A Cold White Fear

Meg Harris Mysteries #7

by R.J. Harlick

Stranded by a blizzard at her isolated cabin, Meg Harris finds herself in a desperate and terrifying situation when two strangers arrive.

As night approaches, a major blizzard has cut off road access to Meg Harris’s isolated wilderness home, Three Deer Point. She is alone with her young friend Adjidamo, preparing for Christmas, when a knock suddenly echoes through the house. She finds two strange men at her front door, one of them bleeding. Against her better judgment, she lets them in.

At that moment, the power goes out, plunging the group into total darkness and severing all phone links to the outside world. So begin a terrifying twenty-four hours that have Meg summoning up a courage she didn’t know she had to get herself and Adjidamo out alive.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

372 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2015

About the author

Called "queen of Canadian wilderness fiction", R.J. Harlick writes the acclaimed Meg Harris mystery series set in the wilds of Canada with an underlying native theme. There are currently seven books in the series with the eighth, Purple Palette for Murder, due out in October 2017.

The fourth book, Arctic Blue Death, was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Best Novel award. Silver Totem of Shame was named one of the top ten summer crime fiction reads by the Globe & Mail and was a recommended beach read by the Seattle Public Library. Cold White Fear was a CBC recommended mystery read.

With Death's Golden Whisper, the first book in the Meg Harris mystery series, RJ introduces protagonist Meg Harris who has fled the urban frenzy of Toronto and her failed marriage to Three Deer Point, a remote wilderness property in West Quebec, that she inherited from her Great Aunt Agatha. She lives in a century old Victorian timber cottage perched on a granite point overlooking the black waters of Echo Lake. Her only neighbour is the reserve of the Fishhook Algonquins, or Migiskan Anishinabeg. She drinks a little too much and is afraid of the dark, yet her only companion in this remote cottage is her wimpy standard poodle, Sergei.

She has fled to this northern paradise to heal her bruised soul. But her sought after peace is invariably interrupted by injustice and murder. Unable to ignore it, Meg becomes enmeshed in a quagmire of murderous intrigue.

After travelling to Baffin Island in Arctic Blue Death, Meg decided that she would love to explore a different Canadian wilderness and visit with its native peoples in every other book. Silver Totem of Shame takes place in Vancouver and Haida Gwaii, the mystical islands of the Haida. Purple Palette for Murder has Meg flying to the Northwest Territories when her husband is charged with murder.

Though the story of each book can stand on its own, there is a backstory about Meg and other characters that evolves from book to book. So avid readers of mystery series might want to start with the first book, Death's Golden Whisper.

Harlick is a member and past president of Crime Writers of Canada and Capital Crime Writers. She is also a member of Sisters in Crime, The Writers Union of Canada and Quebec Writers Federation.

She is a regular panelists at such conferences as Bouchercon, Left Coast Crime, and Malice Domestic. She also does many store signings and library readings. To check out her schedule visit her blog. http://rjharlick.blogspot.ca

RJ blogs every second Tuesday on Criminal Minds - http://7criminalminds.blogspot.ca.

Visit with RJ on Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/RJHarlick
and on her website - http://www.rjharlick.ca

Reviews

[Zoeytron · Rating 3 out of 5]

The setting is a remote cabin located deep in the Canadian wilderness. With her husband out of town, Meg is nervously making preparations for a Christmas get-together with relatives. In no time at all, this worry is going to be the least of her problems. A major snowstorm is in full swing. As she unwisely opens the door to two men, the electricity goes out. One of them is injured, the other’s face is covered in tattoos of writhing snakes. With no contact to the outside world available, Meg is pretty much on her own here. Frightening, to be sure. It is going to get worse.

Kudos to the author for making Meg a believable person. She is not svelte, she is not a raving beauty, and she makes the occasional poor decision. She is, dare I say, regular? Made me like her better.

