What do you think?
Rate this book
Out of the Ice
By the bestselling author of The Lost Swimmer, a tense, eerie thriller set in the icy reaches of Antarctica
When environmental scientist Laura Alvarado is sent to a remote Antarctic island to report on an abandoned whaling station, she begins to uncover more than she could ever imagine.
Despite new life thriving in the icy wilderness, the whaling station is brimming with awful reminders of its bloody, violent past, and Laura is disturbed by evidence of recent human interference. Rules have been broken, and the protected wildlife is behaving strangely.
On a diving expedition, Laura is separated from her colleague. She emerges into an ice cave where, through the blue shadows, she is shocked to see an anguished figure, crying for help.
But in this freezing, lonely landscape there are ghosts everywhere, and Laura begins to sense that her own eyes cannot be trusted. Is her mind playing tricks? Has she been in the ice too long?
Back at base, Laura’s questions about the whaling station go unanswered, blocked by unhelpful scientists, unused to questions from an outsider. And Laura just can’t shake what happened in the ice cave.
Piecing together a past and present of cruelty and vulnerability that can be traced all around the globe, from Norway, to Nantucket, Europe and Antarctica, Laura will stop at nothing to unearth the truth. As she sees the dark side of endeavour and human nature, she also discovers a legacy of love, hope and the meaning of family. If only Laura can find her way...
Out of the ice.
When environmental scientist Laura Alvarado is sent to a remote Antarctic island to report on an abandoned whaling station, she begins to uncover more than she could ever imagine.
Despite new life thriving in the icy wilderness, the whaling station is brimming with awful reminders of its bloody, violent past, and Laura is disturbed by evidence of recent human interference. Rules have been broken, and the protected wildlife is behaving strangely.
On a diving expedition, Laura is separated from her colleague. She emerges into an ice cave where, through the blue shadows, she is shocked to see an anguished figure, crying for help.
But in this freezing, lonely landscape there are ghosts everywhere, and Laura begins to sense that her own eyes cannot be trusted. Is her mind playing tricks? Has she been in the ice too long?
Back at base, Laura’s questions about the whaling station go unanswered, blocked by unhelpful scientists, unused to questions from an outsider. And Laura just can’t shake what happened in the ice cave.
Piecing together a past and present of cruelty and vulnerability that can be traced all around the globe, from Norway, to Nantucket, Europe and Antarctica, Laura will stop at nothing to unearth the truth. As she sees the dark side of endeavour and human nature, she also discovers a legacy of love, hope and the meaning of family. If only Laura can find her way...
Out of the ice.
360 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2016
29 people are currently reading
1890 people want to read
About the author
Ann Turner
3 books81 followersAnn Turner is an award-winning screenwriter and director, avid reader, and history lover. She is drawn to salt-sprayed coasts, luminous landscapes, and the people who inhabit them all over the world. She is a passionate gardener.
Her films include the historical feature Celia starring Rebecca Smart — which Time Out listed as one of the fifty greatest directorial debuts of all time, Hammers Over The Anvil starring Russell Crowe and Charlotte Rampling, and the psychological thriller Irresistible starring Susan Sarandon, Sam Neill, and Emily Blunt. Ann has lectured in film at the Victorian College of the Arts.
Returning to her first love, the written word, in her debut novel The Lost Swimmer Ann explores themes of love, trust and the dark side of relationships. She is currently working on her second novel, Out of the Ice, a mystery thriller set in Antarctica.
Ann was born in Adelaide and lives in Victoria.
Her films include the historical feature Celia starring Rebecca Smart — which Time Out listed as one of the fifty greatest directorial debuts of all time, Hammers Over The Anvil starring Russell Crowe and Charlotte Rampling, and the psychological thriller Irresistible starring Susan Sarandon, Sam Neill, and Emily Blunt. Ann has lectured in film at the Victorian College of the Arts.
Returning to her first love, the written word, in her debut novel The Lost Swimmer Ann explores themes of love, trust and the dark side of relationships. She is currently working on her second novel, Out of the Ice, a mystery thriller set in Antarctica.
Ann was born in Adelaide and lives in Victoria.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
June 28, 2016
4.5 Stars
What a great read! I saw this at Big W the other day in the top 10 section and it reminded me that I had it on my kindle ready to go! I have been so swamped with books to review lately, and this was one of the ones I was most looking forward to reading. But with other deadlines and tours I haven't had a chance to read it before now. Good things come to those who wait!
Laura is an environmental scientist. She is sent to an old whaling station on a remote island in Antarctica to study the wildlife in the area, and decide if the station should be made open for tourists. When she arrives at the base she is treated extremely strangely by the staff, and then some odd and eerie things begin to happen. What is going on at the old whaling station? Who is trespassing and trying to scare her? And who can she trust?
This was an absolutely gripping, atmospheric piece of writing by Ann Turner. She has captured the isolation of the ice and the horror of the old whaling station perfectly.
Laura is an excellent character. I love how she was damaged but had a great inner strength and passion for the animals at the whaling station. I loved how at times you didn't know if what she was experiencing was real or not.
I must admit I was unprepared for where this book ended up! I wasn't expecting it and it was almost an abrupt change from where I assumed it was going. This wasn't a bad thing at all, it was just surprising! The ending was good, and there were plenty of twists and turns.
I just LOVED the downright creepiness that dominated a lot of the book! I thought it was fantastic!
Would I recommend Out of the Ice?
Yes! Anyone who likes a little suspense, intrigue and ice will enjoy this one!
