Crime fiction set in rural ICELAND, near Selfoss
Romcom set in the NORWEGIAN FJORDS
6th November 2025
Escape to the Northern Lights by Carrie Walker, romcom set in the Norwegian Fjords.
Sara Pearson has been overlooked for promotion. She is in the middle of divorce proceedings. She has a high-powered career. and her job as a criminal defence lawyer is taking its toll, so the notion of a spa week feels very tempting, and as she sits with friends in a bar in Coal Drops Yard, London (worth a visit in itself if you are in the city!), mention is made of a forest retreat – Firefly Forest – nestled in the Norwegian Fjords, close to the Folgefonna Glacier and supposedly recommended by none other than actress Emma Stone.
And so she decamps for a month but it’s not quite what she had in mind. A pedicure is a long way from learning to ‘breathe into your feet‘….
With a storm coming in, a speedy exit isn’t an option, so she buckles down and finds her feet (no pun intended) and there is something to be said for the wholesome breakfasts that appear at her door and the thoughtfully chosen coffee beans that morph into a terrific cuppa. WiFi is frowned upon, so after a few miserable attempts at hooking up with the world, she finds herself stepping back into a cosseted yet challenging environment. There are activities galore, including skiing on the glacier, saunas, lake swimming and, yes, tree-hugging is involved. The arc of the Northern Lights does, of course, make an appearance.
Henrik, one of the family members running the retreat, is regularly on hand to usher her to new experiences and help her navigate her remaining days. And then a very bad penny turns up, the stress levels rise and everything is laid on the line.
The setting of remote Norway is beautifully rendered, populated with nice engaging characters and the novel is written with a light hand. An easy-to-read and upbeat novel.
Tina for the TripFiction Team
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