Easy to read, pacing was good, I enjoyed it. This book was furnished to me by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

O Canada! A Cold, White Fear is set in the Canadian wilderness in a raging blizzard – just my kind of story! Margaret “Meg” Harris is a self-described overweight, average-looking redhead, with help from Clairol, who finds herself in quite a predicament just before Christmas. Following an argument with her husband Eric, she is alone in her large, isolated home preparing for holiday guests when there is a knock at the door. Two strange men, one of them injured, demand to be let in. Then the power goes out, cutting off heat, running water, and phone connections. This is the beginning of a long, harrowing twenty-four hour ordeal for Meg and her young friend Adjidamo (Jid), who is there helping her, and puppy Shoni.

Ms. Harlick wastes no time setting the stage. Right from the get-go, she has visitors, and it’s not hard to figure out that they are not going to be welcome guests. It took me some time to get used to the author’s direct, no-nonsense style. I didn’t realize when I started this book that this is actually the seventh in a series of Meg Harris mysteries. As I continued to read, however, I found that Meg and Jid were quite well developed within the context of this story, so it didn’t matter to me that I hadn’t read the previous six. I found Meg to be down-to-earth, practical, and caring. She manages to care for her captors when they need it, yet she is ever wary and always looking out for Jid, to whom she obviously is quite attached. Jid reciprocates by showing great loyalty toward “Auntie” Meg, worrying about her welfare.

The other characters have secrets that are slowly revealed, bit-by-bit. I even came to like a couple of them to a certain extent. At times, I questioned how realistic some of the conversations and actions were, but I hope I would never find myself in that kind of situation! There are some very nasty characters thrown in the mix also, so things become quite tense much of the time. The entire scenario felt quite unpredictable, which made me want to keep reading. Does everyone make it out alive and well at the end? What about Meg and Eric? Does Eric come home to save the day? Is their marriage okay?

Despite what was a less than stellar start, I found that I really enjoyed this book. I think I will have to go back and read the earlier novels in this series. I would like to thank R.J. Harlick, Dundurn Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of A Cold White Fear in exchange for my unbiased review.

4 stars

[Fictionophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my complete review of this novel visit: https://fictionophile.wordpress.com/2...

I been reading a lot of books set in the U.K. lately, so thought it was high time I read one set in my home country of Canada. Mind you, this is a Canada very different from my own. For one thing, it is set 2,500 km north of where I live. For another, it is located next door to an Algonquin community.

When I first requested this title from NetGalley, I didn't realize it was the seventh book in the Meg Harris series, but this time I can fully assure you that it reads very well as a stand-alone novel.

The setting was very well portrayed and I could easily imagine the dreadful weather, the beautiful house, and the frightening plight that Meg Harris finds herself in.  I loved her references to the puppy, Shoni, and to the young native boy, Jid.

I grew impatient that the men were with Meg so long - yet that was the point. I'm sure Meg Harris thought the time was dragging as well. The story was suspenseful, and the ending satisfactory. Fraught with danger and suspense - and spiced with Native lore, this novel is sure to be enjoyed by many.

3.5 stars which I will be rounding up for Goodreads, NetGalley, and Amazon.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Dundurn Press via NetGalley.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I did not know this book was part of a series when I made my request from Netgalley. I believe this book can be read as a stand-alone for those who would like to try it out.

The story begins with Meg Harris in her home which is an old Victorian cottage on Three Deer Point Road. She inherited this beautiful home from her family in a remote area of Canada near the Migiskan Anishinabeg Reserve. Meg is home making preparations for Christmas when she hears a thudding sound at the front door. She does not know who it could be since her husband is out of town and the weather is awful as a blizzard is beginning to kick up with snow and strong winds. Also, Meg never heard the sound of any approaching car, truck or snowmobile and no one would be walking in the storm. As she goes to look out the door, a man's shouts "open the door". At first, Meg thinks there is no way she is opening the door but the man's tone of voice changes as he asks for help. Of course, as she looks out, she sees two men and one of them is clearly hurt. Does she open the door to help or does she not? As she is deciding the power goes out in the storm so phone lines are not working and her home is in such a remote area there is not cell phone coverage.

