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A Gift Before Dying
In a hauntingly atmospheric novel set against the unforgiving landscape of the Arctic Circle, a disgraced police investigator discovers that his path to redemption is paved with ice—and blood.
After a botched high-profile murder investigation, Corporal Elderick Cole is exiled to the remote, rugged landscape of Nunavut, a vast territory in the Arctic Circle known for its untamed beauty, frigid temperatures, and endless winter nights. With his family having severed all ties, Cole waits out the result of a civil lawsuit alone—the wrong verdict could end what’s left of his flailing career.
His bleak existence takes a sinister turn when he discovers the hanging body of Pitseolala, a troubled Inuit girl whom he had sworn to protect. Her death dredges up demons he thought he’d buried along with the scars of a fractured marriage and the aching divide between him and his estranged daughter.
As Cole’s life unravels—and with it, the fragile thread of his investigation, he turns to Pitseolala’s younger brother, Maliktu, a fellow outsider. It’s then that Cole uncovers what binds them—a singular mission to find her killer.
Against fierce backlash, Cole’s overriding desire to redeem just one aspect of his otherwise failed life becomes an obsession—and he’s willing to break every rule in his unyielding pursuit of justice and the smallest shred of redemption.
After a botched high-profile murder investigation, Corporal Elderick Cole is exiled to the remote, rugged landscape of Nunavut, a vast territory in the Arctic Circle known for its untamed beauty, frigid temperatures, and endless winter nights. With his family having severed all ties, Cole waits out the result of a civil lawsuit alone—the wrong verdict could end what’s left of his flailing career.
His bleak existence takes a sinister turn when he discovers the hanging body of Pitseolala, a troubled Inuit girl whom he had sworn to protect. Her death dredges up demons he thought he’d buried along with the scars of a fractured marriage and the aching divide between him and his estranged daughter.
As Cole’s life unravels—and with it, the fragile thread of his investigation, he turns to Pitseolala’s younger brother, Maliktu, a fellow outsider. It’s then that Cole uncovers what binds them—a singular mission to find her killer.
Against fierce backlash, Cole’s overriding desire to redeem just one aspect of his otherwise failed life becomes an obsession—and he’s willing to break every rule in his unyielding pursuit of justice and the smallest shred of redemption.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2026
235 people are currently reading
13710 people want to read
About the author
Malcolm Kempt
3 books68 followersMalcolm Kempt spent seventeen years working as a criminal lawyer in the remote Arctic before leaving to write full-time. He won the Percy Janes Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript in 2023. He now lives on the island of Newfoundland. A Gift Before Dying is his debut novel.
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March 4, 2026
A Gift Before Dying
Malcolm Kempt
01/20/2025
Crown
A Gift Before Dying is a debut novel set in Cape Dorset, Nunavut, where the environment shapes every breath and decision. From the opening pages, Malcolm Kempt drops the reader into a world of extreme cold, endless snow, punishing wind, and long stretches of darkness. Elderick Cole, a disgraced law enforcement officer, has been reassigned to this remote Inuit community after a botched investigation and the collapse of his marriage. When the death of a young Inuit girl is ruled a suicide, Cole cannot let it rest. What begins as a quiet, isolated posting becomes a deeply personal investigation that forces him to confront not only the truth behind her death, but his own failures and need for redemption.
About two chapters in, I paused my reading to learn more about Cape Dorset and the Inuit community, and I am glad I did. This book is far more than a murder mystery. Kempt explores the realities faced by the community Cole is serving, including suicide, alcoholism, the erosion of native traditions, and the alarming rates of crime among young people. These issues are not presented as background noise. They are integral to the story and to Cole’s growing understanding of the place and the people he is meant to protect. Cole is deeply flawed, but his moral compass remains pointed toward justice, even when the cost is high and the answers are uncomfortable.
What makes this novel especially compelling is how seamlessly it weaves mystery, paranormal, and subtle horror elements into the narrative in a way that feels organic to Inuit culture and storytelling. The result is an engaging slow burn mystery with real emotional weight. Kempt’s writing is immersive and thoughtful, allowing the setting to function almost as a character in its own right. Readers looking for a straightforward procedural may be surprised, but those willing to lean into atmosphere, complexity, and moral tension will find a powerful and memorable read.
Malcolm Kempt
01/20/2025
Crown
A Gift Before Dying is a debut novel set in Cape Dorset, Nunavut, where the environment shapes every breath and decision. From the opening pages, Malcolm Kempt drops the reader into a world of extreme cold, endless snow, punishing wind, and long stretches of darkness. Elderick Cole, a disgraced law enforcement officer, has been reassigned to this remote Inuit community after a botched investigation and the collapse of his marriage. When the death of a young Inuit girl is ruled a suicide, Cole cannot let it rest. What begins as a quiet, isolated posting becomes a deeply personal investigation that forces him to confront not only the truth behind her death, but his own failures and need for redemption.
About two chapters in, I paused my reading to learn more about Cape Dorset and the Inuit community, and I am glad I did. This book is far more than a murder mystery. Kempt explores the realities faced by the community Cole is serving, including suicide, alcoholism, the erosion of native traditions, and the alarming rates of crime among young people. These issues are not presented as background noise. They are integral to the story and to Cole’s growing understanding of the place and the people he is meant to protect. Cole is deeply flawed, but his moral compass remains pointed toward justice, even when the cost is high and the answers are uncomfortable.
What makes this novel especially compelling is how seamlessly it weaves mystery, paranormal, and subtle horror elements into the narrative in a way that feels organic to Inuit culture and storytelling. The result is an engaging slow burn mystery with real emotional weight. Kempt’s writing is immersive and thoughtful, allowing the setting to function almost as a character in its own right. Readers looking for a straightforward procedural may be surprised, but those willing to lean into atmosphere, complexity, and moral tension will find a powerful and memorable read.
February 8, 2026
A straightforward procedural with propulsive writing, a tortured protagonist and a dark plot. Gives all the winter vibes you can handle.
