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Whiteout
Featured on
THE TIMES
'best thrillers of 2025 so far' list
'Gripping debut … Cracking' – The Times
'My favourite sort of thriller … tons of fun' Guardian
'Chillingly atmospheric debut' – T M Logan
'A fast-paced and gripping thriller' – Clare Mackintosh
_________________________
Lost in Antarctica.
How long can she survive?
My name is Rachael, and I’m on a solo Antarctic expedition.
But a month ago I lost contact with basecamp.
No radio. No sat phones. Just static.
Only one thing has reached a BBC World Service broadcast, reporting a nuclear strike on the UK.
I’m safe for fourteen more days in my little hut at the bottom of the world. But I can’t stay here forever, I have to find out what’s happened.
Even if there’s no one left to tell.
__________________________
'A superb survival thriller from a writer to watch' – Steve Cavanagh
'Gripping and chilling' – Amy McCulloch
'Unique and skilled debut' – Caroline Corcoran
'A fabulous debut thriller' – Simon McCleave
'Chilling, awe-inspiring' – James Rollins
'A riveting debut—I tore through it like a blizzard’ – Giles Kristian
'Gripping debut … Cracking' – The Times
'My favourite sort of thriller … tons of fun' Guardian
'Chillingly atmospheric debut' – T M Logan
'A fast-paced and gripping thriller' – Clare Mackintosh
_________________________
Lost in Antarctica.
How long can she survive?
My name is Rachael, and I’m on a solo Antarctic expedition.
But a month ago I lost contact with basecamp.
No radio. No sat phones. Just static.
Only one thing has reached a BBC World Service broadcast, reporting a nuclear strike on the UK.
I’m safe for fourteen more days in my little hut at the bottom of the world. But I can’t stay here forever, I have to find out what’s happened.
Even if there’s no one left to tell.
__________________________
'A superb survival thriller from a writer to watch' – Steve Cavanagh
'Gripping and chilling' – Amy McCulloch
'Unique and skilled debut' – Caroline Corcoran
'A fabulous debut thriller' – Simon McCleave
'Chilling, awe-inspiring' – James Rollins
'A riveting debut—I tore through it like a blizzard’ – Giles Kristian
Audible Audio
First published February 25, 2025
123 people are currently reading
10890 people want to read
About the author
R.S. Burnett
2 books44 followersRob Burnett is a journalist/writer from Stanley, Falkland Islands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
September 30, 2024
*4.5 stars*
You would think that someone being stranded on their own in Antarctica in the long cold winter, (no sunrise or sunset) would make for a pretty boring story, but in fact it’s nothing of the sort!
English Glaciologist Rachael Beckett, left her husband Adam, and 20 month old daughter Izzy, to join an urgent research trip to a remote field station deep in the Antarctic. But after losing all communication with her crew at base camp, she’s trapped and alone – and running out of supplies - until……………...
To make the situation worse, Rachael tunes in to a BBC radio station which informs listeners that her country has been under nuclear attack, and she worries herself sick about her little family.
I won’t say any more, but the challenges that Rachael has to face is astonishing, however, it makes for some terrific action and heart pounding twists that made this reader actually panic for her situation. I can only say that it made ‘Whiteout’ a thrilling story and a definite must read.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
You would think that someone being stranded on their own in Antarctica in the long cold winter, (no sunrise or sunset) would make for a pretty boring story, but in fact it’s nothing of the sort!
English Glaciologist Rachael Beckett, left her husband Adam, and 20 month old daughter Izzy, to join an urgent research trip to a remote field station deep in the Antarctic. But after losing all communication with her crew at base camp, she’s trapped and alone – and running out of supplies - until……………...
To make the situation worse, Rachael tunes in to a BBC radio station which informs listeners that her country has been under nuclear attack, and she worries herself sick about her little family.
I won’t say any more, but the challenges that Rachael has to face is astonishing, however, it makes for some terrific action and heart pounding twists that made this reader actually panic for her situation. I can only say that it made ‘Whiteout’ a thrilling story and a definite must read.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
March 11, 2025
EEEKKK!!! A riveting survival thriller that was packed with claustrophobia, fear, and a chilling realism that I felt down to my core, Whiteout managed to surpass The Martian for me in almost every way. And that’s truly saying something for this thriller lover as that book topped my list of favorites as soon as I read it. You see, Burnett supplied an equally root-for-able protagonist as well as a cold, isolated setting that easily rivaled the vast deserts of Mars. What really won me over, however, was the traditional thriller subplot waiting quietly in the wings. No doubt about it, that took it over the edge into the land of near utter perfection.
The characterizations were the special sauce in this humdinger of a debut. From Rachael’s true-to-life persona that had a flawed, genuine core to the rest of this small cast of characters who all felt just as real to yours truly, they all came vividly—and brilliantly—to life on the page. Along with the characters, the setting deserved just as much roaring applause. Through immersive prose, the unforgiving conditions became so photographic that I could almost hear a vicious wind blowing and see nothing but darkness for miles and miles. Through this, a definite sense of isolation and hopelessness seeped into my mind.
The only piece to the puzzle that let me down just the slightest was the mildly open-ended conclusion. I would’ve loved to know how everything worked out in the end. But then, that’s just one of my own little quirks so many might not mind being left guessing about what happened next. Everything else, though, was simply sublime. After all, there was plenty of unending dread and an atmospheric edge that is hard to describe.
All in all, while facing many heart-stopping disasters in dual alternating timelines, Rachael grew to become one badass character as well as one of my favorites. Alongside a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled plot, the palpable fear and realistic themes in terms of the current state of our world made me fall head over heels for not only this novel, but the author himself. Able to construct a well-plotted and deftly written story, he also kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. So don’t wait. Order this puppy now. After all, if you love survival thrillers, this one is sure to blow you away like only Antarctica can. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
It’s been four months since glaciologist Rachael Beckett left her husband and daughter to join an urgent research trip to a remote field station deep in the Antarctic. But after losing all communication with her crew at base camp, she’s trapped and alone – and running out of supplies. The only information she has about what’s gone so catastrophically wrong is an emergency radio broadcast playing on a loop: a nuclear war has broken out, and Rachael might be the last survivor on Earth.
Abandoned and starving, all she has left is a fierce determination to stay alive in the extreme cold and perpetual darkness of the polar winter. The research she’s gathered about catastrophic climate damage means she holds the fate of the continent and the world in her grasp…if there’s even a world left to save.
Struggling with loneliness and grief over the unknown fate of her family back home, Rachael knows both her life and her sanity balance on a knife edge. As she battles to stay alive in unimaginable conditions, she soon discovers she’s not completely alone in the dark and cold–but she might wish she was…
Thank you to R.S. Burnett and Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 25, 2025
Content warning: house fire, politics, violence
The characterizations were the special sauce in this humdinger of a debut. From Rachael’s true-to-life persona that had a flawed, genuine core to the rest of this small cast of characters who all felt just as real to yours truly, they all came vividly—and brilliantly—to life on the page. Along with the characters, the setting deserved just as much roaring applause. Through immersive prose, the unforgiving conditions became so photographic that I could almost hear a vicious wind blowing and see nothing but darkness for miles and miles. Through this, a definite sense of isolation and hopelessness seeped into my mind.
The only piece to the puzzle that let me down just the slightest was the mildly open-ended conclusion. I would’ve loved to know how everything worked out in the end. But then, that’s just one of my own little quirks so many might not mind being left guessing about what happened next. Everything else, though, was simply sublime. After all, there was plenty of unending dread and an atmospheric edge that is hard to describe.
