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Polar Night #1
Polar Night
At noon the sun awakens as rural Dalton highway is painted on the arctic, Alaskan horizon. Silhouetted against the burning haze, a haunted asylum pierces the never-ending sky.
A woman screams.
A silken voice and a powerful grip to the throat persuades her silence. His classic Russian features, not unlike the minted image of Czar Nicolas II, remain frozen in time. “Please do not disappoint me like the others, my darling.”
The doorbell chimes. He releases his hold and caresses her cheek. “Natasha,” escapes his lips as he ascends the creaky wooden stairs. A calm hand opens the door. The glistening snow on the front porch pales against Aleksei’s skin and charming smile.
The callused hand of a detective, Danny Fitzpatrick, flashes a search warrant. His puffy, bloodshot eyes lock onto Aleksei’s ...
The young woman cries out, but only Aleksei hears. "They will never find you my dear. This beaten and hung over man does not have a clue."
Hours later, the detective crosses the threshold and shudders as if encased in a block of ice. The sun drops to sleep and an eerie shadow creeps alongside him. He shakes his head.
Aleksei watches from the peephole. "You feel my immortal essence ... do you not?" A forceful hand bolts the door. Aleksei probes his elongating eye teeth.
It is time for a new plan ...
A woman screams.
A silken voice and a powerful grip to the throat persuades her silence. His classic Russian features, not unlike the minted image of Czar Nicolas II, remain frozen in time. “Please do not disappoint me like the others, my darling.”
The doorbell chimes. He releases his hold and caresses her cheek. “Natasha,” escapes his lips as he ascends the creaky wooden stairs. A calm hand opens the door. The glistening snow on the front porch pales against Aleksei’s skin and charming smile.
The callused hand of a detective, Danny Fitzpatrick, flashes a search warrant. His puffy, bloodshot eyes lock onto Aleksei’s ...
The young woman cries out, but only Aleksei hears. "They will never find you my dear. This beaten and hung over man does not have a clue."
Hours later, the detective crosses the threshold and shudders as if encased in a block of ice. The sun drops to sleep and an eerie shadow creeps alongside him. He shakes his head.
Aleksei watches from the peephole. "You feel my immortal essence ... do you not?" A forceful hand bolts the door. Aleksei probes his elongating eye teeth.
It is time for a new plan ...
314 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2013
5 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
Julie Flanders
10 books170 followersI am the author of the Polar Magic series and The Ghosts of Aquinnah. Polar Curse, book 3 in the Polar Magic series, will be published in October, 2022 by Ink Smith Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 18, 2016
Polar Night takes place in Alaska during winter and follows the events of a supernatural mystery.
Maria Triebel was kidnapped by a tall, strange, powerful man named Aleksei, who wants Maria to be a the woman he loved and lost, Natasha. And he fully expects her to be Natasha, to replace her, not just pretend to be her.
Danny Fitzpatrick is investigating Maria's disappearance, which is just like another one that happened three years ago when Anna Alexander vanished. We follow Danny as he searches for answers, and Maria as she endures her captivity. We also get glimpses into Aleksei. An unexpected player is Amanda Fiske, a jumpy librarian who knows more than anyone about these disappearances. As her character grew, I found myself liking her a lot. And liking her relationship with Danny.
It took me several pages to get into this story, but once I read Chapter 2, which was in Maria's POV, I was intrigued. We learn of Danny's haunting past and Aleksei's dark past.
Julie Flanders crafts a paranormal mystery with a good balance of detective investigation, suspense, and the supernatural that will not bore and will keep you turning the pages.
I noticed spelling errors with a name a few times (Christine to Cristine). There's also some head-hopping when we're in one character's POV. The only thing that had bothered me slightly was how Tessa, the other detective, wasn't as involved with her case that Danny took over. He should've worked with her instead of going off alone in the beginning.
This was a very enjoyable read with nice twists and a satisfying ending.
Maria Triebel was kidnapped by a tall, strange, powerful man named Aleksei, who wants Maria to be a the woman he loved and lost, Natasha. And he fully expects her to be Natasha, to replace her, not just pretend to be her.
Danny Fitzpatrick is investigating Maria's disappearance, which is just like another one that happened three years ago when Anna Alexander vanished. We follow Danny as he searches for answers, and Maria as she endures her captivity. We also get glimpses into Aleksei. An unexpected player is Amanda Fiske, a jumpy librarian who knows more than anyone about these disappearances. As her character grew, I found myself liking her a lot. And liking her relationship with Danny.
It took me several pages to get into this story, but once I read Chapter 2, which was in Maria's POV, I was intrigued. We learn of Danny's haunting past and Aleksei's dark past.
