The Ice Angels

by Caroline Mitchell

Ten years ago, in the depths of the Finnish winter, Detective Elea Baker’s daughter was taken—and never found.

Now, in the quiet streets of Lincoln, girls are disappearing again. When one is found on the cathedral steps, clutching a chilling clue linked to the decade-old abduction, there’s only one person who can solve the Elea.

Dragged back into her nightmare, she’s determined to bring her daughter home this time—no matter the cost.

But is she chasing a ghost, or on the verge of uncovering a truth that will shatter everything?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense, Crime, Detective, British Literature

336 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and International #1 Bestselling Author. Shortlisted by the International Thriller Awards for best ebook 2017 and the Killer Nashville Best Police Procedural 2018.

** See all my books in order here: https://caroline-writes.com/books **
**Join my writing course here: https://www.caroline-mitchell.com **

Now available:
Amy Winter thriller series: https://geni.us/AmySeries

Slayton thriller series: https://geni.us/Slaytonseries

Jennifer Knight thriller series: https://geni.us/JKSeries

The Islanders psych thriller: https://geni.us/TheIslandersCM

The Village psych thriller: https://geni.us/thevillage

Reviews

[Nancy (Busy feeding 6 rescued baby bunnies) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Three children are abducted from the streets of Lincoln, England, years apart, each taken on their way home from school in the dead of winter. When one girl escapes, she may be the key to finding the others.

The case mirrors the infamous Ice Angels kidnappings in Helsinki, forcing Detective Swann to call in Finnish Crime Inspector Elea Baker, his not-quite ex-wife. For Elea, the case is personal. Her daughter was one of the Ice Angels taken a decade ago and never found.

The Ice Angels is the first in a new crime series. Caroline Mitchell is a former police detective, which explains why this story feels so realistic. Elea is rough around the edges, flawed and a bit broken by her traumatic past, but that only adds to her character and makes her more relatable. She isn’t a rule follower and doesn’t always do things by the book.

This was a dark, atmospheric, and very compelling read. Thankfully, I was able to multitask by listening to the audiobook, otherwise I wouldn’t have been very productive yesterday. It’s my first by this author, and I’ll definitely be diving into her backlist and continuing the series. Fingers crossed this isn’t the last we see of Swann, because I really enjoyed his character as well. Highly recommend!

Aryana Ramkhalawon did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook. This was my first time listening to her work, and I’d gladly listen to more.

Available now! My thanks to RB Media, Recorded Books via NetGalley for my ALC. 🎧

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

BRRRR.......

This "Ice" book left me cold.
🧊❄️🥶☃️

Not the sizzling hot thriller I was expecting and seeking.

Based on GR reviews, I had anticipated a tense, edge-of-your-seat read packed with shocking twists and relentless pacing.

Instead, the story unfolded at a much slower burn with shallow characterizations.

The missing daughter’s character, in particular, was introduced with depth and promise. She felt layered and compelling at first—but then her development completely stalled.

As the book progressed, the pacing dragged in places, with some plot points feeling either overcomplicated or underdeveloped.

I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Aryana Ramkhalawon.

Although Aryana Ramkhalawon's performance was strong, the book would have benefited from multiple narrators since it unfolded from two POVs.

2.5 Stars

[Tini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nordic Noir meets British grit.

Three young girls were taken years apart from the icy streets of Lincoln, England. Now one has been found - silent, traumatized, and perhaps holding the key to uncovering what really happened to the others. Detective Swann somewhat reluctantly calls in Finnish inspector Elea Baker for help - the woman who once was his wife and who carries her own unbearable burden: her daughter, Liisa, disappeared in Helsinki ten years ago, in a case that mirrors the Ice Angels too closely to ignore.

With "The Ice Angels", bestselling author Caroline Mitchell launches a chilling new crime series steeped in Nordic-noir atmosphere and psychological depth. A former police detective who served in the UK's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and specialized in cases involving vulnerable victims and serious sexual offenses, MItchell's first-hand experience is palpable in this dark, compelling story.

Though she originally hails from Ireland, not Finland, Mitchell masterfully channels the spirit of Scandinavian noir: bleak, cold isolated Finnish and British countrysides, morally complex characters, flawed detectives, a slow-burning plot, and a grim, gruesome case where no one is safe. Combining the procedural precision of British detective fiction with the bleak isolation of Scandinavian thrillers, she delivers a truly haunting tale, and brings an authenticity to the investigation that sets this series apart. The procedural elements are convincing, and the emotional weight of the story hits hard. The tension never truly lets up, and even when the plot turns grim - and it often does - Mitchell's empathy for her characters keeps the story grounded. Elea is exactly the kind of protagonist Nordic noir thrives on - resilient, wounded, and deeply human.

