The Valley (2022)

“On a good day the valley is surrounded by mountains, birdsong and the wonders of nature. On dark evenings it’s a more sinister place and the shadows walk... The Valley is Margret S. Höskuldsdottir’s first novel and a fantastic debut! The story grabs you immediately ... the plot plays out rapidly and well ... A genuine Icelandic crime story, twisting together modern Iceland with the ghosts of the past in the background and a strong female protagonist.”

“An exciting story that grabs hold of the reader and doesn’t let go. Margret Hoskuldsdottir is a fine storyteller who is able to weave a fascinating tale that you can’t second-guess. There’s an exciting ambiguity at the heart of the narrative, which rules out seeing just where the story is going, whether this is a thriller or a ghost story, or maybe both blended into one … The story brings together present-day and historical Iceland in an innovative way… a modern story of modern people, which also seeks its inspiration in the country’s rich folklore and the fates of the women and men who went before us … a fascinating backdrop to the tale … much of the tension is set in broad daylight. In Margret’s hands, daylight is just as laden with tension and horror as darkness, in a way that is reminiscent of the 2019 film Midsommar (Ari Aster), in which the horror becomes apparent in daylight … the narrative is very pictorial … It’s clear that this is a new and exciting author with a strong talent for spinning a tale that has to be followed.”