January 31, 2026
A Gift Before Dying was the perfect dark and moody book to snuggle up with on a cold day. The setting in the Arctic Circle along with haunting lore of the Inuit people made for an enthralling, atmospheric dive into the minds of souls in anguish. This has the feel of a Nordic Noir police procedural mixed with some paranormal and horror elements. The main character, Corporal Elderick Cole, is one I won’t forget. He’s deeply troubled and doesn’t take care of himself but remains focused on the truth. Excellent debut! I combo read and listened to this one-great narration!
Thank you @Crownpublishing & @prhaudio for the gifted books!
Thank you @Crownpublishing & @prhaudio for the gifted books!
December 11, 2025
This was such an enjoyable debut! I pushed this up on my TBR because it was snowy and icy outside, and I figured it would mesh well with the Arctic Circle atmosphere. Speaking of the atmosphere, Malcolm Kempt does a fantastic job of making this book feel visceral. He doesn’t just describe, he makes you really feel like you’re there, experiencing everything that is happening right alongside the characters.
A Gift Before Dying is about Elderick Cole, a man exiled to the Arctic due to a past investigation gone wrong. Completely alone, dealing with a new job, new home, a pending civil suit, and a career hanging on by a thread, Cole comes across the body of a local girl. While it appears to be suicide, Cole doesn’t believe that. Joining forces with the girl’s brother, they are bound together with a singular goal: find her killer. With nothing else to lose, and with absolutely no problem breaking the rules, Cole is steadfast in his pursuit for justice, redemption, and atonement.
If I hadn’t known prior to starting this book, I would have assumed Malcolm Kempt had released numerous books. The fact this is a debut is mind blowing. The writing is sharp and powerful, and this is such an atmospheric, chilling book. It also has the perfect sprinkle of the paranormal which makes this book even more haunting. Absolutely recommend checking this out!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for this eARC!
A Gift Before Dying is about Elderick Cole, a man exiled to the Arctic due to a past investigation gone wrong. Completely alone, dealing with a new job, new home, a pending civil suit, and a career hanging on by a thread, Cole comes across the body of a local girl. While it appears to be suicide, Cole doesn’t believe that. Joining forces with the girl’s brother, they are bound together with a singular goal: find her killer. With nothing else to lose, and with absolutely no problem breaking the rules, Cole is steadfast in his pursuit for justice, redemption, and atonement.
If I hadn’t known prior to starting this book, I would have assumed Malcolm Kempt had released numerous books. The fact this is a debut is mind blowing. The writing is sharp and powerful, and this is such an atmospheric, chilling book. It also has the perfect sprinkle of the paranormal which makes this book even more haunting. Absolutely recommend checking this out!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for this eARC!
September 29, 2025
This is an average sized book for a debut. Which is a really nice palette cleanser from the much longer books that the established authors are putting out.
I would label the genre for this book a little differently than it is labeled. I show it labeled as General Fiction / Mystery and Thriller. With the Lee Child's blurb on the front, I was assuming either a straight mystery or a mystery/action mashup. This is instead a mystery/horror mashup. There are ghosts. Lots of ghosts and unexplained phenomena. So, that's something to be aware of going in because satisfaction often depends on the difference between what is expected and what is delivered.
The arctic setting is extremely well done in this book. The arctic setting changes everything about living and investigating and dovetails nicely with what I knew about arctic living. (For example, 9 out of every 10 crimes in Alaska is either alcohol or drug related.) It's cold and bleak and enhances the horror and mystery elements nicely.
I did not guess the ending, which I like. However, I did not like the way the book ended. Opinions on that will differ, of course, and I'm not going to give the ending away by describing what I didn't care for.
This is a solid debut that will be enjoyed by fans of horror/mystery mashups.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.
I would label the genre for this book a little differently than it is labeled. I show it labeled as General Fiction / Mystery and Thriller. With the Lee Child's blurb on the front, I was assuming either a straight mystery or a mystery/action mashup. This is instead a mystery/horror mashup. There are ghosts. Lots of ghosts and unexplained phenomena. So, that's something to be aware of going in because satisfaction often depends on the difference between what is expected and what is delivered.
The arctic setting is extremely well done in this book. The arctic setting changes everything about living and investigating and dovetails nicely with what I knew about arctic living. (For example, 9 out of every 10 crimes in Alaska is either alcohol or drug related.) It's cold and bleak and enhances the horror and mystery elements nicely.
I did not guess the ending, which I like. However, I did not like the way the book ended. Opinions on that will differ, of course, and I'm not going to give the ending away by describing what I didn't care for.
This is a solid debut that will be enjoyed by fans of horror/mystery mashups.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.
February 24, 2026
5/5
Unsettling, tragic, and honest.
"Years ago, his instructors had taught him to always use a pen, but up here, the ink kept freezing."
CW // A dog is killed in Chapter 15 (page 102-108) so you might want to skip it (page 108 at the least), the important information is: And it's mentioned in Chapter 16 and a few more times throughout the book. The only other time it is described is in the second paragraph of Chapter 21. (page 137)
Kempt masterfully weaves together an Arctic mystery with the nuance of Arctic living, clearly showcasing his years spent up there. He touches on Inuit traditional beliefs, effects of colonialism, the harshness of Arctic living, and the rotation of numerous Qallunaat throughout the remote towns. I loved this.
Sergeant Elderick Cole is a run-down and beaten cop. You'll find a lot of cliches within him: he's a drinker, he's divorced, he's on pain meds (but doesn't abuse them!), he's haunted from a previous case that might end his career. But these are authentic to him and the issues are only compounded in the endless dark of the Canadian Arctic winter of Cape Dorset. He's running on zero sleep and mounting stress and endless cups of terrible coffee.
"Eight days past his birthday and still nothing from either. He had kept his expectations low but felt empty all the same."
