. Doordat er zoveel personages meespelen, is ook het vertelperspectief wisselend en krijgt de lezer hoofdstukken te lezen vanuit meerdere personen. De lezer leert de gedachten en gevoelens van Petra Snaeberg kennen en ziet dat ze met meer dan één ding worstelt. Eentje daarvan is de gemoedstoestand van haar dochter Lea, die ook uitgebreid aan bod komt in dit verhaal. Zij zorgt ervoor dat een maatschappelijk thema nogmaals belicht wordt: het verspreiden van online foto’s en het blindelings vertrouwen in sociale media. Daarnaast duikt Tryggvi op, timmerman van beroep en vreemde eend in de bijt. Irma, de hotelmedewerkster krijgt ook aandacht. Haar aandeel in dit verhaal is aanvankelijk onduidelijk. Toch zal ze een grote rol van betekenis spelen.
Het verhaal verloopt in het begin traag. De lezer ziet hoe de personages aankomen in het hotel en zich settelen. Van sommigen krijgt de lezer meer info dan over anderen, wat ook deels ligt aan de vertelperspectieven. Het valt op dat er bij iedereen onderliggend iets sluimert en de lezer voelt dat dit in de ontknoping gevolgen zal hebben, wat ook zo is. Naarmate het einde nadert wordt de spanning echt tastbaar en wil men als lezer weten wat er is voorgevallen en wie daar de oorzaak van is. Het laatste hoofdstuk geeft een hint naar de aankomst van Elma, die in Vanuit het duister haar opwachting maakt. Of In nevelen gehuld een vrouwenthriller is, valt moeilijk te omschrijven. De auteur en enkele personages zoals Petra, Lea en Irma zijn vrouwelijk. Toch ontbreekt het aan een sterk vrouwelijk hoofdpersonage die de anderen leidt, om het echt een vrouwenthriller te noemen en zweeft dit boek er wat tussenin.
In nevelen gehuld is een sterk vierde deel in deze boeiende IJslandse reeks. Door de vlotte schrijfstijl en het magische van de omgeving kan een lezer zich enkele uurtjes prettig vermaken. Het doet alleszins uitkijken naar een vijfde deel.
** Deze recensie verscheen eerder op Vrouwenthrillers.nl https://www.vrouwenthrillers.nl/index.... Met dank aan De Fontein voor het recensie-exemplaar. **
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2023...
De familie Snaeberg heeft zich verzameld op het afgelegen schiereiland Snaefellsnes voor een reünie. Van buitenaf lijkt iedereen het perfecte leventje te leiden. Rijkdom, luxe, uitstapjes naar de mooiste bestemmingen, uitnodigingen voor de chicste feesten. Ze lijken het allemaal te hebben gemaakt in het leven. Maar in het hotel komen er barsten in hun pantser en wanneer iemand verdwijnt in een storm, komen al hun geheimen bovendrijven.
In nevelen gehuld staat aangeduid als een vierde deel, maar is in feite een prequel en speelt zich af voor Vanuit het duister. Het boek is beschrijvend, de lezer zal merken dat Ægisdottir vertrouwd is met de streek en weet waarover ze spreekt. Het verhaal voelt al mysterieus aan vanaf de eerste zinnen. De lezer krijgt ook een stamboom aangereikt die zeker handig is om de verschillende personages uit elkaar te houden. Doordat er zoveel personages meespelen, is ook het vertelperspectief wisselend en krijgt de lezer hoofdstukken te lezen vanuit meerdere personen. De lezer leert de gedachten en gevoelens van Petra Snaeberg kennen en ziet dat ze met meer dan één ding worstelt. Eentje daarvan is de gemoedstoestand van haar dochter Lea, die ook uitgebreid aan bod komt in dit verhaal. Zij zorgt ervoor dat een maatschappelijk thema nogmaals belicht wordt: het verspreiden van online foto’s en het blindelings vertrouwen in sociale media. Daarnaast duikt Tryggvi op, timmerman van beroep en vreemde eend in de bijt. Irma, de hotelmedewerkster krijgt ook aandacht. Haar aandeel in dit verhaal is aanvankelijk onduidelijk. Toch zal ze een grote rol van betekenis spelen.
Het verhaal verloopt in het begin traag. De lezer ziet hoe de personages aankomen in het hotel en zich settelen. Van sommigen krijgt de lezer meer info dan over anderen, wat ook deels ligt aan de vertelperspectieven. Het valt op dat er bij iedereen onderliggend iets sluimert en de lezer voelt dat dit in de ontknoping gevolgen zal hebben, wat ook zo is. Naarmate het einde nadert wordt de spanning echt tastbaar en wil men als lezer weten wat er is voorgevallen en wie daar de oorzaak van is. Het laatste hoofdstuk geeft een hint naar de aankomst van Elma, die in Vanuit het duister haar opwachting maakt. Of In nevelen gehuld een vrouwenthriller is, valt moeilijk te omschrijven. De auteur en enkele personages zoals Petra, Lea en Irma zijn vrouwelijk. Toch ontbreekt het aan een sterk vrouwelijk hoofdpersonage die de anderen leidt, om het echt een vrouwenthriller te noemen en zweeft dit boek er wat tussenin.
In nevelen gehuld is een sterk vierde deel in deze boeiende IJslandse reeks. Door de vlotte schrijfstijl en het magische van de omgeving kan een lezer zich enkele uurtjes prettig vermaken. Het doet alleszins uitkijken naar een vijfde deel.
** Deze recensie verscheen eerder op Vrouwenthrillers.nl https://www.vrouwenthrillers.nl/index.... Met dank aan De Fontein voor het recensie-exemplaar. **
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2023...
May 14, 2023
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the Forbidden Iceland series by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, and I was really intrigued to hear that a prequel was coming out this year. The story takes place over a couple of nights in the winter of 2017, almost immediately before Elma joins the Detectives at Akranes Police Station. We still have Detectives Sævar and Hörður though, investigating a death which may, or may not, be a case of murder but this really does form only a small part of the overall story. Whilst this is a police investigation, a mystery of sorts, more of the story centres around the family reunion of the Snæberg clan, a powerful, and somewhat famous, family whose fortunes began in the fishing community around the remote Snæfellsnes peninsula. Brought together at a pretty isolated hotel, futuristic to a point where minimalism is king and everything is controlled by app, there is a truly ominous feeling from the very outset, that sense that there are many secrets being harboured, ones that would not result in a happy ending.
The story is told from several points of view. Firstly we have Petra, an interior designer whose talent for producing just the right aesthetic has made her a household name around Iceland. Then there is her daughter, Lea, slowly building her credibility on social media against a backdrop of the typical teenage angst. Tryggvi is a stranger in their midst, boyfriend to Petra's aunt and a man laden with his own burdens from the past. And for another outside perspective we have Irma, a hotel employee whose obsession and excitement about the arrival of the family is verging on scary. Each has a very unique voice, their own special take on what is happening around them and their own secrets to slowly reveal, ones that will provide vital clues as to what is happening around them. The final point of view is from of Sævar and Hörður, the only chapters told in third person, their investigation taking place the day after the fateful incident, adding a real sense of mystery and suspense to the whole story. The identity of the body we will have to wait some time to find out.