Many thanks to Simon and Schauster and author Ann Turner via NetGalley for a copy of Out of the Ice in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews check out my BLOG or
Twitter or
Facebook
What a great read! I saw this at Big W the other day in the top 10 section and it reminded me that I had it on my kindle ready to go! I have been so swamped with books to review lately, and this was one of the ones I was most looking forward to reading. But with other deadlines and tours I haven't had a chance to read it before now. Good things come to those who wait!
Laura is an environmental scientist. She is sent to an old whaling station on a remote island in Antarctica to study the wildlife in the area, and decide if the station should be made open for tourists. When she arrives at the base she is treated extremely strangely by the staff, and then some odd and eerie things begin to happen. What is going on at the old whaling station? Who is trespassing and trying to scare her? And who can she trust?
This was an absolutely gripping, atmospheric piece of writing by Ann Turner. She has captured the isolation of the ice and the horror of the old whaling station perfectly.
Laura is an excellent character. I love how she was damaged but had a great inner strength and passion for the animals at the whaling station. I loved how at times you didn't know if what she was experiencing was real or not.
I must admit I was unprepared for where this book ended up! I wasn't expecting it and it was almost an abrupt change from where I assumed it was going. This wasn't a bad thing at all, it was just surprising! The ending was good, and there were plenty of twists and turns.
I just LOVED the downright creepiness that dominated a lot of the book! I thought it was fantastic!
Would I recommend Out of the Ice?
Yes! Anyone who likes a little suspense, intrigue and ice will enjoy this one!
Many thanks to Simon and Schauster and author Ann Turner via NetGalley for a copy of Out of the Ice in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews check out my BLOG or
Twitter or
June 24, 2018
Out of the Ice starts slowly but builds up into a fast paced thriller. Starting out in the Antarctic there are some lovely descriptions of the local wildlife and the wonderful scenery. The main character, Laura, then manages somehow to buzz all around the world ( I kept wondering who was paying) and ends up helping the police solve some rather nasty crimes.
I enjoyed the story and the suspense which was well done, and in fact I liked the whole book. However I felt it fell short in a few ways. There was an annoyingly weak romantic thread which concluded suddenly in a quite remarkable way. In fact the ending was sudden and melodramatic. Long term issues with her husband, father, mother and son all solved themselves in an instant and the book finished.
Anyway, I still enjoyed it! It would make an excellent TV movie.
I enjoyed the story and the suspense which was well done, and in fact I liked the whole book. However I felt it fell short in a few ways. There was an annoyingly weak romantic thread which concluded suddenly in a quite remarkable way. In fact the ending was sudden and melodramatic. Long term issues with her husband, father, mother and son all solved themselves in an instant and the book finished.
Anyway, I still enjoyed it! It would make an excellent TV movie.
August 20, 2016
Out of the Ice by Ann Turner is a diamond. It is a multi-faceted story; complex, heart-breaking in parts, stunning in others.
Out of the Ice covers a range of subjects important in today's society. Environmental issues; refugees; human trafficking; the ethics of drug trials; and explores human weakness in it's many forms. She also delivers a heart-wrenching reminder that it is easiest to misunderstand those who are most important in our lives, those whom we should treasure the most.
All this is encompassed in a story that starts off slowly (like a steam train pulling out of a station on an uphill gradient), where you almost wonder if anything is ever going to happen. Then suddenly it is as if you are on that train and it is hurtling along the tracks totally out of control.
Ann Turners descriptive powers are such that whole time I was reading this tale, set largely in Antarctica, I was cold. She is a master at having many different strands to a story, which she then deftly weaves into a breath-taking denouement.
When environmental scientist Laura Alvarado is sent to a remote Antarctic island to report on an abandoned whaling station, she begins to uncover more than she could ever imagine.
Laura is disturbed by evidence of recent human interference. Rules have been broken, and the protected wildlife is behaving strangely.
On a diving expedition, Laura is separated from her colleague. She emerges into an ice cave where, through the blue shadows, she is shocked to see an anguished figure, crying for help.
But in this freezing, lonely landscape there are ghosts everywhere, and Laura begins to sense that her own eyes cannot be trusted. Is her mind playing tricks? Has she been in the ice too long?
This is Ann Turner's second book, and I have read and loved both. I look forward to her next with great anticipation. Thank you to NetGalley and publishers Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a digital ARC of Out of the Ice in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Out of the Ice covers a range of subjects important in today's society. Environmental issues; refugees; human trafficking; the ethics of drug trials; and explores human weakness in it's many forms. She also delivers a heart-wrenching reminder that it is easiest to misunderstand those who are most important in our lives, those whom we should treasure the most.
All this is encompassed in a story that starts off slowly (like a steam train pulling out of a station on an uphill gradient), where you almost wonder if anything is ever going to happen. Then suddenly it is as if you are on that train and it is hurtling along the tracks totally out of control.
Ann Turners descriptive powers are such that whole time I was reading this tale, set largely in Antarctica, I was cold. She is a master at having many different strands to a story, which she then deftly weaves into a breath-taking denouement.
When environmental scientist Laura Alvarado is sent to a remote Antarctic island to report on an abandoned whaling station, she begins to uncover more than she could ever imagine.
Laura is disturbed by evidence of recent human interference. Rules have been broken, and the protected wildlife is behaving strangely.
On a diving expedition, Laura is separated from her colleague. She emerges into an ice cave where, through the blue shadows, she is shocked to see an anguished figure, crying for help.
