Per Variety, Icelandic production company Glassriver has acquired the rights for a TV series adaptation of author Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s best-selling crime novel series, Elma. The series centers around its police detective protagonist Elma who, after a disastrous romance, returns to work at the local police station in her small hometown of Akranes, Iceland.

The logline reads, “When a woman’s body is found lying at the foot of a lighthouse, terrible secrets could well resurface from the past. In this small Icelandic town with its oppressive atmosphere, could salvation come to Elma from her colleague Saevar?”

The first book in the series is titled The Creak on the Stairs, with its follow-up sequel titled Girls Who Lie. Ægisdóttir’s books have been translated into twenty-three languages but the series has been particularly popular in France, where it has reached over 100,000 readers.

D H H Literary Agency’s David Headley negotiated the deal in association with The Artists Partnership.

Glassriver has an extensive scripted portfolio, including crime drama Black Sands, and is developing over twenty further screen projects for both TV and film, with genres ranging from comedy to sci-fi.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Eva and Karen on Elma,” said Andri Ómarsson, co-owner and producer at Glassriver. “The project brings together Iceland’s striking landscapes with a gripping crime story that has already blown audiences away worldwide, from Iceland to France to the U.K. This project is a testament to the strength of Icelandic storytelling, and we believe it will resonate with audiences both locally and internationally. Karen is a talented scriptwriter who will bring the story to life on screen. With a dedicated cast and creative team, we’re confident that Elma will captivate viewers and highlight the best of what Icelandic drama has to offer.”

Ægisdóttir added: “I’m beyond thrilled that Glassriver is bringing Elma to the screen. I’ve been waiting for some time for the right opportunity and I am certain that with the talented and capable team at Glassriver Elma will be in great hands. Karen is one of Iceland’s most talented and productive script writers in recent years. After hearing her vision for the series I’m so excited to work on this project and see how it will turn out.”