Narrator delivers a gripping performance, perfectly capturing not only Elea's Finnish accent but also her steely resolve and the novel’s haunting stillness. Her nuanced delivery brings both the cold settings and the story's emotional undercurrents vividly to life.

"The Ice Angels" is everything you want in a series opener: tense, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant. Mitchell's law enforcement background lends realism and grit, while her storytelling keeps you hooked until the very end. A superb start to what promises to be a standout new series.

Many thanks to RBmedia | Recorded Books for providing me with a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

"The Ice Angels" was published on January 13, 2026, and is available now.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read.Detective Elea Baker daughter was kidnapped and never found.years later, young girls started to disappear in the same way as her daughter she is asked to help with the case with her ex husband...Will they find out who took the girls? one girl managed to escape, holding evidence, something that could have been her daughters.is her daughter alive after all those years? I enjoyed the main characters and could make a great series..very engaging read...looking forward to reading more of her books.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline Mitchell writes such amazing police procedurals, she knows her stuff does this ex copper!

The Ice Angels was so compelling I just didn’t want to stop reading it. It is dark, emotional and atmospheric. I loved the dual settings of Lincoln in the UK and Finland . The cold and the snow added another level to the story for sure. Not always an easy read when you are talking about crimes against young girls, but it was written so well and sensitively.

Detective Elea Baker was a great character, broken, determined and exhausted. She just wants to find her daughter and stop this happening to anyone else. She has great compassion although she comes across as blunt and not caring, she really does. Her relationship with Swann was interesting and I do hope this is the start of a new series.

Thank you so much to Random House UK, Cornerstone for access to read this book early. Absolutely loved it. Published on January 15th.

[Terence M [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!] · Rating 1 out of 5]

1-Star DNF @ 15 - I didn't like what I heard of it
The 'weird' narration had me underwhelmed! I have had to do something I have NEVER had to do before, when I slowed the reading rate from 1.0 to 0.85, just so I could understand the narration. Simply an unsatisfactory purchase!
DNF & Returned to Audible - 27/01/2026

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t imagine working on the case of a missing child, when my own child has been missing for several years. Not to mention the person working on the case is partnered with her estranged husband, and they have to dive into this investigation together. That’s exactly what happened to Elea when another little girl has gone missing. But when one escapes, Elea can’t help but think that Liisa is still out there despite her being missing for several years, yet she has never lost hope!

I enjoyed the alternating POVs & hearing Liisa’s ordeal first hand and her mom as she searches for her. The audio narration was strong & the narrator did a great job bringing life to these characters! Overall a solid read that I’m glad to see is a book 1, I am looking forward to more in this series. Thank you NetGalley & RBmedia for an advanced listening copy.

[plantsandpageturners · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love crime novels and The Ice Angels held my interest, especially as the start of a new series. The premise of the kidnapped children in Finland and the UK is intriguing and Elea Baker is a detective I’d like to see more of. That said, there were a lot of characters, and for me it made it hard to really connect emotionally since we didn’t get to know any of them deeply enough. The narrator, however, was fantastic and definitely kept me engaged. Overall a solid start and I’m hoping the next book dives more into character depth. Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ALC.

[Karen Chong · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 / 5.0

Solid book from start to finish, I think I found a series that will most certainly keep an eye out for. This book, and maybe partly due to the the past few books have been abit meh, this book had all the ingredients and created a high quality, hearty dish. It’s just what you’re looking for when you want a police procedural book, an emotional book, a simple well written book which follows the natural flow of the plot. Everything feels genuine, it doesn’t feel forced but it this book is logical and credible. And what’s even better is that the plot and direction is natural that the ending made sense and had a logical ending. I’ve found the last few books that the ending and path towards closure felt very forced and unnatural. I also found the writing to be very honest and human liked which definitely adds to the emotion near the end. Police procedural, personal human struggles relatable to current day to day life, historic missing persons with potential link to current day.

