Elma has just moved back to Akranes from Reykjavik after the end of her relationship. She has transferred to the Akranes police department and expects life to be very dull and uneventful after policing in Reykjavik. However, very soon the body of a woman washes up on the rocks by the lighthouse, a victim of a violent crime, and it is determined that she was once a resident of the area. In the course of their investigation, Elma and her colleague Saevar uncover dark deeds in the community's past, and it seems almost everyone has something to hide.

In the Creak on the Stairs, the author does a great job of exploring dysfunctional family dynamics - from the typical "happy family" in which the husband is carrying on an extramarital affair for a year, to the family in which an uncle abuses children while his brother turns a blind eye, to the family in which two sisters navigate an awkward and distant relationship. The dark side of small town life, in which a idyllic seaside town can hide dark and unpleasant secrets, as well as unacknowledged well-known "secrets" is also explored. The character of Elisabet is skillfully portrayed - the reader may not like her, but cannot help but feel sympathy for her circumstances in life.

Altogether a very satisfying detective novel, and I am looking forward to continuing with this series. Highly recommended for fans of Nordic fiction, murder mystery and police procedural novels.