Julie Flanders crafts a paranormal mystery with a good balance of detective investigation, suspense, and the supernatural that will not bore and will keep you turning the pages.
I noticed spelling errors with a name a few times (Christine to Cristine). There's also some head-hopping when we're in one character's POV. The only thing that had bothered me slightly was how Tessa, the other detective, wasn't as involved with her case that Danny took over. He should've worked with her instead of going off alone in the beginning.
This was a very enjoyable read with nice twists and a satisfying ending.
January 8, 2022
Fun read, I really flew through this book. I don't read a ton of vampire stories but I really enjoyed this one and look forward to Polar Day.
March 3, 2013
Usually crime/detective novels aren't really my kind of thing and to be quite honest, the only reason I got this book was the last sentence of its summary that says "And when the truth is finally revealed, the world as he knows it will never be the same."
This small hint at something supernatural happening was what caught my attention and made me curious - and I am really glad it did since "Polar Night" turned out to be one of my early 2013 favorites.
The story revolves around Danny Fitzpatrick, an ex-detective from Chicago who moved to the small town of Coldfoot in Alaska to get a fresh start after his wife was killed. Now working on cold cases he hopes to help those who would otherwise be left forgotten and at the same time sort out his personal trauma. When a recent missing person case shows remarkable resemblances to some of Danny's cold cases, though, Danny is drawn into an investigation that will lead him far beyond anything he has ever thought possible - as his main suspect turns out to not only be a dangerous serial killer, but one that's also a vampire.
"Polar Night" was one of the most refreshing reads I've had in quite a while. Though the actual action passages of the book are rather few the constant witty dialogue and Danny's own reflections never cease to entertain and keep the pace up. The characters are well-drawn and interesting to read about, especially Danny himself, Amanda, his partner in crime (or in this case in solving it), and the undead perpetrator Aleksei, who's my favorite of this book not only because of his somewhat schizophrenic disposition between hyper-intelligent and downright insane but also because his maniac behaviour actually makes sense once you get to know about his own backstory. Also because he's not your typical run-of-the-mill teenage vampire.
"Polar Night" is meant to be the first in a series and personally I hope for many more books to come. Those who prefer closed endings don't need to worry, though, as it does leave some threads open but does not end on any kind of cliffhanger.
I clearly recommend this book to all of you who enjoy stories with a supernatural twist, whether you usually like crime/vampire novels or not since it's on-topic enough to satisfy genre-lovers but at the same time different enough to positively suprise everyone else.
This small hint at something supernatural happening was what caught my attention and made me curious - and I am really glad it did since "Polar Night" turned out to be one of my early 2013 favorites.
The story revolves around Danny Fitzpatrick, an ex-detective from Chicago who moved to the small town of Coldfoot in Alaska to get a fresh start after his wife was killed. Now working on cold cases he hopes to help those who would otherwise be left forgotten and at the same time sort out his personal trauma. When a recent missing person case shows remarkable resemblances to some of Danny's cold cases, though, Danny is drawn into an investigation that will lead him far beyond anything he has ever thought possible - as his main suspect turns out to not only be a dangerous serial killer, but one that's also a vampire.
"Polar Night" was one of the most refreshing reads I've had in quite a while. Though the actual action passages of the book are rather few the constant witty dialogue and Danny's own reflections never cease to entertain and keep the pace up. The characters are well-drawn and interesting to read about, especially Danny himself, Amanda, his partner in crime (or in this case in solving it), and the undead perpetrator Aleksei, who's my favorite of this book not only because of his somewhat schizophrenic disposition between hyper-intelligent and downright insane but also because his maniac behaviour actually makes sense once you get to know about his own backstory. Also because he's not your typical run-of-the-mill teenage vampire.
"Polar Night" is meant to be the first in a series and personally I hope for many more books to come. Those who prefer closed endings don't need to worry, though, as it does leave some threads open but does not end on any kind of cliffhanger.
I clearly recommend this book to all of you who enjoy stories with a supernatural twist, whether you usually like crime/vampire novels or not since it's on-topic enough to satisfy genre-lovers but at the same time different enough to positively suprise everyone else.
March 31, 2013
I have wanted to read this book ever since I read the blurb. I wasn't disappointed. The plot delivered everything I'd hoped for and more.
After the first few chapters, the story really takes off; and by the midway point, it races toward a satisfying finish. It kept me up reading way past my bedtime.
Flanders' hero is likeable. He's damaged and imperfect, but he quickly found a place in my heart. She also writes Aleksei very well--better, even. He's a worthy villain who will chill you more than the Alaskan climate in which he resides.
