Die Frau, die nie fror

by Elisabeth Elo, Kathrin Bielfeldt (Translator)

Sie spürt keine Kälte, sie hat keine Angst und sie gibt nicht auf

Ihr russischer Vater hält sie für zu weich. Die Navy nennt sie mutig. Die meisten Männer finden sie attraktiv. Für die Leute in Boston ist sie eine Heldin, für die Wissenschaft ein Phänomen. Ihrer besten Freundin Thomasina ist sie zu ehrlich. Ihr Patensohn Noah möchte am liebsten immer bei ihr sein. Zeit für Pirio Kasparov herauszufinden, wer sie wirklich ist.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Crime

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 2014

About the author

Elisabeth Elo is the author of NORTH OF BOSTON, chosen by Booklist as a Best Crime Novel Debut of the Year. Published in six countries, it was also an Indie Next selection and a Book of the Month / Literary Guild Selection. Elisabeth’s second suspense novel, FINDING KATARINA M., is forthcoming in March 2019.

Elisabeth grew up in Boston, attended Brown University, and earned a PhD in American Literature at Brandeis. She worked as a children's magazine editor, a high-tech product manager, and a halfway house counselor before starting to write fiction. To learn more, visit www.elisabethelo.com.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

A lobster boat is rammed by a freighter twenty miles north of Boston, and Ned, her skipper, is drowned. His friend, Pirio Kasparov, crewing for him as a favour, is rescued after four hours in the icy water.
Back onshore, as Pirio struggles to explain the disaster to Noah, Ned's ten-year-old boy who is also her godson, she feels compelled to seek justice - to track down and identify the ship which she sees as the vehicle of hit-and-run criminals.

As she starts to trace it, she encounters a reporter who is interested in the collision himself, but he is also delving into Ned's past. There are hints of abnormal behaviour, the expensive fishing boat having been a gift from Ned's former employers. There are mystifying photos on Noah's mobile, sent by his father. Also, Pirio's flat is broken into but nothing is stolen.

Suspicions begin to mount. Could the hit-and-run have been more - a deliberate running down? And if so, what could have been the motivation? The compulsion to find answers takes Pirio to Northern Canada, dogsbody on a luxury yacht, to find unexpected allies among the Inuit, and witnessing a bloodbath that has nothing to do with greed or sex but sheer lust for killing.

Initially, North of Boston is a wonderful portrayal of relationships: Pirio's with her delightful godson, with his alcoholic mother, with her own fierce Russian father. Elo sets her stage slowly and with care, flowing seamlessly through the detection of obscene crimes into the danger and ugliness of that Arctic cruise.

[Aditi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it's such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her.”

----Ellen DeGeneres


Elisabeth Elo, an American author, has penned her debut thriller, North of Boston, that unfolds a riveting mystery behind the accident of a man fishing with her friend on boat who were hit by a large freight ship that came out of nowhere and left no trail behind it's disappearance thereby killing the man and leaving his friend floating in the sub-zero temperature of the Atlantic waters.


Synopsis:

Boston-bred Pirio Kasparov is out on her friend Ned’s fishing boat when a freighter rams into them, dumping them both into the icy waters of the North Atlantic. Somehow, she survives nearly four hours before being rescued. Ned is not so lucky. Pirio can’t shake the feeling that what happened was no accident, a suspicion seconded by her cynical Russian-immigrant father. And when Pirio teams up with the unlikeliest of partners, she begins unraveling a terrifying plot that leads to the frozen reaches of the Canadian arctic, where she confronts her ultimate challenge: to trust herself.

Pirio Kasparov, the survivor of a horrific accident in the Atlantic waters makes her a celebrity within a night. Ned and Pirio were fishing when a large freight ship hits their trailer, throwing both Pirio and Ned off the boat and into the sub-zero temperature. Luckily, Pirio survives the harsh cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, but Ned couldn't survive it, leaving his son, Noah, fatherless and grieving with an alcoholic mother. Pirio is a no-fuss and don't-care attitude kind of woman who is too good even for herself, takes proper care of her godson, Noah after his father's death. Soon Pirio launches an investigation all by herself with the help of a mysterious claimed-to-be-Ned's-friend-cum-journalist to find out about the freight ship, and little did she knew that she would have to face herself with the Russian gangsters as well as hunters looking for bigger prey in the deepest core of the Atlantic Ocean.


First, I must say that being a debut author, the author has penned an incredibly engaging as well as a well-layered thriller that might not give a lot of thrills for starters but is sure to keep you pinning for an unusual heroine fighting all by herself with some dangerous fishermen for her godson, Noah. The writing style is amazingly gripping as well as articulate with a free-flowing narrative style. The prose is thought-provoking at times with it's challenging ideas thrown here-and-there in the plot. Also the book enlightens the readers about the world of hunting whales and other big mammals living in the deep sea. The pacing is very fast as the mystery unravels the readers mind smoothly with appropriate twists and turns thrown at the right moments.

The characterization is done strongly, especially, the young 10-year old fatherless boy, Noah who being so young understands the gravity of the problem surrounding his mother and his godmother, Pirio. The author has sketched an unusual portrait of a 10 year old boy whose mind picks up the pieces of the current situations like a bolt thereby evoking his introvert kind of reaction at all times when he was around his alcoholic mother. But his sharpness became evident when he was around his godmother, Pirio and it was very obvious that the boy preferred her company more than his own mother. Noah plays a pivotal role in his father's accident mystery that helps Pirio solve a greater piece of puzzle in the mystery.

Pirio, on the other hand, didn't appeal to me that much, I mean, yeah, she is very rough-and-tough when it comes to life and uncovering the truth behind Ned's accident, but she is very irritating in nature with her POV as most of the time she boasted about her hot figure and looks and how men were dying for her company and even disregarded those women who were not prettier like her. Pirio talks like an honest human and her knowledge has no boundary and her determination and strong demeanor allows her to take a leap and go on a man-hunt to uncover the secrets.