All in all, while facing many heart-stopping disasters in dual alternating timelines, Rachael grew to become one badass character as well as one of my favorites. Alongside a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled plot, the palpable fear and realistic themes in terms of the current state of our world made me fall head over heels for not only this novel, but the author himself. Able to construct a well-plotted and deftly written story, he also kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. So don’t wait. Order this puppy now. After all, if you love survival thrillers, this one is sure to blow you away like only Antarctica can. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
It’s been four months since glaciologist Rachael Beckett left her husband and daughter to join an urgent research trip to a remote field station deep in the Antarctic. But after losing all communication with her crew at base camp, she’s trapped and alone – and running out of supplies. The only information she has about what’s gone so catastrophically wrong is an emergency radio broadcast playing on a loop: a nuclear war has broken out, and Rachael might be the last survivor on Earth.
Abandoned and starving, all she has left is a fierce determination to stay alive in the extreme cold and perpetual darkness of the polar winter. The research she’s gathered about catastrophic climate damage means she holds the fate of the continent and the world in her grasp…if there’s even a world left to save.
Struggling with loneliness and grief over the unknown fate of her family back home, Rachael knows both her life and her sanity balance on a knife edge. As she battles to stay alive in unimaginable conditions, she soon discovers she’s not completely alone in the dark and cold–but she might wish she was…
Thank you to R.S. Burnett and Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 25, 2025
Content warning: house fire, politics, violence
January 17, 2025
My thanks to Crooked Lane books, R.S. Burnett and Netgalley.
When I first was approved to read this by the publisher on Netgalley I was excited. Why? Because I love stories that take place in far flung cold places. Then I started reading, and honestly, I was kind of bored. I believe my exact thoughts were somewhere along the lines of "really? The whole world is dead, what the hell do I care about some gal stuck in Antarctica. Well, let me just say that a heck of a lot happens!
Shit fuzzy! I loved this damned story! Loved it!
The freaking twist? Twisted!
Again....I freaking loved it!
I will be reading more from this author. Guaranteed!
When I first was approved to read this by the publisher on Netgalley I was excited. Why? Because I love stories that take place in far flung cold places. Then I started reading, and honestly, I was kind of bored. I believe my exact thoughts were somewhere along the lines of "really? The whole world is dead, what the hell do I care about some gal stuck in Antarctica. Well, let me just say that a heck of a lot happens!
Shit fuzzy! I loved this damned story! Loved it!
The freaking twist? Twisted!
Again....I freaking loved it!
I will be reading more from this author. Guaranteed!
October 17, 2024
After reading sooo many thrillers back to back, I was ready for something just a bit different. Note to self…be careful what you wish for!😱
Rachel puts her work as a scientist above everything else. Including her family. So when the world is tipping towards the end as we know it she rushes to join Guy, her mentor in extracting data from Antarctica, desperate to help save both the planet and mankind. It’s a race against time.
But nothing goes as planned. The expedition is half the size it should be. And after Guy falls deathly ill the moment they arrive, Rachel realizes it’s all on her shoulders now.
Soon an emergency radio broadcast will change everything. The worst imaginable scenario has happened. A nuclear bomb was dropped. Suddenly Rachel feels like she’s the last woman alive on the planet.
It’s a matter of survival!
I loved the premise! Well, obviously!💁🏼♀️
Just wish the focus would have remained on the survival angle and less on the political aspect that created the situation (but that's just me).
From the survival aspect, the author created a harrowing and chilling, (pun intended) experience. What Rachel went through every day to just stay alive. She was a strong and courageous woman. It makes you reflect, pondering what you’d do in her circumstances.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Rachel puts her work as a scientist above everything else. Including her family. So when the world is tipping towards the end as we know it she rushes to join Guy, her mentor in extracting data from Antarctica, desperate to help save both the planet and mankind. It’s a race against time.
But nothing goes as planned. The expedition is half the size it should be. And after Guy falls deathly ill the moment they arrive, Rachel realizes it’s all on her shoulders now.
Soon an emergency radio broadcast will change everything. The worst imaginable scenario has happened. A nuclear bomb was dropped. Suddenly Rachel feels like she’s the last woman alive on the planet.
It’s a matter of survival!
I loved the premise! Well, obviously!💁🏼♀️
Just wish the focus would have remained on the survival angle and less on the political aspect that created the situation (but that's just me).
From the survival aspect, the author created a harrowing and chilling, (pun intended) experience. What Rachel went through every day to just stay alive. She was a strong and courageous woman. It makes you reflect, pondering what you’d do in her circumstances.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
December 3, 2024
Chilling, atmospheric, tense, and riveting, Whiteout: A Thriller wowed me with this tale of isolation, survival, reflection, relationships, and science. Whew! I love, love, love books set in cold and snowy places. I also love books that have a 'trapped' feeling and a quest for survival. R.S. Burnett nailed it with Whiteout: A Thriller and it's the freezing, dark, and bitter cold setting in Antarctica!
Glaciologist Rachael Becket decided to leave the warmth of her home with her husband, Adam and their baby daughter, Izzy. Her husband warns her about the horrific winters in Antarctica. How darkness and isolation play with one's mind. He doesn't want her to go, but Rachel is determined to do so. She is a scientist and when presented with alarming data, knows she can weather any storm.
Antarctica in the summer is not walk in the park, but in winter.... Well, it's no winter wonderland. It is unforgiving, deadly, dark, and so very cold. When she loses contact with the outside world and with a BBC emergency radio broadcast reporting a nuclear war, she knows that she just might be one of the last people on earth. It's cold, she's lonely, she's hungry, and then things go from bad to worse.
I loved how atmospheric this book felt. I could feel the chill and Rachel's desperation jumping from the pages. The loneliness and her reflections back on her life when she was spending time with her daughter and husband were palpable. She has only her research to cling to as she has no idea what the fate of her family and the world might be. Survival becomes the name of the game!
Holy Moly! I can't even imagine the cold and unforgiving winter conditions that she was enduring. Antarctica is very much a character in this book as well. I thought the author nailed the effect that isolation, lack of light, and contact with others has on individuals. The vivid descriptions and scenes in addition to Rachel's fight to stay alive, there were some intense scenes which had my heart beating quite fast a few times while reading.
I loved the tension, the twists, the quest for survival, the descriptions, and the way Rachel reflected on her life and the days leading up to her leaving to go to Antarctica. Her journal entries were also a very nice touch, and I loved reading them as a means to get into Rachel's mind and inner thoughts.
Chilling, dark, tense, and atmospheric!
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Glaciologist Rachael Becket decided to leave the warmth of her home with her husband, Adam and their baby daughter, Izzy. Her husband warns her about the horrific winters in Antarctica. How darkness and isolation play with one's mind. He doesn't want her to go, but Rachel is determined to do so. She is a scientist and when presented with alarming data, knows she can weather any storm.
Antarctica in the summer is not walk in the park, but in winter.... Well, it's no winter wonderland. It is unforgiving, deadly, dark, and so very cold. When she loses contact with the outside world and with a BBC emergency radio broadcast reporting a nuclear war, she knows that she just might be one of the last people on earth. It's cold, she's lonely, she's hungry, and then things go from bad to worse.
I loved how atmospheric this book felt. I could feel the chill and Rachel's desperation jumping from the pages. The loneliness and her reflections back on her life when she was spending time with her daughter and husband were palpable. She has only her research to cling to as she has no idea what the fate of her family and the world might be. Survival becomes the name of the game!
Holy Moly! I can't even imagine the cold and unforgiving winter conditions that she was enduring. Antarctica is very much a character in this book as well. I thought the author nailed the effect that isolation, lack of light, and contact with others has on individuals. The vivid descriptions and scenes in addition to Rachel's fight to stay alive, there were some intense scenes which had my heart beating quite fast a few times while reading.
I loved the tension, the twists, the quest for survival, the descriptions, and the way Rachel reflected on her life and the days leading up to her leaving to go to Antarctica. Her journal entries were also a very nice touch, and I loved reading them as a means to get into Rachel's mind and inner thoughts.