I found the setting perfect and the Alaskan weather to be a clever aspect of the story. It added a layer to the victims' confinement that left me feeling nearly as hopeless as they. Even if they could escape, where would they go?
Another thing I liked was the paranormal element, and, going into the story, I wasn't sure that I would. I won't ruin it, but I will say that the author handles a potentially cliche topic in a way that felt fresh and realistic.
The only thing that could have made this book better for me was if the writing had been tighter and the wording and descriptions a little more enthralling and varied. That said, the fact it kept me reading at break-neck speed despite these things is a testament to the talent of its writer. She can definitely craft a killer plot.
Bottom line? Polar night is a well-paced, skillfully-plotted book that is quite worthy of your time.
After the first few chapters, the story really takes off; and by the midway point, it races toward a satisfying finish. It kept me up reading way past my bedtime.
Flanders' hero is likeable. He's damaged and imperfect, but he quickly found a place in my heart. She also writes Aleksei very well--better, even. He's a worthy villain who will chill you more than the Alaskan climate in which he resides.
I found the setting perfect and the Alaskan weather to be a clever aspect of the story. It added a layer to the victims' confinement that left me feeling nearly as hopeless as they. Even if they could escape, where would they go?
Another thing I liked was the paranormal element, and, going into the story, I wasn't sure that I would. I won't ruin it, but I will say that the author handles a potentially cliche topic in a way that felt fresh and realistic.
The only thing that could have made this book better for me was if the writing had been tighter and the wording and descriptions a little more enthralling and varied. That said, the fact it kept me reading at break-neck speed despite these things is a testament to the talent of its writer. She can definitely craft a killer plot.
Bottom line? Polar night is a well-paced, skillfully-plotted book that is quite worthy of your time.
September 24, 2015
First I have to say that I usually never read vampire books. In the last 20 years most of them are about sex and no real story. Polar Night is definitely NOT like those. It has a very refreshing story line.
Two men: one a murderer, one a cop. Both have had tragedies in their past and lost someone dear to them. Aleksei's tragedy was losing his unrequited love over 100 years ago. Since then he has been obsessed with replacing her. Danny Fitzpatrick is a Detective with the Fairbanks police department. He lost his wife not long ago to a murderer in Chicago.
Danny is working on a cold case, a blond haired, tall, thin woman was taken a few years ago and the case was never solved. Then a woman that fits the same description is kidnapped out of a store parking lot. Danny thinks this is too much of a coincidence. He finds a woman who escaped from an attacker and she fits the same description and has some unusual impressions of her would be kidnapper. They join together and find a never ending nightmare. Danny has a reputation as a lush so no one at the precinct believes him when he draws his conclusions.
Aleksei has been trying to find a replacement for his very first love and it is not working out well. He desperately wants a love that will become his Natasha. He has been looking for the last 100 years and has failed. Many look like Natasha but none are truly like her.
Julie Flanders does a great job of intertwining the past and present of both Danny and Aleksei. The reader goes from both characters darkest days to each of them taking hold of their lives and moving forward. I felt the way she wrote the ending was really classy as well. Polar Nights is not your average vampire story.
I received this book through Freado.com in return for a review. If you want to learn more about Julie's other books check out http://julieflanders.blogspot.com/
Two men: one a murderer, one a cop. Both have had tragedies in their past and lost someone dear to them. Aleksei's tragedy was losing his unrequited love over 100 years ago. Since then he has been obsessed with replacing her. Danny Fitzpatrick is a Detective with the Fairbanks police department. He lost his wife not long ago to a murderer in Chicago.
Danny is working on a cold case, a blond haired, tall, thin woman was taken a few years ago and the case was never solved. Then a woman that fits the same description is kidnapped out of a store parking lot. Danny thinks this is too much of a coincidence. He finds a woman who escaped from an attacker and she fits the same description and has some unusual impressions of her would be kidnapper. They join together and find a never ending nightmare. Danny has a reputation as a lush so no one at the precinct believes him when he draws his conclusions.
Aleksei has been trying to find a replacement for his very first love and it is not working out well. He desperately wants a love that will become his Natasha. He has been looking for the last 100 years and has failed. Many look like Natasha but none are truly like her.
Julie Flanders does a great job of intertwining the past and present of both Danny and Aleksei. The reader goes from both characters darkest days to each of them taking hold of their lives and moving forward. I felt the way she wrote the ending was really classy as well. Polar Nights is not your average vampire story.