The relationship angles are strongly portrayed in the books especially the relationship between Pirio, Noah and his mother-cum-Pirio's-best-friend and between Pirio and her father. Pirio's mother died when she was 10 years old who was the heir to one of the largest perfume making company, but after her mother's death, her relationship with her father and after his re-marriage, it became weaker and Pirio distanced herself from him. But in the wake of her accident along with Ned, made the bonds of a father-daughter-relationship grow bit stronger day-by-day. There is also a lot of chemistry between Pirio and that mysterious stalker man, which the author have compassionately depicted through her lucid prose.

The detailed descriptions have no end and the way the author have painted the storyline with lots of depth and back stories, it easily makes this thriller quite inspiring and very vivid. The story is set in Boston and on the Atlantic Ocean that also has been strikingly featured in the storyline thus has the power to transport the readers through the story.

Coming to the mystery part, which the author have smartly layered in to her storyline mixed with deep human emotions. And yes, the twists as well as the climax is very satisfying one that finally makes it a very strong thriller. Although, I think the secrets could have been tightly wrapped into the storyline that could have made the readers to have nail-biting moments while reading the book.

Verdict: Yes, this turns out to be a promising as well as a must-read thriller that features a cold and hard-talking Russian-American heroine.

Courtesy: Thanks to the author and her publisher from Penguin Random House, for giving me an opportunity to read and review her book.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a galley copy of North of Boston via goodreads.com's Early Reads Giveaways. It was a privilege to be among the first to read this work, and I thank the author and publisher for that.

If I had lunch with author Elisabeth Elo, I'd love to ask her about this character of hers, Pirio Kasparov. While by the end of the book I would describe Pirio as multifaceted and interesting, through much of North of Boston I struggled to get past the first adjective that came to mind in describing her: annoying!

Pirio Kasparov is far too certain of her own hotness, and way too quick to disparage others by the quality of their appearance. I found this aspect of the character (presumed to be intended as a heroic one) to be distracting and irritating. She frequently points out her own attractiveness as noticed by seemingly every male person she comes across. She demonstrates the inferiority of other female characters by pointing out flaws in their attire. (Johnny's wife, Libby Smith, the essential oils lady, and omg the "dumpy cashier!") So even though I know she's the hero, I just kept thinking how arrogant and condescending she is.

Which, if it was intentional, might actually be pretty brilliant. After all, it's a lot more interesting to have an imperfect hero. (Think the arrogant Hawkeye Pierce from M*A*S*H : annoyingly sure of his place in the center of the universe, but heroic none-the-less) The thing is, though, it was somehow my impression that these traits actually were seeping through the cracks from the author's own personal mindset rather than something she was intentionally building into the character. (Don't ask why because I don't know, exactly, but that was my impression.)

So, after they bring the appetizers at our lunch, I'm asking Ms. Elo outright..."Did you make her such an arrogant narcissist twit on purpose?" If so, well played indeed, as you've created a flawed character that can indeed sustain herself through multiple volumes.

Read this book for the atmosphere. It flows great, it's vividly descriptive and has an immense range of ideas and places.

Read this book for the relationships. North of Boston is at its absolute best when it's relating the tragically dysfunctional triangle between a 10-year-old boy, his inept train-wreck of a mother who's completely abdicated parental responsibility in favor of men and bottle, and the mom's childhood best friend and adult enabler Pirio Kasparov. The author took me straight into the anguish of a bad situation and this was by far my favorite aspect of the book. (Chapter 14 is brilliant!) The heroine's relationship with her father is also interesting and non-conventional. (The relationship with Ned, however, could've been developed more since it's the linchpin for justifying most of the plot.)

Read this book for the range. Unless you know a lot about the plot in advance, you probably won't suspect where it's going. It cuts such a wide swath, you're sure to find something that appeals to you.

Don't read this book, however, for the mystery. At least not the realistic, believable kind. There are just too many circumstances and events to advance the adventurous plot that seem really far-fetched to me. (I mean c'mon: a temperature-impervious championship swimming perfumier, who -- while turning every male head in Boston -- takes on a heap of longshoreman and Russian gangsters and hypothermia to save the whales and fall in love with a one-armed journalist? I mean... come on .)

So a few points taken off by the Russian judge (grin) for that, but overall this is a good book worth reading. Three-and-a-half stars.

[Elizabeth George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful sense of place, vulnerable characters, and a heroine who can kick butt and take names. I really enjoyed this book. The writing itself is first rate all the way. I admit to having to skip a few paragraphs of terrible violence (which I normally don't do or have to do), but that's to the credit of the author who made it so real. I'd read more by this author.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly appreciated the lack of profanity, graphic violence, and descriptive sex. This is just a great plot peopled with intelligent characters that stands on its own merit. What a vivid read! Riveting!

I appreciated the allusions to Dennis LeHane and Smilla's Sense of Snow in the promotional materials, and agreed wholeheartedly. In the same way that Smilla says, "I know snow", Pirio knows the ocean, and has the uncanny ability to survive hours in forty degree water. For both of these women, this skill serves them well.

Well written! A thriller for all!

I read this courtesy of NetGalley.

[Cynnamon · Rating 4 out of 5]

For English version please scroll down

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Spannender Thiller im Eismeeer

Im Klappentext meiner Ausgabe vergleicht eine Zeitschrift dieses Buch mit Fräulein Smillas Gespür für Schnee. Doch obwohl einige Parallelen bestehen war das Lesegefühl doch ein ganz anderes. Smillas Abenteuer waren sehr viel düsterer und Smilla erschien mir eine ganze Ecke unabhängiger und selbstbestimmter.