Chilling, dark, tense, and atmospheric!
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
January 4, 2025
My thanks to Crooked Lane books, R.S. Burnett and Netgalley.
When I first was approved to read this by the publisher on Netgalley I was excited. Why? Because I love stories that take place in far flung cold places. Then I started reading, and honestly, I was kind of bored. I believe my exact thoughts were somewhere along the lines of "really? The whole world is dead, what the hell do I care about some gal stuck in Antarctica. Well, let me just say that a heck of a lot happens!
Shit fuzzy! I loved this damned story! Loved it!
The freaking twist? Twisted!
Again....I freaking loved it!
I will be reading more from this author. Guaranteed!
When I first was approved to read this by the publisher on Netgalley I was excited. Why? Because I love stories that take place in far flung cold places. Then I started reading, and honestly, I was kind of bored. I believe my exact thoughts were somewhere along the lines of "really? The whole world is dead, what the hell do I care about some gal stuck in Antarctica. Well, let me just say that a heck of a lot happens!
Shit fuzzy! I loved this damned story! Loved it!
The freaking twist? Twisted!
Again....I freaking loved it!
I will be reading more from this author. Guaranteed!
February 13, 2025
Release Date: 13th February 2025 - Out Now!
What a debut thriller of a book! I was sold from the synopsis. I just didn't want to put this book down.
Rachael is persuaded by her old boss Guy to head back to Antarctica to carry out some vital research, but after months alone, with no human contact, except a radio message that a nuclear war has broken out, Rachael fears the worst for her husband and daughter who she left behind and is battling to survive a harsh winter storm, when things start going from bad to worse.
Is Rachael the only survivor? Will she survive a winter storm in Antarctica? Has she got the resilience and ability to survive?
This is an atmospheric and gritty, page turner. the writing is brilliant and I felt like I was there with Rachael witnessing it all unfold, with clever use of flashbacks to give a fuller picture as to what led Rachael to this point, you can't help but root for her.
There are so many twists and turns, you don't see coming and catch you off guard, but keep you hooked to find out what's going to happen next.
From the premise to the execution this is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year!
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers Crooked Lane for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
What a debut thriller of a book! I was sold from the synopsis. I just didn't want to put this book down.
Rachael is persuaded by her old boss Guy to head back to Antarctica to carry out some vital research, but after months alone, with no human contact, except a radio message that a nuclear war has broken out, Rachael fears the worst for her husband and daughter who she left behind and is battling to survive a harsh winter storm, when things start going from bad to worse.
Is Rachael the only survivor? Will she survive a winter storm in Antarctica? Has she got the resilience and ability to survive?
This is an atmospheric and gritty, page turner. the writing is brilliant and I felt like I was there with Rachael witnessing it all unfold, with clever use of flashbacks to give a fuller picture as to what led Rachael to this point, you can't help but root for her.
There are so many twists and turns, you don't see coming and catch you off guard, but keep you hooked to find out what's going to happen next.
From the premise to the execution this is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year!
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers Crooked Lane for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
May 25, 2025
Thoughts
I asked for this book to deliver not make me rethink removing Antarctica off my bucket list (???)😱 This was soo freaking good😍 it was one of those plots that give visuals which I adore! I was so invested to the point I felt like I was inside the plot 🤣 one of the best thrillers I've picked up in a while!
Plot Summary
Rachael Beckett, a seasoned glaciologist, heads to Antarctica for a solo research assignment, leaving behind her husband and daughter with the promise of returning soon. She’s prepared for the cold, the solitude, and the scientific challenges—but what she doesn’t expect is for everything to go dark. Suddenly cut off from all outside communication, Rachael comes across a radio message on loop suggesting that a nuclear catastrophe has wiped out civilisation, with no way to confirm what’s true, she’s left completely alone—or so she thinks. As days turn into weeks and the Antarctic winter closes in, she begins to sense that something isn't right. Supplies start vanishing, strange noises echo through the station, and the crushing weight of isolation begins to blur the line between fear and fact
I asked for this book to deliver not make me rethink removing Antarctica off my bucket list (???)😱 This was soo freaking good😍 it was one of those plots that give visuals which I adore! I was so invested to the point I felt like I was inside the plot 🤣 one of the best thrillers I've picked up in a while!
Plot Summary
Rachael Beckett, a seasoned glaciologist, heads to Antarctica for a solo research assignment, leaving behind her husband and daughter with the promise of returning soon. She’s prepared for the cold, the solitude, and the scientific challenges—but what she doesn’t expect is for everything to go dark. Suddenly cut off from all outside communication, Rachael comes across a radio message on loop suggesting that a nuclear catastrophe has wiped out civilisation, with no way to confirm what’s true, she’s left completely alone—or so she thinks. As days turn into weeks and the Antarctic winter closes in, she begins to sense that something isn't right. Supplies start vanishing, strange noises echo through the station, and the crushing weight of isolation begins to blur the line between fear and fact
February 7, 2025
I feel a great movie coming… if there’s a book that deserves to be made into a blockbuster, it’s this one. Seriously, this story would make an absolute chilling, thrilling movie, with just a handful of characters set against the background of Antarctica.
Rachael, left alone in more than one way on the most dangerous continent on Earth, fights to survive in body and mind. She has to gather all her strength, and more, to not only keep her body alive after she’s lost what little protection she had against the brutal weather, she also has to fight to keep sane. It’s pitch black 24 hours a day, a fierce gale is blowing all the time and the temperature hoovers around the -70 degrees Celsius. She’s also convinced that her home country, the UK, was attacked with nuclear bombs and therefore, she’s lost her husband and young daughter.
The author paints a very, very vivid portrait of Antarctica, almost as if the continent is a character in this story. It’s literally chilling to read how Rachael fights against the weather and everything else that’s thrown at her – or taken away. In between all the horrible things she has to endure, we read how she came to be there and then, in the most dangerous season, and why it is of such importance she returns back to a safe place where she can contact the authorities. Sometimes it’s a little over the top but still very believable because by the time you’re halfway into the book, you really got to know Rachael and what drives her.
More words fail me to describe how I felt reading this – and I’m already urgently waiting for the next book of this author.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for this review copy.
Rachael, left alone in more than one way on the most dangerous continent on Earth, fights to survive in body and mind. She has to gather all her strength, and more, to not only keep her body alive after she’s lost what little protection she had against the brutal weather, she also has to fight to keep sane. It’s pitch black 24 hours a day, a fierce gale is blowing all the time and the temperature hoovers around the -70 degrees Celsius. She’s also convinced that her home country, the UK, was attacked with nuclear bombs and therefore, she’s lost her husband and young daughter.
The author paints a very, very vivid portrait of Antarctica, almost as if the continent is a character in this story. It’s literally chilling to read how Rachael fights against the weather and everything else that’s thrown at her – or taken away. In between all the horrible things she has to endure, we read how she came to be there and then, in the most dangerous season, and why it is of such importance she returns back to a safe place where she can contact the authorities. Sometimes it’s a little over the top but still very believable because by the time you’re halfway into the book, you really got to know Rachael and what drives her.
More words fail me to describe how I felt reading this – and I’m already urgently waiting for the next book of this author.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for this review copy.
January 18, 2025
This was such a fascinating thriller! I felt like I was right there with the FMC (Rachel) trying to survive, wondering right there, along with her, if she was the only one alive. This had some wild turns and twists. I was truly on the edge of my seat reading this. I loved it so much! I can't discuss much of it, as it'd spoil it, but it was shocking yet so intriguing! The ending felt rushed/quick, but otherwise, it was such a riveting ride! The narrator truly made this reach that much more interesting. I felt the character's emotions, fear, and loneliness through the narrator.
