Iceland's Secret

The Untold Story of the World's Biggest Con

By: Jared Bibler

Narrated by: Jared Bibler

Born in Massachusetts, Jared Bibler relocated to Iceland in 2004 only to find himself in the middle of an unprecedented financial crisis a handful of years later.

Personally wiped out and seeking to uncover the truth about a collapse that brought the pastoral country to its knees, he became the lead investigator into some of the largest financial crimes in the world. This work helped Iceland to famously become the only country to jail its bank CEOs in the wake of the 2008 crisis.

But the real story behind that headline is far more complex – and sinister.

A decade after the investigations, the story can be told at last and in full. The crisis, barely understood inside or outside of Iceland even today, is a cautionary tale for the world: an inside look at the high crimes that inevitably follow Wild West capitalism.

With the next global financial meltdown just around the corner, this untold tale is as timely as ever.

Critic reviews

A new genre is born: Nordic noir but with bankers going to jail. It reads like a thriller--but amazingly it's all true. (Russell Napier, bestselling author of Anatomy of the Bear)

A killer read from the heart of Iceland's epic financial meltdown. A thrilling saga of crooked bankers and the dogged investigators who took them down. (Tom Ashbrook, U.S. broadcasting legend)

Great all around book

I got this book to learn a little bit about Iceland before a vacation there. I was super happy to find a well written book that explained the financial crisis in the country, its relationship to international finance, and on top of all that a lot of interesting tidbits about the Icelandic culture, geography, and working environment. It was a great choice as a pre-vacation read.

Powerful must read for investors

Insight into "white crime" that is all around us, not just in Iceland, and the unwillingness of governments to intervene since members of the governments are frequently involved

Couldn’t stop listening

Written like a thriller. Curious why the book didn’t get more coverage in the Icelandic press, but maybe it’s because of what the book was about. Author is a bit self-important at times but I still couldn’t stop listening.

BIG Story on a Small Island

I really enjoyed this inside look into the Icelandic financial crisis. Not enough is known generally about this event. Author did a great job keeping it interesting. Having worked at a financial institution myself, I was shocked at the events told in the book.

Fascinating story

Although frustrating at times, this story fascinated me and I could not stop listening. I have recommended this book to many friends and bought a couple copies as gifts. It has been a hit with my friends who have read it so far. If we didn’t know it was true it would be hard to believe.