This is a family in turmoil. It's actually hard to like any of them to a degree, although I did feel some sympathy towards Lea especially. Whatever her background, her parents social standing, her problems within school and in struggling for acceptance amongst her schoolfriends is a pretty universal theme. That and the dangers of living your life in an Instagram world, attracting the attention of some less than savoury characters, of course. There was an element to her story which had me sighing a little, the scary plausibility of it all, and it made me wonder just what risk Lea was at. Given what we readers knew about what was to come to pass, and what we learned about the reasons for Lea's mental frailty, it created an uncertainty and tension which was quite palpable at times.
Irma was a character who it was hard to get a handle on at first, and I liked how the author has played on that uncertainty and her clear obsession or fascination with the family. As her story progresses, and the more we learn about the family over the course of their weekend celebration, the more obvious her position in the whole sorry saga became. Her stalkerish tendencies and over enthusiasm could be put down to the celebrity status of the clientele, but there was always a doubt lingering at the edge of my mind as to her true intentions. As for Tryggvi, he was a man truly of his depth and you could feel the melancholy pour off him in waves the longer the weekend went on. He was odd man out, and made to feel so quite often by the extended family. Eva Björg Ægisdóttir really tugs at the heartstrings with his story, although it takes some time to be fully brought into the open.
The overriding mystery in this book really falls (no pun intended) to whose body is lying at the foot of the cliffs. Did they fall or were they pushed? The clues point toward many potential victims over the course of the book, various twists of the story which set almost any of them out as a possible target. But the truth, when it comes, is as a result of one of the biggest shocks or surprises of the whole story, and one I honestly had not seen coming.
It is in the latter stages of the book that the tension and pace really pick up, and this has been carefully guided by the author and brought to bear in English with great skill by translator Victoria Cribb. Setting up the characters and their various relationships takes some time in the early chapters, the story here at a deliberately slower pace, but as we start to see how turbulent some of those relationships are, and understand the depths of obsession driving certain people, the faster the tempo becomes. The setting is perfect. Isolated, atmospheric, chilling at times, and with weather, and electrics, utterly temperamental, allowing for the sense that literally anything could happen. Another cracking addition to the series.
The story is told from several points of view. Firstly we have Petra, an interior designer whose talent for producing just the right aesthetic has made her a household name around Iceland. Then there is her daughter, Lea, slowly building her credibility on social media against a backdrop of the typical teenage angst. Tryggvi is a stranger in their midst, boyfriend to Petra's aunt and a man laden with his own burdens from the past. And for another outside perspective we have Irma, a hotel employee whose obsession and excitement about the arrival of the family is verging on scary. Each has a very unique voice, their own special take on what is happening around them and their own secrets to slowly reveal, ones that will provide vital clues as to what is happening around them. The final point of view is from of Sævar and Hörður, the only chapters told in third person, their investigation taking place the day after the fateful incident, adding a real sense of mystery and suspense to the whole story. The identity of the body we will have to wait some time to find out.
This is a family in turmoil. It's actually hard to like any of them to a degree, although I did feel some sympathy towards Lea especially. Whatever her background, her parents social standing, her problems within school and in struggling for acceptance amongst her schoolfriends is a pretty universal theme. That and the dangers of living your life in an Instagram world, attracting the attention of some less than savoury characters, of course. There was an element to her story which had me sighing a little, the scary plausibility of it all, and it made me wonder just what risk Lea was at. Given what we readers knew about what was to come to pass, and what we learned about the reasons for Lea's mental frailty, it created an uncertainty and tension which was quite palpable at times.
Irma was a character who it was hard to get a handle on at first, and I liked how the author has played on that uncertainty and her clear obsession or fascination with the family. As her story progresses, and the more we learn about the family over the course of their weekend celebration, the more obvious her position in the whole sorry saga became. Her stalkerish tendencies and over enthusiasm could be put down to the celebrity status of the clientele, but there was always a doubt lingering at the edge of my mind as to her true intentions. As for Tryggvi, he was a man truly of his depth and you could feel the melancholy pour off him in waves the longer the weekend went on. He was odd man out, and made to feel so quite often by the extended family. Eva Björg Ægisdóttir really tugs at the heartstrings with his story, although it takes some time to be fully brought into the open.
The overriding mystery in this book really falls (no pun intended) to whose body is lying at the foot of the cliffs. Did they fall or were they pushed? The clues point toward many potential victims over the course of the book, various twists of the story which set almost any of them out as a possible target. But the truth, when it comes, is as a result of one of the biggest shocks or surprises of the whole story, and one I honestly had not seen coming.
It is in the latter stages of the book that the tension and pace really pick up, and this has been carefully guided by the author and brought to bear in English with great skill by translator Victoria Cribb. Setting up the characters and their various relationships takes some time in the early chapters, the story here at a deliberately slower pace, but as we start to see how turbulent some of those relationships are, and understand the depths of obsession driving certain people, the faster the tempo becomes. The setting is perfect. Isolated, atmospheric, chilling at times, and with weather, and electrics, utterly temperamental, allowing for the sense that literally anything could happen. Another cracking addition to the series.
July 12, 2023
The Snæberg family are one of Iceland’s richest and most powerful clans in Iceland.
The family hire a whole hotel to themselves to celebrate what would have been their ancestor’s 100th birthday. The hotel is swanky, futuristic (everything is controlled by an app), and overlooking a lava field – picture perfect for their weekend away.
Irma, a trust-worthy hotel employee, is very much looking forward to the family arriving. She’s been following a couple of family members on the social media platforms and feels like she knows them already.
When the family arrive, the booze literally starts to flow. Even the underage teenager, sixteen year old Lea, succumbs to sneaking away a few vodka and Cokes.
As Irma watches, she realises that the Snæbergs are hiding a lot of secrets. With the alcohol loosening their inhibitions (and tongues), and the tensions mounting, the truth will soon come out with devastating consequences…
I have nothing but love for this book. I’ve been a fan of locked-in thrillers/ mysteries ever since I’ve read an Agatha Christie novel when I was twelve. You Can’t See Me is a book that Christie would have been proud of (had she written it herself!).
We have the idyllic, picturesque setting, which really makes me want to visit Iceland even more. We have a seemingly happy family, who on the surface appear perfect, but underneath there is a plethora of cracks and you can almost feel the ground shaking as their behaviour escalates.
Overall, it is a great locked-in thriller, full of tension and mystery. I definitely recommend it.
The family hire a whole hotel to themselves to celebrate what would have been their ancestor’s 100th birthday. The hotel is swanky, futuristic (everything is controlled by an app), and overlooking a lava field – picture perfect for their weekend away.
Irma, a trust-worthy hotel employee, is very much looking forward to the family arriving. She’s been following a couple of family members on the social media platforms and feels like she knows them already.
When the family arrive, the booze literally starts to flow. Even the underage teenager, sixteen year old Lea, succumbs to sneaking away a few vodka and Cokes.
As Irma watches, she realises that the Snæbergs are hiding a lot of secrets. With the alcohol loosening their inhibitions (and tongues), and the tensions mounting, the truth will soon come out with devastating consequences…
I have nothing but love for this book. I’ve been a fan of locked-in thrillers/ mysteries ever since I’ve read an Agatha Christie novel when I was twelve. You Can’t See Me is a book that Christie would have been proud of (had she written it herself!).
We have the idyllic, picturesque setting, which really makes me want to visit Iceland even more. We have a seemingly happy family, who on the surface appear perfect, but underneath there is a plethora of cracks and you can almost feel the ground shaking as their behaviour escalates.
Overall, it is a great locked-in thriller, full of tension and mystery. I definitely recommend it.
January 18, 2026
post reading:
Actual rating: 3.5 stars!
