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Nick Chester #3
Franz Josef: A New Zealand mystery set on a glacier
DS Nick Chester returns with a new case that will test his limits. The tiny South Island town of Franz Josef is perched precariously on New Zealand' s Alpine Fault. It already faces devastating earthquakes, floods and landslides. And now it harbours a killer. When a body is discovered suspended in a glacier, detectives Nick Chester and Latifa Rapata are sent to investigate. More victims surface, as does a web of corruption stretching from the international aid industry to the blood-steeped fields of a civil war. From the award-winning author of Marlborough Man and Doom Creek, this atmospheric thriller plunges readers into a blood-soaked crevasse of natural disasters, international intrigue and calculated murder. This is the third book in the thrilling Nick Chester series by award-winning author Alan Carter.
- GenresCrime
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2025
6 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Alan Carter
10 books87 followersAlan Carter is an award-winning crime author and sometimes television documentary director. His Cato Kwong series – Prime Cut, Getting Warmer and Bad Seed – has been published in the UK, France, Germany and Spain. His latest novel, Marlborough Man, is set in New Zealand. Alan was born in Sunderland, UK and immigrated to Australia in 1991. These days he divides his time between his house near the beach in Fremantle and a hobby farm up a remote valley in New Zealand. In his spare time he follows a black line up and down the local swimming pool. Alan Carter has won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel (2018) and the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction (2011).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 18, 2025
EXCERPT: We've been helicoptered up onto the glacier. Long gone are the days when we could have walked up here; apparently the ice has receded by nearly a kilometre in the last fifty years or so. I reckon that by the time I'm retired, it'll be gone. The snow-capped Southern Alps loom in the background and the milky, freezing river rushes below. The sun will disappear soon and the air is sharp. It's my first time on a glacier and it would be nice to enjoy the moment, but a blue canvas tarp has been tacked with pitons to a rupture of ice, awaiting a big reveal.
'Ready when you are,' Latifa says to Dale.
The tarp is pulled aside and there - suspended like a wasp in amber - is our man.
'He's . . .' Latifa is momentarily lost for words.
'African?' says Dale.
'Naked,' says Latifa.
She's right. I hope the poor bugger was already dead when he went in there.
ABOUT 'FRANZ JOSEF': DS Nick Chester returns with a new case that will test his limits.
The tiny South Island town of Franz Josef is perched precariously on New Zealand’s Alpine Fault. It already faces devastating earthquakes, floods and landslides. And now it harbours a killer.
When a body is discovered suspended in a glacier, detectives Nick Chester and Latifa Rapata are sent to investigate. More victims surface, as does a web of corruption stretching from the international aid industry to the blood-steeped fields of a civil war.
From the award-winning author of Marlborough Man and Doom Creek, this atmospheric thriller plunges readers into a blood-soaked crevasse of natural disasters, international intrigue and calculated murder.
MY THOUGHTS: Thrills and chills!
Like the song says, if Detective Nick Carter didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any luck at all.
Or maybe he just doesn't think things through and tends to go off half-cocked and under-prepared. He's no team player, and no follower of rules.
I liked Nick (but I'm glad I'm not his wife), and Latifa, his pregnant, ambitious offsider. She has a law degree but doesn't want to be a lawyer, nor does she want to continue to be a beat cop. She has her sights set far higher than that. Nick is meant to be taking it easy after having a benign brain tumor removed. The body in the glacier is meant to be an easy case. After all, nothing ever happens in Franz Josef. But there's a saying, "Man plans, God laughs". God does a lot of laughing here. No one ever envisioned a murder in Franz Josef being linked to international corruption.
Carter's descriptions of the local scenery are stunning. He captures the essence of the landscape, both visual and spiritual, and that of the people who live in this untamed region of New Zealand.
I white-knuckled it through a good part of this book, Nick's disregard for his own safety giving me palpitations at times especially once the current crime has been linked to events in the past. The plotting is clever and tight with plenty of false leads, but it is the characters - very real and, particularly in Nick's case, flawed - that make this read special. Carter has put together a superb story of revenge incorporating both local and international politics, West Coast culture, and the plight of the dispossessed.
