Celebrating the world of words

Expect simmering tension, shocking revelations, and razor-sharp social commentary as two of Orenda Books’ most gripping voices in crime and speculative fiction—Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and Eve Smith—sit down with interviewer Dr Tim Rideout for a chillingly compelling conversation.

With over a million copies sold worldwide, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir has been hailed as the Queen of Icelandic Suspense. Her latest standalone novel, Home Before Dark, is a haunting psychological thriller where long-buried secrets claw their way into the light. Set in 1960s Iceland, the story unravels the consequences of a teenage girl’s deception—one that sets in motion a dangerous chain of events where no one is truly safe.

Eve Smith, master of dystopian thrillers, introduces The Cure—a heart-pounding, speculative tale set in a near-future world obsessed with reversing ageing. When a scientific breakthrough is hijacked, society spirals into chaos, forcing one woman to risk everything to hide a discovery that could alter humanity forever. Eve’s work is known for its eerie plausibility, weaving real-world science with a terrifying glimpse of what could come next.

Both authors will discuss their writing processes, the dark themes they explore, and how their novels reflect the moral and societal dilemmas of our time. Expect a thought-provoking, edge-of-your-seat conversation that blurs the lines between crime, psychological thriller, and dystopian fiction.