Two vanish. One turns up dead. In Iceland’s remote Westfjords, the truth is as cold and deep as the sea.
Detective Bergur Gretarsson has fled the chaos of Reykjavik for the quiet isolation of Flateyri, seeking refuge in the craggy Westfjords and trying to mend the fractures in his life. But peace is short-lived. Two young kayakers vanish while investigating disease in local fish farms and when one of them is found dead, suspicion of foul play casts a long shadow over the fjord.
As the search intensifies, Bergur’s former partner Ragna is brought in to lead the investigation. The deeper they dig, the more tangled the web becomes of secrets, silence, and small-town loyalties. Not far away, a young couple from Reykjavík settle into an old house with dreams of a fresh start. But the walls hold memories, the neighbors have long memories too, and Elena begins to sense she’s not as alone as she thought.
Lullaby for the Lost is a haunting and atmospheric mystery about guilt, memory, and the quiet menace of the past. In the stark beauty of Iceland’s Westfjords, where sea and silence meet, nothing stays hidden forever.
- Winner of the Icelandic Crime Award 2025
“Lullaby for the Lost takes place over seven days in the Westfjords. The disappearance of two men sets a police investigation in motion. In short, sharp chapters, readers are introduced to a considerable number of people in various locations. The internal connections between the chapters gradually become clear, and through them the author skillfully weaves together the events of the week, along with elements from the backstory and the characters’ earlier encounters. The successful realist framework of the novel is built in part on the Westfjords setting, which the author recreates with local knowledge and sensitivity, resulting in a well-written and vivid text. The tension of the work, however, is bound to time. Time refuses to be contained and stretches beyond the events of this single week, back into the past, where wounds and ghosts are revealed—ghosts that seem poised to return to life.”
THE JURY OF THE ICELANDIC CRIME AWARD, WHEN AWARDED
“An entertaining style and convincing characters drive an engaging story that maintains suspense throughout. The setting and circumstances feel vivid and alive, drawing the reader into the characters’ experiences and thoughts.”
THE JURY OF THE ICELANDIC CRIME AWARD, WHEN NOMINATED
“Secrets of the Silent is a suspense novel that impresses with an unmistakable sense of place and with an accomplished narrative; one that introduces a convincing cast of characters, human with their flaws, engaging with their personal stories and their struggles”
Katrin Trometer, Editor, Droemer Knaur
“Secrets of the Silent is a well-written and intriguing thriller that surprises the reader … Very strong sense of place.”
LESTRARKLEFINN