But in this freezing, lonely landscape there are ghosts everywhere, and Laura begins to sense that her own eyes cannot be trusted. Is her mind playing tricks? Has she been in the ice too long?
This is Ann Turner's second book, and I have read and loved both. I look forward to her next with great anticipation. Thank you to NetGalley and publishers Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a digital ARC of Out of the Ice in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
May 25, 2016
Working in the Antarctic was a dream come true for environmental scientist Dr Laura Alvarado – her love of the wild animals; the beauty of the whales; the majesty of the penguins – meant every day was filled with contentment. The peace and serenity which surrounded her meant she didn’t miss her home in Melbourne Australia; her mother rang and emailed Laura often. The day Georgia, her boss, told Laura she had been chosen to do a special report on an abandoned whaling station with the view of allowing tourists to the area – even though it was currently a closed zone where only a specific few could visit, was the day her life would change irrevocably…
When Laura began to suspect something was going on that she wouldn’t be privy to, Georgia sent her colleague Kate to work by her side – between the two of them they hoped to finalise the report plus get to the bottom of the mystery. But when they encountered the strange behaviour of the seals and penguins and their aggressive nature, Kate and Laura both knew something was terribly wrong – their behaviour wasn’t normal. The horrors of the machinery at the old whaling station began playing tricks on Laura’s mind – and when she saw the terrified person behind the ice wall under the ocean, she was sure she must have been on the job for too long. Spending too much time in the icy reaches of the Antarctic was known to affect people – maybe that was her problem…
Would heading to Nantucket to find answers be the right thing to do? Or would there end up being many more questions? As Laura unearthed the horrifying secrets of the past, it seemed they were connected to current events. The clock was ticking faster; events were careening out of control – could Laura stop it all before it was too late?
Out of the Ice by Aussie author Ann Turner is another gripping thriller which I literally flew through. A fabulous and unique plot, the backdrop of the freezing Antarctic with the penguins and seals was wonderful – the mystery and suspense surrounding the characters was well crafted and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Great entertainment and a novel I have no hesitation in recommending highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
When Laura began to suspect something was going on that she wouldn’t be privy to, Georgia sent her colleague Kate to work by her side – between the two of them they hoped to finalise the report plus get to the bottom of the mystery. But when they encountered the strange behaviour of the seals and penguins and their aggressive nature, Kate and Laura both knew something was terribly wrong – their behaviour wasn’t normal. The horrors of the machinery at the old whaling station began playing tricks on Laura’s mind – and when she saw the terrified person behind the ice wall under the ocean, she was sure she must have been on the job for too long. Spending too much time in the icy reaches of the Antarctic was known to affect people – maybe that was her problem…
Would heading to Nantucket to find answers be the right thing to do? Or would there end up being many more questions? As Laura unearthed the horrifying secrets of the past, it seemed they were connected to current events. The clock was ticking faster; events were careening out of control – could Laura stop it all before it was too late?
Out of the Ice by Aussie author Ann Turner is another gripping thriller which I literally flew through. A fabulous and unique plot, the backdrop of the freezing Antarctic with the penguins and seals was wonderful – the mystery and suspense surrounding the characters was well crafted and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Great entertainment and a novel I have no hesitation in recommending highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
June 9, 2018
Laura Alvarado an environmental scientist, is coming to the end of a 18 month stint in Antarctica.
Of late Laura's life has been troubled. Two failed marriages and a still born son that she has never gotten over.
There is a derelict whaling station near by that some countries want opened up for tourism and Laura has been asked to do a feasibility study on it. Whilst studying the area Laura sees a young boy trapped in the ice, screaming for help. When Laura goes to help the boy he disappears without a trace. Laura's assistant tell her that it was just a trick of the light. But the image was so real Laura has trouble putting it aside. To further confuse the issue Laura gets it into her head that the boy looks like her dead child, or what he would look like now twelve years on.
Laura cant let it go and feels compelled to dig deeper. But her digging finds herself being drawn into something very dark and very dangerous and it will change her life for ever.
Ann Turner does a great job creating a breathtakingly beautiful, albeit very cold, Antarctica landscape.
The pace is not frenetic but slowly builds to become a page turner.
A really enjoyable and interesting, 4 star, read.
Of late Laura's life has been troubled. Two failed marriages and a still born son that she has never gotten over.
There is a derelict whaling station near by that some countries want opened up for tourism and Laura has been asked to do a feasibility study on it. Whilst studying the area Laura sees a young boy trapped in the ice, screaming for help. When Laura goes to help the boy he disappears without a trace. Laura's assistant tell her that it was just a trick of the light. But the image was so real Laura has trouble putting it aside. To further confuse the issue Laura gets it into her head that the boy looks like her dead child, or what he would look like now twelve years on.
Laura cant let it go and feels compelled to dig deeper. But her digging finds herself being drawn into something very dark and very dangerous and it will change her life for ever.
Ann Turner does a great job creating a breathtakingly beautiful, albeit very cold, Antarctica landscape.
The pace is not frenetic but slowly builds to become a page turner.
A really enjoyable and interesting, 4 star, read.
May 28, 2016
Australian marine biologist Laura Alvarado is coming towards the end of her eighteen month contract working in the Antarctic when she is asked to go to undertake an environmental impact study on an old Norwegian whaling station that has been proposed to be opened up as a museum for tourists. When she arrives at the British base nearby she feels that something is wrong. The other scientists are unfriendly and intimidating and there is a lot of secrecy about the work of the station. On top of that discipline is lax and the base poorly run. The whaling station and the settlement that grew up around it are a fascinating step back into history but there are signs that people have been there even though it is an exclusion zone and off limits to all. Laura also thinks she is seeing ghosts but has she just hallucinating from being out on the ice for too long or is something odd going on?