Dennoch ist dieser Thriller nicht zu verachten. Unsere Protagonistin Pirio Kasparov (Amerikanerin mit russischem Vater) hilft einem hummerfischendem Freund auf seinem Boot, als dieses gerammt wird und sinkt. Der Freund stirbt, Pirio nicht. Da sie dem Sohn des Mannes uns der zugehörigen Kindsmutter emotional verbunden ist, versucht Pirio herauszufinden wer sie gerammt hat und warum. Gleichzeitig mit der Untersuchung dieses (wie sich später herausstellt) Kriminalfalles erfährt Pirio auch eine Menge über ihren Vater und ihre verstorbene Mutter.

Ich fand die Geschichte wirklich spannend und ich mochte Pirio. Die Tatsache, dass sie lange im kalten Wasser aushält wäre für die Story jedoch nicht wirklich notwendig gewesen auch wenn es Pirio noch ein bisschen interessanter gemacht hat.
Die Autorin hat durchaus auch mit Klischees gearbeitet, so zum Beispiel die gewaltätigen und furchteinflössenden Russen, die völlig gewissenlosen Superreichen, der investigative Journalist, der alles aufs Spiel setzt. Sie hat die Klischees jedoch nicht überdosiert, so dass sich die Geschichte zu einem angenehmen Ganzen gefügt hat.

Wer gerne einen spannenden Thriller mit Schiffen, Fischfang und Nordmeeren lesen möchte, ist hiermit sicherlich sehr gut bedient.

4 Sterne.

--------------------

Exciting Thiller in the Labrador Sea

On the back of my edition, a magazine compares this book with Smilla's Sense of Snow. But although there are some parallels, the atmosphere was quite different. Smilla's adventures were much darker and Smilla seemed a whole lot more independent and self-determined to me.

Still, this thriller is not to be despised. Our protagonist Pirio Kasparov (American with Russian father) helps a lobster-fishing friend on his boat when it gets rammed and sinks. The friend dies, Pirio does not. Since she is emotionally connected to the son of the man and the child’s mother, Pirio tries to find out who rammed them and why. Simultaneously with the investigation of this (as it later turns out) criminal case, Pirio also learns a lot about her father and her deceased mother.

I found the story really exciting and I liked Pirio. The fact that she can hold out in cold water for a long time wasn't really necessary for the story, even if it made Pirio an even more interesting character.
The author also worked with stereotypes, for example the violent and terrifying Russians, the completely unscrupulous super-rich, the investigative journalist who risks everything. However, she did not overdose on the clichés, so the story fell into a pleasant overall picture.

If you would like to read an exciting thriller with ships, fishing and murder set in Boston and the North Atlantic, this is the book for you.

4 stars.

[Olenka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lo mejor del libro, el personaje de Pirio que me ha encantado! Por momentos se me ha hecho un poco largo y pesado, descripciones que a mi parecer no eran necesarias. Sentí que le ha faltado "algo"... aún así ha estado entretenido

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to believe that this book is Elisabeth Elo's debut novel. The story is quite unique, and the writing flows with an even pace. There are many aspects of this story that appeal to me, with the name of the main character, Pirio Kasparov, leading the way. Character development seems to be a particular strength with Elo, as Pirio and all the supporting cast are given a thorough treatment of background and how they have all arrived to be a part of the events that unfold. I admit that I wasn't sure where the author hoped to go with the initial mystery of what caused the accident to the lobster boat that resulted in one death and Pirio's miraculous survival. But, then, as with all captivating stories, the layers start to be peeled away, revealing so much more than just an unfortunate boating accident. Elo introduces the characters in the progressive drama at just the right times, and brings out the nasty secrets of those who will stop at nothing to get what they want when they want it. So, a boating accident becomes murder, and Pirio Kasparov becomes an indefatigable pursuer of the truth and champion to a cause that she wasn't even aware existed before she defied the odds and survived four hours in 48 degree ocean water. Pirio has defied the odds before, though, as she overcame a troubled, if privileged childhood, and landed in life as a responsible thirty-year-old woman, who must be a stable force in the life of her unstable friend's son and is the heir-apparent to a prospering perfume business. After the funeral of her friend Ned, who was owner of the lobster boat and killed in the accident/murder, Pirio connects with two men at the bar where mourners gather. One is a former boyfriend and friend of Neds, a boyfriend whom she hasn't seen in years and who is now married with children. The other man, a stranger to Pirio, engages her in talk about Ned and the accident, and he later poses as an insurance investigator. Neither man is what he seems and both will play a significant part in Pirio's attempts to find out what really happened the night she and Ned were hit by a freighter. The author knows her way around the fishing industry and the ships that participate in it, and she takes the reader on a learning journey of legal and illegal practices of that industry. Pirio begins her search for answers in Boston, but she must travel to the Canadian Artic and her childhood past to unravel a crime most heinous.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like for the first novel the author grabbed everything and chucked it up against the wall spoiler below



Spoiler leading to a troubled rich girl protecting alcoholic friends son from ex lover while solving crime dealing with ability to stay in cold water comes in handy for saving whales from billionaires

I think subsequent efforts by the author will be much more promising with a little restraint

[gaudeo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seems to have all the ingredients for a thriller . . . but somehow it isn't thrilling. It could be the pacing, it could be the misguided metaphors here and there, it could be the lack of emotional connection to the reader; but it's probably all of these factors and then a few more. In any case, I figure that if even someone living north of Boston isn't fully engaged, who else will be?

[Bren]

Este es el primer thriller de subgenero ambientalista que leo, la verdad es que me ha gustado a pesar de los pesares.

El thriller me ha gustado, no ha sido nada convencional y mas bien ha resultado en una tipo aventura personal en la que se ha enbarcado la protagonista, más por curiosa que por cualquier otra circunstancia, esto la lleva inevitablemente a ir detrás de un grupo de millonarios que se dedica a la cacería furtiva, así pues, nuestra protagonista no es precisamente una ambientalista que busca justicia o que este realmente muy precupada por los animales o la caza furtiva, es casi por casualidad.