I received this ARC in audiobook from NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC in audiobook from NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
January 13, 2026
The novel, while ambitious, ultimately falls short due to its predictability and length. From the moment the central mission is introduced, it quickly becomes evident where the story is heading, leaving little room for suspense or surprise. The plot’s trajectory feels almost too obvious, and it’s hard to stay engaged when the outcome feels like a foregone conclusion.
The book’s length is another issue. Despite being a relatively short read, the story is dragged out far too much. It’s as if every little detail, no matter how trivial, is over-explained. This makes for a drawn-out reading experience that could have been far more concise and impactful. One of the most frustrating elements of the novel is the way certain concepts are hammered home, particularly regarding the difference between Antarctica in a usual season versus its harsh winter conditions. The dialogue repeatedly forces this point onto the reader, leaving you with the feeling of being "mansplained" to rather than being shown or discovering the information organically. It detracts from the immersion and feels more like an instruction manual than a narrative.
The biggest flaw, however, is the portrayal of the female protagonist, especially in a story written by a male author. Fictional stories told from a woman’s perspective often lose their authenticity when written by someone who doesn't seem to fully grasp the nuances of female experience. In this case, the character’s voice feels off, and the dialogue often falls flat, making it hard to empathize with her.
The book’s final chapters are riddled with plot holes that are almost too glaring to ignore. At several points, the main character could have easily solved problems or avoided danger by making simple, logical choices—like locking a door. These missed opportunities for tension or resolution only serve to irritate, undermining the narrative’s credibility. It was as if the author needed to meet a minimum word requirement.
On the plus side, the depiction of an oil-hungry American president risking the fate of the world felt eerily relevant and timely. The political commentary on global greed and power dynamics was well done and added a layer of realism to an otherwise lackluster story. It was one of the few moments where the author captured a compelling, authentic moment.
Ultimately, this book may appeal to those who enjoy high-stakes, mission-driven plots, but for anyone looking for a tightly-written, thoughtful narrative, it leaves much to be desired. The predictability, excessive length, and missed opportunities for character development make it a disappointing read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
The book’s length is another issue. Despite being a relatively short read, the story is dragged out far too much. It’s as if every little detail, no matter how trivial, is over-explained. This makes for a drawn-out reading experience that could have been far more concise and impactful. One of the most frustrating elements of the novel is the way certain concepts are hammered home, particularly regarding the difference between Antarctica in a usual season versus its harsh winter conditions. The dialogue repeatedly forces this point onto the reader, leaving you with the feeling of being "mansplained" to rather than being shown or discovering the information organically. It detracts from the immersion and feels more like an instruction manual than a narrative.
The biggest flaw, however, is the portrayal of the female protagonist, especially in a story written by a male author. Fictional stories told from a woman’s perspective often lose their authenticity when written by someone who doesn't seem to fully grasp the nuances of female experience. In this case, the character’s voice feels off, and the dialogue often falls flat, making it hard to empathize with her.
The book’s final chapters are riddled with plot holes that are almost too glaring to ignore. At several points, the main character could have easily solved problems or avoided danger by making simple, logical choices—like locking a door. These missed opportunities for tension or resolution only serve to irritate, undermining the narrative’s credibility. It was as if the author needed to meet a minimum word requirement.
On the plus side, the depiction of an oil-hungry American president risking the fate of the world felt eerily relevant and timely. The political commentary on global greed and power dynamics was well done and added a layer of realism to an otherwise lackluster story. It was one of the few moments where the author captured a compelling, authentic moment.
Ultimately, this book may appeal to those who enjoy high-stakes, mission-driven plots, but for anyone looking for a tightly-written, thoughtful narrative, it leaves much to be desired. The predictability, excessive length, and missed opportunities for character development make it a disappointing read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
February 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -NetGalley Audiobook 🎧
Description:
It’s been four months since glaciologist Rachael Beckett left her husband and daughter to join an urgent research trip to a remote field station deep in the Antarctic. But after losing all communication with her crew at base camp, she’s trapped and alone – and running out of supplies. The only information she has about what’s gone so catastrophically wrong is an emergency radio broadcast playing on a loop: a nuclear war has broken out, and Rachael might be the last survivor on Earth.
Abandoned and starving, all she has left is a fierce determination to stay alive in the extreme cold and perpetual darkness of the polar winter. The research she’s gathered about catastrophic climate damage means she holds the fate of the continent and the world in her grasp…if there’s even a world left to save.
Review: ⚠️ Warning: Spoilers!! ⚠️
Rachael agrees to help a former colleague gather information about the advanced melting of the polar ice caps. What she doesn’t know is that this mission is unsanctioned and instead of a twelve man crew they would normally have, they only have four. Rachael ends up being separated from the other team members and receives a radio broadcast that a nuclear war has broken out in Europe. She’s determined to make it back to base camp and then to get home to her family.
Now for the spoilers, which could also be considered triggers, depending on who you are.
The mission is unsanctioned because of the current administration: They’ve stopped funding anything to do with global warming. They find out about the mission and place a mole on the team to sabotage the mission. The twist at the end is pretty diabolical, but it would not surprise me if they would do something like that. If you have any serious triggers to the current administration or global warming, I would air on the side of caution before reading this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the chance to read this for an honest review.
Publication Date: 02/11/25
Description:
It’s been four months since glaciologist Rachael Beckett left her husband and daughter to join an urgent research trip to a remote field station deep in the Antarctic. But after losing all communication with her crew at base camp, she’s trapped and alone – and running out of supplies. The only information she has about what’s gone so catastrophically wrong is an emergency radio broadcast playing on a loop: a nuclear war has broken out, and Rachael might be the last survivor on Earth.
Abandoned and starving, all she has left is a fierce determination to stay alive in the extreme cold and perpetual darkness of the polar winter. The research she’s gathered about catastrophic climate damage means she holds the fate of the continent and the world in her grasp…if there’s even a world left to save.
Review: ⚠️ Warning: Spoilers!! ⚠️
Rachael agrees to help a former colleague gather information about the advanced melting of the polar ice caps. What she doesn’t know is that this mission is unsanctioned and instead of a twelve man crew they would normally have, they only have four. Rachael ends up being separated from the other team members and receives a radio broadcast that a nuclear war has broken out in Europe. She’s determined to make it back to base camp and then to get home to her family.
Now for the spoilers, which could also be considered triggers, depending on who you are.
The mission is unsanctioned because of the current administration: They’ve stopped funding anything to do with global warming. They find out about the mission and place a mole on the team to sabotage the mission. The twist at the end is pretty diabolical, but it would not surprise me if they would do something like that. If you have any serious triggers to the current administration or global warming, I would air on the side of caution before reading this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the chance to read this for an honest review.
Publication Date: 02/11/25
dnf
February 5, 2025DNF @ 13%. I was so excited to get an eARC of this from Netgalley, but it’s been almost 3 weeks since I started it and I have no desire to try and force myself further. The premise sounded so intriguing but I couldn’t figure out why I felt so disconnected from the main character and her emotions…until I saw a few other reviewers on here saying this is obviously a male author trying unsuccessfully to write a woman MC.
Yep, there it is. Considering this is a debut, the author’s first and middle name are initials, and there’s no author photo or even bio on here that gives pronouns, I had just wrongly assumed it was a woman author. Apparently I was wrong, and now it makes perfect sense why the MC didn’t feel realistic enough for me to care what was happening to her. Sigh. Can men please stop trying to write women MCs unless y’all are going through a group of brutally honest women sensitivity readers first. Or better yet, just stick to writing male MCs instead.
Yep, there it is. Considering this is a debut, the author’s first and middle name are initials, and there’s no author photo or even bio on here that gives pronouns, I had just wrongly assumed it was a woman author. Apparently I was wrong, and now it makes perfect sense why the MC didn’t feel realistic enough for me to care what was happening to her. Sigh. Can men please stop trying to write women MCs unless y’all are going through a group of brutally honest women sensitivity readers first. Or better yet, just stick to writing male MCs instead.