Antarctica is a magical setting for a book and felt very real with beautiful descriptions of the pristine glaciers and deep clear water. The descriptions of the penguins, seals and whales made them come to life and the coldness of the ice seeps through the pages. Against this very atmospheric backdrop, Laura's fears and loneliness seem really spooky as she tries to work out who has been visiting the whaling station. What is really happening at the base is not revealed until late in the novel and was totally unexpected. After the pace of life on the ice, the ending was certainly action packed and almost felt a bit rushed as if all the threads had to be tied up and packed away neatly. Despite that, 'Out of the Ice' was a very enjoyable thriller, set in a wonderful location - highly recommended!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Simon & Schuster for a digital copy to read and review
Antarctica is a magical setting for a book and felt very real with beautiful descriptions of the pristine glaciers and deep clear water. The descriptions of the penguins, seals and whales made them come to life and the coldness of the ice seeps through the pages. Against this very atmospheric backdrop, Laura's fears and loneliness seem really spooky as she tries to work out who has been visiting the whaling station. What is really happening at the base is not revealed until late in the novel and was totally unexpected. After the pace of life on the ice, the ending was certainly action packed and almost felt a bit rushed as if all the threads had to be tied up and packed away neatly. Despite that, 'Out of the Ice' was a very enjoyable thriller, set in a wonderful location - highly recommended!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Simon & Schuster for a digital copy to read and review
July 19, 2018
Out of the Ice by Australian author Ann Turner is set on a remote Antarctic Island and is a great book to read in winter huddled under the covers.
Laura Alvarado is an environmental scientist sent to make a detailed report on an abandoned whaling station where not all is as it seems.
The wildlife in this region of antarctica (whales, penguins and seals), the isolation and the freezing cold elements form a great backdrop to the novel and are well-written. The scenes that take place in the creepy and abandoned town of Fredelighavn were the highlight of the book for me, and successfully conveyed the horrors of the whaling industry and echoes of the past.
The male dominated environment of the nearby British station was captured well although I never really warmed to Laura and some of her decisions were frustrating.
Out of the Ice is being promoted as a tense and eerie thriller but I have to disagree with this categorisation. I found it to be an eerie slow burn until the last quarter of the book, when it takes a sudden turn and becomes a fast-paced crime novel. The ending was too neat and tidy for my liking and the romance unbelievable.
One thing I will take away after reading Out of the Ice is a desire to visit Nantucket.
* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *
Laura Alvarado is an environmental scientist sent to make a detailed report on an abandoned whaling station where not all is as it seems.
The wildlife in this region of antarctica (whales, penguins and seals), the isolation and the freezing cold elements form a great backdrop to the novel and are well-written. The scenes that take place in the creepy and abandoned town of Fredelighavn were the highlight of the book for me, and successfully conveyed the horrors of the whaling industry and echoes of the past.
The male dominated environment of the nearby British station was captured well although I never really warmed to Laura and some of her decisions were frustrating.
Out of the Ice is being promoted as a tense and eerie thriller but I have to disagree with this categorisation. I found it to be an eerie slow burn until the last quarter of the book, when it takes a sudden turn and becomes a fast-paced crime novel. The ending was too neat and tidy for my liking and the romance unbelievable.
One thing I will take away after reading Out of the Ice is a desire to visit Nantucket.
* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *
June 16, 2016
I loved Ann Turner’s previous book, The Lost Swimmer, and was eager to read her new offering, a thriller set in the Antarctic.
When it comes to the icy setting, I won’t complain. Turner’s vivid descriptions of Antarctica and its wildlife are enthralling. Turner also utilises the unlikely location co-stars of Venice and Nantucket. Turner takes advantage of the uniqueness of the three landscapes and effortlessly creates a series of eerie atmospheres. The one thing these three places has in common is the sense of isolation, and almost being cut off from civilisation. The idea that someone might be watching, or even following, the characters when they should be fully alone, in areas where the natural surroundings offers no escape route, adds a great deal of tension. I remember saying in my Lost Swimmer review that it’s like reading a Hitchcock movie, and I get that same feeling with this new novel.
I should add that in Antarctica the setting isn’t just snow and penguins. Out of the Ice’s main character, Laura, is an Australian scientist assigned to undertake an environmental impact study to determine whether or not an abandoned whaling station could be converted into a tourist attraction. The station was previously run by one enterprising Norwegian family who set up an almost entirely self-sufficient village for their workers and their families to live. Turner gives us depressingly shameful descriptions of the whaling operations, as well as the creepy Stepford-like village.
From maybe a slower beginning than I expected, the novel skips along like wildfire once Laura arrives at the village. I skipped along with it, turning pages frantically, hoping to find out what might happen with the mystery surrounding the village, its past (and perhaps present) inhabitants, and the strange goings-on there.
This is where I admit to not guessing any of the outcomes or solving that said mystery. There was one particular twist towards the end that I never saw coming in any shape or form. I enjoyed this surprise and this aspect immensely.
However, abruptly, about three quarters through the book, Turner’s plot also became a touch too unbelievable for my liking. Without spoiling, the criminal activities depicted obviously do happen in the world, but I found them far too outlandish for me.