This is a short read but don't let it fool you, it has power. It's told in alternating POVs of Cole and ten-year-old Maliktu Kullu, the little brother of Pitseolala. If A Promise Is a Promise scared you as a child, then this will be nightmare fuel. Cole struggles with his newest case, the suicide of sixteen-year-old Pitseolala. Cole's partner, Veronica Aningmiuq, believes it's an open-and-shut case but things aren't adding up for Cole. Maliktu struggles with the loss of his sister and increasingly disturbing visions.
Juggling the needs of a family/community, duty, and inclement weather, Kempt unravels the story in a smooth pace with a climax that had me gripping my book way too hard and holding my breath. Kempt writes a harrowing tale that keeps smacking you down just when you think you've got your footing. I loved this ending! I had so much hope and so many feelings tied up to Cole and Miliktu. I love the inclusion of Inuit mythology as that connects it even more to the place.
"The sudden glare hit him like a flashbulb in the dark."
If you haven't read Taaqtumi 2: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories, do it. Kempt has a story in it and it (and the first anthology) contains many terrors from Inuit lore.
I am so happy to have read this!My only complaint is that he kept the colonial name instead of using the traditional name, Kinngait, that it's been officially using for 6 years now. EDIT: I have zero complaints! I made an assumption of the time of the story and it was decades before the name change! Malcolm Kempt does use and recognize the traditional name. I'm sorry and thank you for the callout/correction! Keeping the link to show that not all places have been allowed to change back to their traditional names.
Here's a little article about it and it even mentions Pond Inlet. Name Change for Two Communities
Kempt is precise in his writing, he doesn't drag out the story for hundreds of pages. He doesn't pull punches in his commentary of the struggles the Inuit face and shines light on a place people don't get to hear much about. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Icelandic Mysteries or anyone curious about the Canadian Arctic. Check your local library or bookstore and if they don't have it, request that they bring it in! I look forward to his next book.
Unsettling, tragic, and honest.
"Years ago, his instructors had taught him to always use a pen, but up here, the ink kept freezing."
CW // A dog is killed in Chapter 15 (page 102-108) so you might want to skip it (page 108 at the least), the important information is: And it's mentioned in Chapter 16 and a few more times throughout the book. The only other time it is described is in the second paragraph of Chapter 21. (page 137)
Kempt masterfully weaves together an Arctic mystery with the nuance of Arctic living, clearly showcasing his years spent up there. He touches on Inuit traditional beliefs, effects of colonialism, the harshness of Arctic living, and the rotation of numerous Qallunaat throughout the remote towns. I loved this.
Sergeant Elderick Cole is a run-down and beaten cop. You'll find a lot of cliches within him: he's a drinker, he's divorced, he's on pain meds (but doesn't abuse them!), he's haunted from a previous case that might end his career. But these are authentic to him and the issues are only compounded in the endless dark of the Canadian Arctic winter of Cape Dorset. He's running on zero sleep and mounting stress and endless cups of terrible coffee.
"Eight days past his birthday and still nothing from either. He had kept his expectations low but felt empty all the same."
This is a short read but don't let it fool you, it has power. It's told in alternating POVs of Cole and ten-year-old Maliktu Kullu, the little brother of Pitseolala. If A Promise Is a Promise scared you as a child, then this will be nightmare fuel. Cole struggles with his newest case, the suicide of sixteen-year-old Pitseolala. Cole's partner, Veronica Aningmiuq, believes it's an open-and-shut case but things aren't adding up for Cole. Maliktu struggles with the loss of his sister and increasingly disturbing visions.
Juggling the needs of a family/community, duty, and inclement weather, Kempt unravels the story in a smooth pace with a climax that had me gripping my book way too hard and holding my breath. Kempt writes a harrowing tale that keeps smacking you down just when you think you've got your footing. I loved this ending! I had so much hope and so many feelings tied up to Cole and Miliktu. I love the inclusion of Inuit mythology as that connects it even more to the place.
"The sudden glare hit him like a flashbulb in the dark."
If you haven't read Taaqtumi 2: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories, do it. Kempt has a story in it and it (and the first anthology) contains many terrors from Inuit lore.
I am so happy to have read this!
Here's a little article about it and it even mentions Pond Inlet. Name Change for Two Communities
Kempt is precise in his writing, he doesn't drag out the story for hundreds of pages. He doesn't pull punches in his commentary of the struggles the Inuit face and shines light on a place people don't get to hear much about. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Icelandic Mysteries or anyone curious about the Canadian Arctic. Check your local library or bookstore and if they don't have it, request that they bring it in! I look forward to his next book.
February 8, 2026
This book had a lot to say about the ill effects of the white man on Inuit cultures, traditions, and quality of life.
Cole is a disgraced cop, who following a botched investigation into the disappearance of a young boy, has been banished to the deep reaches of the North American Arctic community of Cape Dorset.
Since being stationed in Cape Dorset as one of two officers of the law, he has seen some shit. The Inuit community, which was once ripe with traditions and ways of life, has turned its back on it all with the arrival of plentiful alcohol, cigarettes, and the holy grail: frozen junk food. The average lifespan of their people has drifted well below what it once was.
But Cole had taken a special interest in the safety and wellbeing of a particular youth, a girl named Pitseolala. So when the day comes that he finds her body swinging from the kitchen ceiling of an empty home, it brings back with it the demons he still fights every day over the botched investigation of the past.
His partner, an Inuit woman named Victoria, believes whole heartedly that this is an open and shut suicide, but Cole is seeing more. And he’s not the only one.
Piseolala’s little brother Maliktu is being haunted by visions of his sister following her death, and she is telling him that he needs to help Cole take down the devil that hurt her.
Cole and Maliktu both are not known for really being alright in the area of mental health, but should they be following the warning, was this actually a tragic suicide, or is there something more that they should find?
When it comes to crime thrillers and mysteries, it’s not usually my bag, but this book actually taught me a fair bit about the modern lives of Inuit communities. Their history of white-led gentrification is not a great one, and while it’s sad and enraging, it’s something I am grateful to have learned from this book. Sometimes awareness is all we have to keep us moving forward.