August 1, 2024
This is a great closed-in novel. It moves at an interesting pace, and you can feel the arctic cold and desolation. Rachel is faced with many challenges, and I am amazed at how she faces each one! I am amazed at the level of knowledge the author displayed in this book. I only wish it had a bit more at the end to seal the resolution we can imagine in our heads! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
February 11, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for sending me an ARC of Whiteout in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of Whiteout is pretty strong. Rachael is stranded, alone at a remote Antarctic research station, listening to a repeating radio message that England has been attacked with nuclear weapons (which felt very 1980s retro, as now every end-of-the-world scenario is pandemic-related). As if that wasn’t enough, she’s haunted by her decision to leave her husband and baby to go on this trip, and trying to understand why she was more willing to try to save the world than trying to save her marriage. But despite it all, she fights to survive as her supplies dwindle and her situation becomes more perilous. It’s got a lot of interesting survival elements to it, is very tense and atmospheric, and, as a bonus, lots of references to Pink Floyd’s The Wall. And the narration on the audiobook was well done.
But things really fall apart in the back half of Whiteout. First, the premise of the expedition—that American Republicans will join the fight against climate change if only we find a bit more scientific evidence—is laughable to the point of distraction. Much more importantly, the ending is farfetched to the point of not being believable and then, in what I guess is supposed to be a final twist, actually undermines the entire story (I’m hiding the details under a spoiler tag):
There’s promise here, and I’d consider reading future books by Mr. Burnett. But Whiteout got a bit too farfetched for me to recommend it.
The premise of Whiteout is pretty strong. Rachael is stranded, alone at a remote Antarctic research station, listening to a repeating radio message that England has been attacked with nuclear weapons (which felt very 1980s retro, as now every end-of-the-world scenario is pandemic-related). As if that wasn’t enough, she’s haunted by her decision to leave her husband and baby to go on this trip, and trying to understand why she was more willing to try to save the world than trying to save her marriage. But despite it all, she fights to survive as her supplies dwindle and her situation becomes more perilous. It’s got a lot of interesting survival elements to it, is very tense and atmospheric, and, as a bonus, lots of references to Pink Floyd’s The Wall. And the narration on the audiobook was well done.
But things really fall apart in the back half of Whiteout. First, the premise of the expedition—that American Republicans will join the fight against climate change if only we find a bit more scientific evidence—is laughable to the point of distraction. Much more importantly, the ending is farfetched to the point of not being believable and then, in what I guess is supposed to be a final twist, actually undermines the entire story (I’m hiding the details under a spoiler tag):
There’s promise here, and I’d consider reading future books by Mr. Burnett. But Whiteout got a bit too farfetched for me to recommend it.
February 2, 2025
This book was SO MUCH FUN. I really enjoyed it, and I can definitely see the connection to fans of The Martian. I just am surprised at how much I enjoy survival thrillers every time I read one! I was so addicted to this story, I was ALMOST shocked at the end but my brain somehow worked out the ending right toward the end! But, it was AWESOME! Totally recommend for an exciting read! Snowy thrills for the perfect winter nail biting read!!!!
April 2, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was a fast read and it did pull me into the story. I stayed up late to finish the book because I had to keep reading the next chapter. I didn't mind the unreliable narrator, or the fact that you couldn't always tell what was real, what was a hallucination, and what was a flashback. It all added to the sense of urgency of Rachael trying to survive in an inhospitable place.
But. Unreliable is one thing, stupidity is another. I felt that Rachael unnecessarily put herself into the position she was in when the story begins, and then some of her subsequent choices compounded the previous decision so that she was making a complicated situation more complicated. For a scientist who is supposed to look at things objectively and rationally, she very rarely does that in the book. It makes her unlikable, and there were times where I was hoping she wouldn't succeed or survive.
There's also a fair amount of suspension of belief that has to happen while reading. Some of the action seemed so contrived or so unlikely that it takes you out of the story.
There's a similar novel that has been published around the same time about being alone and stranded in Antarctica (Symbiote by Michael Nayak). But that might be the only similarity. That other one is branded as horror, which is not a genre I particularly like. (I will say that Nayak has actually been to Antarctica as a scientist, and that I enjoyed reading his blog about his time there. There's not any horror element in the blog, except for maybe his flights in and out of Antarctica, but that's a different story for a different review. He's a good storyteller. I may break down and read that book too. Just not late at night like I did with this one.) This one is more a straight up thriller without any additional horror elements added, which is why I chose this book instead. So depending on what you're looking for, make sure you have the right book.
But. Unreliable is one thing, stupidity is another. I felt that Rachael unnecessarily put herself into the position she was in when the story begins, and then some of her subsequent choices compounded the previous decision so that she was making a complicated situation more complicated. For a scientist who is supposed to look at things objectively and rationally, she very rarely does that in the book. It makes her unlikable, and there were times where I was hoping she wouldn't succeed or survive.
There's also a fair amount of suspension of belief that has to happen while reading. Some of the action seemed so contrived or so unlikely that it takes you out of the story.
There's a similar novel that has been published around the same time about being alone and stranded in Antarctica (Symbiote by Michael Nayak). But that might be the only similarity. That other one is branded as horror, which is not a genre I particularly like. (I will say that Nayak has actually been to Antarctica as a scientist, and that I enjoyed reading his blog about his time there. There's not any horror element in the blog, except for maybe his flights in and out of Antarctica, but that's a different story for a different review. He's a good storyteller. I may break down and read that book too. Just not late at night like I did with this one.) This one is more a straight up thriller without any additional horror elements added, which is why I chose this book instead. So depending on what you're looking for, make sure you have the right book.
February 6, 2025
(( audiobook ))
Fantastic premise: a glaciologist working alone on an isolated arctic base hears a BBC broadcast announcing the end of the world through nuclear war - and things just get worse for her from there.
Lots of action, lots of questionable choices leading to more action, crevasses, endless wind and snow, some hallucinations, more crevasses, some solid commentary on climate change and oil drilling and foreshadowing the many ways we’re generally all fucked unless things change (and how they are just going to get worse thanks to the dummies who voted to elect the biggest dummy), additional crevasses, and a shocking amount of upper body strength from a lady who hasn’t eaten much for weeks. Didn’t love the ending and thought things dragged a bit in the middle - but I think this was an entertaining enough audiobook with excellent narration by Billie Fulford Brown that fans of T.J. Newman may also enjoy.
* thanks to Crooked Lane and Spotify Audiobooks for the NetGalley review copy. Whiteout publishes in the US on Feb 11, 2025.
Fantastic premise: a glaciologist working alone on an isolated arctic base hears a BBC broadcast announcing the end of the world through nuclear war - and things just get worse for her from there.
Lots of action, lots of questionable choices leading to more action, crevasses, endless wind and snow, some hallucinations, more crevasses, some solid commentary on climate change and oil drilling and foreshadowing the many ways we’re generally all fucked unless things change (and how they are just going to get worse thanks to the dummies who voted to elect the biggest dummy), additional crevasses, and a shocking amount of upper body strength from a lady who hasn’t eaten much for weeks. Didn’t love the ending and thought things dragged a bit in the middle - but I think this was an entertaining enough audiobook with excellent narration by Billie Fulford Brown that fans of T.J. Newman may also enjoy.
* thanks to Crooked Lane and Spotify Audiobooks for the NetGalley review copy. Whiteout publishes in the US on Feb 11, 2025.
December 11, 2024
The world is ending and Rachael Beckett ventures to a remote field station deep in the Antarctic to help stop it. She leaves behind her husband, her new baby girl, and the rest of humanity and does not know what, if any, of them will still be there when she, hopefully, returns.