La verdad es que yo esperaba que al menos alguno de los involucrados sería algún activista de Greenpeace o algo parecido, pero no ha sido el caso, aún así, en cuanto al tema ambientalista el libro cumple a la perfección con respecto a una denuncia social no solo sobre el hecho, si no también en poner en relieve la falta de interés que hay en general sobre el tema, lo poco que le importa a la sociedad en general y mucho menos a la politica que hace la vista gorda por no meterse con grandes fortunas.

Por otro lado, estando este libro contado en primera persona, la protagonista nos va contando no solo como se ve involucrada en esta aventura si no en su vida diaria, su estilo de vida, la vida de su mejor amiga, el hijo de ésta, su padre, sus recuerdos con su madre, en fin, que básicamente es casi como un diario de vida donde además de todo se ve involucrada en un complot de asesinato.

Tal vez hay momentos que podrían resultar nada importantes con relación al tema principal, pero con todo y eso a mí en lo personal me ha gustado la lectura, será tal vez porque Pirio me ha caído bien y me ha gustado su manera de ser y de pensar.

En general ha sido una buena lectura, entretenida

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piero Kasparov is a tough rich girl (or very nearly rich), who has lived wild since high school (she's thirty). Her family owns a leading perfume company, which she will inherit, and she knows how to run it. But she's crewing on a pal's new lobster boat as a favor when it is run over by a large unidentified sea-going vessel. Her friend dies and she survives, though against all odds. The Navy and Coast Guard even test her at a research facility to see why she was able to survive when hypothermia should have killed her. That survival factor comes into play later in the novel.

Unwilling to accept the authorities' inability to identify the vessel, Piero goes into action, thereby putting herself in considerable danger, not that a foreknowledge of danger would stop her. She has a strong personality, to say the least, and great determination. Part of her determination is directed at her self-destructive friend Thomasina, the former wife of the dead lobsterman, and her high-function Ausberger-type son, Noah. Piero makes them part of her general crusade, as well. Thomasina and Noah are affected by the death Piero is searching to understand, as they are connected to the dead man, and as they are Piero's one great vulnerability. How Piero comes to take greater responsibility for them while uncovering those who killed her friend makes for a great novel both of intrigue and friendship.

Elizabeth Elo, a truly gifted writer, gives Pirio a distinct and eloquent voice. Her writing is consistently interesting. There is a lot happening, and even the small pieces are interesting. There is an extended scene involving trapped whales that is breathtakingly sad and triumphant at the same time. There is a scene that's sort of a wake for the dead friend that is sad and funny at the same time. There is a description of a one-time boyfriend-turned bad guy who knows he's bad, that is touching and dangerous at the same time. Her ability to describe the struggles within the Kasparov family is powerful, even when individuals are behaving irrationally.

Pirio Kasparov ranks with Fina Ludlow and Izzy Spellman in terms of voice, but she's a more interesting person. Elizabeth Elo is a writer to reckon with.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel is a surprisingly fascinating, thrilling and powerful read. Pirio Kasparov defies medicine after surviving for four hours in frigid Atlantic waters after the lobster boat she was on was run through by a large freight ship. The owner of the lobster boat isn’t as lucky. Pirio’s friend, Ned, is dead and helps his ex-lover and mother of his child (who is herself an old boarding school friend of Pirio’s) grieve. Spurred on by her successful perfume-owning father, Pirio begins to search for the truth behind the fateful collision.

She ends up discovering far more than the identity of the ship - but also truths about her friend Ned, herself, her own past and a much larger plot that puts her skills for survival to the test. It’s an absorbing novel filled with characters that feel quite authentic - Elo never hesitates to put their flaws and more positive attributes on the page results in characters that leap off the page. Elo’s characters are never flat or one-dimensional.

There are some abrupt transitions in the beginning, but it’s easy to get sucked into the plot. Pirio’s perspective, her observations add some humour though the book travels in some very dark and murky places. It’s a very strong debut novel - though I have a softness for thrillers that manage to involve characters not in the more typical careers found in thrillers (no cops or lawyers here). I think Pirio’s father was my favorite character, and though I doubt that Elo will write a sequel - I am not quite ready to say goodbye to these characters. I wish that the ending had a bit more justice to it. This is a terrific debut, and I can’t wait to read more from this talented author!

[AdiTurbo · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Everything seems to be working in favor of this book - the writing, the characters, the setting, but still, nothing does. It is emotionally-flat - the tragedies aren't sad, the mystery plot not suspenseful, the funny parts unfunny. It didn't touch me at all, and I didn't care what happens to the characters or what the solution to the mystery was. Also, some of the character adn plot elements were simply implausible and even ridiculous. Shame, it could have made a wonderful book with a little more soul in it.

[Mary Ahlgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

An over the top book which I wanted to dislike but couldn't. I am definitely not one of those who can withstand cold temperatures. but I found that I liked the premise, the geography, and at least a couple of the characters.

[Mariota · Rating 3 out of 5]

El libro se me ha hecho muy largo, contaba todo con pelos y señales: el amanecer, por dónde iba, etc.. y se me ha hecho pesado.
La trama es buena. El argumento es bueno, la denuncia sobre la caza indiscriminada de ballenas, narvales, etc... y que además a nadie le importa, es la realidad. Pero se me ha hecho muy largo en sus descripciones.

[Jacqie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was billed as a match to Dennis Lehane. In some ways, I'll agree. The book's characters are fascinating and by far the strongest part of the book .Pirio, the main character, and her friend Thomasina are interesting, flawed, multi-faceted and real. Noah, Thomasina's son, is a heartbreaking little boy. I'm not often a fan of child characters who are put in as motivation but I felt that Noah had a purpose beyond that and was interesting in his own right. The relationship between these three characters was what drove the book for me. The look at the difference between upper and lower class lifestyles, from the socialites of Boston to the docks, was also well done as a contrast.