Cole is a disgraced cop, who following a botched investigation into the disappearance of a young boy, has been banished to the deep reaches of the North American Arctic community of Cape Dorset.
Since being stationed in Cape Dorset as one of two officers of the law, he has seen some shit. The Inuit community, which was once ripe with traditions and ways of life, has turned its back on it all with the arrival of plentiful alcohol, cigarettes, and the holy grail: frozen junk food. The average lifespan of their people has drifted well below what it once was.
But Cole had taken a special interest in the safety and wellbeing of a particular youth, a girl named Pitseolala. So when the day comes that he finds her body swinging from the kitchen ceiling of an empty home, it brings back with it the demons he still fights every day over the botched investigation of the past.
His partner, an Inuit woman named Victoria, believes whole heartedly that this is an open and shut suicide, but Cole is seeing more. And he’s not the only one.
Piseolala’s little brother Maliktu is being haunted by visions of his sister following her death, and she is telling him that he needs to help Cole take down the devil that hurt her.
Cole and Maliktu both are not known for really being alright in the area of mental health, but should they be following the warning, was this actually a tragic suicide, or is there something more that they should find?
When it comes to crime thrillers and mysteries, it’s not usually my bag, but this book actually taught me a fair bit about the modern lives of Inuit communities. Their history of white-led gentrification is not a great one, and while it’s sad and enraging, it’s something I am grateful to have learned from this book. Sometimes awareness is all we have to keep us moving forward.
January 21, 2026
#ad much love for my advance copy @crownpublishing #partner
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
🅰 🅶🅸🅵🆃 🅱🅴🅵🅾🆁🅴 🅳🆈🅸🅽🅶
< @malcolmkempt >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴊᴀɴᴜᴀʀʏ 𝟤𝟢, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
“In a hauntingly atmospheric novel set against the unforgiving landscape of the Arctic Circle, a disgraced police investigator discovers that his path to redemption is paved with ice—and blood.”
What a crime thriller this one was! Atmospheric with a solid mystery, I enjoyed this one. I think this is one of those books that you’re either going to love or not.
The writing really pulled me in, but the setting kept me hooked. You can’t beat an isolated location with frigid temperatures - one of my most fav settings. And this book delivered.
This was also a complex crime thriller with some supernatural elements. I thought the investigation was genius.
🎧: Also listened to the audio while following along and enjoyed the audio too. Stephen Mendel was the perfect person for this book. A fab listen.
Loved how the story explored grief, guilt, and redemption - I only wish it had been a little more fast-paced, but it was still a fab read.
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
🅰 🅶🅸🅵🆃 🅱🅴🅵🅾🆁🅴 🅳🆈🅸🅽🅶
< @malcolmkempt >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴊᴀɴᴜᴀʀʏ 𝟤𝟢, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
“In a hauntingly atmospheric novel set against the unforgiving landscape of the Arctic Circle, a disgraced police investigator discovers that his path to redemption is paved with ice—and blood.”
What a crime thriller this one was! Atmospheric with a solid mystery, I enjoyed this one. I think this is one of those books that you’re either going to love or not.
The writing really pulled me in, but the setting kept me hooked. You can’t beat an isolated location with frigid temperatures - one of my most fav settings. And this book delivered.
This was also a complex crime thriller with some supernatural elements. I thought the investigation was genius.
🎧: Also listened to the audio while following along and enjoyed the audio too. Stephen Mendel was the perfect person for this book. A fab listen.
Loved how the story explored grief, guilt, and redemption - I only wish it had been a little more fast-paced, but it was still a fab read.
December 8, 2025
This is a dark (literally and figuratively), bleak and relentlessly cheerless thriller – and I couldn’t put it down. Sergeant Elderick Cole has been demoted to a Canadian Arctic island following a botched investigation in Northern Alberta, a penance he performs dutifully and somberly. The Inuit population of the island, having had their ancient way of survival mostly obliterated by early fur traders, has spiraled into poverty, substance abuse and violence. Lawlessness reigns. As one of the town’s two law officers, Cole tries to foster a shred of social civility, and is not so easily convinced that a young woman’s cause of death was suicide. There is an element of the paranormal here, too, adding to the surreal setting of endlessly dark and cold winter days. Hard to believe this is a debut novel, as Kempt’s writing is so sharp and powerful. Highly recommended.
November 4, 2025
*A Gift Before Dying* really surprised me — in the best way. It’s a mix of mystery, dark humor, and some unexpectedly heartfelt moments that stick with you. Kempt has a great way of writing characters who feel real — a little messy, a little flawed, but totally believable.
The story moves at a good pace, though it drags just a bit in the middle. Still, the ending ties everything together beautifully, and I found myself thinking about the moral twists long after I finished.
If you like stories that make you think but still keep you entertained, this one’s definitely worth picking up.
The story moves at a good pace, though it drags just a bit in the middle. Still, the ending ties everything together beautifully, and I found myself thinking about the moral twists long after I finished.
If you like stories that make you think but still keep you entertained, this one’s definitely worth picking up.
February 16, 2026
Sergeant Elderick Cole has been assigned to a case in the Arctic Circle. With his suffering marriage and family life. What is there to lose. The case is about a girl who allegedly committed suicide, but Sergeant Cole is not fully convinced. Her brother Maliktu is involved in the investigation, but not in the typical way.
This is a great first novel, I’m excited to read more from this author.
This is a great first novel, I’m excited to read more from this author.
January 26, 2026
Dark, haunting, propulsive, with a hefty dose of scary supernatural-this book is not at all my typical read but I couldn’t put it down. It’s also an unflinching look at the poverty and brokenness in tiny native Arctic communities.
February 21, 2026
I enjoyed this book. It is fast paced and can keep your interest. It was a little slow in the beginning. Even though I’m not Canadian, I found the book accessible as there were plenty of times when words and terms were defined.
Full disclosure: I won a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
Full disclosure: I won a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
March 14, 2026
To sum this book up in 3 words:
Freezing
Pain
Exhaustion
Freezing
Pain
Exhaustion
March 3, 2026
Thank you to @prhaudio and @crown publishing for the ALC and ARC of this book!