Franz Josef is the first book I have read by Australian author Alan Carter, but it won't be the last. Although this is the third in the Sergeant Nick Chester series, it is easily read as a stand-alone. That hasn't stopped me from looking for the first two titles, Marlborough Man and Doom Creek.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#FranzJosef @fremantlepress
MEET THE AUTHOR: ALAN CARTER was born in Sunderland, UK. He immigrated to Australia in 1991 and lives in Fremantle with his wife Kath and son Liam. He works as a television documentary director. In his spare time he follows a black line up and down the Fremantle pool. (source: https://www.betterreading.com.au/auth... abridged)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Fremantle Press for providing a review copy of Franz Josef by Alan Carter. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Ready when you are,' Latifa says to Dale.
The tarp is pulled aside and there - suspended like a wasp in amber - is our man.
'He's . . .' Latifa is momentarily lost for words.
'African?' says Dale.
'Naked,' says Latifa.
She's right. I hope the poor bugger was already dead when he went in there.
ABOUT 'FRANZ JOSEF': DS Nick Chester returns with a new case that will test his limits.
The tiny South Island town of Franz Josef is perched precariously on New Zealand’s Alpine Fault. It already faces devastating earthquakes, floods and landslides. And now it harbours a killer.
When a body is discovered suspended in a glacier, detectives Nick Chester and Latifa Rapata are sent to investigate. More victims surface, as does a web of corruption stretching from the international aid industry to the blood-steeped fields of a civil war.
From the award-winning author of Marlborough Man and Doom Creek, this atmospheric thriller plunges readers into a blood-soaked crevasse of natural disasters, international intrigue and calculated murder.
MY THOUGHTS: Thrills and chills!
Like the song says, if Detective Nick Carter didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any luck at all.
Or maybe he just doesn't think things through and tends to go off half-cocked and under-prepared. He's no team player, and no follower of rules.
I liked Nick (but I'm glad I'm not his wife), and Latifa, his pregnant, ambitious offsider. She has a law degree but doesn't want to be a lawyer, nor does she want to continue to be a beat cop. She has her sights set far higher than that. Nick is meant to be taking it easy after having a benign brain tumor removed. The body in the glacier is meant to be an easy case. After all, nothing ever happens in Franz Josef. But there's a saying, "Man plans, God laughs". God does a lot of laughing here. No one ever envisioned a murder in Franz Josef being linked to international corruption.
Carter's descriptions of the local scenery are stunning. He captures the essence of the landscape, both visual and spiritual, and that of the people who live in this untamed region of New Zealand.
I white-knuckled it through a good part of this book, Nick's disregard for his own safety giving me palpitations at times especially once the current crime has been linked to events in the past. The plotting is clever and tight with plenty of false leads, but it is the characters - very real and, particularly in Nick's case, flawed - that make this read special. Carter has put together a superb story of revenge incorporating both local and international politics, West Coast culture, and the plight of the dispossessed.
Franz Josef is the first book I have read by Australian author Alan Carter, but it won't be the last. Although this is the third in the Sergeant Nick Chester series, it is easily read as a stand-alone. That hasn't stopped me from looking for the first two titles, Marlborough Man and Doom Creek.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#FranzJosef @fremantlepress
MEET THE AUTHOR: ALAN CARTER was born in Sunderland, UK. He immigrated to Australia in 1991 and lives in Fremantle with his wife Kath and son Liam. He works as a television documentary director. In his spare time he follows a black line up and down the Fremantle pool. (source: https://www.betterreading.com.au/auth... abridged)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Fremantle Press for providing a review copy of Franz Josef by Alan Carter. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 14, 2025
I was fortunate to receive an early copy of this book. Detective Nick Chester is sent to the small town of Franz Josef in New Zealand. It’s a small tourist town that services flights up to the Franz Josef glacier. He and his partner, Latifa, are sent to solve a murder. However there are more murders and more police are sent. The story involves international criminals going back to troubles in South Sudan many years earlier.
November 24, 2025
Franz Josef by award-winning Australian author Alan Carter is a gripping and atmospheric crime novel that will have you on the edge of your seat. It is the third instalment in the Nick Chester series.