I received this book through Freado.com in return for a review. If you want to learn more about Julie's other books check out http://julieflanders.blogspot.com/
August 2, 2013
Detective Danny Fitzpatrick only wants to escape the horror of his past. He leaves his Chicago home and takes a job in Fairbanks, Alaska working cold cases. While he's successful at numbing his mind with alcohol, a case comes along that snaps him into sobriety. Danny links a cold case of a missing girl to a new one, and through further research, he finds several more. His investigation takes him north to Coldfoot and to the haunted establishment of Aleksei Nechayev. Danny knows something's going on with Aleksei, but can't manage to convince anyone else of the fact without some hard evidence. When he finally comes across some information, it changes Danny forever and puts him in danger of more than just catching a cold in the freezing Alaskan winter.
This supernatural thriller will chill you to the bone and not just with the wonderful descriptions of Alaska. POLAR NIGHT gives us various points of view that takes the reader on a dark journey filled with nail-biting suspense and intense emotions. Danny has the heart of a hero, but is scarred by his past and it's wearing him down. He's a flawed man and yet still admirable. Aleksei is cold and immensely fascinating. Maria has an amazing spirit even in a terrifying situation.
While there's a thrilling plot and a great cast of characters, it's the setting and atmosphere that really make this book stand out. We don't often find books that take place in the far north, and usually not in the winter. I loved all the little every day tidbits Julie Flanders included about life in Alaska. Plus, I was enthralled by the haunted asylum. The little strange happenings and scary noises added to the tension of the story and brought out an even chillier atmosphere.
POLAR NIGHT is the debut novel from Julie Flanders. I can't wait to read more form her!
This supernatural thriller will chill you to the bone and not just with the wonderful descriptions of Alaska. POLAR NIGHT gives us various points of view that takes the reader on a dark journey filled with nail-biting suspense and intense emotions. Danny has the heart of a hero, but is scarred by his past and it's wearing him down. He's a flawed man and yet still admirable. Aleksei is cold and immensely fascinating. Maria has an amazing spirit even in a terrifying situation.
While there's a thrilling plot and a great cast of characters, it's the setting and atmosphere that really make this book stand out. We don't often find books that take place in the far north, and usually not in the winter. I loved all the little every day tidbits Julie Flanders included about life in Alaska. Plus, I was enthralled by the haunted asylum. The little strange happenings and scary noises added to the tension of the story and brought out an even chillier atmosphere.
POLAR NIGHT is the debut novel from Julie Flanders. I can't wait to read more form her!
April 3, 2013
This isn't usually a genre I'm drawn to, but Julie pulled me into the story quickly and I didn't want to stop reading. And she has created two characters that have tremendous appeal - our hero, Danny Fitzpatrick, and our villain, Aleksei Nechayev.
Danny is a classic cop hero - he's from Chicago, self-exiled to Fairbanks, Alaska after events that have left him badly damaged emotionally. He's working cold cases, drinking too much and barely holding himself together. The great part about that is that it makes him a guy with nothing much to lose, and that of course, makes him willing to take risks. And, it's not that our villain, Aleksei is a likable bad boy, no, indeed. But he is definitely compelling.
A current missing woman case leads Danny to make a connection with the cold case he's working. Pretty soon, he's on to something BIG, but where it leads him is a whole lot bigger than he - or we - expected! That's all I'm going to say, because saying more would take away surprises, and Julie has done a great job with her surprises.
She's also vividly captured Alaskan winters and used that very effectively to create setting and mood. A former insane asylum in a remote Alaskan location ... well, it doesn't get much more unnerving than that.
It feels to me like Julie has left space for a sequel, or even a series. I think that Danny Fitzpatrick could develop into a classic cop hero along the lines of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch. The potential for his long-term redemption - or total defeat - is fun to contemplate. I don't know what Julie's plans are for him - if any, but I'm hoping we haven't heard the last of Danny Fitzpatrick.
Danny is a classic cop hero - he's from Chicago, self-exiled to Fairbanks, Alaska after events that have left him badly damaged emotionally. He's working cold cases, drinking too much and barely holding himself together. The great part about that is that it makes him a guy with nothing much to lose, and that of course, makes him willing to take risks. And, it's not that our villain, Aleksei is a likable bad boy, no, indeed. But he is definitely compelling.
A current missing woman case leads Danny to make a connection with the cold case he's working. Pretty soon, he's on to something BIG, but where it leads him is a whole lot bigger than he - or we - expected! That's all I'm going to say, because saying more would take away surprises, and Julie has done a great job with her surprises.
She's also vividly captured Alaskan winters and used that very effectively to create setting and mood. A former insane asylum in a remote Alaskan location ... well, it doesn't get much more unnerving than that.