This book was super unique and I am so torn on how to review it!
I really enjoyed the setting in the Artic with the Intuit people. The history behind the reservation was interesting and intriguing, though some passages read like the author was spewing everything he learned during his research. I also loved the mystery behind if Pits had been killed or not. It was interesting to see the struggles Cole went through with the investigation. The other parts of the plot were interesting and engaging at times. Some of it felt like too much, while other times it felt like it furthered the conflict. There were many times when Kempt's syntax and writing style had me lost on how we ended up where we were. I wish I didn't have to spend as much time as I did rereading. Maybe this was a me problem. The ending was super unique. I really enjoyed that aspect. I don't want to ruin it so I'm being vague. I do think I would read a sophomore novel from Kempt.
This book was super unique and I am so torn on how to review it!
I really enjoyed the setting in the Artic with the Intuit people. The history behind the reservation was interesting and intriguing, though some passages read like the author was spewing everything he learned during his research. I also loved the mystery behind if Pits had been killed or not. It was interesting to see the struggles Cole went through with the investigation. The other parts of the plot were interesting and engaging at times. Some of it felt like too much, while other times it felt like it furthered the conflict. There were many times when Kempt's syntax and writing style had me lost on how we ended up where we were. I wish I didn't have to spend as much time as I did rereading. Maybe this was a me problem. The ending was super unique. I really enjoyed that aspect. I don't want to ruin it so I'm being vague. I do think I would read a sophomore novel from Kempt.
January 21, 2026
I read this in one sitting. It’s clear, heartfelt, and one of the most captivating thrillers I’ve read in a long time. From the plot to the writing style, it’s a moving and thoughtful read that will stay with me. 10/10 I couldn’t recommend it enough!
December 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It was so well written, and I really became immersed in the cold, Arctic world. It was so atmospheric and gripping. I loved the Inuit culture that was depicted throughout, and really felt for the characters.
December 18, 2025
There are a books I’ve read recently where I felt the author had a death-grip on the narrative from the very first page. One was Samantha Harvey’s Orbital, another was Olga Ravn’s The Wax Child, but it’s Kempt’s debut that felt seismic. His storytelling is so confident and assured, and his main protagonist is one of the more memorable detectives in literature. I saw one review that had a line like ‘there’s never been a police protagonist more disheveled and out of sorts than Cole.” I normally reject superlatives, but in this case, the reviewer was right. I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to receive an early copy of this novel, as it is one I will not soon forget.
March 5, 2026
SYNOPSIS
After a botched high-profile murder investigation, Corporal Elderick Cole is exiled to the remote, rugged landscape of Nunavut, a vast territory in the Arctic Circle known for its untamed beauty, frigid temperatures, and endless winter nights. With his family having severed all ties, Cole waits out the result of a civil lawsuit alone—the wrong verdict could end what’s left of his flailing career. His bleak existence takes a sinister turn when he discovers the hanging body of Pitseolala, a troubled Inuit girl whom he had sworn to protect. Her death dredges up demons he thought he’d buried along with the scars of a fractured marriage and the aching divide between him and his estranged daughter. As Cole’s life unravels—and with it, the fragile thread of his investigation, he turns to Pitseolala’s younger brother, Maliktu, a fellow outsider. It’s then that Cole uncovers what binds them—a singular mission to find her killer. Against fierce backlash, Cole’s overriding desire to redeem just one aspect of his otherwise failed life becomes an obsession—and he’s willing to break every rule in his unyielding pursuit of justice and the smallest shred of redemption.
A knockout debut novel, author Malcom Kempt brings readers an atmospheric mystery/thriller with paranormal elements. Kempt spent seventeen years working as a criminal lawyer in the remote Arctic, and his experience and familiarity with a community like this are evident throughout. The story feels like an intense police procedural, and I love the scarred character Cole. The setting in the Arctic Circle, within an Inuit community, and the way Kempt mixes in their cultural traditions and stories, within the isolation of a place that remote, make this one a real page-turner.
After a botched high-profile murder investigation, Corporal Elderick Cole is exiled to the remote, rugged landscape of Nunavut, a vast territory in the Arctic Circle known for its untamed beauty, frigid temperatures, and endless winter nights. With his family having severed all ties, Cole waits out the result of a civil lawsuit alone—the wrong verdict could end what’s left of his flailing career. His bleak existence takes a sinister turn when he discovers the hanging body of Pitseolala, a troubled Inuit girl whom he had sworn to protect. Her death dredges up demons he thought he’d buried along with the scars of a fractured marriage and the aching divide between him and his estranged daughter. As Cole’s life unravels—and with it, the fragile thread of his investigation, he turns to Pitseolala’s younger brother, Maliktu, a fellow outsider. It’s then that Cole uncovers what binds them—a singular mission to find her killer. Against fierce backlash, Cole’s overriding desire to redeem just one aspect of his otherwise failed life becomes an obsession—and he’s willing to break every rule in his unyielding pursuit of justice and the smallest shred of redemption.
A knockout debut novel, author Malcom Kempt brings readers an atmospheric mystery/thriller with paranormal elements. Kempt spent seventeen years working as a criminal lawyer in the remote Arctic, and his experience and familiarity with a community like this are evident throughout. The story feels like an intense police procedural, and I love the scarred character Cole. The setting in the Arctic Circle, within an Inuit community, and the way Kempt mixes in their cultural traditions and stories, within the isolation of a place that remote, make this one a real page-turner.
February 8, 2026
This was an atmospheric pulse-pounding thriller debut set in the Arctic Circle that has an old investigator seeking redemption trying to solve a series of murders in an Inuit community. This book doesn't shy away from highlighting the challenges and hardships of life in these types of far North Indigenous communities but Corporal Elderick Cole has been exiled to Nunavit and is determined to make the best of it but as questions pile up and answers are in short supply he finds himself fighting for his life in a climatic end that will leave you gasping. This was good on audio and highly recommended for fans of books like Warning signs or A blizzard of polar bears. I loved this first novel from Canadian writer Malcolm Kempt and look forward to what he might write next.
