I’ve discovered that every mirror reflection is seven nanoseconds late; it’s certainly a very short delay, but it is measurable—a distortion that the eye doesn’t perceive, yet it’s still there. If one walks in front of a mirror, for those seven nanoseconds, there’s no reflection to be seen. I imagine that this seven-second distortion multiplies with the number of mirrors.

For twenty years, Rose has run her own hair salon while raising her children on her own. At around fifty, she hangs up her scissors, moves to East Iceland, and establishes a café in the house of Lisa, her father’s childhood home, where her grandmother Katrin once worked as the housekeeper.

While guests immerse themselves in the life of Lisa, a young woman who lay paralyzed on a bench under the kitchen wall there in the mid-20th century, Rose bakes for the café and reflects on her grandmother, who cared for Lisa and managed the household.

A powerful story in which the lives of women from two different eras intertwine in unexpected ways, amidst mirrors within the same house.

R E V I E W S

“The author plays with varying perspectives and masterfully allows the reader to see how different contexts create different interpretations of events and individuals. … The mirrors serve as symbols, offering glimpses into the past and future. … A truly delightful read … written with such warmth that it’s impossible not to be captivated by the characters and their surroundings. … The text is lively and entertaining.”
RAGNHEIDUR BIRGISDOTTIR, MORGUNBLADID DAILY

“Isleifsdottir has an incredible knack for capturing the zeitgeist and creating a vivid and credible portrayal of Icelandic society in the 1950s.”
SALVOR GULLBRA THORARINSDOTTIR, HEIMILDIN WEEKLY

“House of Mirrors  is a masterful work in many layers; thrilling, deeply moving, and laugh-out-loud funny … House of Mirrors is a true gem that grabs you from the first page and takes you seamlessly between past and present.”
GUDRUN SOLEY GESTSDOTTIR

“… Exceptionally well-written, with a vibrant and flowing text, and a brilliantly constructed plot … Benny Sif has a unique talent for creating compelling and strong female characters. … There’s no doubt that Benny Sif Isleifsdottir is among our most intriguing authors, and all of her books are pure reading pleasure.”
STEINGERDUR STEINARSDOTTIR, LIFDU NUNA