I must say that I found this story to be quite intense at times. I would find myself screaming in my head telling Meg what I thought she should do. So, why am I saying 3.5 instead of the full 4 stars? I found Meg to be a bit naive, more than I can believe a woman would be who lives in the remote country. However, saying that does not mean that I would not have made the same mistakes. A recommended read for those who also enjoy the Claire Watkins series by Mary Logue. I would definitely read more in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
This is a winter survival story set in the Canadian wilderness during a raging snow blizzard. Meg is preparing for Christmas celebrations. With her in the cabin are her tiny dog and her buddy Jid who is helping her. Jid and Meg are very close and would do anything to help and protect one another. He is a small 12 year Indigenous boy, an orphan living on a nearby reservation.

The cabin was inherited by Meg in an isolated wilderness area. It contains valuable antiques and art work from some of Canada’s best known painters. Meg worries that her husband may not be home for Christmas which she plans for relatives and friends. He went away on a business trip after an unpleasant argument.

Two strangers arrive at the door. This begins a story of spine tingling suspense. Meg lets them in reluctantly as one is visibly wounded and in pain. They say they were in a car accident. This wounded man is a native and the smaller and weaker of the two. The other man is of fearsome appearance. His face and shaven head are covered with tattoos of writhing snakes. He is called Professor, as his cultured speech and knowledge are incongruous with his outward appearance. While treating the smaller man’s wounds, Meg realizes she is looking at damage from a bullet. It is evident that they won’t be leaving anytime soon and that Meg and Jid are both hostages.

The blizzard is raging outside. The snowstorm is fierce making traffic impossible. The howling wind is felling trees and damaging the cottage letting in the freezing cold. Electricity, phone services and running water are gone. The situation seems so dangerous that when one thinks things couldn’t get worse, they do. A large, very brutal, violent Serbian man arrives and is awaiting his equally scary girlfriend, Jo. It becomes apparent that the men have all escaped from prison and are under the direction of Jo. They have planned a murderous mission when the storm eases. Meg and Jid have been warned that if either tries to escape the other will be killed.

Two more gang members arrive as the storm eases, and Meg is forced to accompany them on their deadly plan. Jid is left behind with the brutal Serb and the wounded man. There has been lots of liquor available, and the Serb has already thrown the puppy out in a snow bank. Meg is terrified about what happens next on their journey and concerned about Jid who she was forced to leave behind.

This book upped the tension throughout. I felt Meg made many mistakes, but considering the circumstances these were understandable. I have read only one other book in the series and plan to read more. This works very well as a stand-alone novel and was a good, suspenseful and entertaining story.

[Nigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the start of this book both evocative and appealing. I'd not come across this author or her series before however the blurb sounded appealing. The basic story here is quite simple.  I imagine quite a few readers will have read stories with somewhat similar plot lines - strangers turning up in isolated settings. There is a slightly old fashioned feel to it possibly. There are few characters, it is set in a constrained environment with a snowstorm outside.

The story develops well with some good twists and turns in it. The characters are well developed and fleshed out. The pace and tension are enduring and keep me fully engaged and often gripped by the narrative. Given the basic story line is not highly original it took me a little while to work out just why I found it so enjoyable. It is that good old fashioned talent of very good writing which will probably keep many readers very happy.

I'd not come across Meg Harris before & this can certainly be read as a standalone story. That said it may be that you will, like me, decide that you would like to explore more of these stories if this is the first you have read. If you are already a fan you'll probably get it anyway and I'm fairly certain you will enjoy it.

Disclosure - I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

[Lynn Mccarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a book there was excitement all the way through the pace never slowed.

Set in a remote place Meg is home with her young friend when there is a knock at the door plus its in the middle of a snow storm so who would it be? she opens the door to two men one is inured the other has tattoos all over his face and hands of snakes. She let them in and that minute the power goes out Meg is cut off from the outside world not even a phone.
She finds out they are escaped convicts and to make matters worse 4 others turn up and 1 is a nasty piece of work.Can she last 24 hours she is lock up with them for and keep her friend and dog safe.
I could write heaps but don't want to give anything away a lot more to the story then i have written a must read.
Going to start this series from the beginning want to read more about Meg.

Thank you to the author publisher and netgalley for a chance to read this book.

[Vince Darcangelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://ensuingchapters.com/2015/10/29...

