It’s been a while since I enjoyed a thriller, but Yrsa Sigurðardóttir’s Why Did You Lie? really delivered - for the most part, at least. I saw a review that likened the very end to a Scooby Doo ending and I couldn’t agree more - we get a monologue from the villain about why they did everything and I’m not really about that. One of the character’s weight is also being constantly referenced, usually in his own head, which felt unnecessary.
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Overall though, this book is super creepy and chilling which is all I really want from a thriller/mystery novel! It’s set in Iceland (and translated from Icelandic by Victoria Cribb) which I loved from the beginning, as the scenery just sounds breathtaking! The chapters set on the literal rock in the middle of the ocean were so intense and atmospheric. We have three separate narrative threads which slowlyyyy start to come together. Sigurðardóttir is like a puppet-master, expertly manipulating all the storylines until it all starts to piece together!
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I was really impressed that all three storylines held my attention, although I did have a favourite - that of Noi and his family! They come back from holiday in America, having house-swapped with an American couple, to find their house in disarray and the Americans seemingly vanished off the face of the earth.
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If you’re already a fan of the Nordic noir genre then I’m sure you’re already familiar with Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, but definitely check this one out if you haven’t! And if you’re not really into thrillers like me, this one could be a good choice if you fancy one. But do check out all of the content warnings before diving in, as there’s a lot going on.