Ten years ago during the Finnish Winter season, detective Elea baker daughter was taken and never found again. Fast forward to now, all the way to the UK in Lincoln where girls are disappearing again. One is found outside the cathedral steps, clutching a chilling clue linked to the 10 year old abduction - there’s only one person perfect to solve the case and that’s Elsa. She’s determined more than ever this time round to bring her daughter home, no matter the cost. But just as she’s making progress- is she chasing a ghost/ something from the past? Or is she on the verge of uncovering a truth that will shatter everything?

Genuinely a great book, definitely worth the time investment worth exploring this series. You definitely won’t be disappointed by this plot.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ice Angels is the first book in a brand new series by one of my favourite authors Caroline Mitchell. Ten years after Detective Elea Baker’s daughter vanishes in Finland , Elea is asked to help with a similar case but this time it’s in the city of Lincoln in England. Elea is determined to do everything in her power to find out what actually did happen to her daughter and to solve the mystery of the current missing girls. This was one of those books that had me completely hooked after the first few pages. I found all the characters to be really interesting and the author has described them so well. The scenes set in Finland and the descriptions of the cold weather did send shivers up my spine at times . This was an atmospheric and also an emotional read at times and I didn’t want to stop reading it as I was so invested in the story. This was a superb read and I really hope there will be a second book to look forward to.

[Stu Cummins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and disturbing police procedural that is absolutely laden with humanity and love…

If you like a police procedural that doesn’t flinch when delving into dark and disturbing crime, but is also deeply emotional and heart-wrenchingly affecting, then I have a recommendation for you that will need to jump straight to the top of your TBR when it’s released in Jan 2026! Caroline Mitchell’s THE ICE ANGELS centres around Finnish detective Elea Baker, whose daughter was kidnapped 10 years ago whilst walking home from school. Elea has never given up hope of finding Liisa, so when a series of disappearances occur in the UK that are remarkably similar, she is asked to act as a special advisor to the British force investigating. Adding complexity to proceedings is the fact this investigation is being headed up by DI Robert Swann, the husband who separated from Elea but still has deeply rooted feelings for her. Mitchell expertly blends the suspense and mystery of the two different cases with the human drama around Elea and Swann’s relationship and the impact of the trauma of Liisa’s disappearance. I was absolutely gripped by the plot, but it was the relationship between the characters and the evolution of Liisa’s story that really had me turning these pages as quickly as possible. I loved how the narrative unfolded from the perspective of the present day investigation, as well as chapters told from Liisa’s historic perspective. This really generated tension and an impending sense of dread. In fact, the final line of Chapter 62 had me gasping and swallowing a HUGE lump in my throat! Mitchell has perfectly combined the sense of anticipation and suspense with genuine emotions and connections to her characters, which I couldn’t get enough of.

Elea is a tour de force of a main character. She has experienced the worst thing a parent ever could and yet she carries on, relentless in her search for the truth. She never gives up on finding Liisa and that eternal sense of hope drives her - and the narrative - forward at an exceptional pace. Given her experiences, Elea could be a troubled and unreadable character, but despite her toughness and occasionally unorthodox approaches, she is so devoutly dedicated in her mission that she is instantly likeable and relatable. I was rooting for her from the offset and absolutely desperate for her to succeed in discovering what had happened to her daughter. The course of this investigation delivers some unforgettable blows, some off-the-chart tension, some perfectly executed wit, and some genuine displays of love and affection. As much as this is the story of Liisa’s disappearance, it’s also the story of Elea and Swann’s relationship. This additional dynamic was equally engaging and added a whole other layer to the story to be invested in. I turned the final page of this book with a true sense of satisfaction and an ache to return to these characters. If that doesn’t demonstrate how fantastic this book is, I’m not sure what else will!

[Colleen Chi-Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was a tough one. It involves missing children which both freaks me out and makes me anxious. It’s set in both London and Finland.

Yes 4 missing children. This must be a parent’s worst fear. This is my first novel by this new to me author who seems to have her writing skills and character development down in this dark thriller!

I listened to this on audiobook thanks to Caroline Mitchell, the publisher, and NetGalley. I mostly enjoyed the female narrator who had her job full doing all of the voices. This is also the first in a series of a new British crime novel focusing on police procedurals.

It’s perfect for these cold and dark winter days IF you can stomach missing children. I look forward to her next in this series and might suggest another female narrator. She was professional but I don’t click w her.

[Dana Vit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: audiobook from NetGalley (thank you!)
This was really good. The narrator was excellent. I was hooked from “page 1”!