It was a solid story, i just felt like nothing much happened that I didn't already know 🫣
Proper review to comeeee! 💗
pre reading: im truly powering through all of her books in like a week and im loving it!! its a very nice change of pace to listen to icelandic books as I can listen much faster and I retain everything sm better lmfoaox
but im veryyy intrigued by this apparently prequel to the first 3 books and its a multi-pov story AND has a full cast!? such a fun lil change 🤭
Actual rating: 3.5 stars!
It was a solid story, i just felt like nothing much happened that I didn't already know 🫣
Proper review to comeeee! 💗
pre reading: im truly powering through all of her books in like a week and im loving it!! its a very nice change of pace to listen to icelandic books as I can listen much faster and I retain everything sm better lmfoaox
but im veryyy intrigued by this apparently prequel to the first 3 books and its a multi-pov story AND has a full cast!? such a fun lil change 🤭
March 24, 2024
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland is the setting of Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir’s latest Icelandic thriller, You Can’t See Me. Formed by a millennium of erosion and volcanic eruptions, the rough terrain is peppered with black and white sand beaches, and basalt columns. The peninsula is a place of contradictions: hard stone and delicate fauna; jagged rock and cascading waterfalls; bright midnight sun summers and dark winter solstices where the Aurora Borealis puts on its spectacular show. This is the place the Snæberg clan has chosen for th eirfamily reunion.
The Snaeberg family is as formidable and contradictory as the peninsula. Each member has a secret hidden that can (and in some cases has) affected others (mostly in bad ways). Tensions—fueled by alcohol and proximity—erupt to the surface, and ripple through the already disingenuous and spiteful members that may—or may not—culminate in murder.
The only really likable character is Ari: the mostly absent brother of Lea. She is hooked to social media where she is conducting an online relationship with a boy, while trying to stave off a virtual stalker. Petra—their mother—knows nothing about what is happening to her family. She is caught up in ruminating about her past and her unhappy marriage. Along with her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, lies and secrets that have been buried for years slowly come out. This is one very dysfunctional and creepy family.
This book is a twisty ride up to the last pages. By utilizing alternating time frames of “Now” and “Two/One/The Evening Before/The Early Hours of and Now”, we are drawn into the backstories and psyches of many of the characters (all of which are quite unreliable). Much of what you believe at the beginning of the story will most likely to be proven wrong by the time you reach its dazzling conclusion. I highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Orenda Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The Snaeberg family is as formidable and contradictory as the peninsula. Each member has a secret hidden that can (and in some cases has) affected others (mostly in bad ways). Tensions—fueled by alcohol and proximity—erupt to the surface, and ripple through the already disingenuous and spiteful members that may—or may not—culminate in murder.
The only really likable character is Ari: the mostly absent brother of Lea. She is hooked to social media where she is conducting an online relationship with a boy, while trying to stave off a virtual stalker. Petra—their mother—knows nothing about what is happening to her family. She is caught up in ruminating about her past and her unhappy marriage. Along with her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, lies and secrets that have been buried for years slowly come out. This is one very dysfunctional and creepy family.
This book is a twisty ride up to the last pages. By utilizing alternating time frames of “Now” and “Two/One/The Evening Before/The Early Hours of and Now”, we are drawn into the backstories and psyches of many of the characters (all of which are quite unreliable). Much of what you believe at the beginning of the story will most likely to be proven wrong by the time you reach its dazzling conclusion. I highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Orenda Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 29, 2024
The wealthy, powerful and well known Snæberg family are attending a reunion at an isolated smart hotel in Iceland. A body is discovered at the bottom of a nearby cliff and Sævar, a detective, and his partner are there to investigate. Which hotel guest died? Was it an accident or intentional?
Irma, a hotel employee who follows the Snæbergs on social media, can’t wait for the family to arrive, to see them in person. Petra, a successful interior designer, is anxious about running into certain family members she hasn’t seen in years. Lea, Petra’s 16 year old daughter is nervous, she has an unwanted follower online that won’t stop messaging her. Tryggvi, the boyfriend of Petra’s aunt, is desperately trying to get through the weekend without drinking, despite memories that are coming up.
You Can’t See Me is a wonderfully dark and atmospheric slow burn whodunit. The way Eva Björg Ægisdóttir described the beautiful setting and surroundings as well as the folklore of the area made me want to visit Snæfellsnes peninsula and I don’t even like the cold! The narratives of the four family members (in first person) from two days prior, and the third person narrative of Sævar in the present, are seamlessly woven together. As the past meets up with the present, family secrets and personal demons are revealed. I was able to work out what was coming, but that didn’t detract from this tense drama and I couldn’t read fast enough!
As an English speaker I appreciated the Icelandic pronunciation guide as well as the Snæberg family tree. I didn’t realize that this is the fourth novel in The Forbidden Iceland series but it’s also a prequel, so it worked well as a stand alone. The multi-layered storylines all came together in a satisfying conclusion making this a Nordic noir not to be missed!
Thank you Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, Orenda Books and NetGalley for my gifted copy.
Scroll down for potential spoiler trigger warnings.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
⚠️Trigger warnings: alcoholism, drug use, CSA, mention of child abuse and infidelity
Irma, a hotel employee who follows the Snæbergs on social media, can’t wait for the family to arrive, to see them in person. Petra, a successful interior designer, is anxious about running into certain family members she hasn’t seen in years. Lea, Petra’s 16 year old daughter is nervous, she has an unwanted follower online that won’t stop messaging her. Tryggvi, the boyfriend of Petra’s aunt, is desperately trying to get through the weekend without drinking, despite memories that are coming up.
You Can’t See Me is a wonderfully dark and atmospheric slow burn whodunit. The way Eva Björg Ægisdóttir described the beautiful setting and surroundings as well as the folklore of the area made me want to visit Snæfellsnes peninsula and I don’t even like the cold! The narratives of the four family members (in first person) from two days prior, and the third person narrative of Sævar in the present, are seamlessly woven together. As the past meets up with the present, family secrets and personal demons are revealed. I was able to work out what was coming, but that didn’t detract from this tense drama and I couldn’t read fast enough!
As an English speaker I appreciated the Icelandic pronunciation guide as well as the Snæberg family tree. I didn’t realize that this is the fourth novel in The Forbidden Iceland series but it’s also a prequel, so it worked well as a stand alone. The multi-layered storylines all came together in a satisfying conclusion making this a Nordic noir not to be missed!
Thank you Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, Orenda Books and NetGalley for my gifted copy.
Scroll down for potential spoiler trigger warnings.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
⚠️Trigger warnings: alcoholism, drug use, CSA, mention of child abuse and infidelity
November 4, 2021
Enn ein neglan frá Evu Björg.
Snilldar bók með geggjuðu plotti, flottum karakterum og áhugaverðum aðstæðum.
Verð smá leið í hvert skipti sem ég klára bók eftir hana að vita að það sé mögulega heilt ár í næstu bók.
Snilldar bók með geggjuðu plotti, flottum karakterum og áhugaverðum aðstæðum.
Verð smá leið í hvert skipti sem ég klára bók eftir hana að vita að það sé mögulega heilt ár í næstu bók.
June 14, 2025
Eva Björg Ægisdóttir is clearly firmly embedded in the every growing body of Icelandic Noir authors. Prequel, You can’t see me, fourth in the Forbidden Iceland series is a bit of a departure from the style of the first three books and showcases another element to Ægisdóttir’s writing. Almost like a locked room, golden age style mystery, I found the book quite riveting.