SPOILERS FOLLOW*****

Unfortunately, there's a mystery in here too and that's where the book falls down. The mystery itself requires that Pirio, who has been established as hard-headed and practical, do something idiotic. The impetus for the mystery is that as Pirio and Thomasina's ex-husband Ned were working a lobster boat they were hit by a large ship. The boat is totaled and Pirio is the only one to survive, after somehow surviving in frigid water long after most people would be dead. Pirio slowly begins to believe that the collision was more than an accident. As her suspicions grow, she decides that the best way to confront the mystery is to sign on as crew on a boat full of the main suspects. She gets onto the boat by asking a buddy of hers who she knows to be somewhat shady himself, and perhaps even a suspect, who also knows that she is suspicious of the accident and is investigating it. There's a scene in which her buddy says a very final sounding goodbye to her, but she doesn't twig to the fact that this guy, who is a suspect in the death of his best friend, probably won't balk at offing her as well. I hope this makes sense.

Anyway, as one might suspect, Pirio is to be killed aboard this boat. She escapes in an unlikely way, having figured out that the plot is about rich jerks hunting seals, whales, whatever they think might be fun to kill, while avoiding any pesky laws about endangered species. If you are an animal lover who does not like reading scenes about animal killings and death, there is a scene that you won't want to read.

At the end of the book, Pirio is dragged off to be shot by the bad guys, with her somewhat tepid love interest as bait. The final scene is just like any other scene out of an action movie- the bad guys pontificate, the love interest (he was so boring!) creates just enough of a distraction for Pirio to grab a gun and blow everybody away like in Lethal Weapon. Like I said, the mystery part is extremely weak.

And honestly, I think there's a better book in here. Pirio's strange ability to remain functional in icy water is explored, and comes into play in a strange and beautiful way later in the book- you'll see it coming but it's still a pleasure to read. The description of her family- her Russian father and mysterious, gorgeous, dead mother and the complicated relationship they have with their daughter- is also a great read, and the description of the northern retreat that Pirio and her mother would escape to every summer is gorgeous. In that way,the book does remind one of Smilla's Sense of Snow, with a look at a very different culture and life, austere and unearthly yet satisfying. Setting and description are lovely.

I think that if the author had concentrated more on her characters and the internal mysteries and problems that they were dealing with- addiction, loneliness, how to find a place in the world- this probably would have been a stronger book. I think the writing is very good, but the plotting was extremely clumsy and I'd like to see the author tighten up the plotting to make it less predictable and make her characters smarter in order to build a stronger second book. I'd like to read more from this author, even more about these characters, but I'd say make it a better mystery or don't make it a mystery at all.

[Pop Culture Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally appeared at Pop Culture Nerd, along with a giveaway.

In crime fiction, the protagonists can start to resemble each other after a while: tough FBI agent or military guy or cop or private eye, etc. I'm not saying books can't be good with those types of characters--it all depends on the execution--only that every once in a while, it's nice to see a different type of protagonist, and that's who Pirio Kasparov is, in Elisabeth Elo's debut, North of Boston.

One foggy night, Pirio is on a lobster boat with her friend Ned when a huge ship comes out of nowhere, crashes into the little boat, and quickly sinks it. The ship moves on without stopping. Ned perishes but Pirio survives, for over four hours in frigid waters before she's rescued. She becomes somewhat of a local celebrity, and the US Navy wants her to submit to tests to determine how her body managed to stave off hypothermia when most people would've succumbed.

But Pirio, heir to a successful perfume business started by her Russian immigrant parents, only wants to find the ship that ran over Ned's lobster boat. She meets resistance from the Coast Guard and others telling her to just accept the accident as a hit-and-run.

Then she meets a mysterious man at Ned's memorial, someone who seems to want the truth as much as she does. Neither realizes how deadly the truth is, and how their attempt to see justice done will land them in deep waters, literally and figuratively.

Pirio is someone I took to right away, a woman who's smart, not touchy-feely, and blunt to her father and friends if she feels they need to hear the truth. Her one soft spot is for her ten-year-old godson, Noah, who also wants to know what happened to his father, Ned.

The prose is full of witty descriptions such as this:

Her dress is cream and pink, a boatneck, small stripes, and some kind of floppy belt. It looks as if it started out in the morning for a 1912 steamship, took a detour to a 1950s garden party in the suburbs, and ended up in a 2013 online catalog.

When Pirio is in the mysterious man's home, trying to figure out if he's a good or bad guy, she checks out his bookshelf and has this observation:

*Mild spoiler*

The environmental books are persuasive, but the book that makes the strongest case for his not-evil character is The Elements of Style. What bad guy would give a shit about the difference between which and that?

*End spoiler*

Can't argue with her there.

The story goes from the Boston area to more remote locales up the Labrador Coast in northern Canada, where the beauty of the land is contrasted by the danger Pirio is in and the ugliness of the bad people's actions.

The descriptions of the tests Pirio endures for the navy--for the sake of her country, she's told---are terrifying and hypnotic at the same time. I could easily visualize and imagine the mental and physical states Pirio goes through as she voluntarily freezes to the brink of death while the navy studies her. Did I mention this woman is tough?

The one false note for me was Pirio's repeated musings on love: how she wants it, how she's not sure if she's ever felt it, what true love feels like, whether or not she'll ever find it, etc. Her longing is clear and doesn't need to be reiterated so often.

But that's a small quibble, and I'd definitely sign up for Elo's next exotic adventure. The press materials accompanying my review copy said the author spent time last year in Siberia and that's partly where her next novel will be set.

[Luanne Ollivier · Rating 3 out of 5]

North of Boston is Elisabeth Elo's debut novel. She introduces us to a unique protagonist in this literary mystery - Pirio Kasparov. Pirio is the child of Russian immigrants and heir to the perfume dynasty started by her parents. She's also a bit of a rebel, taking chances and sometimes leaping without looking.