January 25, 2026
Thank you @prhaudio @crownpublishing #partner for the gifted copies of this book!
❄️A Gift Before Dying ❄️
Author: Malcolm Kempt
Pub Date: January 20, 2026
I am an absolute sucker for snowy covers in the winter and this one was calling my name. ❄️ A Gift Before Dying is a new to me author and a first Malcolm Kempt book that I've read and I’m happy to report I really enjoyed this one.
The story kicks off with a woman found dead in the Arctic Circle and it was initially ruled a suicide. However as the detective starts digging into the details little things just don’t add up. It quickly becomes clear to Cole, the detective that there’s more going on in this small town.
This book is SUCH a mood. It’s extremely atmospheric and Malcolm absolutely nailed it making me feel trapped in this brutally cold and isolated town. I felt like I was trucking right alongside Detective Cole freezing my booty off. I personally could practically feel the frostbite and exhaustion pouring off this man. Cole was a fascinating character to me. He was a little unlikeable because of his habits but also I felt deeply sympathetic towards him. I couldn't decide if I loved him or loathed him. I'm kind of a softy though... so leaned more towards love. I couldn't help but feel for him as he spiraled a bit mentally under the pressure of being a part of a small police force, all the lack of sleep he didn't get and just the general environment he was forced to work in. Woof. It was tough!
If you love stories dripping in desperation, isolation with a touch of insanity, then look no further friends...this one is for you. The entire book is oozing with a dark sense of dread that never let up for the entire book. AAAAAAND I loved every second of it.
⚠️ Quick note for animal lovers: there is one scene involving an animal that doesn’t make it — read with caution.
All in all, this was the perfect read for the gray, cold days of a Chicago winter.
❄️
❄️A Gift Before Dying ❄️
Author: Malcolm Kempt
Pub Date: January 20, 2026
I am an absolute sucker for snowy covers in the winter and this one was calling my name. ❄️ A Gift Before Dying is a new to me author and a first Malcolm Kempt book that I've read and I’m happy to report I really enjoyed this one.
The story kicks off with a woman found dead in the Arctic Circle and it was initially ruled a suicide. However as the detective starts digging into the details little things just don’t add up. It quickly becomes clear to Cole, the detective that there’s more going on in this small town.
This book is SUCH a mood. It’s extremely atmospheric and Malcolm absolutely nailed it making me feel trapped in this brutally cold and isolated town. I felt like I was trucking right alongside Detective Cole freezing my booty off. I personally could practically feel the frostbite and exhaustion pouring off this man. Cole was a fascinating character to me. He was a little unlikeable because of his habits but also I felt deeply sympathetic towards him. I couldn't decide if I loved him or loathed him. I'm kind of a softy though... so leaned more towards love. I couldn't help but feel for him as he spiraled a bit mentally under the pressure of being a part of a small police force, all the lack of sleep he didn't get and just the general environment he was forced to work in. Woof. It was tough!
If you love stories dripping in desperation, isolation with a touch of insanity, then look no further friends...this one is for you. The entire book is oozing with a dark sense of dread that never let up for the entire book. AAAAAAND I loved every second of it.
⚠️ Quick note for animal lovers: there is one scene involving an animal that doesn’t make it — read with caution.
All in all, this was the perfect read for the gray, cold days of a Chicago winter.
❄️
February 20, 2026
A cold, dark mood book, perfect for winter nights. You could feel the chill with each page.
March 3, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up to four because the story is so compelling. Congratulations Malcolm Kempt. I really enjoyed the suspense and thrills of the book. Everything was believable.
February 19, 2026
I was attracted to the “Nordic Noir” aspects to this novel and, upon reading it, I was impressed by the talent of the author with this initial published work. However, I could not stomach the overriding notion that strange, cultish religious beliefs and ceremonies are elevated to spiritual truth whilst mainline Christianity is evil, hypocritical, and abhorrent. It leaves a sour taste…
January 30, 2026
Great first novel. Great novel, all on its own. I felt like I was getting an education about Inuit culture and anthropology. "Cole", the protagonist is a complex and well-developed character, with numerous character flaws that increase his humanity. The story is fast moving and compelling. Mr. Kempt has a great future ahead of him if he can continue to write books like this one--hopefully in other settings. This is a worthy read.
January 25, 2026
I received this book from Goodreads for an honest review.
I have mixed feelings about this book. There were things I liked; however, they were often paired with something that just wasn’t quite so great for me. First, let me say I had a hard time deciding what classification of I would give book. It wavered between mystery, literary fiction, and travelogue/documentary and never really seemed to get to the status of either suspense or thriller. I don’t mind bending genres, but I just found the book hard to classify and I wasn’t always sure how to take it.
The atmosphere, the climate and conditions, and the people were so well defined, the background almost became the main character. I liked that for a change. However, the real characters were a little flat. This may be because they were so shaped by their environment they had to become secondary characters. (I’m still processing how I feel,about this and probably will be for a few weeks until I can find someone else who has read this I can argue it out with.)
Again because of the intended or unintended main character, the plot had many new twists and tricks I haven’t read in many other books. I really appreciated that freshness.
I probably spent more time reading this than I should have. I’d find I’d missed a detail and would go back and reread 2-3 chapters just to see what else I’d missed.
I’d be interested in knowing if anyone else thought the backdrop stole the show.
Now, I gotta add. This is a debut novel. Damn good for the first go!
I have mixed feelings about this book. There were things I liked; however, they were often paired with something that just wasn’t quite so great for me. First, let me say I had a hard time deciding what classification of I would give book. It wavered between mystery, literary fiction, and travelogue/documentary and never really seemed to get to the status of either suspense or thriller. I don’t mind bending genres, but I just found the book hard to classify and I wasn’t always sure how to take it.
