Iceland’s leading film and TV production company Glassriver today announces it has optioned the crime thriller book series Elma, from global bestselling author Eva Björg Ægisdóttir for a series adaption.
The first book in the Elma series is The Creak on the Stairs which is being adapted by screenwriter Karen Björg Eyfjörð Þorsteinsdóttir.
Her books have been translated into 23 languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Greek, Hungarian, Macedonian, Estonian, Hebrew, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Serbian and Amharic.
Set in the small port town of Akranes in Iceland, police detective Elma never thought she’d return to her hometown. But having fled a romantic affair that left her in pieces, Elma is assigned to her local police station. When a woman’s body is found lying at the foot of a lighthouse, terrible secrets could well resurface from the past. In this small Icelandic town with its oppressive atmosphere, could salvation come to Elma from her colleague Saevar?
The first book in the Elma series The Creak on the Stairs was published in French in 2021 and quickly became a bestseller in France. The second book, Les Filles Qui Mentent (Girls Who Lie), reached over 100,000 readers in France and garnered critical acclaim, highlighting her growing popularity in the French-speaking market.
Ægisdóttir’s work has gained popularity both in Iceland and internationally. In 2024, she won the Blóðdropinn, Iceland’s crime fiction award for Home Before Dark. The English translation of her debut novel The Creak on the Stairs won the John Creasy New Blood Dagger in the UK for Debut of the Year – the only translated author to ever take the title – and a British Crime Fiction Award in 2021.
Her Forbidden Iceland series, including titles such as Das Mädchen, das schwieg (Girls Who Lie) and Nachtschattengrab (Night Shadows), has gained popularity for its compelling blend of Nordic noir and psychological depth.
The deal was negotiated with David Headley at D H H Literary Agency in association with The Artists Partnership.
Expanding its slate of high-end Icelandic IP, Elma joins Glassriver’s extensive portfolio of scripted series, including the crime drama Black Sands which has been sold to over 140 countries and premiered its 2nd season in Iceland with Channel 2 and Finland with YLE. Since its inception in 2016, Glassriver has grown into one of the most productive and proficient production companies in Iceland. For the last 6 years the company was responsible for over 50% of all scripted original television series for domestic producers produced in the country. In 2024 so far Glassriver has produced 4 series this year for Icelandic broadcasters and international distribution.
The company is currently developing over 20 other TV and feature film projects, spanning genres from comedy to sci-fi.
Andri Ómarsson, co-owner and producer at Glassriver says “We’re thrilled to be working with Eva and Karen on Elma. The project brings together Iceland’s striking landscapes with a gripping crime story that has already blown audiences away worldwide, from Iceland to France to the UK. This project is a testament to the strength of Icelandic storytelling, and we believe it will resonate with audiences both locally and internationally. Karen is a talented scriptwriter who will bring the story to life on screen. With a dedicated cast and creative team, we’re confident that Elma will captivate viewers and highlight the best of what Icelandic drama has to offer.”
Author Eva Björg Ægisdóttir says “I’m beyond thrilled that Glassriver is bringing Elma to the screen. I’ve been waiting for some time for the right opportunity and I am certain that with the talented and capable team at Glassriver Elma will be in great hands. Karen is one of Iceland’s most talented and productive script writers in recent years. After hearing her vision for the series I’m so excited to work on this project and see how it will turn out.”