A detective gets asked to come consult on a missing girls case because her daughter was taken 10 years before. She, of course, had never given up looking for her, and now 10 years later there are some similarities. There are flashbacks from 10 years before.

The characters development was excellent I really liked most of the characters, which I feel like is a rare thing for me. They made me laugh, they made yell out loud, they made my heart ache for them, they made me root for them.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children have been vanishing in Lincoln for several years, and Detective Swann is determined to crack the case. He gets a break when one of them escapes and comes home, but she's too traumatized to talk. Good thing he thought to ask Elea Baker to consult on this case. She's from Finland and has experience with missing children. Not only because she investigates their cases but because her daughter has been missing for a decade. She disappeared in oddly similar circumstances, and her case brought Swann and Baker together originally. There are high hopes that the cases will finally be solved, but will that truly bring the closure they've been looking for?

Somehow, Swann and Baker are able to work on this case even though they are still technically married. That's right, Elea's missing daughter caused them to grow so close that they started a personal relationship. That's in the past, but not really, because of course, they still have a connection even though Swann has a new family and Elea won't agree to a divorce. I unfortunately didn't like Elea's character; she's one of those rogue, 'I do what I want' type of people. Just leaves the station whenever she pleases, intimidates and threatens witnesses, etc. Her character will say that she doesn't want to break up Swann's family, then she'll monopolize his time and call him at all hours, etc. But I didn't need to like her, and I appreciated that. Most of the time, unlikeable characters keep me from enjoying a book, but not in this case.

The story's told in multiple perspectives, and one of them gives the reader an inside look at the cases. There's a surprising twist towards the end, which makes you realize you had assumptions from the start about certain aspects of the case. I guess it's not a reach that it wouldn't have been disclosed earlier in the book, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it would have been mentioned in one of the numerous briefings. But again, it technically could have been, just not the ones the reader was privy to. Devious storytelling! I love when I'm struck with the reaction of 'wait, what??' Well played, Caroline Mitchell! This is why you're one of my favorite authors.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ eARC Review: The Ice Angels by Caroline Mitchell✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I still can’t believe how lucky I was to receive early access to The Ice Angels through NetGalley—this was an absolutely incredible read.

At the heart of the novel is Elea Baker, a Finnish detective whose life has been shattered by the disappearance of her daughter. Her desperate search is raw, relentless, and deeply human. The grief, guilt, and determination she carries seep into every page, making her not just a detective on a case, but a mother fighting against time, doubt, and the slow erosion of hope. Watching Elea navigate her personal loss while continuing to work in law enforcement made her journey feel especially powerful and heartbreaking.

As years pass with no answers, relationships shift and intertwine in unexpected ways, and the case grows colder by the day. Just when it feels like the truth may be buried forever, new victims begin to surface—unharmed, yet unmistakably connected. What follows is a stunning unraveling of secrets, where the investigation is ripped wide open and plunged far deeper than any of the detectives could have imagined.

If you love dark Nordic crime fiction with complex characters and a mystery that keeps tightening its grip, this one belongs at the top of your TBR.
I won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon. ❄️📖

[EmmaReadsCrime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years ago, Detective Elea Baker’s daughter was taken in Finland and never found. Now, in present-day Lincoln, girls are disappearing again — and it appears the two cases may be linked.

Caroline Mitchell is one of my favourite authors. She knows how to craft a great detective novel, and this one did not disappoint.

It was dark and disturbing, and the character dynamics were well fleshed out. I had mixed feelings about several of the characters, which added an extra layer to the reading experience.

I cannot wait for more books in this series to be released!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years ago in Finland, two 12-year-old girls were abducted and never found. Now, in a small town in the UK, another 12-year-old girl is abducted. When she is found, she's holding a toy carving that belonged to one of the Finnish girls who went missing. Detective Elea Baker of Finland, the mother of one of the abducted girls, is called in as a consultant...not that anyone could keep her away. Elea is a bull in a china shop when it comes to interviewing suspects.
Numerous personal relationships complicate this mystery, not to mention the idea of a potential abductor/serial killer who crosses international borders.
It's an intriguing and tension-filled story, with Elea well-developed; the others around her are a bit less so. 4.2 stars.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @RBMedia, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #TheIceAngels for review purposes. Publication date: 13 January 2026.

[Anni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first ever crime book, which surprised me when I thought about how many thrillers I’ve read. The story had me hooked from the beginning, and the different POVs and timelines really helped to build the atmosphere and tension.