The sense of reality was reduced even further when Laura was able to travel around the world so quickly and easily to assist international authorities to crack the crime. (Can I ask about Australian Antarctic scientists’ budget after reading this book?!)
My other complaint that made me swipe a half a star off my rating was Laura’s romantic subplot. I’m sorry, it was just hopeless. The book is written from Laura’s first person POV, and I would (never!) complain about inner thoughts regarding love or lust, but it would have been nice for Turner to present me with one guy I could cheer on with hopes they might become the ‘one’. Even Laura was confused. Her inner monologue each time she met a new male character was something along the lines of how she felt instantly attracted to them. Yes, pretty much all of them! Including her exes! I couldn't decide on which character Turner wanted Laura to become involved with, especially as Laura had no substantial chemistry with any of these men, nor did any of them endear themselves as leading man material.
In the end, I rose my eyebrow at the romantic outcome. I can honestly say I wasn’t ready for Laura (and Turner) to settle on this person. I pretty much hated it/him.
I do still love Turner’s pacing and writing, however, and recommend Out of the Ice.
4/5
When it comes to the icy setting, I won’t complain. Turner’s vivid descriptions of Antarctica and its wildlife are enthralling. Turner also utilises the unlikely location co-stars of Venice and Nantucket. Turner takes advantage of the uniqueness of the three landscapes and effortlessly creates a series of eerie atmospheres. The one thing these three places has in common is the sense of isolation, and almost being cut off from civilisation. The idea that someone might be watching, or even following, the characters when they should be fully alone, in areas where the natural surroundings offers no escape route, adds a great deal of tension. I remember saying in my Lost Swimmer review that it’s like reading a Hitchcock movie, and I get that same feeling with this new novel.
I should add that in Antarctica the setting isn’t just snow and penguins. Out of the Ice’s main character, Laura, is an Australian scientist assigned to undertake an environmental impact study to determine whether or not an abandoned whaling station could be converted into a tourist attraction. The station was previously run by one enterprising Norwegian family who set up an almost entirely self-sufficient village for their workers and their families to live. Turner gives us depressingly shameful descriptions of the whaling operations, as well as the creepy Stepford-like village.
From maybe a slower beginning than I expected, the novel skips along like wildfire once Laura arrives at the village. I skipped along with it, turning pages frantically, hoping to find out what might happen with the mystery surrounding the village, its past (and perhaps present) inhabitants, and the strange goings-on there.
This is where I admit to not guessing any of the outcomes or solving that said mystery. There was one particular twist towards the end that I never saw coming in any shape or form. I enjoyed this surprise and this aspect immensely.
However, abruptly, about three quarters through the book, Turner’s plot also became a touch too unbelievable for my liking. Without spoiling, the criminal activities depicted obviously do happen in the world, but I found them far too outlandish for me.
The sense of reality was reduced even further when Laura was able to travel around the world so quickly and easily to assist international authorities to crack the crime. (Can I ask about Australian Antarctic scientists’ budget after reading this book?!)
My other complaint that made me swipe a half a star off my rating was Laura’s romantic subplot. I’m sorry, it was just hopeless. The book is written from Laura’s first person POV, and I would (never!) complain about inner thoughts regarding love or lust, but it would have been nice for Turner to present me with one guy I could cheer on with hopes they might become the ‘one’. Even Laura was confused. Her inner monologue each time she met a new male character was something along the lines of how she felt instantly attracted to them. Yes, pretty much all of them! Including her exes! I couldn't decide on which character Turner wanted Laura to become involved with, especially as Laura had no substantial chemistry with any of these men, nor did any of them endear themselves as leading man material.
In the end, I rose my eyebrow at the romantic outcome. I can honestly say I wasn’t ready for Laura (and Turner) to settle on this person. I pretty much hated it/him.
I do still love Turner’s pacing and writing, however, and recommend Out of the Ice.
4/5
May 16, 2016
I previously read Ann Turner's first book 'The Lost Swimmer' with enjoyment but I must admit her new novel 'Out Of The Ice' surpassed all expectations.
Laura Alvarado trained as a marine biologist and made her name by studying the relationship between penguins and krill in the Southern Ocean. Antarctica was her first love and pulled her back, she is currently there on a 18 month contact with the Australian Antarctic Division. Asked to do a field assignment at Alliance Station - a British base, it involves an Environmental Impact Assessment of Fredilighavn, the old Norwegian whaling station which has been earmarked to become a tourist destination.
As her partner to assess the station Professor Rutgar Koch had been delayed, she is unofficially taken under the wing of Travis Roberts, one of the workers from Alliance. From the minute she arrives at Alliance Station her defences are up, especially as she is the only woman there. Things are a bit strange at this station and she starts to watch her every move. Even when taken to the uninhabited whaling station Fredilighavn, in these marvellously preserved buildings she feels uneasy and the wildlife there are unexpectedly aggressive towards them. And then there is the vision of a young boy that she sights in an ice cave while she is diving and suddenly separated from her diving partner. This vision haunts her, is the boy real or is she 'toasty' a condition that implies that she has been in Antarctica too long. As her fears mount she is joined by her boss Georgia and friend Kate but even safety in numbers doesn't quell their uneasiness as they try to unravel what is happening at Alliance and least of all, who to trust.
From the moment I started this story I was totally engrossed. There is a bit of back story to Laura that is explained in the first few chapters and I feel this is important to understand her.
It was very atmospheric and creepy and I was totally invested to find out what the history and modern day occurrences around this fascinating whaling station were. I felt the author described conditions so well, that I could imagine myself right there.