You can’t see me is set on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland, the dramatic landscape along with the bleak mid winter atmosphere make for the kind of Icelandic Noir I love. Having driven around the peninsula in 2017, I particularly loved being transported back to a very special time and found myself reliving my own Icelandic experience (minus the inevitable Noir element).
The ridiculously wealthy Snæberg family are at the centre of this story, taking place in a newly established hotel not far from the well known Arnastapi and Djúpalónssandur Beach, famed for its black pebbles. The entire family dynasty, having booked out the entire hotel for a reunion to honour their late great grandfather, founder of their riches, sees old wounds reopened and new family information come to light. Told through the voices of a limited number of characters, the tale builds in intensity as knowledge begets knowledge and differing perspectives and lenses add to the whole picture and provide the intrigue to keep the pages turning.
A great addition to the series that really is a standalone book in its own right. A solid 4 northern light stars.
You can’t see me is set on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland, the dramatic landscape along with the bleak mid winter atmosphere make for the kind of Icelandic Noir I love. Having driven around the peninsula in 2017, I particularly loved being transported back to a very special time and found myself reliving my own Icelandic experience (minus the inevitable Noir element).
The ridiculously wealthy Snæberg family are at the centre of this story, taking place in a newly established hotel not far from the well known Arnastapi and Djúpalónssandur Beach, famed for its black pebbles. The entire family dynasty, having booked out the entire hotel for a reunion to honour their late great grandfather, founder of their riches, sees old wounds reopened and new family information come to light. Told through the voices of a limited number of characters, the tale builds in intensity as knowledge begets knowledge and differing perspectives and lenses add to the whole picture and provide the intrigue to keep the pages turning.
A great addition to the series that really is a standalone book in its own right. A solid 4 northern light stars.
September 18, 2023
Maybe I should have read some other books in the Forbidden Iceland series first but this one I was approved for only last week.
Good points: I loved the writing! The writing alone would have earned the book five stars. It was as if this part of Iceland came alive before my eyes. And the descriptions of the fish made my mouth water. I love the mystery too because I for one had no idea who the dead person could be and thus this came as a surprise - and I completely understood why this person found an untimely death (or maybe timely?).
Points I didn't like so much or not at all: I dislike books where literally every character drinks copious amounts of alcohol. I've got nothing against people drinking, but during this book a great part of the action was fuelled by drink. And what happens when people drink? Exactly, they make wrong decision and say the wrong things. And since none of the characters in this book is a reliable person, things go south even before the real story begins. There is a lot of tension in this story because almost all characters have something to hide, but why use the drinking to spill it all?
There is also the fact that there are so many characters. They are all more or less related but it's hard to remember who is who because person A talks about person B as 'stepfather' while person C talks about person B as 'husband'. And they all use different names for each other. The only voices in the book are three women and one man and there are even people in the story who are mentioned only once or twice. They are there, but besides drinking the do not seem to do anything.
That being said, I understand why this author is so popular because the writing just keeps you reading. It's just that this is my kind of story but not with my kind of characters.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Orenda books for this review copy.
Good points: I loved the writing! The writing alone would have earned the book five stars. It was as if this part of Iceland came alive before my eyes. And the descriptions of the fish made my mouth water. I love the mystery too because I for one had no idea who the dead person could be and thus this came as a surprise - and I completely understood why this person found an untimely death (or maybe timely?).
Points I didn't like so much or not at all: I dislike books where literally every character drinks copious amounts of alcohol. I've got nothing against people drinking, but during this book a great part of the action was fuelled by drink. And what happens when people drink? Exactly, they make wrong decision and say the wrong things. And since none of the characters in this book is a reliable person, things go south even before the real story begins. There is a lot of tension in this story because almost all characters have something to hide, but why use the drinking to spill it all?
There is also the fact that there are so many characters. They are all more or less related but it's hard to remember who is who because person A talks about person B as 'stepfather' while person C talks about person B as 'husband'. And they all use different names for each other. The only voices in the book are three women and one man and there are even people in the story who are mentioned only once or twice. They are there, but besides drinking the do not seem to do anything.
That being said, I understand why this author is so popular because the writing just keeps you reading. It's just that this is my kind of story but not with my kind of characters.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Orenda books for this review copy.
November 26, 2024
100% uppáhalds verkið mitt eftir Evu Björg, ég veit ekki hvað það segir um það hversu vel mér líka við Elmu en ég elskaði þessa bók. Ég var óviss um það hversu grípandi saga um ríka, íslenska fjölskyldu yrði en vá hvað ég varð háður því að læra meira um þau, alveg eins og Irma. Ég átti smá erfitt með að átta mig á öllum persónunum sem ég er farinn að halda að sé bara partur af því að lesa svona krimma, en með póst-it miða mér við hlið náði ég að átta mig á því. Persónurnar og sambönd þeirra voru svo grípandi og athyglisverð og ég elskaði að sjá þau vera skíthælar úti í sveit. Ég elskaði líka einangraða sögusviðið á hótelinu, mjög Agatha Christie. Mjög gaman líka að sjá baby Sævar og Hörð, þó að mér hafi sagan þeirra ekki passa neitt svakalega inn í söguna og andrúmsloftið, plús þeir gerðu rosalega lítið.
December 24, 2023
3.5 stars
An entertaining story but I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the other books in the series. This is a prequel so Elma isn’t a part of the story and the focus is on the Snæberg family rather than the investigation. There is a large cast of characters, many of which are unlikable. Several have a drinking problem and there is a lot of tension between the family members to say the least. At times this read more like a family drama than a mystery. But, there is a body that is discovered. There is a bit of misdirection in terms of who the body is and there are a few twists at the end as well. Despite this being my least favorite in the series,You Can’t See Me is still an engaging read that I would recommend if you like family drama and dark secrets set in a remote location.
An entertaining story but I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the other books in the series. This is a prequel so Elma isn’t a part of the story and the focus is on the Snæberg family rather than the investigation. There is a large cast of characters, many of which are unlikable. Several have a drinking problem and there is a lot of tension between the family members to say the least. At times this read more like a family drama than a mystery. But, there is a body that is discovered. There is a bit of misdirection in terms of who the body is and there are a few twists at the end as well. Despite this being my least favorite in the series,You Can’t See Me is still an engaging read that I would recommend if you like family drama and dark secrets set in a remote location.
February 6, 2024
Finished reading: February 6th 2024
"Sometimes I wonder if what does the most harm isn’t the incident itself but all the talking about it – all the reactions afterwards."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Orenda Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
January 25, 2025
„Verlassen“ erscheint als 4. Band der Island-Reihe, chronologisch ist es allerdings Band 1 – ein Prequel zu den bisher erschienenen Krimis, denn dieses Buch spielt bevor Elma bei der Polizeistation in Akranes beginnt. Im Grunde hat „Verlassen“ überhaupt nichts mit der Reihe zu tun und ist ein Stand-Alone. Vom Aufbau und Erzählweise her ist es nämlich komplett anders. Dies ist kein Ermittlerkrimi. Die Polizei kommt hier nur in sehr kurzen Kapiteln von jeweils 2-3 Seiten Länge vor und spielt weder beim Fall, noch bei der Auflösung eine besondere Rolle.
Erzählt wird die Geschichte aus Sicht von vier verschieden Personen. Petra und Lea Snaeberg, Irma einer Hotelangestellten und Tryggvi, der Lebensgefährte von Oddny aus dem Snaeberg Clan.
Die Snaebergs sind eine riesige Familie, der Stammbaum am Anfang des Buches ist auf jeden Fall sinnvoll, um die Orientierung zu behalten.