It feels to me like Julie has left space for a sequel, or even a series. I think that Danny Fitzpatrick could develop into a classic cop hero along the lines of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch. The potential for his long-term redemption - or total defeat - is fun to contemplate. I don't know what Julie's plans are for him - if any, but I'm hoping we haven't heard the last of Danny Fitzpatrick.
June 17, 2013
I love vampires and I love thrillers so I was happy to pick up Polar Night by Julie Flanders. The plot is original and interesting - the author threw in some wonderful historical facts of the Russian front during WWI and Russian vampire legends which pulled me deeper in the story.
Danny Fitzpatrick is an emotionally broken and borderline alcoholic cop from Chicago who moves himself to Fairbanks, Alaska to escape his past and ends up working the city's cold cases. A recent disappearance of a young woman resembles a cold case he's working on and the fun begins. We soon meet Aleksei, the psychotic
undead villain of the cold, dark nights that runs a wonderfully haunted asylum during the tourist months with charm and goodwill - only to stalk out his next 'guest' to keep him company during the cold winter months.
I see others have written about the plot so I'll conclude by saying this was an enjoyable read. It wasn't terrifying, scary or overly explicit in blood and gore - if horror isn't your genre. However it is suspenseful like a good thriller should be.
The end tied up everything nicely but left doors open and I hope Ms. Flanders continues writing about Danny and Aleksei. I would definitely like to see more from them.
Danny Fitzpatrick is an emotionally broken and borderline alcoholic cop from Chicago who moves himself to Fairbanks, Alaska to escape his past and ends up working the city's cold cases. A recent disappearance of a young woman resembles a cold case he's working on and the fun begins. We soon meet Aleksei, the psychotic
undead villain of the cold, dark nights that runs a wonderfully haunted asylum during the tourist months with charm and goodwill - only to stalk out his next 'guest' to keep him company during the cold winter months.
I see others have written about the plot so I'll conclude by saying this was an enjoyable read. It wasn't terrifying, scary or overly explicit in blood and gore - if horror isn't your genre. However it is suspenseful like a good thriller should be.
The end tied up everything nicely but left doors open and I hope Ms. Flanders continues writing about Danny and Aleksei. I would definitely like to see more from them.
May 26, 2013
This was a refreshing change to other books in this genre that I have read. No spoilers here, but it starts as a crime thriller in the frozen north of Alaska, and quickly develops into a more supernatural mystery. The author brought great depth to every setting, with such excellent descriptions of the frigid and long nights of the arctic that I got chilled reading it. The cop characters were authentic, and there was considerable drama between them, which added rich subplots to the book.
The villain is superb: sophisticated and calculating and we slowly learn his secrets and just how dangerous he is. I loved the layers of Russian history and the way that the author wove the villain's backstory throughout the book.
This is a real page-turner. The way the book switched back and forth between the villain, the victim(s) and the heroic cop, kept me always wanting to turn the next page, to read one more chapter, then one more. It takes a riveting plot to get me to do that. I predicted some events, but not others and as the pace ran flat out toward the end, I genuinely didn't know who was going to live or die. Satisfying ending too.
The villain is superb: sophisticated and calculating and we slowly learn his secrets and just how dangerous he is. I loved the layers of Russian history and the way that the author wove the villain's backstory throughout the book.
This is a real page-turner. The way the book switched back and forth between the villain, the victim(s) and the heroic cop, kept me always wanting to turn the next page, to read one more chapter, then one more. It takes a riveting plot to get me to do that. I predicted some events, but not others and as the pace ran flat out toward the end, I genuinely didn't know who was going to live or die. Satisfying ending too.
February 17, 2013
This is a great, super fast read. I couldn't put this down. The main character, Danny Fitzpatrick is just the right blend of damaged and vulnerability with a good, healthy dose of skepticism. He's very haunted by his former life and that leaves him open to what he finds when he begins searching for the missing women in this book. You'll be rooting for his redemption by the end of the book! Flanders' use of the cold, dreary Alaskan winter setting is brilliant and sets the mood in this book. It's really a fabulous backdrop to the events of the book. I don't want to give the plot away but I'll say this: the theme/premise in this book is not something I normally like to read but I couldn't put this book down and that says a lot about Flanders' writing and her execution. It's also amazing to me how Flanders can make a couple of characters doing research in a library keep me on the edge of my seat! A great, fast read you won't be able to put down till it's nail-biting conclusion.
August 14, 2013
Polar Nights has a mellow start and makes you wonder where’s the mystery going to come from. You meet Aleksei and think “interesting.” Then you get to really know Danny, the main character, a cop on a track to ruin after the death of his wife, and you’re hooked in the story: Crazy killer and the alcoholic cop after him. What really grabs you is the dialog, which rings harshly real and makes you feel for the characters. And it ends with a nice finishing touch.
April 7, 2013
Thank you good reads giveaway! This was a great read! Took it on vacation and had it read before day 2! I feel that it was left open so maybe another book in the further with the interesting characters! Thanks for the opportunity to find another author I enjoy reading!
April 27, 2013
Fun, fast paced read. Not what I was expecting at all, with the supernatural elements, but entertaining for sure. The cold Alaskan setting is like a character itself in this one.
May 11, 2016
A thrilling read that kept my interest to the last page. Looking forward to the next installment.
April 30, 2021
A vampire in Alaska is kidnapping you women to replace his lost love. I loved the setting and the plot. The characters are so underdeveloped and the dialogue is weak. This book feels like an outline. I wish someone else would have written it.
February 5, 2021
Blah. Not impressed with writing or characters.
March 18, 2015
"Horror thriller" is the best way I can sum up this engrossing read, and Flanders does a great job of both keeping us hooked in to the twists and turns of the plot, and keeping the scares coming without drowning us in gore.
Aleksei Nechayev, the cool, collected vampire first seen in The Turnagain Arm has been up to his nefarious goings on in Alaska's frozen North for nearly a hundred years now, but someone is onto him. Enter Danny Fitzpatrick, a really likeable creation; a grizzled detective who ran away from his former life in Chicago after devastating events. He drinks too much, annoys the hell out of his boss and goes out on a limb because he has nothing to lose. When looking into the case of one missing woman, and then another, he has to defeat his scepticism when faced with the testimony of one who got away that the perpetrator might be a monster in a rather more literal sense.
The story turns into a race against time with Danny dealing with both his own misgivings and those of his colleagues. Flanders really ramps up the tension and you're left shaken as things escalate to a thrilling climax.
I really liked the police procedural elements, as well as the slices of history told first hand from Aleksei's POV, which really round out the character and make him much more than a cut out villain. It all adds up to a package that's deliciously different, and I highly recommend Polar Night.
Aleksei Nechayev, the cool, collected vampire first seen in The Turnagain Arm has been up to his nefarious goings on in Alaska's frozen North for nearly a hundred years now, but someone is onto him. Enter Danny Fitzpatrick, a really likeable creation; a grizzled detective who ran away from his former life in Chicago after devastating events. He drinks too much, annoys the hell out of his boss and goes out on a limb because he has nothing to lose. When looking into the case of one missing woman, and then another, he has to defeat his scepticism when faced with the testimony of one who got away that the perpetrator might be a monster in a rather more literal sense.
The story turns into a race against time with Danny dealing with both his own misgivings and those of his colleagues. Flanders really ramps up the tension and you're left shaken as things escalate to a thrilling climax.
I really liked the police procedural elements, as well as the slices of history told first hand from Aleksei's POV, which really round out the character and make him much more than a cut out villain. It all adds up to a package that's deliciously different, and I highly recommend Polar Night.
November 10, 2013
Julie Flanders is superb, a definite flare for writing suspenseful mystery. She pulls her readers to the edge of their seats, and thoroughly involves you with Danny Fitzpatrick, a police detective you automatically fall for. After the tragic, homicidal death of his wife, Danny fleas to the snow-ridden terrain of Alaska to drown his sorrows.
The novel, Polar Night is set in Alaska and Julie's research on the Alaskan territory is phenomenal. You can almost feel the frigidness surrounding the story. As the reader, your throat clogs along with the main character as he breathes in ice fog. That's when Alaskan temps reach a mere 40 below and it's full of icy particles. Years prior it was called appropriately, 'white death.'
Polar Night has a supernatural premise which I wasn't expecting. In fact--there are spoilers ahead...
What makes Julie such an excellent writer is her believable plot-line. Danny Fitzpatrick's investigation into the premise of scavenging Vampires located in Russia back in the 1800's and beyond is astute, I still have shivers. Do I believe in vampires? Now I do! And has me jangling in my boots, and I tend to sleep with the covers rucked under my chin, just in case.
I recommend Polar Night as an excellent read. For murder mystery, supernatural, detective, suspense and thriller fans alike.
The novel, Polar Night is set in Alaska and Julie's research on the Alaskan territory is phenomenal. You can almost feel the frigidness surrounding the story. As the reader, your throat clogs along with the main character as he breathes in ice fog. That's when Alaskan temps reach a mere 40 below and it's full of icy particles. Years prior it was called appropriately, 'white death.'
Polar Night has a supernatural premise which I wasn't expecting. In fact--there are spoilers ahead...
