A sharp and profound story that hilariously mirrors modern society through complex and vivid characters.

Tom is a demographer in his fifties who works at the Future Foundation to assess the impact of climate change on the environment and city planning of Reykjavik. His private life, on the other hand, has gone off the rails after a difficult divorce.

He seeks relief in the arms of women in the bars of the town until it all comes to a head – suddenly Tom has become the most controversial man in the country and is shown no mercy on social media. Tom is forced to face himself and at the same time the past.

R E V I E W S

“In the third part of the book, the narrative shifts into the first person; it starts to elaborate on Tom and explain how he became the person he is. Then Audur does what she does best: gives a dispassionate and yet insightful and warm-hearted accounting of flawed individuals and their psychological circumstances, broken families, and horrible fates. The book fans out from there […]
We’ve a tendency to talk about cancel culture as though it’s a brand-new problem, but through Tom’s backstory, we also see the olden days approach to things. It’s a different kind of cancellation, in no less brutal a fashion, with an incredible indifference toward people’s wellbeing. And it’s really exciting to see this staged and mirrored.”
THORGEIR TRYGGVASON, KILJAN/ICELANDIC NATIONAL TV

“[This book] took me along for the ride; Tom becomes an incredibly interesting character.”
SUNNA DIS MASDOTTIR, KILJAN/ICELANDIC NATIONAL TV

“Audur cuts to the marrow of the present day.”
EGILL HELGASON, KILJAN/ICELANDIC NATIONAL TV

“A very interesting novel where the author observes difficult men and how we as a society are supposed to deal with misbehaving men […]The novel is very current and Audur is writing about a man who is weak and after loosing control over his life, has to deal with things he hasn’t dared to face because he has been dismissed by himself in such a way that he doesn’t dare to exist any more or to take place in society. He doesn’t even dare to hurt anymore.”

INGIBJORG DOGG KJARTANSDOTTIR / Icelandic National Broadcasting Service

“… a complex and profound work of literature…”
AGUST BORGTHOR SVERRISSON, DV

“The character of Hogni is well-developed and multifaceted. The author makes an admirable attempt to write a complex and changeable character who is at once disagreeable and a victim. … What I found most successful in the work was the story of Hogni’s father, which was poignant and authentic, and how their relationship mirrored the relationship between Hogni and his son.”
KRISTIN M. KRISTINSDOTTIR VIDSJA / NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICE

“Audur is a great storyteller, writes incredibly well and … so good at describing ordinary people – making ordinary people interesting …”
KILJAN/NATIONAL TV, ICELAND (on Quake)