A thoroughly enjoyable read that I recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
Laura Alvarado trained as a marine biologist and made her name by studying the relationship between penguins and krill in the Southern Ocean. Antarctica was her first love and pulled her back, she is currently there on a 18 month contact with the Australian Antarctic Division. Asked to do a field assignment at Alliance Station - a British base, it involves an Environmental Impact Assessment of Fredilighavn, the old Norwegian whaling station which has been earmarked to become a tourist destination.
As her partner to assess the station Professor Rutgar Koch had been delayed, she is unofficially taken under the wing of Travis Roberts, one of the workers from Alliance. From the minute she arrives at Alliance Station her defences are up, especially as she is the only woman there. Things are a bit strange at this station and she starts to watch her every move. Even when taken to the uninhabited whaling station Fredilighavn, in these marvellously preserved buildings she feels uneasy and the wildlife there are unexpectedly aggressive towards them. And then there is the vision of a young boy that she sights in an ice cave while she is diving and suddenly separated from her diving partner. This vision haunts her, is the boy real or is she 'toasty' a condition that implies that she has been in Antarctica too long. As her fears mount she is joined by her boss Georgia and friend Kate but even safety in numbers doesn't quell their uneasiness as they try to unravel what is happening at Alliance and least of all, who to trust.
From the moment I started this story I was totally engrossed. There is a bit of back story to Laura that is explained in the first few chapters and I feel this is important to understand her.
It was very atmospheric and creepy and I was totally invested to find out what the history and modern day occurrences around this fascinating whaling station were. I felt the author described conditions so well, that I could imagine myself right there.
A thoroughly enjoyable read that I recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
June 13, 2017
Trigger warnings: stillbirth, death of a child (in the past), graphic descriptions of whaling, death of a friend,
I'm a sucker for a decent thriller, and the fact that this one is set in Antarctica immediately tipped me over the edge into picking it up.
The beginning, I'll admit, is definitely a little on the slow side. There's a lot of description of Antarctic wildlife and historic villages and who even knows what else. But things gradually get creepier and creepier, and twists and turns start appearing all over the place.
Basically, it kept me guessing until the end, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'm a sucker for a decent thriller, and the fact that this one is set in Antarctica immediately tipped me over the edge into picking it up.
The beginning, I'll admit, is definitely a little on the slow side. There's a lot of description of Antarctic wildlife and historic villages and who even knows what else. But things gradually get creepier and creepier, and twists and turns start appearing all over the place.
Basically, it kept me guessing until the end, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 8, 2018
I read Ann Turner's previous novel - The Lost Swimmer - and really enjoyed it for it's beautiful descriptive prose and the way the author portrays her characters, but maybe not so much for the mystery elements, it was more character drama than mystery.
I would say that is true of Out Of The Ice as well - although this one is slightly more edgy and refined, most of what attracted me throughout the read was the sense of place - the frozen, deserted Antarctic, where one woman who should be alone realises she is not...
Again Ann Turner has produced a slow burner of a story, immersing the reader into her setting, I was particularly drawn to the environmental issues and the way the characters within it work, the scientists and the rest, it was entirely fascinating.
The mystery again is fairly low key - although ultimately quite emotional - this story lives and dies with its characters and backdrop, luckily the author pulls all that off with aplomb, giving us a deeply immersive, chilly and claustrophobic read that may actually make you physically shiver.
Recommended for fans of literary character drama.
I would say that is true of Out Of The Ice as well - although this one is slightly more edgy and refined, most of what attracted me throughout the read was the sense of place - the frozen, deserted Antarctic, where one woman who should be alone realises she is not...
Again Ann Turner has produced a slow burner of a story, immersing the reader into her setting, I was particularly drawn to the environmental issues and the way the characters within it work, the scientists and the rest, it was entirely fascinating.
The mystery again is fairly low key - although ultimately quite emotional - this story lives and dies with its characters and backdrop, luckily the author pulls all that off with aplomb, giving us a deeply immersive, chilly and claustrophobic read that may actually make you physically shiver.
Recommended for fans of literary character drama.
August 12, 2016
I love artic thrillers but despite an okay start, the story went downhill with unrealistic character development in context of the story and environment.
Pass.
Pass.
March 19, 2017
3.5 stars
This was a bit of a mixed bag.
To be honest, I was reluctant to read this novel, because I couldn't imagine being that entertained by a story set in the Antarctica, but it came highly recommended by some GR friends, so I decided to request it on NetGalley.
Luckily, Out of the Ice was much more interesting than I expected it to be.
I've learned a fair bit about the research stations and their operations. Also, I've learnt some things about the fauna. That was all absorbing. Ann Turner's views on the environment and the destruction caused by humans are apparent. That won her some brownie points. Brownie points were given for bringing to light the misogynism and double standards prevalent in the academic world. Why would the smart men be any different to the not-so-smart men, right?
The writing is kind of uneven, swaying from beautiful descriptive language to information dumping. At times, I found the first person narration grating and, occasionally, a bit mechanical, which I guess matched the academic brain of our marine biologist narrator, Laura Alvarado.
Also, there are some far-fetched scenarios and too convenient coincidences that I couldn't quite come to grips with. I would get into more details, but that would give away too much, and I don't want to spoil it for you.
The last third of the novel picks up the pace a great deal, and lots of things happen, in my view, a bit too many. Laura Alvaro seems to not get much sleep throughout the novel, while in Antartica or when jetting around the world, from Antartica to the USA, then to Italy and back to Antartica.