Anlässlich eines 100. Geburtstags haben sich sämtliche Geschwister, Cousins, deren Nachkommen und Partner versammelt. Nach außen tun alle so, als hätten sie mächtig Spaß. Tatsächlich sind die zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen allerdings geprägt von einer Menge Spannungen. Es werden ordentlich Alkohol und andere Rauschmittel konsumiert und so kommen Themen auf den Tisch, über die seit Jahren geschwiegen wurde.
Ich fand den Aufbau und die Handlung ausgesprochen fesselnd. „Verlassen“ ist eine Art Kammerspiel, bei dem man lange Zeit nicht genau weiß, wohin die Reise gehen wird.
Es wird zwar von Anfang an gesagt, dass jemand von einer Klippe stürzt, aber wer genau das ist, bleibt bis kurz vor Schluss im Dunkeln.
Zwischendurch kam die ein oder andere Tendenz auf, aber erst in den letzten Kapiteln setzt sich das Puzzle logisch zusammen.
Besonders gefallen hat mir der Charakter Irma, zunächst eine pflichtbewusste Angestellt, die mit der Zeit immer zwielichtiger erschien.
Ich würde sagen, dies war bisher mein Lieblingsband aus der Reihe. Eher ein Thriller als ein Krimi. Das war richtig gute Unterhaltung. 5 Sterne!
Erzählt wird die Geschichte aus Sicht von vier verschieden Personen. Petra und Lea Snaeberg, Irma einer Hotelangestellten und Tryggvi, der Lebensgefährte von Oddny aus dem Snaeberg Clan.
Die Snaebergs sind eine riesige Familie, der Stammbaum am Anfang des Buches ist auf jeden Fall sinnvoll, um die Orientierung zu behalten.
Anlässlich eines 100. Geburtstags haben sich sämtliche Geschwister, Cousins, deren Nachkommen und Partner versammelt. Nach außen tun alle so, als hätten sie mächtig Spaß. Tatsächlich sind die zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen allerdings geprägt von einer Menge Spannungen. Es werden ordentlich Alkohol und andere Rauschmittel konsumiert und so kommen Themen auf den Tisch, über die seit Jahren geschwiegen wurde.
Ich fand den Aufbau und die Handlung ausgesprochen fesselnd. „Verlassen“ ist eine Art Kammerspiel, bei dem man lange Zeit nicht genau weiß, wohin die Reise gehen wird.
Es wird zwar von Anfang an gesagt, dass jemand von einer Klippe stürzt, aber wer genau das ist, bleibt bis kurz vor Schluss im Dunkeln.
Zwischendurch kam die ein oder andere Tendenz auf, aber erst in den letzten Kapiteln setzt sich das Puzzle logisch zusammen.
Besonders gefallen hat mir der Charakter Irma, zunächst eine pflichtbewusste Angestellt, die mit der Zeit immer zwielichtiger erschien.
Ich würde sagen, dies war bisher mein Lieblingsband aus der Reihe. Eher ein Thriller als ein Krimi. Das war richtig gute Unterhaltung. 5 Sterne!
July 31, 2023
Another excellent book by this author, perhaps not up to the levels of “Girls Who Lie” which I thought was exceptional, but still very enjoyable and captivating.
The story starts slowly as the characters are introduced, and there are quite a number to get to know. It centres around a rich and privileged family who hire a hotel for a celebration. They are self absorbed with their lives and social media images and both the aggressors and victims in the story are totally divorced from the real world that surrounds them. Hence the title of the book.
The story has two timelines. One in the present day when one of the party is discovered at the bottom of a cliff, seemingly pushed, and the other detailing events over the previous two days leading up to the death. Cleverly the identity of the body is not revealed until very near the end so it’s not clear who ends up dead. As the history of their complicated and often unpleasant lives is revealed the reader is led from one character to another speculating which is the victim. The characters, relationships and motivations are very realistic.
The story starts slowly as the characters are introduced, and there are quite a number to get to know. It centres around a rich and privileged family who hire a hotel for a celebration. They are self absorbed with their lives and social media images and both the aggressors and victims in the story are totally divorced from the real world that surrounds them. Hence the title of the book.
The story has two timelines. One in the present day when one of the party is discovered at the bottom of a cliff, seemingly pushed, and the other detailing events over the previous two days leading up to the death. Cleverly the identity of the body is not revealed until very near the end so it’s not clear who ends up dead. As the history of their complicated and often unpleasant lives is revealed the reader is led from one character to another speculating which is the victim. The characters, relationships and motivations are very realistic.
July 15, 2023
A bit slow at first,different from the rest in this excellent series,but very,very good.
February 19, 2025
Minu arvamuse raamatust leiab blogist https://triinuraamatud.wordpress.com/...
June 1, 2025
3.75 🌟
January 20, 2025
Man kann einfach nicht aufhören, zu lesen
Worum geht’s?
Die Snaebergs sind eine auf ganz Island bekannte, schwerreiche Familie. Um den 100. Geburtstag des verstorbenen Familienpatriarchs zu feiern, treffen sich alle in einem abgelegenen Hotel in Westisland. Doch ist in dieser Familie wirklich alles Gold, was glänzt? Oder sind die Posts auf Instagram und die Berichte der Medien mehr Schein als Sein?
Meine Meinung:
Mir gefällt die Mörderisches-Island-Reihe von Eva Björg Aegisdottir wirklich gut. Jedes Buch hat eine wundervoll düstere Grundstimmung, die schon an sich für Gänsehaut sorgt. Der 4. Band „Verlassen“ setzt die Serie fort, wobei dieses Buch auch gut als Stand-Alone gelesen werden kann. Zudem spielt es zeitlich vor den anderen Teilen, weshalb auch Elma noch nicht mit an Bord ist. Aber Saevar und Hördur treffen wir wieder.
Hauptsächlich begleiten wir in den verschiedenen Kapiteln einzelne Mitglieder der Familie Snaeberg, nämlich die Tochter Lea, deren Mutter Petra und Tryggvi, den Freund von Oddny, dem hier später eine ganz besondere Rolle zukommt. Immer wieder lesen wir auch von Irma, einer Hotelangestellten. Diese Kapitel spielen in der Zeit kurz vor der Gegenwart. In der Gegenwart lesen wir dann die Ermittlungen auch Sicht von Saevar. Hier haben wir allerdings nur wenige Kapitel, die aber dennoch sehr aufschlussreich sind.
In dem Buch selbst geht es dann viel um Stalking im Internet und um Internet-Fakes. Und um die Selbstdarstellung in den Medien. Aber auch um Geheimnisse, die nach und nach ans Licht kommen und die in der Umgebung, in die uns die Autorin mitnimmt, noch düsterer wirken, als sie sowieso schon sind. Die Umgebung macht hier sowieso viel mit aus. Es wirkt die ganze Zeit kühl und dunkel, durch das einsame Betonhotel. Dann noch der Schneesturm, der die Sicht verweht – was könnte atmosphärischer sein! So heimelig dieses Setting in einem Wohlfühlroman mit Kaminfeuer wirken würde, so gruselig wirkt es vor dieser Szenerie. Und auch wie die Familie sich benimmt, worüber sie reden, was alles geschieht: Man will es nicht wissen, kann aber auch nicht aufhören, zu lesen. Es ist viel Fremdschämen mit dabei, viel Hab-ich-mir-doch-gedacht, aber auch viele böse Klüngeleien. Und je näher sich die Vergangenheit und die Gegenwart kommen, desto spannender wird es. Ich gebe zu: Ich habe viel erwartet und mir viel vorgestellt, aber dieses Ende mit dieser Unmenge an unvorhersehbaren Twists habe ich nicht kommen sehen! Es war wirklich unerwartet, aber doch auch passend. Eine ganz klare Leseempfehlung von mir!
Fazit:
In „Verlassen“, dem 4. Band ihrer Mörderisches-Island-Serie, nimmt uns Eva Björg Aegisdottir mit in ein einsames Hotel mitten im verschneiten Island. Wir haben wieder düstere Szenerien, faszinierende Wendungen, atmosphärische Stimmung und wir lernen die Familie Snaeberg kennen – glaubt mir, die Familie ist so schlimm wie unterhaltsam. Die Ermittlungen selbst werden eher am Rande geführt, aber haben es dennoch in sich und die Rückblicke lassen einen durchweg Gänsehaut fühlen. Mir hat das Buch wieder super gefallen und ich bin schon so gespannt, wie es im 5. Fall weitergehen wird!
5 Sterne von mir und!
Worum geht’s?
Die Snaebergs sind eine auf ganz Island bekannte, schwerreiche Familie. Um den 100. Geburtstag des verstorbenen Familienpatriarchs zu feiern, treffen sich alle in einem abgelegenen Hotel in Westisland. Doch ist in dieser Familie wirklich alles Gold, was glänzt? Oder sind die Posts auf Instagram und die Berichte der Medien mehr Schein als Sein?
Meine Meinung:
Mir gefällt die Mörderisches-Island-Reihe von Eva Björg Aegisdottir wirklich gut. Jedes Buch hat eine wundervoll düstere Grundstimmung, die schon an sich für Gänsehaut sorgt. Der 4. Band „Verlassen“ setzt die Serie fort, wobei dieses Buch auch gut als Stand-Alone gelesen werden kann. Zudem spielt es zeitlich vor den anderen Teilen, weshalb auch Elma noch nicht mit an Bord ist. Aber Saevar und Hördur treffen wir wieder.
Hauptsächlich begleiten wir in den verschiedenen Kapiteln einzelne Mitglieder der Familie Snaeberg, nämlich die Tochter Lea, deren Mutter Petra und Tryggvi, den Freund von Oddny, dem hier später eine ganz besondere Rolle zukommt. Immer wieder lesen wir auch von Irma, einer Hotelangestellten. Diese Kapitel spielen in der Zeit kurz vor der Gegenwart. In der Gegenwart lesen wir dann die Ermittlungen auch Sicht von Saevar. Hier haben wir allerdings nur wenige Kapitel, die aber dennoch sehr aufschlussreich sind.
In dem Buch selbst geht es dann viel um Stalking im Internet und um Internet-Fakes. Und um die Selbstdarstellung in den Medien. Aber auch um Geheimnisse, die nach und nach ans Licht kommen und die in der Umgebung, in die uns die Autorin mitnimmt, noch düsterer wirken, als sie sowieso schon sind. Die Umgebung macht hier sowieso viel mit aus. Es wirkt die ganze Zeit kühl und dunkel, durch das einsame Betonhotel. Dann noch der Schneesturm, der die Sicht verweht – was könnte atmosphärischer sein! So heimelig dieses Setting in einem Wohlfühlroman mit Kaminfeuer wirken würde, so gruselig wirkt es vor dieser Szenerie. Und auch wie die Familie sich benimmt, worüber sie reden, was alles geschieht: Man will es nicht wissen, kann aber auch nicht aufhören, zu lesen. Es ist viel Fremdschämen mit dabei, viel Hab-ich-mir-doch-gedacht, aber auch viele böse Klüngeleien. Und je näher sich die Vergangenheit und die Gegenwart kommen, desto spannender wird es. Ich gebe zu: Ich habe viel erwartet und mir viel vorgestellt, aber dieses Ende mit dieser Unmenge an unvorhersehbaren Twists habe ich nicht kommen sehen! Es war wirklich unerwartet, aber doch auch passend. Eine ganz klare Leseempfehlung von mir!
Fazit:
In „Verlassen“, dem 4. Band ihrer Mörderisches-Island-Serie, nimmt uns Eva Björg Aegisdottir mit in ein einsames Hotel mitten im verschneiten Island. Wir haben wieder düstere Szenerien, faszinierende Wendungen, atmosphärische Stimmung und wir lernen die Familie Snaeberg kennen – glaubt mir, die Familie ist so schlimm wie unterhaltsam. Die Ermittlungen selbst werden eher am Rande geführt, aber haben es dennoch in sich und die Rückblicke lassen einen durchweg Gänsehaut fühlen. Mir hat das Buch wieder super gefallen und ich bin schon so gespannt, wie es im 5. Fall weitergehen wird!
5 Sterne von mir und!
February 21, 2024
Having enjoyed the first three books in the Forbidden Iceland series, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this, the prequel to this Icelandic Noir series. The events in this story take place before the series protagonist, Elma, joined the CID team.
Families are such complex units. What might appear near perfect to an outsider, can hide secrets and dysfunction within the walls of the family home. This is true whether the family is ultra rich, or disadvantaged. In the case of the family in this novel, the Snæbergs, they were rich and powerful. So wealthy in fact that they booked an entire hotel for their family reunion to commemorate what would have been their patriarch's one hundredth birthday. The reunion revealed their dysfunction, their heavy dependence on alcohol, and their long-held secrets.
The story is told via myriad characters and several perspectives, centering around the characters of Petra and her teenage daughter, Lea. Also predominant was the character of Irma, who was a maid at the hotel.
The hotel setting was chilling. Though high-tech and ultra-modern, it had a sinister vibe and seemed unwelcoming. Everything in the hotel was controlled with an app... the lights, the doors, thermostats, etc. which added to the impersonal feel.
The Icelandic setting is vividly rendered. Though I have never had the opportunity to visit Iceland, I could picture the unique landscapes clearly in my mind.
The criminal investigation was a slow burn. Multi-layered, it exposed toxic familial relationships, misplaced allegiances, jealousy and secrets. Some themes covered was the effect of social media on teenage minds, the privileged arrogance of the very wealthy, and how some secrets, if left to fester, can destroy lives...
The writing is skilful and the translation impeccable. You can definitely read this book as a standalone novel. I didn't enjoy the book quite as well as the others in the series, though the writing was just as accomplished, and the setting atmospheric. I do think that this story would make an excellent movie. Recommended!
Families are such complex units. What might appear near perfect to an outsider, can hide secrets and dysfunction within the walls of the family home. This is true whether the family is ultra rich, or disadvantaged. In the case of the family in this novel, the Snæbergs, they were rich and powerful. So wealthy in fact that they booked an entire hotel for their family reunion to commemorate what would have been their patriarch's one hundredth birthday. The reunion revealed their dysfunction, their heavy dependence on alcohol, and their long-held secrets.
The story is told via myriad characters and several perspectives, centering around the characters of Petra and her teenage daughter, Lea. Also predominant was the character of Irma, who was a maid at the hotel.
The hotel setting was chilling. Though high-tech and ultra-modern, it had a sinister vibe and seemed unwelcoming. Everything in the hotel was controlled with an app... the lights, the doors, thermostats, etc. which added to the impersonal feel.
The Icelandic setting is vividly rendered. Though I have never had the opportunity to visit Iceland, I could picture the unique landscapes clearly in my mind.