Pirio is helping Ned, the father of her best's friend's child, on his lobster boat when they are hit by a tanker and she is plunged into the freezing ocean. Against all odds, she survives four hours in the frigid water. Ned is not so lucky. And the tanker leaves the scene.

Pirio is determined to find out who killed Ned. She begins investigating on her own - and it takes her places she could not have foreseen and circles back to her own past. The Navy is also interested in Pirio's ability to withstand the cold water.

I must admit to feeling torn on North of Boston. I thought that Pirio was an interesting character, but I'm not sure I ever really liked her. Pirio is quite sure of herself and her abilities, but I ended up feeling like she was too full of herself. The ability to withstand cold water seemed to be a convenient way to introduce a plot machination later in the book. I expected more to happen with the Navy, but perhaps it will in the next book as Elo is going to reprise Pirio and the supporting cast.

North of Boston is aptly described as a literary mystery, rather than a detective or police procedural. (Quite frankly, the ending was more than a bit coincidental and unbelievable.) Elo works many elements into her plot - families, children, parents, lovers, addictions, business, perfumes, social commentary on the fishing industry, environmental issues and more. A few too many for this reader as the story just seemed way too busy. As North of Boston is a debut with a planned sequel, perhaps this busyness was simply to establish her characters and their lives.

The standout character for me was Ned's young son Noah. His ability to cope and his curious nature made me want to rescue him. His mother Thomasina, her addictions and her partying just got tiresome. Pirio's interaction and relationship with Noah as well as her father Milosa were very well portrayed.

Elo provides excellent information and commentary on perfumes, scents as well as environmental problems. Elo's description of time and place were very well done. She is a talented wordsmith, but North of Boston was just an okay read for me.

[Amy Lignor · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are gritty, hardcore mysteries and then there are gritty, witty mysteries that bring excellent humor, in-depth storytelling, and truly descriptive scenes together in a combination that makes you wish that the novel was playing out on the big screen. This particular debut is the latter; an amazing page-turner that brings Pirio Kasparov, an extremely witty girl from Boston, onto the literary scene.

Pirio is about face a huge challenge. A fishing boat she’s on is rammed, supposedly by a huge freighter, out in the North Atlantic. All alone for four hours, Pirio beats the odds and survives the freezing water until the Coast Guard comes to her rescue. Although she is saved and looks at a future, her friend and owner of the boat, Ned, is lost in the and presumed dead by everyone.

Pirio feels deep in her heart that she should take care of Ned’s son, Noah - especially since the boy’s mother, Thomasina, has many problems of her own, least of which is being an alcoholic. She’s not exactly the best mother in the world and Pirio wants to help as much as possible.

The so-called ‘accident’ weighs heavily on her mind; she truly feels that the circumstances of the tragedy seem to her to be premeditated. Her father agrees, and tells Pirio to look deeper. Coincidences (which don’t exist) happen when the Navy calls her to participate in a research project that will focus on the survival of humans when placed in dangerously cold temperatures; after all, she’s the expert.

Helped by Russell Parnell, a journalist, the duo discover a plot that will take readers to the shadowed whaling grounds located off Baffin Island in Northern Canada. Pirio has to trust herself, especially when she sees that her theory of premeditation was correct: Ned’s death was no accident. Against all odds, she must overcome a betrayal from her past and surge forward to prove a murder has taken place. This is non-stop action; a debut read that is highly recommended to all suspense mavens out there. Enjoy!

[PopcornReads - MkNoah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review & Giveaway: I love book covers that cause me to wonder what’s going on, like the one for North of Boston by Elisabeth Elo. Why is this woman standing peering into the fog at the end of a dock? Very mysterious and I knew I had to find out – I’m like a curious cat that way. Reading the publisher’s description clinched the deal; I knew I had to read this book. If you like mysteries or thrillers with strong, persistent but caring women protagonists who won’t stop until they learn the truth, I predict you’re going to love North of Boston. And you could win a copy! The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway with us and will be mailing a copy to one lucky U.S. reader, so be sure to enter at http://popcornreads.com/?p=7123.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

North of Boston is a gripping and fast-paced novel. Constant interruptions and life in general kept me frustrated as I wanted to sit and read this book straight through, in one-sitting. Ideally, that's how it should be read.

While the plot was not as compelling as I would have liked, and some of it even predictable, the lead character Pirio more than made up for any minor defects in the story. Pirio is edgy, brainy, fearless, strong and vulnerable at the same time, and lonely enough to take risks she should not. I have not come across a character as dimensional and fascinating as Pirio since Lisbeth Salander in the Steig Larsson novels. . . . Pirio alone makes this novel well-worth reading.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the description of this book, I thought I would enjoy reading it. There were parts that were interesting, but overall I think that the author tried to encompass too many elements. Or maybe it should have been two books. The part I got most involved in was how Pirio was able to survive in extreme cold water and the U.S. Navy's interest in that. I also liked Pirio's interest and support in Noah, her godson. But when The author went into Pirio's involvement in the perfume industry and her Russian heritage, things just didn't hold together for me. I don't think the issues before Pirio were resolved. Two and a half stars rounded up to three because I cared enough to finish the book.

[Harold Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book from a remainders bin and left it on my shelf for over a year. Now that I've finally read it, I have to wonder — "What's wrong with me?!" Best book I've read in March.

[Kathleen Minde · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book world, thrillers are usually lacking in the kickass female lead department. They are commonly relegated to sidekick or annoying, but resourceful, friend who just happens to be beautiful as well. The book world needs strong, intelligent, interesting female leads and North of Boston introduces us to Pirio Kasparov, a woman of many talents, an unusual background, and is quite possibly beautiful, but the author does not dwell on this aspect. Instead, she gives the enterprising Pirio style and strength, for which, I am eternally grateful.