The ending is a bit too tidy and too happy-ever-after-ish, which I'm sure many will find very fulfilling. My cynical brain was a reluctant buyer.
Nevertheless, I'm glad I read it, as it was engaging enough, I just wish I had been able to suspend my disbelief a little bit more than I did.
3.5 stars
I've received this novel via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publishers, Simon & Schuster, who were so kind to allow me to read and review this novel.
Cover: 5 stars
This was a bit of a mixed bag.
To be honest, I was reluctant to read this novel, because I couldn't imagine being that entertained by a story set in the Antarctica, but it came highly recommended by some GR friends, so I decided to request it on NetGalley.
Luckily, Out of the Ice was much more interesting than I expected it to be.
I've learned a fair bit about the research stations and their operations. Also, I've learnt some things about the fauna. That was all absorbing. Ann Turner's views on the environment and the destruction caused by humans are apparent. That won her some brownie points. Brownie points were given for bringing to light the misogynism and double standards prevalent in the academic world. Why would the smart men be any different to the not-so-smart men, right?
The writing is kind of uneven, swaying from beautiful descriptive language to information dumping. At times, I found the first person narration grating and, occasionally, a bit mechanical, which I guess matched the academic brain of our marine biologist narrator, Laura Alvarado.
Also, there are some far-fetched scenarios and too convenient coincidences that I couldn't quite come to grips with. I would get into more details, but that would give away too much, and I don't want to spoil it for you.
The last third of the novel picks up the pace a great deal, and lots of things happen, in my view, a bit too many. Laura Alvaro seems to not get much sleep throughout the novel, while in Antartica or when jetting around the world, from Antartica to the USA, then to Italy and back to Antartica.
The ending is a bit too tidy and too happy-ever-after-ish, which I'm sure many will find very fulfilling. My cynical brain was a reluctant buyer.
Nevertheless, I'm glad I read it, as it was engaging enough, I just wish I had been able to suspend my disbelief a little bit more than I did.
3.5 stars
I've received this novel via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publishers, Simon & Schuster, who were so kind to allow me to read and review this novel.
Cover: 5 stars
August 1, 2016
I give this a 2.5 and I really wanted to like it more. Unfortunately I found parts of it tedious and slow and the ending for me was just not believable and over the top! Descriptions of the environment were great and gave you a real sense of the vastness and potential danger, but to be honest the endless descriptions of the heroine's meals was weird. I found Kate the most authentic character amongst a bunch of caricatures. It just seemed that it was padded out for the first 2/3 and then a mad rush to the finish.
March 10, 2016
There’s something about books set in the Antarctic that really appeal. I don’t know whether it’s the pristine environment, the abundant wildlife, the climatic conditions, the human isolation, desolation, horrific and courageous history and the potential all of this has as an incredible setting, but I find books that tackle all this hard to resist. My only condition, is these novels have to be really well written and maintain a pace as far from glacial as possible or, like the old huts and equipment left to rot down there, I forsake them…
Fortunately, Ann Turner’s Out of the Ice is a cracker of a read. Beautifully written, suspenseful, haunting and, at times, nail-biting, it tells the story of scientist, Laura Alvarado who, when the book opens is facing the end of her term at a remote Antarctic Station, that is, until she’s given a new role. Chosen to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment on a whaling station that was abandoned in the 1950s, she travels to the nearest outpost, a very male-dominated and British-owned station from which she must conduct her study.
From the moment she steps onto the British base, she finds herself marginalised and treated with hostility by the leaders. When she finally gets to the whaling station she’s to assess, something is amiss. If humans have been forbidden from this Norwegian outpost for decades, why are the penguins and seals so aggressive? And why is there evidence of both recent human habitation and interference?
When, after a dive into an underwater cave, Laura bears witness to strange and impossible things, she determines to get to the bottom of the mystery. Calling upon the help of colleagues and superiors from her former station, Laura dares to both question and investigate exactly what’s going on. But there are those who will stop at nothing, even murder, to keep their secrets from emerging out of the ice…
From Antarctica to Nantucket and Venice, the book is action-packed but without sacrificing lovely prose, superb descriptions of settings, or creating a wonderful back story for Laura and thus a hero that you champion. I also liked the ambivalence expressed around whaling (which I find utterly abhorrent); how we know it’s shocking, cruel and a complete travesty of which we should be ashamed, but historically, for those involved, it represented something different. Turner doesn’t steer away from presenting both sides and while some of the descriptions of what went on are gut-wrenchingly awful, that she didn’t steer away from depicting all sides is a credit to her – especially when it’s very clear on which side she stands.
My only slight misgivings were I thought Laura made some decisions and took some actions that didn’t seem to fit with her intellect and previous caution, that didn’t quite sit with her scientific mind and appeared narratively convenient rather than plausible. Likewise, I thought for a brief time the plot had gone off the rails, and I had to work a bit harder than I would of liked to suspend my disbelief. To my relief, it quickly found its firm feet again and the conclusion was gripping and heartfelt.
But these are simply small moments of disquiet in a book I found really hard to put down. In fact, I stayed up too late the night I started it and even read it while doing my morning exercise on a treadmill because I had to know how it ended.
A terrific read that I recommend for lovers of a good mystery, those interested in the Antarctic and what drives humans to do both great and terrible things.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy such a wonderful book.
