RUV, SVT, NRK, DR and YLE have all boarded Sagafilm’s upcoming murder mystery show based on the best-selling book by Viktor Arnar Ingolfsson.

The 4x52’ premium series is written by Margrét Örnólfsdóttir (Prisoners). Björn B. Björnsson (Cold Trail) is director and co-producer through his company Reykjavik Films.

Published in 2003, The Flatey Enigma is considered as author Ingolfsson’s finest crime novel. It was sold to 30 territories - including Germany where it stayed six weeks on the of the book charts- and nominated for the Glass Key award-Best Nordic Crime Fiction 2004.

Set in 1971 in the small Icelandic island of Flatey, the show follows Johanna, a professor of Nordic Studies, accused of murder. To prove her innocence, she has to solve a riddle in a medieval manuscript about Norse kings, the Flatey Enigma. On top of that, Johanna has to face her deepest fear: the man she ran away from ten years ago.

Hilmar Sigurðsson, Sagafilm CEO said: “We are thrilled to have all Scandinavian Public broadcasters buying into this project, it shows the tremendous appetite for Icelandic TV drama internationally.”

RUV’s Head of Drama Skarphéðinn Guðmundsson said: “The Flatey Enigma is the third project in a row from RÚV that gets a full house of Scandinavian broadcasters on board. The quality of Icelandic content has risen to record highs and RÚV is proud to support the ever-growing industry in Iceland."

Sagafilm’s next TV drama set to premiere in Iceland early 2018 is the neo-noir Stella Blomkvist (3x90’ or 6x45’) starring Heida Reed as the hard-nosed lawyer featured in the book series of the same name. The series directed by Óskar Thór Axelsson (I Remember You, Trapped) will premiere exclusively on Iceland’s Siminn and across Scandinavia via Viaplay.