I listened to this on audiobook and loved the narrator, Aryana Ramkhalawon. She portrayed each character so distinctly that it was always easy to follow who was speaking.

The female lead, Detective Elea Baker, was beautifully written. The portrayal of loss and hope felt very authentic, and I particularly enjoyed the side plot exploring her relationship with her ex-husband.

I wouldn’t say there was a huge plot twist, but the story kept me engaged throughout. This is book one in the Detective Elea Baker series, and I’ll definitely be revisiting this author and keeping an eye out for the rest of the series.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️s

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

5* Read!

Another amazing 5* read from Caroline Mitchell. I devoured this in 4 days! Filled with twists and turns, “The Ice Angels” kept me riveted from start to finish.
How does she come up with these stories????
I wish I had half the imagination she does. I can’t wait for her next instalment.

[Christina C · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Ice Angels by Caroline Mitchell is a gripping story about a mother’s unwavering determination to find her kidnapped daughter. Mitchell does a great job capturing the raw emotions of a parent in crisis.

While the premise is compelling, the pacing slows in the middle, which made parts of the book feel drawn out. However, the tension builds again toward the end, delivering a stronger and more engaging conclusion.

Overall, this is an emotional and suspenseful read that will resonate with fans of psychological thrillers, despite its slower middle.

[Sam Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook The Ice Angels by Caroline Mitchell. Narrated by Aryanna Ramkhalawon.

Girls go missing years apart in Lincoln, England. Surprisingly, one girl is found but too traumatized to share details of what happened. This is where Inspector Elena Baker shines. She also has personal knowledge of the experience since her daughter was taken.

I felt the beginning of this story had an interesting build and decent pacing. Then the different timelines are introduced and the ping pong pace became distracting and annoying. I understand why the author picked this route. I just don’t think it worked well. It became confusing and unfortunately lost steam.

[Kim McFall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a well-done crime/mystery, and this one delivered. The multiple POVs, layered detective drama, and shifting timelines kept me completely hooked.

I had so much fun piecing the puzzle together, only to be totally wrong. The twists at the end were fantastic and made the payoff absolutely worth it.

Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for letting me listen to this arc!

[Cynthia T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @NetGalley and @RBmedia for the ALC. I enjoyed this book so much. It is a thriller and the narrator did a great job. Inspector Elea Baker is on a case that hits close to home. Elea daughter went missing years ago and she is still searching. One day a girl who was kidnapped escapes captivity and may be able to lead them to the other ice angels. Unfortunately she is too traumatized to speak and time is not on their side. Could not stop listening.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this firstly for the simple reason that it is set in Lincoln where I live. It was my first read of 2026 and a brilliant start to my reading year.


The story moves between Lincoln and Finland, as police services in both countries explore the deaths of several young girls in both countries. Elea Baker is a vital link between the two investigations. Not only is she a detective, with experience of the Finish investigations, she is also the mother of a 12 year old girl who was abducted 10 years ago. Added to which, she is the estranged wife of Swann the detective investigating the case in Lincoln. Interspersed between the police procedural we follow Liisa’s account of her captivity…

This is a cracker! Compelling, well plotted, with some excellent characters and some fascinating police procedural. Elea is fabulous. Feisty, opinionated, intuitive and deeply traumatised by the disappearance of her daughter. She is a loose wire and Swann, who still has a thing for her, is desperately trying to hold onto his investigation! I am always nervous of books dealing with child abduction, but this was sensitively and carefully written, and, although it deals with some dark subjects, is a book which engross rather than disturbs. I loved the interaction between Elea and Swann. There is real chemistry here!

As a Lincoln local, I absolutely loved how much the city’s geography featured. This was reading on a different level. The story felt particularly vivid as I could picture where events were taking place. At times it was so real I wanted to jump in the car and go and hunt for the killer! When the story feels this real, it’s testament to the power of the writing! I will definitely be reading more by this author and really look forward to seeing more of Elea!

[Mark Nadon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a darker story and don't mind a kidnapped children plot, this is a solid thriller to pick up. While slower at times, the shifting POV made up for it and Liisa's story made for a page-turner.

The audio narration was great and I loved the accents.