What makes Julie such an excellent writer is her believable plot-line. Danny Fitzpatrick's investigation into the premise of scavenging Vampires located in Russia back in the 1800's and beyond is astute, I still have shivers. Do I believe in vampires? Now I do! And has me jangling in my boots, and I tend to sleep with the covers rucked under my chin, just in case.
I recommend Polar Night as an excellent read. For murder mystery, supernatural, detective, suspense and thriller fans alike.
July 23, 2015
Polar Night is a horror thriller written by Julie Flanders, wow what a great read. It is set in the state of Alaska where there is cold and snow year round. She does a great job of setting up the horror by using the environmental elements plus an asylum.
The book is about a detective Danny Fitzpatrick, who has escaped his life that he had in Chicago and sends himself to Fairbanks, Alaska. He is running away from his past and numbs himself with alcohol and sifts through cold cases. Until, that day when he connects a cold case to a current case and goes out to find out what is going on. I do not want to give anything away because you are going to want to read this book for yourself.
I will tell you this there is a handsome villain named Aleksei Nechayev, who runs a tourist attraction in the Artic town of Coldfoot that was once an old asylum. Aleksei Nechayev is hiding a terrifying secret that no one could ever fathom. A secret that will forever change Detective Fitzpatrick's life and view of the world in a way he never imagined.
If you enjoy a good thriller with some added horror in a cold and dangerous climate then you will definitely enjoy this book. You will enjoy the characters, the twist and turns along the way. I highly recommend this book.
I was provided a copy of this in return for an honest review.
September 28, 2013
A deeply troubled, grieving cop seeks refuge on a police force in the frozen land called Alaska. What he finds is far from a refuge. When he’s assigned to a cold case, he uncovers a trail of cold cases, all with the same MO. The problem is these cases, which seem to be connected to one person as the perp, go back more than a human lifetime. When he discovers his instincts are all right, even when his head is telling him he’s all wrong, he knows he may not survive if he pursues his investigation.
Flanders creates a fast-paced plot of mounting terror that keeps you engaged to the end. While it’s a familiar story line, the author makes the MC sympathetic and with enough foibles that you root for him in his efforts to save the victims.
I would have liked more of Amanda, but I have the feeling she’ll step up in any sequel that Flanders offers in the future. Amanda’s smart. She’s vulnerable. She’s potentially the character who will save the day.
Flanders creates a fast-paced plot of mounting terror that keeps you engaged to the end. While it’s a familiar story line, the author makes the MC sympathetic and with enough foibles that you root for him in his efforts to save the victims.
I would have liked more of Amanda, but I have the feeling she’ll step up in any sequel that Flanders offers in the future. Amanda’s smart. She’s vulnerable. She’s potentially the character who will save the day.
May 1, 2013
Polar Night was a fast paced read and I would have finished the book sooner, but I refused to read it at night. I admit that I’m a wuss when it comes to reading thrillers. Daniel Fitzpatrick was a hot mess throughout the story, but you felt sorry for him, even though he would never want you to. I just kept thinking that he needed help. Flanders gave him that help by giving him the scare of his life after he made a bad move. A really bad move.
Flanders added a touch of history to this story which made Aleksei Nechayev’s secret more plausible and creepy. Alaska was the perfect setting for this book, and if you didn’t that Alaska was cold, Flanders made sure you knew it by the time you finished the story. The ending of Polar Night totally surprised me, and that is a good thing.
If you want a page turner that you won’t want to put down, unless it’s night time, then Polar Nights is for you.
Flanders added a touch of history to this story which made Aleksei Nechayev’s secret more plausible and creepy. Alaska was the perfect setting for this book, and if you didn’t that Alaska was cold, Flanders made sure you knew it by the time you finished the story. The ending of Polar Night totally surprised me, and that is a good thing.
If you want a page turner that you won’t want to put down, unless it’s night time, then Polar Nights is for you.
July 1, 2013
Okay, so I've gotta admit it. What I discovered when I got into this book is NOT what I expected. I was simply looking for a good troubled-cop-with-a-past fighting the bottle and the bad guys kinda mystery, plus a bone-chilling adventure set in the icy arctic. Maybe a touch of romance. Well, I got all of those things, along with some darned good writing and some well-developed characters, but it's that extra something... the unexpected element... that sets this book apart.
Some of the other reviews on this book have already divulged what the "unexpected" is in this book, but you ain't gonna hear about it from me. Far better to discover it yourself, so it'll be like finding an extra surprise in your box of Cracker Jacks.
Would I have read this book if I knew ahead of time about that extra surprise? To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure. I might have thought it wasn't "my kind of book". But if I HADN'T read it, it would have been my loss.
