At the heart of every crime plot lies a single question: why. That is always where I begin. Before I can decide who dies and how, the motive must feel real — something that could truly drive a person to the point of no return. Most often, that reason comes from real life: from social injustice, lived experiences of unfairness, and from the stories people have shared with me
First comes why – who, when, and how will follow
As a character-driven reader and writer, I love books with complex, multi-dimensional characters with their strengths and flaws. When I write a crime novel, I spend a great deal of time getting to know my characters.
However, in a crime novel, the crime plot itself is essential. At the center of the plot lies the motive – which is always where I begin.
Who dies, who is responsible, and how the crime is committed only becomes clear to me much later. Before any of that, I need to understand why someone ends up committing a murder – in other words, what the motive is.
I need to understand the murderers I create – even at some level
For me, a motive like “a mentally ill but brilliant individual who commits ritual murders for fun” is not enough. The motive has to be logical, understandable, and grounded in reality. After all, I do write realistic crime novels.
My rule while writing is simple: if things were to happen, this is how they would happen. The story must feel real. That is why the motive must be something that allows me, at least on some level, to understand the murderer I have created.
The first spark for the motive usually comes from real life
The motives behind the crimes grow out of everyday life, society, and real experiences. The events are often tied to real-world situations. I usually get the first spark for a motive by listening to people’s stories.
During my years as a tour guide and later as a journalist, I heard hundreds of them. When you stop and truly listen, people are often willing to open up. In journalism, the most interesting part of an interview often came after it was officially over. When someone began with the words, “This isn’t for publication, but…”, I knew something truly interesting was about to follow.
Motives are rooted in society in the Hildur series
Often, the inspiration comes from following the news and paying attention to the pressure points of Icelandic society. One recurring theme in my books is social inequality and the gap between the wealthy and the poor. It is not always just about money, but also about access to social safety nets and language skills.
In the Hildur series, these starting points show up in very concrete ways. One example is a crime that takes place on a cruise ship, where some people profit from the exploitation of others – taking advantage of the fact that victims of forced labor often lack the resources to seek justice through official channels. A similar pattern can be seen, in its own way, in the events surrounding the mare blood industry.
Experiences of injustice can also shape a motive. In my novels, this theme runs through the unfairness linked to Iceland’s fishing quota system.
For some characters, violence becomes the only way they feel they can be seen.
Thank you for reading. If you want to know more about crime writing and HILDUR’s world, you’ll find more posts on Substack!