Detective Nick Chester has moved with his family to the small South Island town of Hawera near Franz Josef glazier, New Zealand. Originally from England Nick has been living undercover after exposing corruption and criminal ties during his time in Western Australia. His attempt for peaceful life and fresh start from guilt and past trauma is short-lived when a man’s naked body found suspended in a glacier.
When Nick and his partner Latifa Rapata delve into the case they uncover the victim is connected to corrupt dealings spanning decades. Further investigation reveals that the body is not an isolated case, and the stakes become far higher than a simple murder when more bodies are found.
I thoroughly enjoyed Nick’s return as a character in a new environment. He is not perfect and carries the weight of past trauma from earlier cases which makes him unsure of himself and influences both his investigative approach and personal interactions. This makes him very relatable to readers. His partnership with Rapata anchors the narrative, offering both tension and trust as they navigate threats from the killer and the environment.
The supporting cast of characters are vital to the story ranging from wary and secretive to helpful and trustworthy. They represent the tensions of a small, isolated community where secrets are closely guarded. Nick’s wife Annie and son Sam shows the strain of secrecy and danger with the life they have been forced to live but their support and presence adds a nice touch of warmth and realism. I loved Latifa’s character, she is courageous, intelligent, and empathetic, and the perfect fit for Chester.
The setting in this novel is incredible with the landscape almost becoming a character itself. The descriptions of the rainforest, the endless rain, and the glaciers made me feel like I was back in New Zealand feeling the chill of air on my face. The landscape is not just a background it plays a huge role in the story. The sense of isolation and constant threat from nature gives the whole book a haunting feeling.
Alan Carter is a master at his craft and never disappoints. His words are vivid and cinematic, and he balances action with quiet, reflective moments. Some parts made me tense and uneasy, while others made me stop and think. I liked that the story was not predictable, and it felt raw and believable, like something that could really happen. I also appreciated how the story was not just about solving a crime it was about facing yourself and learning to live with the past. The novel would make for a great movie.
Franz Josef is a compelling and intelligent crime novel that goes beyond the conventions of the genre. It is a powerful, emotional crime story set in one of the most stunning and dangerous places on earth. It made me reflect on how people cope with guilt, fear, and change and how sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones inside ourselves. This is a testament to Alan Carter’s talent for crafting stories that are as much about humanity as they are about mystery.
Fans of crime fiction, especially those who enjoy atmospheric settings and character-driven plots, will find this novel deeply satisfying. I highly recommend.
Thank you, Beauty& Lace, and Fremantle Press for the opportunity to read and review.
October 28, 2025
When a man’s naked body is found suspended high up in the Franz Josef glacier, lots of questions are raised. How did he get there? Who caused the horrific injuries to his body? Where are his clothes?
From its title to its conclusion, the physical environment, both landscape and weather, emerges as a key player in this novel. We approach the town of Franz Josef, “winding through lush rainforest, hugging the coast with its wild driftwood beaches and the Tasman shimmering off to our right.”
It’s a land I have loved since childhood, a land that is wild, free and unpredictable. As a reader, I bring these overlays with me, wanting to love the story as much as I love the landscape.
In comparison to surrounding landscape, there is a portent of malevolence about the town Franz Josef from the beginning, labelling it as “a tomb waiting for business.”
Detective Nick Chester is sent to Franz Josef to deal with the body and solve its mystery. He’s joined by his police partner Detective Latifa Rapata. Before long, another body is found and, with the town locked in by weather events, it becomes “some kind of Agatha Christie locked-room murder manor.” Stranded, it is not until a well-connected white girl is found dead on a stony riverbank that Nick and Latifa are taken seriously and given extra police support.
Nick, who could be perceived as an older battle-weary detective, goes about solving the mystery of the ‘ice man’ in his own way. He’s not really a team player and, faced with Latifa’s pregnancy, at times he struggles to embrace sensitivity. He’s not too good at following directions and breaks out into macho rants about conspiracy theories and New Zealand’s identity. He always seems on the edge of being stood down, saved only by the fact that his somewhat unorthodox methods often get results. In all, he’s not particularly appealing to female readers.