The criminal investigation was a slow burn. Multi-layered, it exposed toxic familial relationships, misplaced allegiances, jealousy and secrets. Some themes covered was the effect of social media on teenage minds, the privileged arrogance of the very wealthy, and how some secrets, if left to fester, can destroy lives...
The writing is skilful and the translation impeccable. You can definitely read this book as a standalone novel. I didn't enjoy the book quite as well as the others in the series, though the writing was just as accomplished, and the setting atmospheric. I do think that this story would make an excellent movie. Recommended!
August 6, 2023
Not as good as the series featuring Elma. Writing was repetitive and heavily dependent on characters constantly drinking or taking showers!
April 22, 2024
In nevelen gehuld is het vierde deel in de IJslandse Moorden serie en speelt zich dus weer af in de buurt van Akranes op IJsland. Deze keer is een familiereünie het middelpunt van het verhaal.
De familie Snæberg heeft het hele hotel afgehuurd. Alleen het personeel en de familie zijn aanwezig. Aan het begin van het boek lees je dat er een lijk gevonden is, maar het is voor de lezer onbekend wie.
Je leest af en toe een stukje vanuit de rechercheur Sævar op zondag. Maar het grootste gedeelte van het boek lees je vanuit de familieleden en vanuit 1 personeelslid van het hotel. Gelukkig staat er voorin het boek een stamboom, zodat je af en toe kunt terugbladeren om te kijken hoe de band tussen bepaalde namen is.
De meeste hoofdstukken zijn kort, een paar bladzijden, en daardoor denk je vaak: oké nog een hoofdstuk. Aan het begin ben je erg nieuwsgierig wie er nu dood zal blijken te zijn. Ondertussen lees je over alle familieruzies en -problemen. Alcohol(verslaving) maakt een groot deel uit van het verhaal, maar ook komt het gebruik van social media op jonge leeftijd aan bod. Bijvoorbeeld wie je kunt vertrouwen op internet.
Het verhaal In nevelen gehuld is een psychologische thriller over (familie)geheimen. De moord is niet eens zozeer het hoogtepunt van het boek. Wel vroeg ik me af waarom Sævar deze zaak deed en we Elma niet terugzien in het verhaal. Dit werd op de allerlaatste bladzijde duidelijk (niet spieken!).
Met veel plezier gelezen, maar ik miste Elma en überhaupt het recherchewerk wel in dit deel van de serie. Hopelijk is er in het volgende deel meer speurwerk en minder familieproblemen.
Ik heb dit boek gekregen van @uitgeverijdefontein . Dit heeft mijn mening niet beïnvloed. Bedankt voor het opsturen van het boek!
De familie Snæberg heeft het hele hotel afgehuurd. Alleen het personeel en de familie zijn aanwezig. Aan het begin van het boek lees je dat er een lijk gevonden is, maar het is voor de lezer onbekend wie.
Je leest af en toe een stukje vanuit de rechercheur Sævar op zondag. Maar het grootste gedeelte van het boek lees je vanuit de familieleden en vanuit 1 personeelslid van het hotel. Gelukkig staat er voorin het boek een stamboom, zodat je af en toe kunt terugbladeren om te kijken hoe de band tussen bepaalde namen is.
De meeste hoofdstukken zijn kort, een paar bladzijden, en daardoor denk je vaak: oké nog een hoofdstuk. Aan het begin ben je erg nieuwsgierig wie er nu dood zal blijken te zijn. Ondertussen lees je over alle familieruzies en -problemen. Alcohol(verslaving) maakt een groot deel uit van het verhaal, maar ook komt het gebruik van social media op jonge leeftijd aan bod. Bijvoorbeeld wie je kunt vertrouwen op internet.
Het verhaal In nevelen gehuld is een psychologische thriller over (familie)geheimen. De moord is niet eens zozeer het hoogtepunt van het boek. Wel vroeg ik me af waarom Sævar deze zaak deed en we Elma niet terugzien in het verhaal. Dit werd op de allerlaatste bladzijde duidelijk (niet spieken!).
Met veel plezier gelezen, maar ik miste Elma en überhaupt het recherchewerk wel in dit deel van de serie. Hopelijk is er in het volgende deel meer speurwerk en minder familieproblemen.
Ik heb dit boek gekregen van @uitgeverijdefontein . Dit heeft mijn mening niet beïnvloed. Bedankt voor het opsturen van het boek!
July 11, 2022
3.5 / 5 🤷♀️
July 13, 2022
3,5/5
also, endirinn? mig vantar útskýringar
also, endirinn? mig vantar útskýringar
January 5, 2025
Une belle découverte. Le début est particulièrement captivant, alors qu’on découvre un à un les membres de cette famille. Une lecture de vacances agréable.
January 9, 2022
Grípandi lesning.
January 28, 2025
This was a disappointment. Since it is fourth in the series I was expecting a continuation of the experiences of the people in the first three books. It actually is a prequel to the first book and couldn't properly be called a mystery. The only mystery is that manufactured by the author. The reader isn't even allowed to know who the victim is until the very end. Additionally it is more like a soap opera about the people in a large family. I had to keep referring back to the 5 generation family tree to keep the characters straight. It seemed that every one had some kind of secret they were keeping and stressing over. As a result all the characters spent almost all their time either getting drunk or taking showers. It was all just a bit too coy for me. I prefer books where the reader knows a lot about what is going on and yet is unable to solve the mystery (Dorothy Sayers comes to mind). There is one more book in the series which I plan to read eventually but I hope it is better than this one.
April 7, 2025
Jätkuvalt väga hea, põnev ja kaasahaarav lugemine Ægisdóttir sulest. Muide, kui sa selle sarjaga pole veel algust teinud, siis see ongi tegelikult parim võtta just nimelt esimeseks lugemiseks ning alles siis alustada sarja esimese raamatuga. Loomulikult on see põnev ka neile, kes on juba sarjaga algust teinud, mina igatahes nautisin selle lugemist algusest lõpuni. Soovitan
December 26, 2023
De familie Snæberg heeft zich verzameld voor een familiereünie in een hotel tussen de donkere lavastromen van het afgelegen schiereiland Snæfellsnes.
Petra Snæberg maakt zich zorgen over haar tienerdochter, wiens social media-activiteiten het verkeerde soort volgers aantrekt. Timmerman Tryggvi, vriend van de familie, worstelt om alcohol te vermijden omdat hij weet wat er gebeurt als hij drinkt..
Hotelmedewerkster Irma is opgetogen deze beroemde familie te ontmoeten en te observeren van dichtbij … misschien te dichtbij…
Als het weer verslechtert en de alcohol vloeit, verdwijnt een van de gasten. Komt het gevaar van buiten, of ligt het in de duistere geheimen van de familie zelf?
Dit verhaal wordt vanuit meerdere perspectieven verteld en dat is in het begin even wennen. Er komen namelijk nogal wat namen op je af. Vooraan in het boek staat een stamboom, maar ik las dit als e-book en dan gaat dat steeds checken iets lastiger. ;-)
Er wordt een lichaam gevonden en deze stukken lees je in het 'nu' vanuit de rechercheurs. Ook lees je steeds hoofdstukken over wat er de dagen daarvoor heeft afgespeeld en dit was zeker interessant! Het is namelijk niet duidelijk wie er om het leven is gekomen en dat zorgde ervoor dat er een mysterieuze sfeer hing.
