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The nature in Iceland is very dangerous. Wherever you are, whatever time of year, if you go up into the highlands, which most of Iceland is just the highlands, and we just live on the coastline.

But if you go up to the highlands by yourself, whatever time of year, even in the height of summer, nature can be very cruel.

Lawyer and writer, Ragnar Jonasson. It's a dangerous place to be if you don't know what you're doing. And that's like a common theme in a lot of the crime fixture in Iceland.

Iceland is a dangerous place, but crime is incredibly rare. There were only four homicides in the entire country last year, up from just two in 2021.

What do you think makes Iceland such a good place to set crime fiction?

I mean, it is the contrast. You know, you have this snow covering the whole country, and then you have this one drop of blood.

And the contrast in that is quite strong, and that's, you know, this place has the appearance of, you know, it's the most peaceful country in the world.

And so, you know, crime story set here, of course, create an interest.

People in Iceland love reading crime fiction, and they love writing it, too.

Even the Prime Minister of Iceland recently wrote a crime novel.

So, we got on a plane to talk with her about it, and to figure out why in a country where the biggest threats are things like strong winds and getting lost,

everyone is so interested in crime. I'm Phoebe Judge. This is criminal.

Are you sure this is the way away?

I think that's it right here.

You're kidding. No.

On a rainy day this past spring, criminal co-creator Lauren Spore and I were in Reykjavik trying to get to our meeting with the Prime Minister.

Next to the punk museum?

Yeah, absolutely.

The Prime Minister's office is in a plain, white building downtown.

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