The atmosphere, the climate and conditions, and the people were so well defined, the background almost became the main character. I liked that for a change. However, the real characters were a little flat. This may be because they were so shaped by their environment they had to become secondary characters. (I’m still processing how I feel,about this and probably will be for a few weeks until I can find someone else who has read this I can argue it out with.)
Again because of the intended or unintended main character, the plot had many new twists and tricks I haven’t read in many other books. I really appreciated that freshness.
I probably spent more time reading this than I should have. I’d find I’d missed a detail and would go back and reread 2-3 chapters just to see what else I’d missed.
I’d be interested in knowing if anyone else thought the backdrop stole the show.
Now, I gotta add. This is a debut novel. Damn good for the first go!
December 12, 2025
Sergeant Cole has been reassigned to the Arctic Circle after mishandling a previous murder investigation. When he attends what first appears to be the suicide of a young girl, he soon begins to suspect that not everything is as it seems…
This is the author’s debut novel, and I found the pacing steady for most of the book. The narrative takes time to immerse the reader in the setting, vividly portraying life in the Arctic Circle—the harsh realities of the environment—and weaving in details of Inuit culture, which I found both unique and enriching.
The final ten or so chapters shift gears into a faster pace, delivering an action-packed and bittersweet conclusion. While a few questions remain unanswered, this is a distinctive read that balances atmosphere, cultural depth, and suspense.
This is the author’s debut novel, and I found the pacing steady for most of the book. The narrative takes time to immerse the reader in the setting, vividly portraying life in the Arctic Circle—the harsh realities of the environment—and weaving in details of Inuit culture, which I found both unique and enriching.
The final ten or so chapters shift gears into a faster pace, delivering an action-packed and bittersweet conclusion. While a few questions remain unanswered, this is a distinctive read that balances atmosphere, cultural depth, and suspense.
January 23, 2026
★★★★
Corporal Elderick Cole (Cole) has had a few tough years. Overworked, on the brink of divorce, he botched a high-profile case and landed himself in exile. In a way, quite literally, because his new home in the unforgiving landscape of Nunavut, deep in the Arctic Circle, feels very much like a punishment.
Now divorced and struggling with his health, Cole is more overworked than ever. Resources are scarce in the Inuit village. Crime is high, as is substance abuse, and deaths are frequent, whether accidental, self-inflicted, or otherwise. When the hanging body of Pitseolala is found, everyone accepts the narrative of suicide except Cole. Pitseolala was known to police, and Cole never picked her as suicidal. There is also evidence suggesting things may not be as they seem. Determined to get to the truth, Cole forms an unexpected alliance with Maliktu, Pitseolala’s brother, but his attempt to redeem himself professionally may cost him everything he has left…
I did not realize this was a debut, wow! The atmosphere is incredible. The descriptions are so vivid that I genuinely felt the temperature drop along with the daylight. It was incredibly immersive! Throughout the story, we learn a lot about Inuit history, culture, and the challenges these communities face. The circumstances many children are born into and grow up in are disheartening, and there were a few parts that were hard to read. Even knowing this is fiction, it does not feel far off the mark. A sense of loss, of both identity and hope, runs through the story. While you might judge certain choices as an outsider, it is impossible not to relate to the daily struggles behind them.
One of the most unexpected elements of the story were the supernatural aspects described by Cole and Maliktu. They enhanced the atmosphere and underlined Inuit culture and beliefs, while still feeling plausible (admittedly Cole is exhausted and Maliktu carries a lot of unresolved trauma).
Cole, our protagonist, is deeply flawed and full of regrets, yet clearly committed to serving and helping his community, even knowing he will always be an outsider to them. Maliktu broke my heart over and over. He is sweet and sensitive, and I had to remind myself more than once just how young he is. His tragic life has forced him to grow up far too fast.
The mystery itself was well done. While I was fully with Cole in questioning the ruling of suicide, I also understood the difficult position he was in, trying to respect the culture while making sure Pitseolala got justice. I did develop a strong suspicion about the culprit at one point, but that in no way lessened the experience. There were a few unresolved questions, but I do not think that hurts the story. Just like in real life, we rarely get perfect conclusions.
If you enjoy an atmospheric slow burn with just the right amount of supernatural elements, I highly recommend checking this out!
Corporal Elderick Cole (Cole) has had a few tough years. Overworked, on the brink of divorce, he botched a high-profile case and landed himself in exile. In a way, quite literally, because his new home in the unforgiving landscape of Nunavut, deep in the Arctic Circle, feels very much like a punishment.
Now divorced and struggling with his health, Cole is more overworked than ever. Resources are scarce in the Inuit village. Crime is high, as is substance abuse, and deaths are frequent, whether accidental, self-inflicted, or otherwise. When the hanging body of Pitseolala is found, everyone accepts the narrative of suicide except Cole. Pitseolala was known to police, and Cole never picked her as suicidal. There is also evidence suggesting things may not be as they seem. Determined to get to the truth, Cole forms an unexpected alliance with Maliktu, Pitseolala’s brother, but his attempt to redeem himself professionally may cost him everything he has left…
I did not realize this was a debut, wow! The atmosphere is incredible. The descriptions are so vivid that I genuinely felt the temperature drop along with the daylight. It was incredibly immersive! Throughout the story, we learn a lot about Inuit history, culture, and the challenges these communities face. The circumstances many children are born into and grow up in are disheartening, and there were a few parts that were hard to read. Even knowing this is fiction, it does not feel far off the mark. A sense of loss, of both identity and hope, runs through the story. While you might judge certain choices as an outsider, it is impossible not to relate to the daily struggles behind them.
One of the most unexpected elements of the story were the supernatural aspects described by Cole and Maliktu. They enhanced the atmosphere and underlined Inuit culture and beliefs, while still feeling plausible (admittedly Cole is exhausted and Maliktu carries a lot of unresolved trauma).
Cole, our protagonist, is deeply flawed and full of regrets, yet clearly committed to serving and helping his community, even knowing he will always be an outsider to them. Maliktu broke my heart over and over. He is sweet and sensitive, and I had to remind myself more than once just how young he is. His tragic life has forced him to grow up far too fast.
