The Kárahnjúkar dam project in east Iceland, the largest construction endeavor in the nation's history, was managed by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir during her tenure as a civil engineer. Balancing high-stakes infrastructure development with a prolific literary career, she has established herself as a significant voice in contemporary crime fiction, horror, and children's literature, translating her work into over thirty languages.
Engineering and Formative Years
Born in Reykjavík in 1963, she spent her youth in Hafnarfjörður and later Houston, Texas, before returning to Iceland to reside in Seltjarnarnes. She pursued civil engineering at the University of Iceland and completed postgraduate studies at Concordia University in Canada. While raising two children abroad, she began writing. Throughout her career, she maintained a dual professional life, specializing in hydroelectric and geothermal projects for the engineering firm Verkís, where she continues to work on a part-time basis.
Literary Breakthroughs
Her literary debut occurred in 1998 with the children's book Þar lágu Danir í því. In 2003, she secured the Icelandic Children's Book Prize for Biobörn. She transitioned to adult crime fiction in 2005 with Þriðja táknið, which launched the six-novel series centered on the lawyer Þóra Guðmundsdóttir. These works gained international distribution, with translations by Bernard Scudder bringing her narratives to a wider audience. The final series entry, Brakið, earned the 2015 Petrona Award.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Genre Diversification and Series
Her bibliography includes standalone horror novels such as Ég man þig, a recipient of the 2011 Blóðdropinn award, and Bráðin, which won the same prize in 2021. She authored the six-book Freyja and Huldar series and the four-part Black Ice series, which includes titles such as Lok, lok og læs and Ég læt sem ég sofi. Her screenwriting credits include episodes for television productions such as Trapped and Pressa, while her novels I Remember You and Kuldi have been adapted into feature films.
Iceland Noir and Literary Contributions
In 2013, she co-founded the Reykjavík-based festival Iceland Noir alongside Ragnar Jónasson. Originally a small afternoon gathering, the event expanded into an annual international literary festival. Together, the pair established the Svartfuglinn award for debut crime authors. In 2026, the collaborators confirmed they were developing a joint book project. Her contributions to the literary community include multiple nominations for the Nordic Glass Key and receipt of the Palle Rosenkrantz Prize in 2017.
Fast facts
- Born: 1963, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Primary occupations: Civil engineer and writer
- First published work: Þar lágu Danir í því (1998)
- Significant project: Technical manager, Kárahnjúkar dam
- Key award: Blóðdropinn (2011, 2015, 2021)
- International honor: Palle Rosenkrantz Prize (2016)
- Co-founder: Iceland Noir festival
- Education: University of Iceland and Concordia University
Questions readers ask
Does she work exclusively as a writer?
No, she maintains a professional career as a civil engineer, currently working part-time at the firm Verkís.
What genres does she write?
Her work spans children's literature, young adult fiction, horror, and crime novels.
Is she involved in film adaptations of her books?
She has stated a preference for not being involved in the screenwriting process for film adaptations of her novels.
Achievements
- Palle Rosenkrantz Prize — 2016
.jpg)