An accidental collision on the high seas between a large freighter and the smaller lobster boat Pirio and her friend, Ned, are working on leaves her stranded in the frigid waters for four days. Ned’s body is never found. However, Pirio’s survival is more than a miracle, it is an impossibility that catches the attention of the Navy and earns her the nickname, The Swimmer.

But, Pirio is more than a fisherman; she is the second generation in a Russian family of perfumers. Their creations are world famous and her family has financially benefitted allowing Pirio the finest in everything. But, Pirio is rebellious; as a teen, she almost gets kicked out of various boarding schools, her early twenties were spent drinking heavily and one-night stands with roughnecks. Now, as an adult and CEO at Inessa Mark perfume company, she drives a twelve-year old car and hangs out with her alcoholic friend, Thomasina, Ned’s ex-girlfriend and mother to his precocious son, Noah.

Her relationship with her father, the prickly Milosa, is complicated. Widowed twenty years ago, his second wife now an employee at Inessa Mark, he is always pushing Pirio to think outside the box. Why was Ned’s boat hit? Was it truly an accident? And what is she going to do about it?

Strange incidents following the boat accident provoke Pirio to investigate the accident. The Navy and the Coast Guard stonewall her. Even old friends and lovers tell her it was simply an accident. But then she finds an unusual ally in a journalist who is investigating the boat accident and a conspiracy that she would never have imagined. The adventurous side of Pirio kicks into high gear and, thinking outside the box, she pushes herself, sometimes into dangerous situations, in her search for the truth.

What I liked about Pirio is her loyalty to the impulsive Thomasina, her tenderness towards the boy, Noah, and her complicated relationship with her father. She is also a woman who uses her wits and does not need a man to swoop in and save her. While she does accomplish some debatably impossible feats, she is, after all, The Swimmer. And if a woman can survive frigid ocean waters for four days, how can the reader not accept Pirio’s ability to get to the bottom of what was first assumed to be a tragic accident at sea.

The book ends with the possibility that Pirio will return again because the book world needs more kickass perfume CEO’s who take chances, use their wits, and can tell the bad guy what unsavory act a dog did with his mother in Russian.

[Leselotteliese · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Pass auf dich auf, Pirio, hörst du? Ein paar von uns lieben dich, wie du weißt." (Seite 323).

Inhalt: Pirio überlebt einen Unfall, den normalerweise Menschen nicht überleben. Sie war mit einem Freund Ned auf dessen Schiff auf Hummerfang, bis sie von einem riesen Schiff gerammt werden. Ned stirbt bei diesem Unfall, Pirio kann wie ein Wunder lang genug im eiskaltem Wasser überleben, bis sie gerettet werden kann. Pirio ist nun auf der Suche nach Antworten. Wie konnte sie so lange im eiskaltem Wasser überleben (hieran hat auch die Navy besonderes Interesse)? Jedoch sucht sie vor allem Antworten, welches Schiff sie gerammt haben und ob das vielleicht gar kein Zufall war. Sie beginnt auf eigener Faust an zu ermitteln.

Handlung und Stil: Hierbei handelt es sich um einen Roman. Ich empfand dieses Buch jedoch eher wie einen Krimi à la Tatort, in der das Opfer auf eigene Ermittlungen geht. Gut gefallen hat mir der Schreibstil von Elizabeth Elo. Das Buch ist verständlich geschrieben und es lässt sich flüssig lesen. Hinter der Geschichte hat viel Potential gesteckt. An einigen Stellen wurde die Handlung auch gut ausgearbeitet. Zum Ende zu hat mir doch noch einiges gefehlt. Ich habe mich teilweise im Dunkeln stehen gelassen gefühlt, einige Auflösungen haben mir gefehlt.

Die Geschichte ist in der Ich-Perspektive geschrieben. Ich habe mir mit den ersten Seiten etwas schwer getan, bis ich in die Geschichte vollständig einsteigen konnte. Als ich mich jedoch erst mal auf Pirio eingelassen hatte, konnte ich jedoch der Geschichte sehr gut folgen.

Charaktere: Pirio ist die Protagonistin des Romanes. Eine Frau, die ziemlich tapfer ist. Sie ist intelligent und sehr mutig. So macht sie sich auf eigene Faust an die Ermittlungen. Sie hat ein gestörtes Verhältnis zu ihrem Vater Milosa. Er hat ihr nie gezeigt, dass er sie von ganzem Herzen liebt. Sie wurde von ihm zu oft kritisiert und selten bis nie gelobt.

Ned, Thomasina und Noah sind Freunde von Pirio. Ned und Thomasina waren früher ein Paar und haben einen gemeinsamen Sohn - Noah. Tohmasina hat ein Alkoholproblem und generell eine instabile Person. Noah ist das Patenkind von Pirio. Er ist mit die wichtigste Person für Pirio. So veranlasst sie auch alles für die Sicherheit von Noah und Thomasina.

Fazit: Das Buch hat mir an für sich gut gefallen. Jedoch wurde mir am Ende zu viel offen gelassen, zu viele unbeantwortete Fragen. Deshalb von mir 3 gutgemeinte Sterne.

[Kaitlyn King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ksteenbookreview calls it "exciting, mysterious, and thrilling!"

Hey everyone, so I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of North of Boston from the lovely author and Goodreads, and I thought I should give you my thoughts on the book. Now, it is not what I would normally read, as it is a bit above my age group, but I really have to say that I enjoyed it!
It was packed with mystery and suspense, murder, love, and all the things that a teen would love. The only difference was that instead of from the point of view of a clumsy teen, it is from a grown woman, who is well on her way in life. So here we go!

