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shelfofunread's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
When the ‘Icelandic Ruth Rendell’ writes a book that can best be described as Succession meets Knives Out, was there ever a chance that I wasn’t going to jump at the chance to be part of the blog tour for it?! Especially given that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the three previous novels in Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s ‘Forbidden Iceland’ series (The Creak on the Stairs, Girls Who Lie, and Night Shadows respectively).
Set in 2017, You Can’t See Me serves as a prequel to those previous books and, as such, can be read as a standalone (or as the perfect introduction to the series if you’ve not already discovered it!). Set in a stylish and futuristic eco-hotel on the isolated Snæfellsnes peninsula, the novel follows the wealthy Snæberg clan as they gather for a family reunion. Days later and detectives Sævar and Hörður are called in when a body is discovered at the bottom of a nearby cliff. But which member of the family has become a victim? And did they fall, or were they pushed?
The Snæberg’s are where the Succession comparisons come in. Although not quite as unpleasantly ruthless as the Roy’s, all is far from well in clan Snæberg. Successful interior designer Petra appears to have it but she’s been increasingly anxious about the reunion for weeks and is oddly reluctant to catch up with her cousins Viktor and Steffi. Petra’s daughter Lea meanwhile is a budding social media influencer but her efforts have attracted some unwelcome attention from one of her followers. For Tryggvi, an outsider tolerated at the gathering only because he’s dating Petra’s aunt Oddný, hiding his own burdens gets more challenging around alcohol – and as Oddný won’t stop drinking, avoiding it is becoming a problem. Meanwhile seemingly humble hotel employee Irma is strangely fascinated by this rich and powerful family, but what is the source of her compulsive observation of them all?
There are a LOT of characters and relationships to keep up with in You Can’t See Me and I was very glad of the family tree that has been included at the beginning of the book. That said, with the narrative primarily alternating between Petra, Lea, Tryggvi, and the detectives, there weren’t too many voices to get my head around and, after a few chapters, the relationships between the various clan members became much clearer. It helps that each narrative voice is clear and unique, making it easy to determine who is speaking. As with previous books in the series, Victoria Cribb’s crisp translation also perfectly brings across the tension and atmosphere infused in Ægisdóttir’s writing.
Although You Can’t See Me takes place before Elma joins the Akranes detective department, the book retains Ægisdóttir’s signature style. There’s plenty of dark and brooding ‘nordic noir’ landscapes to admire, an entire clan of troubled individuals with secrets to hide, and some fantastic slow-build suspense to keep the pages turning. Unlike in the previous ‘Forbidden Iceland’ books, the police investigation does take something of a back seat in You Can’t See Me, with Sævar and Hörður’s investigation of the body serving as a means to peer into the lives of the Snæberg clan and uncover the tensions simmering underneath the surface of this apparently rich and successful family.
As with previous books in the series, the novel touches on several social issues including classism, alcoholism, and the impact of social media. There’s also discussion or mention of stalking, domestic violence, self-harm, and emotional/physical abuse however, as demonstrated in her previous novels, Ægisdóttir handles these issues with both sensitivity and depth.
You Can’t See Me is a slower, ‘quieter’ book than the previous novels in the Forbidden Iceland series, with a deliberate focus upon turbulent family histories and long-held resentments rather than the ‘whodunnit’ element. It is, however, no worse for that. The atmosphere and setting are pitch-perfect and the pace, although more stately, matches the tone of the book perfectly. Getting to know the characters fully really ramped up the tension and made the ‘reveal’ of the body at the bottom of the cliff all the more impactful.
Another fantastic addition to the Forbidden Iceland series, You Can’t See Me is a smart, atmospheric and suspenseful mystery that is sure to appeal to existing fans of Ægisdóttir’s writing. As a standalone prequel, the book also serves as a fantastic jumping-off point for those new to the series and, as such, is highly recommended for all fans of contemporary noir and suspense.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Set in 2017, You Can’t See Me serves as a prequel to those previous books and, as such, can be read as a standalone (or as the perfect introduction to the series if you’ve not already discovered it!). Set in a stylish and futuristic eco-hotel on the isolated Snæfellsnes peninsula, the novel follows the wealthy Snæberg clan as they gather for a family reunion. Days later and detectives Sævar and Hörður are called in when a body is discovered at the bottom of a nearby cliff. But which member of the family has become a victim? And did they fall, or were they pushed?
The Snæberg’s are where the Succession comparisons come in. Although not quite as unpleasantly ruthless as the Roy’s, all is far from well in clan Snæberg. Successful interior designer Petra appears to have it but she’s been increasingly anxious about the reunion for weeks and is oddly reluctant to catch up with her cousins Viktor and Steffi. Petra’s daughter Lea meanwhile is a budding social media influencer but her efforts have attracted some unwelcome attention from one of her followers. For Tryggvi, an outsider tolerated at the gathering only because he’s dating Petra’s aunt Oddný, hiding his own burdens gets more challenging around alcohol – and as Oddný won’t stop drinking, avoiding it is becoming a problem. Meanwhile seemingly humble hotel employee Irma is strangely fascinated by this rich and powerful family, but what is the source of her compulsive observation of them all?
There are a LOT of characters and relationships to keep up with in You Can’t See Me and I was very glad of the family tree that has been included at the beginning of the book. That said, with the narrative primarily alternating between Petra, Lea, Tryggvi, and the detectives, there weren’t too many voices to get my head around and, after a few chapters, the relationships between the various clan members became much clearer. It helps that each narrative voice is clear and unique, making it easy to determine who is speaking. As with previous books in the series, Victoria Cribb’s crisp translation also perfectly brings across the tension and atmosphere infused in Ægisdóttir’s writing.
Although You Can’t See Me takes place before Elma joins the Akranes detective department, the book retains Ægisdóttir’s signature style. There’s plenty of dark and brooding ‘nordic noir’ landscapes to admire, an entire clan of troubled individuals with secrets to hide, and some fantastic slow-build suspense to keep the pages turning. Unlike in the previous ‘Forbidden Iceland’ books, the police investigation does take something of a back seat in You Can’t See Me, with Sævar and Hörður’s investigation of the body serving as a means to peer into the lives of the Snæberg clan and uncover the tensions simmering underneath the surface of this apparently rich and successful family.
As with previous books in the series, the novel touches on several social issues including classism, alcoholism, and the impact of social media. There’s also discussion or mention of stalking, domestic violence, self-harm, and emotional/physical abuse however, as demonstrated in her previous novels, Ægisdóttir handles these issues with both sensitivity and depth.
You Can’t See Me is a slower, ‘quieter’ book than the previous novels in the Forbidden Iceland series, with a deliberate focus upon turbulent family histories and long-held resentments rather than the ‘whodunnit’ element. It is, however, no worse for that. The atmosphere and setting are pitch-perfect and the pace, although more stately, matches the tone of the book perfectly. Getting to know the characters fully really ramped up the tension and made the ‘reveal’ of the body at the bottom of the cliff all the more impactful.
Another fantastic addition to the Forbidden Iceland series, You Can’t See Me is a smart, atmospheric and suspenseful mystery that is sure to appeal to existing fans of Ægisdóttir’s writing. As a standalone prequel, the book also serves as a fantastic jumping-off point for those new to the series and, as such, is highly recommended for all fans of contemporary noir and suspense.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Stalking
Minor: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Self harm
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