This proved a far more harrowing tale than anticipated. I had thought it to be a tense, fast-paced and action-packed survival thriller when instead it was more introspective and personal. I still devoured this, despite it not being exactly suited to my reading tastes and found it proof that is is worthwhile extending your boundaries on occasion for the wonders that you will find.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, R.S. Burnett and the publisher, , for this opportunity.
This proved a far more harrowing tale than anticipated. I had thought it to be a tense, fast-paced and action-packed survival thriller when instead it was more introspective and personal. I still devoured this, despite it not being exactly suited to my reading tastes and found it proof that is is worthwhile extending your boundaries on occasion for the wonders that you will find.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, R.S. Burnett and the publisher, , for this opportunity.
March 24, 2025
This was a difficult read for me, but I plowed through! Rachael is a glaciologist (I learned a little about those) and she’s accepted an urgent assignment to Antarctica, seeming like the end of the world. She has a floundering marriage and an infant daughter that she misses terribly. A radio message comes through telling her that nuclear war has broken out. She’s isolated from her team and she may be the only survivor. She’s starving and desperate and very motivated to live.
The book moves fast, but it dragged in the middle. Towards the end I was guessing at every turn! I was also freezing and could only imagine what the setting described in the story might be like. A LOT happens by the end of the book!
3.5 stars rounded up.
I received a copy of the digital ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
The book moves fast, but it dragged in the middle. Towards the end I was guessing at every turn! I was also freezing and could only imagine what the setting described in the story might be like. A LOT happens by the end of the book!
3.5 stars rounded up.
I received a copy of the digital ARC via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
January 18, 2025
An exercise in eye rolling.
Aside from an unlikeable main character and jarring timeline shifts, this story managed to take the vast expanse of Antarctica and shrink it down to a movie set. One must suspend belief to follow along through 7-8 hours of walking through a blizzard just to happen upon a life-saving shack, which is then again found by a rescuer. Then they find a long lost airplane!
Along with slight feminism and a jab at "old white men", this book also has a dose of anti-American climate fearmongering. At least it was short.
Aside from an unlikeable main character and jarring timeline shifts, this story managed to take the vast expanse of Antarctica and shrink it down to a movie set. One must suspend belief to follow along through 7-8 hours of walking through a blizzard just to happen upon a life-saving shack, which is then again found by a rescuer. Then they find a long lost airplane!
Along with slight feminism and a jab at "old white men", this book also has a dose of anti-American climate fearmongering. At least it was short.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2024
Despite being immediately drawn in by the synopsis of this book, I was a little apprehensive going into this one. Whiteout tells the story of Rachael, who is on an expedition to Antarctica to gather data which she hopes will prove to American law makers, including the President (a Trump-like figure), that global warming is coming quicker than anticipated. The melting of the ice caps in Antarctica has the potential to affect sea levels in an unprecedented way and Rachael, along with her boss, Guy, are determined to make the world take notice.
Unfortunately, soon after the expedition starts, things take a turn for the worse. Illness, call offs, and worse than imagined weather phenomena, mean that Rachael becomes isolated and has only the BBC World Service for company - a service which has just announced a nuclear attack in the UK where Rachael has left behind her husband and young daughter.
As I say, I was immediately gripped by the premise of this story but I was worried that this could develop into a woman wandering around in the cold for hours, days, weeks and could become a little repetitive and boring. However, I need not have worried. Although the story is told largely in the present day, we have flashbacks as to why Rachael wanted to go on the expedition, her life at home etc. and the book, as well as being a thrilling, twisty page-turner, also deals with themes of marriage, motherhood, women in work and the battle between being a mother or a worker.
The other really positive thing is the book is just under 300 pages. I think anything longer could have risked becoming a drag, given there are only a handful of characters in the book and it takes place mainly in one setting but the relatively short novel keeps you intrigued until a brilliant conclusion.
A debut novel which shows great promise and an author I will definitely keep an eye out for in the future
Unfortunately, soon after the expedition starts, things take a turn for the worse. Illness, call offs, and worse than imagined weather phenomena, mean that Rachael becomes isolated and has only the BBC World Service for company - a service which has just announced a nuclear attack in the UK where Rachael has left behind her husband and young daughter.
As I say, I was immediately gripped by the premise of this story but I was worried that this could develop into a woman wandering around in the cold for hours, days, weeks and could become a little repetitive and boring. However, I need not have worried. Although the story is told largely in the present day, we have flashbacks as to why Rachael wanted to go on the expedition, her life at home etc. and the book, as well as being a thrilling, twisty page-turner, also deals with themes of marriage, motherhood, women in work and the battle between being a mother or a worker.
The other really positive thing is the book is just under 300 pages. I think anything longer could have risked becoming a drag, given there are only a handful of characters in the book and it takes place mainly in one setting but the relatively short novel keeps you intrigued until a brilliant conclusion.
A debut novel which shows great promise and an author I will definitely keep an eye out for in the future
January 23, 2025
What a great book! Whiteout by R.S. Burnett had me saying “what?” throughout most of the book. I was intrigued by the isolation-centered plot of researcher Rachael as she struggles with a failing marriage, love for her infant and desire to be a professional scientist again and help save the world while (mostly) alone in an Antarctic winter knowing a nuclear war has occurred.
It’s a fast paced, twisty turny, apocalyptic thriller that had me guessing the entire time I listened. The audiobook was very well narrated. I kept having flashbacks to other books, Earth Abides and The Martian, and was shocked at how badly I guess what’s going to happen.
My biggest compliment is this book makes me want to explore Burnett’s other works.
It’s a fast paced, twisty turny, apocalyptic thriller that had me guessing the entire time I listened. The audiobook was very well narrated. I kept having flashbacks to other books, Earth Abides and The Martian, and was shocked at how badly I guess what’s going to happen.
My biggest compliment is this book makes me want to explore Burnett’s other works.
February 1, 2025
Rachael is stationed in the Antarctic as a key environmental scientist, gathering crucial data on climate change. A brutal storm pins her in a remote outpost alone when all communication is suddenly lost. The only broadcast on the radio warns that London has been the victim of a direct nuclear strike. Repeating every two hours, the emergency bulletin is the only human voice Rachael hears for four months while the wild storm continues to rage. When circumstances force her from her shelter, she must travel across the open ice in the blizzard to reach the next station, but she dreads what she will find. Is she truly the last person left alive?
This has been very popular with others who have a similar taste in books to me so I went in expecting to love it. But a series of small issues built up and left me underwhelmed: I found the main character's love interest to be a bit of a pig and I thought less of her for blaming herself for his reactions; the unreliable narration was SO unreliable that I stopped being invested in the constant life-or-death scenarios - if what is happening could plausibly be all in Rachael's mind, it's hard to feel stressed about it. I agree that the baddie reached mustache-twirling pantomime levels of villainy rendering the final third of the book a little silly.
Overall this had some great moments () but it never came together for me. I would read from this author in the future, though. I think they have a lot of potential.
This has been very popular with others who have a similar taste in books to me so I went in expecting to love it. But a series of small issues built up and left me underwhelmed: I found the main character's love interest to be a bit of a pig and I thought less of her for blaming herself for his reactions; the unreliable narration was SO unreliable that I stopped being invested in the constant life-or-death scenarios - if what is happening could plausibly be all in Rachael's mind, it's hard to feel stressed about it. I agree that the baddie reached mustache-twirling pantomime levels of villainy rendering the final third of the book a little silly.
Overall this had some great moments () but it never came together for me. I would read from this author in the future, though. I think they have a lot of potential.
February 4, 2025
WHITEOUT by R. S. Burnett
Narrated by: Billie Fulford Brown
Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced audiobook
3.5 stars
In this intense psychological debut thriller set at a remote field station deep in the Antarctic, glaciologist, Rachel Beckett, is on an urgent research trip. Rachel becomes stranded from the team and loses all contact with the outside world, except for a radio broadcast reporting a nuclear war has broken out. Rachel has left her husband and baby daughter back in the UK while on this trip. Now lost and alone and running out of supplies, Rachel fiercely fights to stay alive in the frigid and dark Antarctic. With the research she gathers about catastrophic climate damage she’s determined to save the world, if there is a world left to save.
Is Rachel indeed alone? How long can she survive? Will she ever see her husband and daughter again? Will she find answers she is seeking?
Narration was well done. I thought this was a good read/listen, but characters lacked depth for me. I loved the setting of the frigid Antarctic and the descriptions were well done depicting what it is like to survive in the frigid conditions of a blizzard along with the darkness, though a bit far fetched because of the lack of food Rachel had. The suspense was good and twist at end was good, even though predictable. It was a good debut and I look forward to seeing what he does next.
Narrated by: Billie Fulford Brown
Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced audiobook
3.5 stars
In this intense psychological debut thriller set at a remote field station deep in the Antarctic, glaciologist, Rachel Beckett, is on an urgent research trip. Rachel becomes stranded from the team and loses all contact with the outside world, except for a radio broadcast reporting a nuclear war has broken out. Rachel has left her husband and baby daughter back in the UK while on this trip. Now lost and alone and running out of supplies, Rachel fiercely fights to stay alive in the frigid and dark Antarctic. With the research she gathers about catastrophic climate damage she’s determined to save the world, if there is a world left to save.
Is Rachel indeed alone? How long can she survive? Will she ever see her husband and daughter again? Will she find answers she is seeking?
Narration was well done. I thought this was a good read/listen, but characters lacked depth for me. I loved the setting of the frigid Antarctic and the descriptions were well done depicting what it is like to survive in the frigid conditions of a blizzard along with the darkness, though a bit far fetched because of the lack of food Rachel had. The suspense was good and twist at end was good, even though predictable. It was a good debut and I look forward to seeing what he does next.
March 9, 2025
This is a place that was simply not designed for humans to exist in.
Whiteout by R.S. Burnett is a chilling, gripping, atmospheric thriller. It's well written and very easy to read and follow. I read this in less than twenty-four hours.
The book is narrated mostly through the eyes of Rachael(our FMC). Throughout the book, I found myself unable to relate to her character. I found her extremely unlikeable, and a lot of her decisions were downright foolish. Due to that fact, I found it hard to conjure up any form of sympathy for her character.
What really kept my attention was the storyline. I found it immersive and hard to put down. It was unsettling and unnerving. Despite there being an obvious human threat, the author fully captures the more serious threat of human nature. Skillfully, through the use of words, the author was able to convey just what these characters were up against.
The twist was a bit unexpected. My mind was going in a completely different direction. So, when it came along, I was pleasantly surprised.
Overall, this was a good read. I love isolated and snowy settings, so this was the perfect read for me. I would've enjoyed it more if I liked Rachael's character.
Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, and R.S Burnett for my y eARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Pub Date: February 13th. <\u>
Whiteout by R.S. Burnett is a chilling, gripping, atmospheric thriller. It's well written and very easy to read and follow. I read this in less than twenty-four hours.
The book is narrated mostly through the eyes of Rachael(our FMC). Throughout the book, I found myself unable to relate to her character. I found her extremely unlikeable, and a lot of her decisions were downright foolish. Due to that fact, I found it hard to conjure up any form of sympathy for her character.
What really kept my attention was the storyline. I found it immersive and hard to put down. It was unsettling and unnerving. Despite there being an obvious human threat, the author fully captures the more serious threat of human nature. Skillfully, through the use of words, the author was able to convey just what these characters were up against.
The twist was a bit unexpected. My mind was going in a completely different direction. So, when it came along, I was pleasantly surprised.
Overall, this was a good read. I love isolated and snowy settings, so this was the perfect read for me. I would've enjoyed it more if I liked Rachael's character.
Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, and R.S Burnett for my y eARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Pub Date: February 13th. <\u>
September 13, 2024
I don’t even know where to begin with this one. This book was so suspenseful and so shocking, that I am almost at a loss for words after finishing it! I can’t say anything outside of the synopsis…
Rachael has been stuck in Antarctica for months - winter months, where the storms rage for weeks and the sun never rises. Most scientists wouldn’t take the risk of going at this time of year, but new data has been released, showing the pole’s Ross Shelf is about to break off, releasing trillions of tons of water and raising sea levels by up to six meters. The American government has been drilling for oil on the South Pole, and research shows that this damage is irreversible. If the drilling continues, the entire shelf will break off, obliterating countless cities around the globe.
Rachael has taken several trips to the Antarctic, one of which allowed her to meet her husband, Adam. They got married and have a baby girl named Izzy, and are living very normal lives compared to their former lives of trekking in the Antarctic, when an old coworker, Guy, comes to Rachael and begs her to go back with him. Even though it’s winter there, if they don’t take more measurements and collect more data immediately, giving ironclad proof that the drilling will destroy the planet, America may decide to continue, with disastrous results.
Against the wishes of her husband, and despite her guilt as a new mother, she takes on the challenge. It’s not until she and Guy arrive that he admits the British government didn’t ask them to go - this is a private expedition with only them and two other very experienced people, Zac and Mika. They won’t have their normal cadre of personnel and medics, or the ability to leave until winter is over. Rachael decides to continue, but strikes out on her own away from the men - then the worst happens. Nuclear war has struck, the only thing the radio will transmit is the BBC’s same announcement every two hours, and it’s presumed that everyone is dead.
This harrowing ride through her journey to survive, even though she may be the last person on earth, was riveting. This also has a tiny personal connection for me, as my grandfather’s uncle was Roald Amundsen (so, my great, great uncle?), of course a name mentioned several times. Seeing his name so much with a main character who has my name was as cool as the story, which was definitely intense. The ending was a bit abrupt, but that’s my only complaint; this book is an amazing thriller and a terrifying glimpse at the what the future may hold. Five stars.
(Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, R.S. Burnett and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on February 11, 2025.)
Rachael has been stuck in Antarctica for months - winter months, where the storms rage for weeks and the sun never rises. Most scientists wouldn’t take the risk of going at this time of year, but new data has been released, showing the pole’s Ross Shelf is about to break off, releasing trillions of tons of water and raising sea levels by up to six meters. The American government has been drilling for oil on the South Pole, and research shows that this damage is irreversible. If the drilling continues, the entire shelf will break off, obliterating countless cities around the globe.
Rachael has taken several trips to the Antarctic, one of which allowed her to meet her husband, Adam. They got married and have a baby girl named Izzy, and are living very normal lives compared to their former lives of trekking in the Antarctic, when an old coworker, Guy, comes to Rachael and begs her to go back with him. Even though it’s winter there, if they don’t take more measurements and collect more data immediately, giving ironclad proof that the drilling will destroy the planet, America may decide to continue, with disastrous results.
Against the wishes of her husband, and despite her guilt as a new mother, she takes on the challenge. It’s not until she and Guy arrive that he admits the British government didn’t ask them to go - this is a private expedition with only them and two other very experienced people, Zac and Mika. They won’t have their normal cadre of personnel and medics, or the ability to leave until winter is over. Rachael decides to continue, but strikes out on her own away from the men - then the worst happens. Nuclear war has struck, the only thing the radio will transmit is the BBC’s same announcement every two hours, and it’s presumed that everyone is dead.