Meet Pirio, Russian descent, who is living in America, and has just recovered from a tragic accident that killed her friend. While they were out fishing in his boat they are run down by a large tanker and she is thrown into the icy waters out in the sea while her friend is drown aboard the ship.
She lives, astoundingly, in the chilly waters for four hours, a hell of a lot longer than any human ever should be able to. This makes her a hero in the eyes of the public. But things are not always what they seem...
There arises the possibility of the accident not being so much of an accident as much of a murder. But still, it is hard to believe... Even when it becomes apparent that the company her friend left has a lot of money at stake, and that he quit at a bad time of year with information that could bring down the company...
But besides figuring this mystery out, Pirio also has to deal with her alcoholic friend and her son who is also her godson and one of her best friends. Not to mention the reporter who is on her tail trying to get more information. Also, add in a crazy, maybe dying, father and the company she is going to inherit once he is gone. Yeah, she has a lot on her hand.
Will she be able to keep an eye on her godson, run a company, and solve her friends murder? Or will she fall victim to a company willing to do anything to keep their dirty little secret?

All in all, a great read, with realistic twists and turns and a funny female character for us to follow. Give it a try if you get the chance, because it is a story worth reading, if you do ask me.
I gave it a 4 out of 5 star rating. Have a nice day!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pirio Kasparov has miraculously survived a boating accident and was rescued by the Coast Guard after four hours in freezing cold water. The owner of the boat and Pirio’s friend, Ned, did not survive. She clearly saw the boat that struck them and does not believe it was an accident.

Pirio is not the type to take no for an answer and wants to find out who is responsible for Ned’s death. She begins asking questions and conducting research on her own, eventually uncovering a complex and devious plot. In the last third of the book the story begins to come together and the action accelerates. Like most strong heroines, Pirio engages in risky behavior and even while she admits that what she is doing is dangerous and she shouldn’t do it, she does it anyway.

I liked Pirio. She’s a strong female protagonist who is smart, tough and persistent while retaining compassion and kindness which can be seen in her concern for Noah, Ned’s son, who is being raised by an often negligent alcoholic mother. Not that Pirio doesn’t have her own problems from the past, a mother who spent her time on her perfume business and a father who considered her a problem child, which continue to haunt her.

This fast-paced thriller is also a compelling mystery with an interesting cast of well-developed characters and a story-line that held my attention even though it often moved in several different directions. Family dynamics, whaling, the environment, and the perfume business are just a few of the topics. I would like to read more about Pirio, and in the end there were enough unanswered questions about her past and her family to continue the story with another adventure.

Audio Production:
Marguerite Gavin was a new narrator for me and an enjoyable experience. There are many characters in this book and she did a wonderful job altering tone, accent and inflection for the different speakers. The alcoholic Thomasina immediately comes to mind! The complex plot and large number of characters makes this an audio that requires staying attuned, but the compelling plot should keep most minds from wandering. Overall, a well-paced and excellent production.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's what I posted on my library's book review blog, MADreads: http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/m...

Starting on December 1st, librarians around the country began tweeting their top ten books for the year under the #libfaves13 hashtag (one book each day). One of the titles mentioned was Elisabeth Elo's mystery, North of Boston. Though it technically doesn't qualify (it's due out in early 2014), I immediately favorited and re-tweeted the post because of how much I loved the book when I'd read a galley.

Pirio Kasparov is a medical and biological anomaly. She survived for more than four hours in 40 degree water in the North Atlantic when the small fishing boat she was on was hit by a larger ship. Her survival in waters that would generally kill others within a short period of time is newsworthy, but for Pirio the much bigger issue is the fact that her friend Ned didn't survive the crash and she's beginning to suspect that his death was not an accident. The authorities conclude that the collision was an accident, but Ned's young son Noah is relying on Pirio to figure things out. And because she survived when Ned didn't, Pirio is determined to learn why. This even after her father, a powerful Russian businessman, warns her that nothing is as it seems and investigating may get her killed. Pirio perseveres and gains an ally in Russell Parnell, a reporter chasing the story of Ned's death.

Pirio is a great, read interesting, protagonist. Besides the fact that her very existence is a miracle - one the navy now wants to study - she's complicated and intelligent and all the things I look for in a mystery novel investigator. And she's surrounded by an equally intriguing supporting cast. Especially her father. Who is currently a fairly well-respected, retired businessman, but was once just thisclose to being a Russian gangster.

So this one is definitely on my list of faves for the year. How about you? What books would you tweet about, if given a chance? You can tell me about your faves or tweet about them yourself with the hashtag #libfaves13.

[Viviane Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrible boating accident leaves one dead man and one woman who barely survived beyond human comprehension! Working in a lobster boat with a friend, Ned Rizzo, Pirio Kasparov spends four hours in frigid waters, a feat that not even the renowned Navy Seals can accomplish without special equipment. At first Pirio and Ned���s friends show the expected comfort; but when Pirio realizes she’s not getting any answers about how a very, large ship came careening out of the dark and fog to totally wipe out Ned’s lobster boat. So she decides she will investigate what is clearly emerging as more of a possibility toward murder rather than just an unfortunate accident!
At first she is distrustful of everyone until she realizes that journalist Russell Parnell is onto something important and they begin to work together to solve this complex mystery! Plenty of risk, violence and literal death threats fill these pages and keep the reader riveted to the story.
There’s another story within the story that’s just as fascinating, a mysterious world where Pirio’s mother once lived in the Canadian village of Baffin Bay. Pirio’s parents are not your usual Mom and Dad. Intensely interested in the perfume business, she wasn’t always there for Pirio and her father treated her more like a troubled child than a loved one!
Several topics are also discussed within this novel that involve environmentalism, the perfume business, the business and legal aspects of fishing, conservation of whales and more. Elisabeth Elo has penned a fine novel that is both quaint and vividly adventurous. The plot is past-faced and characters rather unique – it’s definitely a new generation looking to save almost extinct levels of certain marine animals and fish – and they are just as passionate to make justice happen for both man and beast! Very nicely done, Ms. Elo!