Speaking of blue-collar heroes, meet Meg Harris, star of Harlick’s series of thrillers set in remote Canada. It may be the holidays, but merry-making is not on her list. Rather Harris is stewing over a blowout fight she’d had with her husband. Now he has left, and she is certain he won’t return for a few days.

Outside, a snowstorm rages, knocking out the power. Harris is alone with just her lapdog, Shoni, and the neighbor boy from the reservation. Then comes a knock on the door. It’s two men in distress, and, well, it wouldn’t be much of a plot if she didn’t let them in!

Home invasion tales can quickly turn blasé, but Harlick infuses this time-worn trope with fresh life. She raises the stakes by revealing the complexity of the two men. One of them, who grew up on the nearby Migiskan Anishinabeg Reserve, knows Harris’ great-aunt. He’s a local. They have common connections, and the reader wants nothing more than for things to go well.

They don’t.

Harlick is brilliant at creating and sustaining tension, and she keeps us on edge throughout what is essentially a single-set play. A Cold White Fear (publishing date Nov. 7) is like a rough acid trip. You know you’re going to survive it, but you’ll have to white-knuckle it all the way.

While I recommend this book for any fan of suspense, horror or cold-weather claustrophobia, I did mark it down from a five-star rating to a four due to some plot and character turns in the latter chapters. Harris is a strong, resourceful character throughout the story. Vulnerable, yes, but self-sufficient, and I think she gets short-changed in the end.

Harris is not someone who needs rescue. She uses her wits and courage to navigate a harrowing scenario for most of the book, and the ending doesn’t read true with the rest of the narrative.

Despite that, I give A Cold White Fear a strong recommendation. Others may feel differently about the ending, and even though I wasn’t crazy about it, it was worth the ride.

This was the first Harlick book I’ve read, and I look forward to reading more Meg Harris mysteries.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visit the locations here Cold White Fear Booktrail

2000s: A woman, practically home alone in her remote house in the Canadian wilderness, a blizzard outside, hears a knock at the door…

Three Deer Point, a Victorian Cottage set deep in the heart of the Canadian Wilderness. Not the place you’d want to be when two ex convicts come calling. The tension and the fear of the isolation, knowing the fear that Meg and the young boy must be feeling is heightened and made more stark by the cold, white snow outside. The white blanket of fear which smothers screams, jams doors, blocks roads and suffocates everything in its path.

Immediately the cottage appears on the page, immediately the knock at the door grabs your attention. No build up, no preparation. You’re in Meg’s mindset from the outset.

Set over 24 hours, this is to venture into the wilderness of snowy remote landscapes, the lonely environment of human fear and the will to survive whilst working out the best way to even attempt it. A locked room mystery, more chilling visitors and a mystery where seemingly there is no way out.

Love mysteries like this as they always freak me out. A woman alone apart from a young boy in a house, remote and snowed in, then a knock at the door. I was screaming for her not to let them in and she did! I mean I know they gave the talk etc and people in remote areas might be less suspicious but with Meg’s past, I really didn’t think she should have opened that door.

Still, there would have been no story without it and I’m glad what followed was as scary as it was uncomfortable. The sense of time and place and discomfort is ramped up and a locked house mystery with a woman who will do anything to escape really got to me.

There were a few moments I felt dragged on a bit and was unsure as if it would be very different to other similar ‘ Stranded’ books I’ve read but I did like the twist at the end.

And there’s just something about snowy Canada…

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I liked this book. However, I think that the hostage situation went on just a little too long. I was beginning to think that I was taken hostage by the book and was becoming bored.

However, it did get better. There were some great emotional moments, as well.

There were moments when I couldn't decide if the Professor was a good guy or a bad guy and it was sometimes hard to tell who was the leader of this bunch. But, then when the others started showing up, you could tell for sure who was the leader.

For me, this was a good book, I think it could be great if it was shortened a little bit, but it was interesting and enjoyable. Also, I think the fact that they were held hostage in a farmhouse in the middle of a winter storm didn't really give a lot of space for a lot of action. I think that in of itself gave the author less to work with. Nonetheless, I do have to say that the ending does make up for the slow middle. The ending makes it worth 4 stars and the middle takes away a 1/2 star for me.

