Reviews

Solid 4/5 for being a fast-paced and tense thrill ride that I devoured. I liked that it's unlike a lot of Koontz's work--there's nothing paranormal and there's no baddie with a god complex, just pure fear. Most of the characters are a little flat, and at times the narrative gets bogged down in the physics of icebergs, but otherwise an enjoyable and heart-pounding read!

Content Warnings

vtewok's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

tisreece's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

justlily's review against another edition

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SO SLOW!!!! Nothing has happened and even the character set ups so far have been dreadful.

vikingwolf's review against another edition

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3.0

Edgeway Station is the base camp in an Arctic icefield, where scientists are stationed for an important experiment. They are trying to see if they can tow big sections of the ice south to solve a global drought problem. First, they have to plant the explosives deep in the ice then retreat to the safety of base camp. From there the ice broken off will drift down to the waiting boats who will take it on the trip south. If the experiment works, water will no longer be in short supply so everyone on the expedition is aware of how important the mission is. Things go wrong when a huge wave breaks off a large piece of ice with the scientists stuck on it as the bombs tick in the ice below them. But to make matters worse, one person is there because of a personal vendetta and will sabotage everything to see one person die, even if it costs the lives of all of them.

Expedition leaders and husband and wife Harry and Rita are each leading different missions on the ice. Harry takes Claude and Pete out to plant the devices in the ice while Rita and her ex lover are packing up the temporary camp that Harry set out from. Brian, Roger and George are setting up the transmitter which will be used to track the iceflow when it moves south. It is then that the tidal wave hits the ice and all of them quickly realise that they are drifting and wonder if all three teams are on the iceflow or if some are safe on the mainland like Gunvald. It is when one of them is attacked that they realise there is someone capable of murder amongst them which makes the new mission of trying to disable the bombs before they explode even more dangerous.

Gunvald is at Edgeway Station to monitor the radio transmission and weather reports while the other team members go on their missions. He is concerned about a series of earthquakes that seem to be getting closer and closer to their position, leaving them in danger from a tsunami wave that rips an iceflow away. Safe on the main body of ice, he spends his time trying to radio for help for his friends but is soon given another mission-find out who it is that is trying to kill another member of the team and get that information back to his team before they drift out of radio range. Their only hope might be a Russian submarine in the area but will the captain get permission to launch a rescue mission to help those stranded, and can they even get there in time? I liked following his story and that of what was happening on the submarine.

I liked the actual expedition part of the book as it gives a good idea of just how cold and desolate the landscape is. It also shows how little control over their environment that the characters have. They are very much at the mercy of the elements, the weather and have little equipment to survive what is happening. Their first thought is that they must deactivate the nearest bombs to give them at least a chance to survive the blast as there is no time to disable them all. With a slim possibility of rescue, Harry needs to find out who the attempted murderer is and protect the victim from further attacks. When word comes about the submarine, they may have to trek out in the cold to give themselves a chance of being in the right place if a solution is found.

I first read this book many years ago before I ended up on Goodreads but I never did a really good review of it so I decided to re-read and review it. I received it from one of those online book clubs and didn't remember that much about it when I read it this time. I also love this Arctic setting for a thriller as it is so remote, bleak, cold and desolate! It was certainly a decent enough read with enough of a mystery to keep me interested, if not the best thriller I've read.

sydnattyice's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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