The mystery itself was well done. While I was fully with Cole in questioning the ruling of suicide, I also understood the difficult position he was in, trying to respect the culture while making sure Pitseolala got justice. I did develop a strong suspicion about the culprit at one point, but that in no way lessened the experience. There were a few unresolved questions, but I do not think that hurts the story. Just like in real life, we rarely get perfect conclusions.
If you enjoy an atmospheric slow burn with just the right amount of supernatural elements, I highly recommend checking this out!
March 11, 2026
Malcolm Kempt’s A Gift Before Dying stands apart from many Arctic thrillers. Where much of the genre relies on action-heavy plots or military intrigue, Kempt’s novel feels rooted in lived experience. Having worked as a criminal lawyer in the Canadian Arctic for nearly two decades, he writes the North not as an exotic backdrop but as a place shaped by harsh infrastructure realities, social pressures, and deep spiritual traditions.
The novel alternates between Sergeant Elderick Cole, a deeply troubled “Southern” policeman investigating the apparent suicide of a teenage girl in Cape Dorset, and Maliktu, a ten-year-old Inuit boy haunted by visions of his dead sister. What begins as a procedural slowly becomes something stranger and more unsettling, blending crime fiction with elements that echo Inuit storytelling traditions where the spiritual and physical worlds overlap.
Kempt’s portrayal of Northern communities feels careful and deliberate. At times the explanations almost seem to pause the narrative to ensure readers unfamiliar with Arctic life understand the context, but this ultimately strengthens the novel’s sense of reality rather than weakening it.
Two moments in particular stayed with me long after finishing the book. The scene in which Cole executes a chained dog in front of children is shocking and deeply uncomfortable — especially given the historical memory of dog culls in Arctic communities. It made me wonder how difficult that scene was to write. I also found the exorcism scene with the evangelical preacher Avon Desmond incredibly visceral, raising questions about the role of outside religious influences and the tensions they can create within small Northern communities.
This is a bleak, haunting work of Arctic noir that lingers long after the final page. A great debut! Cannot wait to read more by Kempt.
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC!
(I wrote a longer review for Arctic Book Review exploring the novel in more detail: https://arcticbookreview.blogspot.com...)
The novel alternates between Sergeant Elderick Cole, a deeply troubled “Southern” policeman investigating the apparent suicide of a teenage girl in Cape Dorset, and Maliktu, a ten-year-old Inuit boy haunted by visions of his dead sister. What begins as a procedural slowly becomes something stranger and more unsettling, blending crime fiction with elements that echo Inuit storytelling traditions where the spiritual and physical worlds overlap.
Kempt’s portrayal of Northern communities feels careful and deliberate. At times the explanations almost seem to pause the narrative to ensure readers unfamiliar with Arctic life understand the context, but this ultimately strengthens the novel’s sense of reality rather than weakening it.
Two moments in particular stayed with me long after finishing the book. The scene in which Cole executes a chained dog in front of children is shocking and deeply uncomfortable — especially given the historical memory of dog culls in Arctic communities. It made me wonder how difficult that scene was to write. I also found the exorcism scene with the evangelical preacher Avon Desmond incredibly visceral, raising questions about the role of outside religious influences and the tensions they can create within small Northern communities.
This is a bleak, haunting work of Arctic noir that lingers long after the final page. A great debut! Cannot wait to read more by Kempt.
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC!
(I wrote a longer review for Arctic Book Review exploring the novel in more detail: https://arcticbookreview.blogspot.com...)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was seriously a great debut! I'm really excited to read more by this author!
Elderick Cole has been reassigned to a remote Arctic territory following his mishandling of a prominent murder investigation. Although he has been exonerated of any wrongdoing, he is currently awaiting the outcome of a civil lawsuit filed against him. Despite being burdened by shame, regret, and considerable physical discomfort, he endeavors to perform his duties to the best of his ability. However, upon discovering Pitseolala, an Inuit girl, hanged in an abandoned house, he is confronted by old demons. While everyone else presumes it to be a suicide, he is convinced otherwise and is resolute in his determination to prove it. With the assistance of Maliktu, Pitseolala's younger brother, he commences an investigation.
The Arctic setting truly made this book. It was dark, dreary, cold, and isolated. Told from the POVs of Cole and Maliktu, this was a great police procedural/crime thriller. It was incredibly atmospheric, gritty, and full of suspense. The mystery was intriguing, and my heart broke for both the MCs. Both did some very questionable things, and Cole wasn't the most likable, but I definitely felt for him. Veronica, his partner, on the other hand, irritated me to no end! I loved learning about the Inuit people; getting a glimpse into their lives with their language and culture was truly interesting. This book was very entertaining, and I really enjoyed it. I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR🩷
Elderick Cole has been reassigned to a remote Arctic territory following his mishandling of a prominent murder investigation. Although he has been exonerated of any wrongdoing, he is currently awaiting the outcome of a civil lawsuit filed against him. Despite being burdened by shame, regret, and considerable physical discomfort, he endeavors to perform his duties to the best of his ability. However, upon discovering Pitseolala, an Inuit girl, hanged in an abandoned house, he is confronted by old demons. While everyone else presumes it to be a suicide, he is convinced otherwise and is resolute in his determination to prove it. With the assistance of Maliktu, Pitseolala's younger brother, he commences an investigation.
The Arctic setting truly made this book. It was dark, dreary, cold, and isolated. Told from the POVs of Cole and Maliktu, this was a great police procedural/crime thriller. It was incredibly atmospheric, gritty, and full of suspense. The mystery was intriguing, and my heart broke for both the MCs. Both did some very questionable things, and Cole wasn't the most likable, but I definitely felt for him. Veronica, his partner, on the other hand, irritated me to no end! I loved learning about the Inuit people; getting a glimpse into their lives with their language and culture was truly interesting. This book was very entertaining, and I really enjoyed it. I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR🩷
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