I felt little chemistry and meaningful repartee between Nick and Latifa, (perhaps because of Nick’s lack of vulnerability), her position as a new detective adding to her inferiority in a despite her good intuition. (Perhaps we’ll see Latifa with a stronger role to play in Carter’s fourth novel.) Most of the story is told through dialogue, Benjamin’s audio transcripts an effective means of providing extraneous information. There’s effective interplay between good and evil, with characters sometimes drifting into grey areas, helping to keep the story real.
Through the middle of the novel, the action moves between Franz Josef (both town and glacier), Christchurch and Arthur’s Pass, flicking back to South Sudan, as the truth slowly unravels. There are times when we move locations rapidly with only slow plot development. I felt the need to pinpoint location clearly in my mind at various points to avoid disorientation. Most of the unravelling is foreshadowed by previous events, however Carter keeps a final twist up his sleeve that few will see coming.
There are many worthwhile themes explored in the novel, such as the nature of good and evil, colonial exploitation of developing countries, racial and sexual equality, the effects of climate change, the interweaving of mythology and life.
Inspired by landscape, this is the third novel in the Sargeant Nick Chester series by award-winning author Alan Carter. Franz Josef can also be read as a stand-alone novel.
Thanks to Fremantle Press for the ARC.
From its title to its conclusion, the physical environment, both landscape and weather, emerges as a key player in this novel. We approach the town of Franz Josef, “winding through lush rainforest, hugging the coast with its wild driftwood beaches and the Tasman shimmering off to our right.”
It’s a land I have loved since childhood, a land that is wild, free and unpredictable. As a reader, I bring these overlays with me, wanting to love the story as much as I love the landscape.
In comparison to surrounding landscape, there is a portent of malevolence about the town Franz Josef from the beginning, labelling it as “a tomb waiting for business.”
Detective Nick Chester is sent to Franz Josef to deal with the body and solve its mystery. He’s joined by his police partner Detective Latifa Rapata. Before long, another body is found and, with the town locked in by weather events, it becomes “some kind of Agatha Christie locked-room murder manor.” Stranded, it is not until a well-connected white girl is found dead on a stony riverbank that Nick and Latifa are taken seriously and given extra police support.
Nick, who could be perceived as an older battle-weary detective, goes about solving the mystery of the ‘ice man’ in his own way. He’s not really a team player and, faced with Latifa’s pregnancy, at times he struggles to embrace sensitivity. He’s not too good at following directions and breaks out into macho rants about conspiracy theories and New Zealand’s identity. He always seems on the edge of being stood down, saved only by the fact that his somewhat unorthodox methods often get results. In all, he’s not particularly appealing to female readers.
I felt little chemistry and meaningful repartee between Nick and Latifa, (perhaps because of Nick’s lack of vulnerability), her position as a new detective adding to her inferiority in a despite her good intuition. (Perhaps we’ll see Latifa with a stronger role to play in Carter’s fourth novel.) Most of the story is told through dialogue, Benjamin’s audio transcripts an effective means of providing extraneous information. There’s effective interplay between good and evil, with characters sometimes drifting into grey areas, helping to keep the story real.
Through the middle of the novel, the action moves between Franz Josef (both town and glacier), Christchurch and Arthur’s Pass, flicking back to South Sudan, as the truth slowly unravels. There are times when we move locations rapidly with only slow plot development. I felt the need to pinpoint location clearly in my mind at various points to avoid disorientation. Most of the unravelling is foreshadowed by previous events, however Carter keeps a final twist up his sleeve that few will see coming.
There are many worthwhile themes explored in the novel, such as the nature of good and evil, colonial exploitation of developing countries, racial and sexual equality, the effects of climate change, the interweaving of mythology and life.
Inspired by landscape, this is the third novel in the Sargeant Nick Chester series by award-winning author Alan Carter. Franz Josef can also be read as a stand-alone novel.
Thanks to Fremantle Press for the ARC.
November 12, 2025
Advance review copy received with thanks from the publisher and Good Reading Magazine. More in my next Good Reads blog at www.sandiwallace.com/blog/.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews