by Laline Paull
First published 2017
Sean Cawson watches as cruise passengers aboard the Vanir discover something unexpected in the Arctic waters. The melting Midgard glacier has released the body of Tom Harding, Sean's closest friend for thirty years, who vanished three years earlier during what seemed like an accident. Tom had traveled to Midgard to support Sean's latest business venture, one that depends on powerful connections and complete discretion. Their friendship began with a mutual fascination for Arctic exploration, but over time their paths diverged. Tom wanted to save the world while Sean sought to profit from it. Sean believed they ultimately wanted the same things. Now an inquest examines the circumstances of Tom's death. The investigation exposes the choices both men made in their personal and professional lives. Sean's carefully constructed world of wealth and influence begins to crack. He must confront the real cost of his success and his place among the powerful elite. The questions multiply as the truth emerges.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Arctic, Midgard
Period: 21st-century
256 pages · ebook · Fourth Estate