Some of the other reviews on this book have already divulged what the "unexpected" is in this book, but you ain't gonna hear about it from me. Far better to discover it yourself, so it'll be like finding an extra surprise in your box of Cracker Jacks.
Would I have read this book if I knew ahead of time about that extra surprise? To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure. I might have thought it wasn't "my kind of book". But if I HADN'T read it, it would have been my loss.
January 18, 2014
When I learn that a books setting is Alaska I am immediately drawn to it and with Polar Night by Julie Flanders, I hit the jackpot. Reading her paranormal mystery not only left me homesick for my most favorite place, it had me looking at the genre with a new appreciation. She takes the reader on chilling ride through the street of Fairbanks and makes the Alaskan setting as much a character as her handsome and wounded detective Danny Fitzpatrick.
Detective Danny Fitzpatrick and the evil Aleksei Nechayev, are both mourning a lost love, and it leads to an interesting dynamic between the two. Polar Night is a mystery well crafted, with well-developed characters, and a setting that adds even more drama.
I'm looking forward to Julie's next paranormal mystery with Detective Danny Fitzpatrick set under the midnight sun!
Detective Danny Fitzpatrick and the evil Aleksei Nechayev, are both mourning a lost love, and it leads to an interesting dynamic between the two. Polar Night is a mystery well crafted, with well-developed characters, and a setting that adds even more drama.
I'm looking forward to Julie's next paranormal mystery with Detective Danny Fitzpatrick set under the midnight sun!
May 18, 2013
I'm not too sure what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised by this entertaining and fast-paced thriller.
The well developed plot is filled with tension and set against the backdrop of a bitterly cold Arctic climate.
From the get-go, I warmed to the main character, Danny Fitzpatrick.
He is a likeable cop who drinks too much, a risk-taker who is more-than-a-little-crazy, an emotional wreck who is haunted by tragic events from his past.
He has to outmanoeuvre Aleksei Nechayev, the perfect villain, creepy yet compelling, and with an unbelievably chilling secret that is shrouded in history.
The open ending is an indicator that there is more to come, and I'm eager to see what happens next!
The well developed plot is filled with tension and set against the backdrop of a bitterly cold Arctic climate.
From the get-go, I warmed to the main character, Danny Fitzpatrick.
He is a likeable cop who drinks too much, a risk-taker who is more-than-a-little-crazy, an emotional wreck who is haunted by tragic events from his past.
He has to outmanoeuvre Aleksei Nechayev, the perfect villain, creepy yet compelling, and with an unbelievably chilling secret that is shrouded in history.
The open ending is an indicator that there is more to come, and I'm eager to see what happens next!
September 9, 2016
How do you cope after losing everything? Danny Fitzpatrick moves to Alaska and drinks a lot. Perhaps because of his past horrors, Danny starts seeing links between one of the cold cases he's assigned to and a new missing person case. And the suspense builds from there. Danny and Amanda are engaging characters, trying to cope with the monsters in their pasts as well as searching for one in their present. Villain Aleksei isn't ever sympathetic, but I appreciated the look at his backstory to explain how he became a villain. Julie Flanders' descriptions of Alaskan weather almost make cold one of the characters. On all levels, this book is a winner.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it
I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it
June 2, 2015
Crime thriller meets the supernatural in an artic wasteland.
I don't usually read crime thriller, but I would definitely read more of this series. I enjoyed every moment of it and hardly put the book down until I'd hit the last page. A great set up for an ongoing story, but with a satisfactory conclusion.
Content warning: This is an adult book--themes, crime, language etc.
I don't usually read crime thriller, but I would definitely read more of this series. I enjoyed every moment of it and hardly put the book down until I'd hit the last page. A great set up for an ongoing story, but with a satisfactory conclusion.
Content warning: This is an adult book--themes, crime, language etc.
April 23, 2013
A very good read, a mystery with a dose of supernatural but with a very realistic tone. And that is what is really scary because this story could really happen if supernatural creatures existed. But are we sure they don't ?
June 29, 2015
Harry Bosch meets a Vampire.
This is a good, quick, engaging read bringing together of a good detective novel with a vampire story. While I didn't love Aleksei, Danny is indeed an interesting, well-developed character.
Can't wait for what Flanders writes next.
This is a good, quick, engaging read bringing together of a good detective novel with a vampire story. While I didn't love Aleksei, Danny is indeed an interesting, well-developed character.
Can't wait for what Flanders writes next.
April 21, 2013
I looked forward to reading Polar Night everyday. I kept turning the pages for more. I hope Ms. Flanders keeps writing.
December 19, 2014
Chilling and terrifying, this is one of my few horror reads . . . and I liked it!
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