Although I like a strong female lead, I didn’t feel emotionally connected to Elea, despite the trauma she’d been through losing her daughter. I’d still recommend the book to anyone who likes their thrillers darker, especially with a main character who makes controversial decisions in her quest to help people.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A completely new character and hopefully series for Caroline Mitchell. Elea is a Finnish detective who has been seconded to Lincoln to investigate a case of missing girls similar to the one in Finland 10 years ago that involved her daughter who has never been found. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The descriptions of Finland are amazing. I really want to visit in winter after reading The Ice Angels. The storyline is complex and held my attention throughout. There are some brilliant twists and the ending is well worth waiting for. I do hope this isn't the last we've seen of Elea Baker and her colleagues as I'd love to read more about them.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily
Well played Caroline Mitchell, well played indeed. Once again the author delivers a masterclass in the art of storytelling. Beautifully descriptive, formidable characters and Caroline's time as a serving police officer give this story more than a touch of reality. The twist had me like 'what?' - absolute genius. The dual timeline adds so much depth to the plot. It's gripping, it's dark, it's emotional and it's quite simply brilliant. One of her best pieces of work and I do hope she will turn this into a series. 5 massive ⭐️ for this outstanding and flawless book.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline Mitchell is a prolific murder mystery author and her former career with the police adds an air of authenticity to her police procedurals. ‘The Ice Angels’ also has the benefit of strong characterisation and the electricity crackles whenever Elea and Swann are together. The facts that they’re both working on a child abduction case, were previously in a relationship and Elda’s own daughter was snatched many years ago serve to ratchet the tension up further. It makes a pleasant change to have a woman playing the role of the maverick detective and the reader understands Swann’s anxiety that Elda’s unorthodox approach could derail the investigation and sabotage her career. Unusually for a police procedural, the resolution is simultaneously credible, tense and emotionally charged. All in all, an excellent detective novel and hopefully not the last Caroline Mitchell book to feature Elea and Swann.

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Finished reading: January 10th 2026


*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and RB Media in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

REVIEW

It's been a while since I read Caroline Mitchell's books, but I can never resist a Nordic noir vibe and I was sold as soon as I saw that Finnish angle in The Ice Angels. The premise itself sounded fascinating, and I loved the sound of this story with links to both countries. I couldn't resist turning it into my very first audiobook of the year... And this might have been a mistake, because I ended up having issues with the narrator that impacted negatively on my reading experience. That said, the actual story itself didn't manage to convince me completely either. I'll try to explain why below.

First of all I have to say that there is nothing wrong with the premise itself, and I liked the dual timeline structure where we switch between the present with Elea Baker and Swann, and the past with Elea's daughter Liisa after she was taken in 2016. Especially the flashback chapters were intriguing and gave more insight in both what happened back then while also providing possible clues for the present. The Finnish setting was a bonus, although I liked the UK Lincoln setting itself as well. The first was definitely the more atmospheric of the two though.

I think one of the things I struggled with in The Ice Angels has everything to do with its new main character. There was just something about Elea Baker that made me dislike her immediately, and her behavior only made me resent having to spend time with her more and more. I can get why she would leave no stone unturned in her search for her daughter, but she basically thinks she is above the law and disrespects both her colleagues and the man she is still officially married to. Her attitude became so frustrating that it became very hard to find the motivation to keep listening to be honest.

And this is where my second major issue pops up: the audiobook. Or better said: the narrator... I don't want to be harsh, but unfortunately the narrator ended up ruining my reading experience with this book. There was just something about her accent, tone and way of speaking that I ended up clashing horribly with, and it was very hard to move past this. Her voice didn't fit any of the characters/POVs, and both the almost haltered way of speaking and her accent distracted enormously. I confess that I only made it through to the end by racking up the speed, which isn't something I normally do. Having a Finnish-English narrator for Elea and Liisa's POV and a male narrator for Swann's POV without a doubt would have benefitted the listening experience enormously.

As for The Ice Angels itself: while the pace dragged a little in the middle, there is no doubt that the story goes out with a bang. There were some twists that I didn't see coming, although I would have liked to see more actual police work along the way before the story got there. I can't say that I was a fan of the personal drama or love triangle vibe either, although I'm never a fan when those elements pop up. Thankfully there were distractions in the form of Liisa's POV and her time in captivity, which added a little something extra to the plot.

As a whole, I ended up having mixed thoughts about The Ice Angels, and I definitely cannot recommend the audiobook itself. Or at least if you do want to try this format, make sure to listen to a sample first to make sure you won't have a similar reaction to the narrator... That said, the fact alone that I disliked the new main character Elea Baker enormously means that I won't be continuing this series.