Yrsa Sigurdardóttir
Gets Iceland's Crime Novel Award

Crime novelist Yrsa Sigurdardóttir received the Blood Drop trophy and annual award of the Icelandic Crime Literature Association for her 2010 thriller "Ég man thig" ("I Remember You") yesterday.

The jury concluded: "In her book Yrsa shows how skilful she is in implementing the main tools of crime novels, a tightly-woven plot and building up gradual excitement," as stated on bokmenntir.is (externer Link).

Also, the author demonstrates originality in playing around with the crime novel form, she doesn't just follow a formula, and seeks inspiration from Iceland's literary heritage and folk stories - especially ghost stories, the jury said.

Furthermore, the jury reasoned that with her latest novel Sigurdardóttir has paved the way for a literary form for which there is little tradition in Iceland: the horror story.

Audur Adalsteinsdóttir, Ingvi Thór Kormáksson and Rósa Björk Gunnarsdóttir were on the jury. The trophy was designed by Kristín Gudmundsdóttir.

The winner of the "Blood Drop", which was granted for the fifth time this year, is also Iceland's contribution to the Glass Key, the Nordic Crime Novel Awards.

A movie based on Ég man thig is in the making. Sigurdardóttir's most recent novel to have been released in English is Ashes to Dust from 2007.

Click here (externer Link) to read more about the movie plans.