Eliza Reid, the former First Lady of Iceland, will visit Gimli’s A-Spire Theatre on May 3 to launch her new novel, Death on the Island, a thrilling murder mystery set against the backdrop of Iceland’s Westman Islands.
Hosted by H.P. Tergesen & Sons, the book launch begins at 3:30 p.m. and will feature a live reading by Reid, followed by an author chat and book signing.
Eliza Reid, former First Lady of Iceland, will host a book launch for her new novel Death on the Island on May 3 at the A-Spire Theatre in Gimli
Released April 29, Death on the Island follows the story of two mysterious deaths during a high-stakes diplomatic dinner party in Vestmannaeyjar. As tensions rise among the guests, secrets unravel and suspicions mount in a race to identify the culprit.
Born and raised in Ottawa, Reid moved to Iceland in 2003, later marrying Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, who served as President of Iceland from 2016 to 2024. She began her writing career as a freelance journalist for Iceland Review and co-founded the Iceland Writers Retreat in 2014.
“The retreat is to do with my love of the written word,” she said, noting that’s when her passion for writing truly took off.
Reid’s first book, the non-fiction Secrets of the Sprakkar, was published in 2022 and helped launch her into the world of creative writing. She credits that success with motivating her to try fiction.
“I told myself if I don’t start now, I will probably never do it,” she said. “I knew there was a 100 per cent chance it would not be published if I did not try, and that is what really kept me going.”
To complete the novel, Reid committed to a regular writing routine and pushed through waves of writer’s block. The result is a fast-paced, character-driven mystery filled with Icelandic atmosphere and real-life locations.
“All my characters are made up, but every place I mention is real,” said Reid. “I wanted to preserve the Icelandic language by using authentic names and cities.”
The novel even includes a subtle nod to Gimli, which Reid visited with her husband.
“I wanted to have a character that had familial connections to Gimli,” she said. “It’s a fun insider nod to people from the area,” adding she was struck by the strong Icelandic heritage in the Interlake.
Drawing from her own experience in the diplomatic world, Reid infused her novel with political intrigue. One of the victims, Kavita Banerjee, is a fictional Canadian deputy ambassador.
“I admire the work diplomats do and wanted to express that appreciation,” said Reid. “It really helped me explore the contents of this book.”
A sequel is already in the works, and readers can expect more deaths, new mysteries, and the return of favourite characters.
“It is going to be another page-turning, fun, murder mystery to read,” she said.