Je leest dus vanuit verschillende familieleden en het lijkt erop dat iedereen zo zijn/haar eigen issues en geheimen heeft. Dit maakte het verhaal voor mij erg boeiend. Het is traag opgebouwd, maar tegelijkertijd speelt er zich toch ontzettend veel af.
Ik denk dat dit dan ook eerder een psychologische thriller is. Misschien dat sommige mensen het toch wat te traag kunnen vinden, maar ikzelf hou wel van deze opbouw.
Iedereen van deze familie kan de dode zijn en tot het einde blijft dit dus geheim. Je komt er echt pas in één van de laatste hoofdstukken achter en dit vond ik dus zeer knap!
De sfeer in het hotel en de onderlinge relaties zijn ook goed uitgewerkt en ik kan dus wel zeggen dat ik van deze Scandi thriller heb genoten!
Ik kijk enorm uit naar een vijfde deel!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
Petra Snæberg maakt zich zorgen over haar tienerdochter, wiens social media-activiteiten het verkeerde soort volgers aantrekt. Timmerman Tryggvi, vriend van de familie, worstelt om alcohol te vermijden omdat hij weet wat er gebeurt als hij drinkt..
Hotelmedewerkster Irma is opgetogen deze beroemde familie te ontmoeten en te observeren van dichtbij … misschien te dichtbij…
Als het weer verslechtert en de alcohol vloeit, verdwijnt een van de gasten. Komt het gevaar van buiten, of ligt het in de duistere geheimen van de familie zelf?
Dit verhaal wordt vanuit meerdere perspectieven verteld en dat is in het begin even wennen. Er komen namelijk nogal wat namen op je af. Vooraan in het boek staat een stamboom, maar ik las dit als e-book en dan gaat dat steeds checken iets lastiger. ;-)
Er wordt een lichaam gevonden en deze stukken lees je in het 'nu' vanuit de rechercheurs. Ook lees je steeds hoofdstukken over wat er de dagen daarvoor heeft afgespeeld en dit was zeker interessant! Het is namelijk niet duidelijk wie er om het leven is gekomen en dat zorgde ervoor dat er een mysterieuze sfeer hing.
Je leest dus vanuit verschillende familieleden en het lijkt erop dat iedereen zo zijn/haar eigen issues en geheimen heeft. Dit maakte het verhaal voor mij erg boeiend. Het is traag opgebouwd, maar tegelijkertijd speelt er zich toch ontzettend veel af.
Ik denk dat dit dan ook eerder een psychologische thriller is. Misschien dat sommige mensen het toch wat te traag kunnen vinden, maar ikzelf hou wel van deze opbouw.
Iedereen van deze familie kan de dode zijn en tot het einde blijft dit dus geheim. Je komt er echt pas in één van de laatste hoofdstukken achter en dit vond ik dus zeer knap!
De sfeer in het hotel en de onderlinge relaties zijn ook goed uitgewerkt en ik kan dus wel zeggen dat ik van deze Scandi thriller heb genoten!
Ik kijk enorm uit naar een vijfde deel!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
April 6, 2025
Hochspannung in düsterer Atmosphäre
Schon zum vierten Mal folge ich Eva Björg Ægisdóttir nach Island. Dieses Mal geht es um eine reich und bekannte isländische Familie, die in einem abgelegenen und hochmodernen Hotel den 100. Geburtstag von ihrem längst verstorbenen Oberhaupt feiern möchte. Von Anfang an ist die Atmosphäre düster. Das Hotel wird ausführlich beschrieben, es dominieren kalte Farben und ein minimalistischer Stil. Ich würde mich dort sehr unwohl fühlen und einigen der Familienmitglieder geht es genau so. Zudem wird das Wetter immer schlechter und stürmischer.
Ich verfolge die Feier aus verschiedenen Perspektiven, denn die Autorin lässt ausgewählte Personen abwechselnd zu Wort kommen: Petra Snæberg, die viel über sich erzählt, ihre Beziehung zu ihrem Ehemann und die Sorgen um ihre Tochter Lea. Diese postet fast alles in Social-Media und fühlt sich zunehmend unwohler, weil ihr einer ihrer Follower dann doch zu nahe kommt. Tryggvi ist eher der Außenseiter in der Familie, denn er hat einen ganz normalen Beruf und fühlt sich in der Welt der Reichen nicht sonderlich wohl. Auch die Hotelangestellte Irma kommt sehr oft zu Wort.
Eva Björg Ægisdóttir springt in der Zeit hin und her und auch aus der Sicht von Polizist Saevar aus Akranes verfolge ich die Geschichte weiter. Ihn kenne ich schon aus den vorherigen Bänden, die aber zeitlich nach „Verlassen“ angesiedelt sind. Viele der Kapitel enden mit Cliffhangern und erst so nach und nach löst Eva Björg Ægisdóttir einige Geheimnisse auf bis es am Ende zum großen Knall kommt. Erst dann erfahre ich, wer die verschwundene Person ist und als dann alle losen Fäden zusammen geführt sind, komme ich aus dem Staunen gar nicht mehr heraus.
„Verlassen“ ist grandios konstruiert und erzählt, der Spannungsbogen durch viele Cliffhanger und Geheimnisse straff gespannt. Die einzelnen Personen sind perfekt gezeichnet und vor allem die mystische Landschaft ist sehr bildlich dargestellt. Ich bin begeistert!
Schon zum vierten Mal folge ich Eva Björg Ægisdóttir nach Island. Dieses Mal geht es um eine reich und bekannte isländische Familie, die in einem abgelegenen und hochmodernen Hotel den 100. Geburtstag von ihrem längst verstorbenen Oberhaupt feiern möchte. Von Anfang an ist die Atmosphäre düster. Das Hotel wird ausführlich beschrieben, es dominieren kalte Farben und ein minimalistischer Stil. Ich würde mich dort sehr unwohl fühlen und einigen der Familienmitglieder geht es genau so. Zudem wird das Wetter immer schlechter und stürmischer.
Ich verfolge die Feier aus verschiedenen Perspektiven, denn die Autorin lässt ausgewählte Personen abwechselnd zu Wort kommen: Petra Snæberg, die viel über sich erzählt, ihre Beziehung zu ihrem Ehemann und die Sorgen um ihre Tochter Lea. Diese postet fast alles in Social-Media und fühlt sich zunehmend unwohler, weil ihr einer ihrer Follower dann doch zu nahe kommt. Tryggvi ist eher der Außenseiter in der Familie, denn er hat einen ganz normalen Beruf und fühlt sich in der Welt der Reichen nicht sonderlich wohl. Auch die Hotelangestellte Irma kommt sehr oft zu Wort.
Eva Björg Ægisdóttir springt in der Zeit hin und her und auch aus der Sicht von Polizist Saevar aus Akranes verfolge ich die Geschichte weiter. Ihn kenne ich schon aus den vorherigen Bänden, die aber zeitlich nach „Verlassen“ angesiedelt sind. Viele der Kapitel enden mit Cliffhangern und erst so nach und nach löst Eva Björg Ægisdóttir einige Geheimnisse auf bis es am Ende zum großen Knall kommt. Erst dann erfahre ich, wer die verschwundene Person ist und als dann alle losen Fäden zusammen geführt sind, komme ich aus dem Staunen gar nicht mehr heraus.
„Verlassen“ ist grandios konstruiert und erzählt, der Spannungsbogen durch viele Cliffhanger und Geheimnisse straff gespannt. Die einzelnen Personen sind perfekt gezeichnet und vor allem die mystische Landschaft ist sehr bildlich dargestellt. Ich bin begeistert!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews