"Wintering over means when the final flight leaves today, it'll be the last plane the crew will see until mid-November, two hundred and seventy days from now. For most of that time, the South Pole is in complete darkness, outside temperatures can drop to as low as one hundred degrees below zero, and the base is, in effect, completely cut off from the rest of the planet."
Why I wanted to read this one:
The Antarctica setting! I've always been fascinated by extreme environments --those exotic and strange places that I will NEVER actually ever go see for myself-- and this book takes place in one of the most extreme spots on the planet. Matthew Iden really gives you a feel for the dark and the cold and the danger of winter in Antarctica. I loved every description and interesting detail. Especially the ice tunnels! That, along with his cast of slightly crazy characters, from the Polies to the Fingies, who are wintering over at the Shackleton South Pole Research Station make this a fascinating read.
What else I loved about this book:
The mystery and the menace! The death of a colleague two days before the last flight out puts mechanical engineer, Cass Jennings, on edge. Was her death an accident? Or something else? Then, when other things start to go wrong at the station, Cass begins to suspect there might be something more sinister going on. But is she right? Or is she just being paranoid? Because winter in Antarctica can play games with your mind. I loved the build up of tension and suspense in this novel. And the way it kept me guessing to the end. For me, this was a 4-star read.
Happy Reading!
Similar reads:
Frozen Solid by James M. Tabor
Subterranean by James Rollins
My Last Continent by Midge Raymond
In the middle of this hot summer, I think I need a book about Antarctica! Snow, ice, suspense...sounds good!
ReplyDeleteIt does make for a good summer read!
DeleteI love these kind of stories. When you don’t know if something bad is happening or if the character is going crazy. Add the extreme location and I bet I’d love it too.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know what you think of this one if you do ever read it. :)
DeleteOoh, this sounds like an awesome read! I don't think I've read a book set in Antarctica before so this would be really interesting. Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ashley. Even when a book isn't great I still love that Antarctica setting! :)
DeleteI really liked this one when I read it earlier this year. And I loved the setting. I'm fascinated with Antarctica, while never actually wanting to go there. LOL
ReplyDeleteI totally understand that! I'm the same way. Wouldn't want to spend a winter there, but love reading about people who do. :D
DeleteVery interesting setting for a mystery. I am interested in extreme climates too. Watched the first season of Life Below Zero. It takes a strong committed person to live in Antartica because danger is right around the corner.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of Life Below Zero but it sounds cool. I'll have to check it out. :)
DeleteThis sounds perfect for this time of a year--at least a way to mentally cool off in this heat. :-) I am glad you enjoyed this one. It sounds like something I would like too.
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice contrast to the 95+ weather outside that we've been having all month!
DeleteThis does sound good and claustrophobic (last flight out)!
ReplyDeleteI think just hearing those words would freak me out. ;)
DeleteI'm always intrigued by books with a wintry setting and you probably know why. ;) That said, this sounds like a good read with all that tension and suspense.
ReplyDeleteYeah, how are you surviving the heat and humidity of summer in Singapore?
DeleteI do love these settings for books! Might need to check this one out!
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun read. I think you'd like it.
DeleteOh, I remember hearing about this book when it came out, and thinking it sounded intriguing. But I'd forgotten all about it! Thanks for the reminder and the recommendation.
ReplyDelete:D I totally relate to hearing about a book, thinking it sounds really good, then forgetting all about it. Happens to me all the time.
DeleteThis sounds awesome and the cover alone makes me want to grab it to read. I think I may even own this on my Kindle. I'll have to check tonight. There is just something about snowy settings. Have you read Christopher Golden's "Snowblind?" Awesome snowy read as well.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Snowblind. Thanks for the recommendation! :)
DeleteOoh yours is the only other review I've seen of this one. Yay! I love thrillers set in Antarctica or the Arctic, and I agree- the tension was great in this one. I also decided I'm never going to Antarctica lol. Not that I was planning to anyway- I'll stick with reading about it. But yeah- this one was good. :)
ReplyDeleteHa. I'll stick with reading about Antarctica, too! It's much safer that way. :D
DeleteI loved the setting and the premise of this one. For me, though, the execution left something to be desired. Still, I liked it overall and I definitely wanted to know what was REALLY going on :)
ReplyDeleteThe setting is definitely what hooked me about this book. :)
DeleteI should read this one now to imagine a cooler country. We've had such a heat wave and I'm over it. Anyway, sounds like a fun read!
ReplyDeleteAnything set in the Antarctica would offer some cooling relief after the hot summer you've had! :)
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