Thanks to Dundurn and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cold Fear is a thriller written by RJ Harlick set near a First Nations Reservation in northern Quebec. I won this book form the Dundurn Publishers booth while I was at Word on the Street last month and have not previously read anything by this author. This is the 7th book in the Meg Harris series but reads well as a standalone. Meg is prepping her wilderness cottage home for holiday guests when she gets a knock on the door. She’s apprehensive about opening her home to strangers but after she sees that one of them is injured, she pushes her doubts aside and lets them in. It goes without saying that this was a bad choice, otherwise we wouldn’t have a book to read. Her ordeal goes from bad to worse as she makes a failed attempt to escape and discovers the real reason as to why these men are at her home. Although there is not much to say about this book without filling the review with spoilers, I will say that the action started in the first chapter and the rollercoaster continued until the end. There seems to be a trend in the books I am picking up this month to have bad things happening to animals as an unnecessary plot addition. I think all us animal loving readers would appreciate if authors could do less of that. This is a very atmospheric book making it perfect for anyone who’s a fan of not just that sort of thriller but very Canadian thrillers. This is also a good book and possibly series for anyone looking to read stories with Indigenous main characters. As a bonus since Meg’s whole ordeal takes place a couple days before Christmas this book would also work great for anyone that may need a book for a Christmas themed readathon.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed novels set in the wilderness, where people are stranded by a snowstorm. This is what attracted me to this novel, along with the Quebec setting.

A Cold White Fear is entertaining and has that quality that keeps the reader hooked, despite an uneven pace and some weaker plot points. The occasional use of French was a nice touch, although it was not always credible (no French-speaking person would say "le neige").

[Donna Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meg is alone with a 12 year old in her isolated cabin during a Canadian blizzard, when three escaped prisoners land on her doorstep, one of them injured. She helps dress the wound of the injured man, but then is held hostage, along with Jid, who is like a son to her, and her puppy. This mystery is the seventh in a series, but it was the first I had read, and it is easy to follow as a stand-alone thriller. Thank you to Net Galley and Dundurn Publishers for the DRC, and my apologies in being so tardy with my review. The book has been released and is available for purchase now.

Those that enjoyed The Shawshank Redemption or that are fans of Val McDermid’s mystery series will probably enjoy this story a great deal.

Each of us has a threshold of tolerance for how much terror and violence they can stand in a novel before it stops being entertaining and starts to be just scary and violent. That’s what happened to me here. Roughly eighty percent of this book is set in and near Meg’s cabin, with one aborted effort at escape after another; the writer wants us to also be worried about the puppy, and she played the card well, maybe too well for me. The small moments in which interesting tidbits of Algonquin culture are released, or in which one of the escapees does some small, compassionate deed are eclipsed by the sheer weight of the isolation and brutality present, and I finally got to where I could not stand it anymore around the 65 percent mark, and I skipped to the end and traced it back. That said, I also know that my own tolerance is lower than most. I watch very little television and few movies, and so a little goes a long way where I am concerned.

Harlick deserves a lot of credit for being able to spin a linear plot line with a limited setting, time span, and for most of the story with a limited number of characters. She never loses the reader’s interest or wanders off on a tangent; her facility with setting is good, and the tangibility of the place and people add to the terror experienced by the reader on behalf of the protagonist.

Scary-as-hell fiction from a series writer worth following in years to come.

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

A COLD WHITE FEAR BY R J HARLICK 5 STARS

"AN EXCELLENT THRILLER THAT BRINGS THE CANADIAN WILDERNESS TO LIFE"


A major blizzard has cut off road access to Meg Harris’s isolated wilderness home. She is alone with her young friend Adjidamo, preparing for Christmas, when a knock echoes through the house. Two strange men are at her front door, one of them bleeding and, against her better judgment, she lets them in. Shortly thereafter, the power goes out, plunging the group into total darkness and severing all links to the outside world. So begins a terrifying twenty-four hours for Meg and Adjidamo as the two men are later revealed as being escaped convicts and they are joined by other menacing friends.