This harrowing ride through her journey to survive, even though she may be the last person on earth, was riveting. This also has a tiny personal connection for me, as my grandfather’s uncle was Roald Amundsen (so, my great, great uncle?), of course a name mentioned several times. Seeing his name so much with a main character who has my name was as cool as the story, which was definitely intense. The ending was a bit abrupt, but that’s my only complaint; this book is an amazing thriller and a terrifying glimpse at the what the future may hold. Five stars.
(Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, R.S. Burnett and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on February 11, 2025.)
January 20, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first half had me racing through the pages... The pacing was so quick, and I enjoyed how the information was revealed. But as things progressed it became way too predictable, and I felt disconnected from the main character. The dialogue felt flat, and I kept waiting for something surprising that never came. The political commentary was a strong point, though! relevant and well-executed.
My rating: 3 ☆ ☆ ☆
Read in: 5 days & 🇬🇧 & 📱
The first half had me racing through the pages... The pacing was so quick, and I enjoyed how the information was revealed. But as things progressed it became way too predictable, and I felt disconnected from the main character. The dialogue felt flat, and I kept waiting for something surprising that never came. The political commentary was a strong point, though! relevant and well-executed.
My rating: 3 ☆ ☆ ☆
Read in: 5 days & 🇬🇧 & 📱
July 10, 2025
Spoilers for the whole book ahoy!
This was ultimately a letdown of a book, and I think it boils down to the author adding in way too many things in an attempt to amp up the tension/action factor. From the blurb, I thought this was mainly going to be a woman vs nature kind of book, about Rachel fighting Antarctica for survival while knowing the world beyond had basically ended. Instead, the number and length of flashbacks made it primarily another "scientist uses The Science as an excuse to avoid her failing marriage" book (like Feed Them Silence which I read last month) feeding into a present-day story that was muddy at best.
The book is steeped in too-relatable climate anxiety (Burnett falls short of calling Trump by name when blaming the US's policies for the onward march of climate change, but only just) which then gets usurped by the shadow of nuclear war. I actually suspected from the jump that the war wasn't real, and I'm not sure why, except that there was already so much going on that I could tell the woman vs nature thing was too simple to be where the book was headed. Something had to give, and given the focus on the climate research had led me to guess that they were being sabotaged (the only reason a character in a book would still be worried about a government's position on climate change after receiving news of nuclear winter is if the author of said book knows there's still a reason to care about climate change?) the only thing that made sense was for the war to be fake. And wouldn't you know, I was right.
I did not, however, guess the identity of the bad guy. At first I actually wondered if the "Rachel isn't alone out here" bit mentioned in the blurb was going to turn out to be something supernatural, like the ghosts of old dead explorers or something, but no, it was indeed sabotage from within. But I was at a loss for how someone could be doing it; it wasn't until the 75% mark that I realized there wasn't any plausible way one person could be responsible for all the sabotage, and lowered my expectations for the reveal.
And I'm really glad I did, because BOY was the last quarter of the book a disappointment. The number of mishaps Rachel had already endured, followed by the physical strain and then the injuries Zach inflicted on her, AND the way he went from benign ally to literal mustache twirling evil villain, rape fantasies and all, all strained my belief to breaking. It just wasn't realistic at all, and ended up feeling like the author kept adding Action Events™ to keep things going. There's simply no way a scientist with no extra physical training could suffer the beatings and injuries on top of having walked miles in an Antarctic blizzard, fallen down a crevasse and climbed back out again, low on food and sleep-- she'd have passed out or died from the sheer strain of it all.
Zach also seemed to have nine lives-- you're telling me a man gets his leg run over by a tank-treaded snowmobile such that his flesh is cut down to the bone, and he can not only walk, but heave himself back up into said snowmobile and punch Rachel a few more times and try to strangle her? It was so over the top it just made me mad, and made me start looking back on earlier events in the book with disdain even when they hadn't bothered me to read the first time.
The end result was such that by the time Rachel sent Zach plummeting into a crevasse, it was long overdue, and I didn't even care. The entire end of the book-- finding the station and her dead colleague, realizing the broadcast about the war was fake, the epilogue with her having gone back to her family, it was all just meh. Of COURSE she had the near-death realization that her problems with her husband were all her fault, of COURSE she went back to him.
In the end this felt like a collection of tropes strung together by a very fragile thread of story and characters, neither of which were strong enough to make it feel like a cohesive whole. Also, the narrator was fine but nothing special, accent felt overly posh for the subject material. I had to look up the name of the abandoned station because the narrator pronounced it as if the word "wonton" were two words, instead of what it actually is, "One Ton", lol.
BOO. Thankfully I have a Robert Jackson Bennett next up for a palate cleanser.
This was ultimately a letdown of a book, and I think it boils down to the author adding in way too many things in an attempt to amp up the tension/action factor. From the blurb, I thought this was mainly going to be a woman vs nature kind of book, about Rachel fighting Antarctica for survival while knowing the world beyond had basically ended. Instead, the number and length of flashbacks made it primarily another "scientist uses The Science as an excuse to avoid her failing marriage" book (like Feed Them Silence which I read last month) feeding into a present-day story that was muddy at best.
The book is steeped in too-relatable climate anxiety (Burnett falls short of calling Trump by name when blaming the US's policies for the onward march of climate change, but only just) which then gets usurped by the shadow of nuclear war. I actually suspected from the jump that the war wasn't real, and I'm not sure why, except that there was already so much going on that I could tell the woman vs nature thing was too simple to be where the book was headed. Something had to give, and given the focus on the climate research had led me to guess that they were being sabotaged (the only reason a character in a book would still be worried about a government's position on climate change after receiving news of nuclear winter is if the author of said book knows there's still a reason to care about climate change?) the only thing that made sense was for the war to be fake. And wouldn't you know, I was right.
I did not, however, guess the identity of the bad guy. At first I actually wondered if the "Rachel isn't alone out here" bit mentioned in the blurb was going to turn out to be something supernatural, like the ghosts of old dead explorers or something, but no, it was indeed sabotage from within. But I was at a loss for how someone could be doing it; it wasn't until the 75% mark that I realized there wasn't any plausible way one person could be responsible for all the sabotage, and lowered my expectations for the reveal.
And I'm really glad I did, because BOY was the last quarter of the book a disappointment. The number of mishaps Rachel had already endured, followed by the physical strain and then the injuries Zach inflicted on her, AND the way he went from benign ally to literal mustache twirling evil villain, rape fantasies and all, all strained my belief to breaking. It just wasn't realistic at all, and ended up feeling like the author kept adding Action Events™ to keep things going. There's simply no way a scientist with no extra physical training could suffer the beatings and injuries on top of having walked miles in an Antarctic blizzard, fallen down a crevasse and climbed back out again, low on food and sleep-- she'd have passed out or died from the sheer strain of it all.
Zach also seemed to have nine lives-- you're telling me a man gets his leg run over by a tank-treaded snowmobile such that his flesh is cut down to the bone, and he can not only walk, but heave himself back up into said snowmobile and punch Rachel a few more times and try to strangle her? It was so over the top it just made me mad, and made me start looking back on earlier events in the book with disdain even when they hadn't bothered me to read the first time.
The end result was such that by the time Rachel sent Zach plummeting into a crevasse, it was long overdue, and I didn't even care. The entire end of the book-- finding the station and her dead colleague, realizing the broadcast about the war was fake, the epilogue with her having gone back to her family, it was all just meh. Of COURSE she had the near-death realization that her problems with her husband were all her fault, of COURSE she went back to him.
In the end this felt like a collection of tropes strung together by a very fragile thread of story and characters, neither of which were strong enough to make it feel like a cohesive whole. Also, the narrator was fine but nothing special, accent felt overly posh for the subject material. I had to look up the name of the abandoned station because the narrator pronounced it as if the word "wonton" were two words, instead of what it actually is, "One Ton", lol.
BOO. Thankfully I have a Robert Jackson Bennett next up for a palate cleanser.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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