Reptile Memoirs (original title in ) is a 2020 psychological thriller novel by the Norwegian author Silje O. Ulstein (1985–). Set between Ålesund and Kristiansund, Norway between 2003 and 2017, it is written from the alternating perspectives of student Liv, mother Mariam, police officers Roe and Ronja, and Burmese python Nero. It details the intertwining mysteries of the kidnapping of Mariam's daughter, Iben, and the death of Liv's friend Anita and her daughter Aurora.
The book received critical acclaim from major reviewers and authors. It was praised for its plot, originality, suspense, themes, and the characterization of Liv and Nero. In writing Reptile Memoirs, Ulstein drew from Nordic Noir influences, as well as biblical mythology and research on snakes.
Reptile Memoirs was first published in hardcover in 2020 by Norwegian publisher Aschehoug Forlag. It has since been released in paperback and also as an audiobook and ebook. Since its release, Reptile Memoirs has been translated into 13 languages, and publishing rights been sold to 13 publishers.
Plot Ulstein alternates between the points of view of Liv/Mariam, Nero, Roe, and Ronja, from 2003-2017.
Liv/Mariam & Nero In 2003 Ålesund“Reptile Memoirs.” Grove Atlantic, Grove Atlantic, Inc, 1 Mar. 2023, https://groveatlantic.com/book/reptile-memoirs. roommates Liv, Egil, and Ingvar buy Nero, a Burmese python, with whom Liv becomes protective."Reptile Memoirs by Silje Ulstein." Publishers Weekly, PWxyz LLC, 19 Oct. 2021, https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8021-5886-4. Liv, who was born Sara Schayer, had run away from her negligent mother and sexually abusive brother Patrick. Traumatized by this and seeking sexual release, she becomes sexually aroused by feeding Nero live animals, starting with a mouse, then baby kitten, and puppy, and spiraling from there. One night, she finds Egil flaunting Nero at a party and her room key missing. Enraged, she moves in with her artist friend Anita who has become pregnant with her daughter Aurora by an abusive man, Birk. When they are found by Birk, they call on their drug dealer David to scare him off, for which he demands Anita help Egil and himself rob Egil's father. Anita leaves Aurora with Liv, who leaves to save Ingvar from a fake seizure. She returns to find that Nero strangled Aurora to death. After Anita finds her burying Aurora, she escapes to David's apartment, but he drunkenly rapes her. She kills him in retaliation, gives Nero to her friend Carol, and leaves Ålesund. She starts over in Kristiansund as Mariam Lind, raising her daughter Iben with her husband. In 2017, Iben runs away while they are shopping and gets kidnapped. She gets questioned by police officer, Roe, who suspects her of kidnapping Iben. In grief, she goes through Iben's room, where she discovers her lost key. Wanting answers, she moves back with Ingvar and retrieves Nero from Carol in Ålesund. Suspecting Patrick of being the kidnapper, she unsuccessfully tries to determine his whereabouts from her mother. She soon realizes she is being followed by Birk, who says he recognized her in the news from Anita's paintings and tipped her off to the police. Later, Mariam finds out from her landlady that Roe visited, adding to her suspicions. She speaks with Egil in prison and he admits to killing Patrick with Nero, also informing her that Roe is Anita's father. She heads to Roe's apartment, where he binds and interrogates her. She escapes, stabs Roe, and discovers that Carol is David's mother from files in Roe's apartment. She heads to Carol's with Nero, and finds that Carol has kept Iben captive in her cellar as revenge for killing her son. As Carol is about to kill Iben, Nero sneaks up and kills her.
Roe In 2017 Kristiansund Roe suspects Mariam in Iben's case and Anita's death. In 2005, he had investigated the burglary of Egil's father. That day, his daughter and granddaughter had supposedly died in a fire, but their autopsies show they were beaten and strangled, so begins to suspect Birk. In 2012, a grateful Egil visited Roe and sees a portrait of Anita hanging on Roe's wall, realizing she's Roe's daughter. In 2015, Roe revisits the case, discovering Anita was involved in the robbery, and confronts Egil, who admits to knowing Anita from school. In 2017, Roe searches through Anita's belongings at Ingvid's place, finding snake sketches, a young girl he recognizes as Mariam Lind, and a key necklace he takes with him. In prison, Egil admits to knowing Liv/Mariam and tells him that the key unlocks her old room. In Liv's room, he finds photos of her, Nero, and baby items belonging to Aurora. In the present day, Mariam comes to Roe's place, and she confesses everything but says she knows nothing about Anita's death or Iben's location. She escapes and stabs him. Finally, Iben visits Roe in a hospital and Ronja tells Roe that Birk has been convicted of murdering Anita.
Ronja In 2017 Kristiansund, detective Ronja is ordered by her boss, Shahid, to investigate Iben's case. She and her colleague, August, interview Iben's father, Tor Lind, and discover Iben's biological father is unknown, as Mariam was raped. Later, Ronja and her colleague Birte interview a psych patient named Robert, who saw Iben get abducted, and he gives a description matching that of Roe. After being recommended to do so by Birte, Ronja and August watch Roe's prior interview, noticing how comparatively unprofessional he acted confronting Mariam, and begin to suspect him. Ronja sees Roe in the store security footage, and they inform Shahid, who recommends they contact him. Birte, August, and Ronja call Roe's acquaintances and find out that Mariam knew Anita. When they talk to Tor, they spot Roe spying on the house and arrest him, finding photos of Mariam all over his apartment. Ronja starts looking into David's case and realizes he is Iben's father. They head to Roe's, who tells them to head to Carol's. They confirm Nero has killed Carol and spared Mariam and Iben, after which they all celebrate.
Major characters Mariam Lind (previously "Liv" and born Sara Schayer) — Primary owner of Nero. She was born Sara Schayer in an unsupportive household and was abused as a girl by her brother Patrick. She has noticeable signs of PTSD, especially dissociative disorder and she runs away twice, first as Liv, and secondly as Mariam. She is Anita's lover, a tomboy, and roommate of Ingvar and Egil. As Mariam, she is the wife of Tor, mother of Iben, and a successful business owner. Roe Olsvik — a jaded police officer. He is Anita's father and Aurora's grandfather. He is tall, with broad shoulders, and is 60 in 2017. Ronja — a positive police detective. She is open, welcoming, and in love with her police partner August. Nero — a self-aware Burmese python. He is originally owned by Carol, who gives him to Liv through her son David. Patrick Schayer — Sara's brother. He is largely a loner, though he is friends with Ingvar. He sexually abused Sara when they were young. Anita Fuldmark (née Olsvik) — Liv's lover, Aurora's mother, and Birk's partner. She is Egil's schoolfriend and a painter. Birk Fludmark — Anita's partner. He is a family friend of the Olsviks. He is physically abusive towards Anita and jealous of her art. Aurora Fludmark — Anita and Birk's daughter. She is strangled to death by Nero. Ingvar — Liv and Egil's stoner musician roommate. He has long hair and a beard, plays guitar, and is at risk of epileptic seizures. The roommates have an agreement that they will rescue him should he call and not respond, his signal for a seziure. Egil Bincep — a playboy, handsome, cool student who is roommates with Liv. He dislikes his father Harvel and instigated the robbery with David and Anita. He befriends Roe but ends up back in prison. Tor Lind — Mariam's laid-back husband and Iben's legal father. He is a politician. Iben Lind — Mariam's daughter, Tor's legal daughter, and David's biological daughter. She is 11 years old and is in 6th grade. August — a Danish police detective. He is Ronja's boyfriend. Carol Holloway (née Lorenson) — an attractive Norwegian-American American actress who befriends Liv/Mariam. She is Nero's original owner and David's mother. David Lorenson — Liv's rapist and Iben's biological father. He is killed by Liv. Originally, he was the roommates' dealer and a petty criminal. Robert Scherkobe — a psychiatric patient who saw Roe with Iben. Shahid — the rational police leader, in his 50s.
Setting
The setting took place in two major cities: Ålesund and Kristiansund. Liv lived at her first house after moving away from her family with Egil and Ingvar. This was the setting for many major scenes throughout the novel. Liv also frequently went to Anita and Birk's house to stay with Anita while Birk was away. Liv's second place in Ålesund was a small apartment where her and Nero lived after she moved out of the house she had rented with Egil and Ingvar. Egil planned a robbery that took place at his father's house. The police searched the place to try and find the two other burglars, Anita and David. Egil was arrested by Roe before he could make it to the house and was taken to the Ålesund police station. Before Liv moved from Ålesund to Kristiansund, she stayed at David's apartment, where she had been a few times before. This was where he raped her and she killed him.When Mariam was searching for her daughter in Ålesund, she visited her mother's house, Patrick's house, the bar Patrick and Ingvar frequented, and Carol's house.
Mariam was at a local supermarket in Kristiansund when her daughter ran away. When Mariam got back to her house she shares with her husband, Tor, she discovered her daughter was actually missing. After she searched in Ålesund, Mariam went back to Kristiansund to Roe's apartment. Roe and Ronja both worked at the Kristiansund police department and many scenes took place there, while they were investigating Iben's disappearance. Ronja also went to a Psychiatric hospital where she interviewed Robert. He helped her identify Roe as a suspect in the crime.
Writing
Author Ulstein holds a Master's degree in Literature from the University of Oslo and has also studied creative writing at the Bergen Writing Academy. Her writing is influenced by the works of renowned thriller authors such as Stephen King and Karin Fossum. In addition, some of her favorite books include Kafka's The Metamorphosis, Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, and Cervantes’ Don Quixotes. When asked about the prevalence of Noir literature in Norway, a country known for its high levels of happiness, Ulstein stated that the fear of losing that happiness has led to a fascination with dark themes.
Preparation