There is no preamble in getting into the main crux of the story so my attention was gained immediately. This is the seventh Meg Harris thriller and, despite not having read the previous six, I immediately identified with her as being down-to-earth, practical and caring. The author is brilliant at creating and sustaining tension, and she kept me on edge throughout what is essentially a simple story about home invasion with a bit of Stockholm Syndrome thrown in!


The story develops well with some good twists and turns, the characters are well developed and fleshed out, especially the really nasty villain that appears later in the story. The pace and tension are enduring and kept me fully engaged and often gripped by the narrative. The book is mainly told from Meg's point of view and the author describes very well the psychological effects on those involved. The constant threat of the weather and very remote setting also added to the tension. With the arrival of other members of the gang the situation became deadly, and I couldn't wait to read how it all panned out in the end.


I recommend this book to all crime/thriller readers, it is set over 24 hours in a remote setting so the author didn't have much to work with regarding thrills and spills but that did not detract from what was a highly readable and thoroughly entertaining novel.
Digger95

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book in advance

[Amanda Stav · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received an advance copy of this book for review from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion or review.**

I haven't been a very avid mystery reader throughout my history as a bookworm but since reading Hungry Ghosts and now A Cold White Fear I think I'm sold! I love the heart-racing, what-the-heck-is-happening, and often terrifying moments of mystery. I also love the challenge of piecing everything together before it actually all unfolds. The characters were also very well-written. I had vivid mental images of them all the whole time I was reading and even heard their voices.

A majority of the action takes place just in Meg's home. Usually I'd think this would make things monotonous however Harlick managed to keep the story 'active' with movement between rooms, characters popping in and out of the 'scenes', and the odd glimpse of the real world outside the boundary of her walls. Sometimes I even managed to forget that they hadn't really left the house at all because so much was going on. I was too busy worrying about the two incredibly suspicious AND intriguing visitors that showed up on her doorstep. It was also amazing to see how the flow of time was written into the story. As I got a good chunk of the way through the book, it felt like it had been many days since the men had arrived and then something in the text would remind me that they hadn't even been through 24 hours. It was like an episode of 24, seeing how many things really can happen through the course of a day.

The twists and turns in Harlick's A Cold White Fear kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time. Pulse racing, mind racing, eyes glued to the book. I didn't see how things could end well and I needed to know how the encounter ended. There were definitely a couple of nights I stayed up past my bedtime trying to piece together more of the story. I was trapped from the very beginning and the jaws wouldn't let me go until I knew how everything turned out.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is nearing Christmas in the cold, snow-filled back country in North-Western Quebec. It is very isolated there. The closest settlement is an First Nations reservation miles away. R.J. Harlick knows this rugged area of Quebec well and writes about it beautifully. If you follow Harlick on FaceBook you can see the snow photos she posts of the area...it gets amazingly deep!

I really enjoy this series featuring a very flawed, very real Meg Harris. Meg lives with her husband Eric, a First Nations leader, in a beautiful old home left to her by her great aunt. He left on a business trip in a snit that has Meg in a tailspin. Young Jid (Adjidamo), who lives on the reservation with his aunt spends quite a bit of time with Meg and Eric. While A Cold White Fear can be read as a stand-alone, it is nice to have the characters backgrounds from reading the earlier books.

A Cold White Fear is a fast paced read. The action takes place over 24 hours. It is scary good. Meg's tranquil life is interrupted by two men at the door. One of deathly injured and needs help. After much deliberation and against her better judgement, she lets them in. It is a suspense filled ride from that point onward. I could not put this book down! A Cold White Fear is a great read. I was completely stressed out about Meg and Jid's welfare. But I could not stop reading. I had to know what was going to happen next!

The setting is a beautiful area that I have only seen in the summertime. One of my sister-in-laws lives in Ottawa and has a "camp" in the area. I live in the temperate rain forest on the coast so can only imagine from photos what the winter snow there is like. I think I can wait to find out!

A Cold White Fear is a must read once it is published in November. I think readers around the world will enjoy this book set in rural Canada. I highly recommend A Cold White Fear.

[Dawn Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: A Cold White Fear (A Meg Harris Mystery) by RJ Harlick
Review by Dawn Thomas

344 Pages
Publisher: Dundurn Publishing

Murder, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Canada, Native American

This is the seventh book in the Meg Harris Mystery series and takes place in Canada. Meg Harris and Jid, a twelve-year-old Algonquin boy, are preparing for Christmas in her isolated home. A winter snowstorm is bearing down on them when there is a knock on the door. Two men are on the doorstep asking her to open the door. She is apprehensive but one of the men tells her he is from the Indian reservation and needs medical attention. She opens the door and lets them in. Viper, covered in snake tattoos, explains how his friend Larry was injured in a car accident when they slid off the road. Meg is suspicious of the man’s injury since it appears to be a gunshot wound. She tells Jid, who is out back gathering wood, to go to the reservation and get help.

Meg escapes out the back door while the two men are resting. While hiking through the woods she hears voices. She recognizes Jid but not the man with him. When Jid cries out in pain, Meg knows she must do whatever possible to save Jid. They return to the house and are kept as hostages. Because of the blizzard conditions, the power goes out and trees are blowing against the house. Now it is not only about survival from their capturers but also from the elements.

For the next 24 hours, Meg concocts multiple escape plans every chance she gets. It definitely is a race against time. The book was a fast read and I enjoyed the suspense. There was a bit of violence and an abusive act against Meg. This was my first book from the author and I will look for more of her work in the future.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.0 Stars

I was originally excited when I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It sounded like the kind of page-turner I was craving. However, I was disappointed by this one.

This book is fast paced, jumping almost immediately into the action. Yet, I still felt that the story dragged towards the end, with repetitive events. The author attempts to write complex characters, but they fell flat and stereotypical. (The one character's poor English was incredibly annoying to read!) Furthermore, the main character's reactions to events felt contrived and unrealistic, dealing some serious subject matter in a oversimplified manner. The writing itself was very average. I did, however, appreciate the Canadian references in the novel, particularly with the inclusion of Aboriginal characters. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this novel overall and would not recommend it.

[C. Stuchl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg is going through her list of what she needs to get and do before Christmas. Her husband is on a business trip and she is alone in her house. She had inheirated the house from her aunt. It was a very old, lovely home, isolated, off the main road. Oh, and there was a blizzard blowing. Meg should never have let the two men in. If the hurt man, Larry, hadn't mentioned her aunt, she would not have.

Meg was a lot stronger than she thought she could be. Her main concernes were of the neighbor's boy,Jid, and her puppy. She stood up for them when they were threatened. She never gave up hope.

This story is set in West Quebec, Canada. Told from Meg's point of view makes for a real chilling read. The psychological effects on those involved is palpable. The constant threat of the weather also adds to the tension. With the arrival of other members of the gang the sitiation becomes deadly.
A Hitchcock style thriller to the last page. I loved it.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: A COLD WHITE FEAR by R J.Harlick
[a Meg Harris Mystery #7]

The ideal story for this time of year (fall-winter), A COLD WHITE FEAR, the seventh in R. J. Harlick's immensely popular Meg Harris series, plays poignantly on the natural human fear of isolation and incursion. Meg is at home in Three Deer Point, the Canadian wilderness home she inherited and shares with husband Eric. She and her young friend (whom she considers a son and wanted to adopt) Adjidamo, prepare for Christmas. Simultaneously with pounding at the door, the power fails; the landline falls dead. Two men demand entrance--one appears grievously wounded. Quickly it's obvious they're not here to sing Christmas carols,and Meg embarks on a trip into terror that will strain her intuition, discernment, and self-defense to the maximum.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a fascination with the wilds of Canada and Alaska. Books set there are a real magnet for me. I love Dana Stebenow's books so when I saw this book on Netgallery I requested it straight away & i'm really glad I did.

A snowstorm, a woman and child alone a long way from civilisation until two men appear at the door. It soon becomes clear that their story of a car crash is not true. They may not be house guests Meg woud have chosen, but the arrival of another man makes her realise they are not the worst that could come knowcking at her door. RJ Harlick skillfully creates a claustrophobic atmosphere along with a great deal of suspense.

I have never read any of the 'Meg Harris Mystery' books before but this won't be last.

Thanks to Netgallery for giving me the chance to read and review this, adding another great author to my list.

[Pattyh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgallery for giving me the opportunity to do an advance reading of A Cold White Fear. This is my first Harlick read; it won't be my last. This is a stand alone, however, the lead character's history and tendencies are better served if previous novels are read.
The frightening tale begins on a cold winter's night when a two strangers approach our lead character, Meg Harris' cottage. A terrifying 24 hours ensues.
Harlick's love for the Canadian wilderness is evident and the reader can embrace and feel the cold and icy wind blowing while two individuals face terror on their own.
Can this young woman display the courage she needs to make it thru the night - quick read with a satisfying ending.
Recommend.

[Reelika Raimet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good thriller book, I liked it so much, that I couldn,t stop reading before I know the end. Sometimes it was so horrifing that I wanted to quit it and never open it again. I like thrillers and crimenovels. Book was so good that I really want to read more books like this. Book was so exciting and I enjoyd it so much that I want to read it more and more. The end was so heart warming that i couldn,t resist crying. Some times when I read it, I felt that life in such horror is no good for nobody and Meg handeled it very well. I am so proud that she decided to help, but she didn,t know that everything goes like that and she's life can be in danger. I promise that I recommend it to my friends and I think they like it too. Very Good! :)

[Ann Welton · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, thank you to NetGalley (Dundurn Publishing) for sending me this e-book for my enjoyment and review.
This was my first of Harlick's Meg Harris mystery series – and I'll have to say, it was a real winner for me. Taking place in Ottowa, Canada in a very remote cabin during a heavy winter blizzard. Meg tells her very engrossing story of 2 men who come to her door needing help, and how she deals with their frightening intrusion. This story will definitely keep you up late, but you will love her smooth, clear writing, her short chapters – fast to the end. Thank you Ms. Harlick, and I will find your other Meg mysteries.

[Sharon M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I was new to the author and this is one of a series involving Meg Harris set in remote Canada. However, while I'm sure knowing the backstory would have added another dimension to the story, it was also a good stand alone mystery.

Meg is basically alone during a horrible blizzard...only a 12 year-old from a neighboring Indian reservation and a puppy to keep her company. Two unsavory characters appear at her for and hold them hostage.

The author's writing style was sick that you felt the cold and fear. A quick read and enjoyable story.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine being alone in an isolated cabin with a young boy in the middle of a winter blizzard when suddenly there is a knock at your door and 2 men, one injured, demand to be let in. This is was happens to main character Meg Harris just before Christmas. When these men prove to be more than she bargains for she has to rely on her own wits and determination to see that she and her young friend make it out alive. This book has plenty of action and suspense and a lot of intriguing characters. I found myself liking and feeling sorry for some of the bad guys.

[Jenndian · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing thriller! I could not put this book down after receiving an e-ARC of this book this morning! The characters are believable and described vividly. I really appreciate that female protagonist is strong and capable! I now need to go back and read this series from the beginning! I highly recommend this book! It will keep you at the edge of your seat!


** Disclosure. I won the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Karsyn Fergus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got Cold White Fear from net galley. I immediately liked the story, even though it has a typical set up of Meg being a woman, home alone, in the middle of nowhere. Then Harlick throws twist after twist. I couldn't put the book down. Though, because of some of the characters bad English it made it slightly harder to read. Even though I liked the books so much, I don't think I'll be buying the second book. Don't let that dissuade you from reading this thrilling book.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book which was written with such emotion . it shows a steady growth in the characters and that just because you are considered a criminal doesn't mean you don't have some good in you.

the book covers the topics of escaped convicts and that they take some people prisoner.

Meg is the female in the story and one you could call both victim and hero.

what a great story and am looking forward to more from this author

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the setting, loved the characters,loved that it was fast paced and suspenseful. Recommend for anyone looking for a different sort of female heroine. Also if you've spent any time in Quebec! thanks to edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.