Fortunately, Ann Turner’s Out of the Ice is a cracker of a read. Beautifully written, suspenseful, haunting and, at times, nail-biting, it tells the story of scientist, Laura Alvarado who, when the book opens is facing the end of her term at a remote Antarctic Station, that is, until she’s given a new role. Chosen to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment on a whaling station that was abandoned in the 1950s, she travels to the nearest outpost, a very male-dominated and British-owned station from which she must conduct her study.
From the moment she steps onto the British base, she finds herself marginalised and treated with hostility by the leaders. When she finally gets to the whaling station she’s to assess, something is amiss. If humans have been forbidden from this Norwegian outpost for decades, why are the penguins and seals so aggressive? And why is there evidence of both recent human habitation and interference?
When, after a dive into an underwater cave, Laura bears witness to strange and impossible things, she determines to get to the bottom of the mystery. Calling upon the help of colleagues and superiors from her former station, Laura dares to both question and investigate exactly what’s going on. But there are those who will stop at nothing, even murder, to keep their secrets from emerging out of the ice…
From Antarctica to Nantucket and Venice, the book is action-packed but without sacrificing lovely prose, superb descriptions of settings, or creating a wonderful back story for Laura and thus a hero that you champion. I also liked the ambivalence expressed around whaling (which I find utterly abhorrent); how we know it’s shocking, cruel and a complete travesty of which we should be ashamed, but historically, for those involved, it represented something different. Turner doesn’t steer away from presenting both sides and while some of the descriptions of what went on are gut-wrenchingly awful, that she didn’t steer away from depicting all sides is a credit to her – especially when it’s very clear on which side she stands.
My only slight misgivings were I thought Laura made some decisions and took some actions that didn’t seem to fit with her intellect and previous caution, that didn’t quite sit with her scientific mind and appeared narratively convenient rather than plausible. Likewise, I thought for a brief time the plot had gone off the rails, and I had to work a bit harder than I would of liked to suspend my disbelief. To my relief, it quickly found its firm feet again and the conclusion was gripping and heartfelt.
But these are simply small moments of disquiet in a book I found really hard to put down. In fact, I stayed up too late the night I started it and even read it while doing my morning exercise on a treadmill because I had to know how it ended.
A terrific read that I recommend for lovers of a good mystery, those interested in the Antarctic and what drives humans to do both great and terrible things.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy such a wonderful book.
June 5, 2016
This is a very engaging story that takes the reader into the cold domain of Antartica. The location is incredible and so clearly portrayed. A thrilling story that gets hold of you and keeps you there - full of suspense and the unexpected. Absolutely loved it. All the characters were incredible including the main character Laura, her boss Georgia and friend Kate as well as the male contingents at the Alliance Station.
This is a great read and I would highly recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley Ne publisher Simon & Schuster (Australia) for an ebook copy to read and review.
This is a great read and I would highly recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley Ne publisher Simon & Schuster (Australia) for an ebook copy to read and review.
March 5, 2016
This book was so enjoyable and easy to read. Being set in the Antarctic made this story quite unique. The Author has done an amazing job of explaining what a beautiful, but harsh and uncompromising place it is. There is plenty of suspense, and a few surprises that I wasn’t expecting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, and If I could I would give it six stars. Ann Turner has an obvious talent for writing.
August 25, 2016
When I first heard about this book a few months ago, I absolutely knew I had to read it. I love books set in Antarctica. Doesn’t really matter what they’re about, anything set there immediately goes straight on my wishlist. There’s something so fascinating about it – the isolation, the harsh landscape, the protected wildlife. The fact that really, it’s close to us but utterly foreign. The people that have died, trying to conquer it. It makes for one of the best settings, in my opinion.
Laura is an environmental scientist assigned to a station in Antarctica when she is unexpectedly sent to an abandoned whaling station, a forbidden area. Charged with an impact study to see if it could be opened up as a tourist prospect, Laura is alarmed by the strange happenings on the base nearby as well as some signs of life in a place that supposedly hasn’t been touched in fifty years. She’s even more disturbed by the fact that the local protected wildlife, which should be curious about her but not alarmed, are terrified and overprotective, going so far as to attack her. That suggest to Laura that they’ve been given reason to be afraid of humans…..something very strange is going on, Laura is sure of it. However Antarctica has a way of getting to you, of making your mind play tricks so Laura needs someone she can trust. Her colleague Kate and her boss Georgia are two likely candidates. If there’s something sinister going on, they will find out.
This book had me hooked from the very beginning, when Kate and Laura are observing a penguin colony. Penguins are my absolute favourite animals and the idea of doing what Kate and Laura were doing, observing them in their habitat, following them through their mating and breeding cycles sounds so amazing. Especially as the penguins are not particularly frightened of humans – they have no reason to be. Their predators are in the ocean and the scientists have never given them cause for fear. From there the book just escalates as Laura is sent to do the study on the abandoned whaling station, something that weighs heavily on her. Antarctica has a bloody history, slaughtering many species almost to extinction – in some years, the numbers of a particular species killed could be as many as 25,000. Even today the Japanese for example, still attempt whaling in Antarctic waters, ostensibly for “research”, despite numerous actions by other countries such as Australia, and organisations that seek to protect them. In fact according to this article, Japanese whalers killed over 300 minke whales in the 2015-16 season, including 200 pregnant females.
When Laura spots some signs of life at the abandoned whaling community, I was really intrigued – especially after what she thinks she sees behind a wall of ice: a face, begging her for help. I have to admit that I really did not pick the direction in which the book was heading and the more that Laura managed to uncover, the more horrifying the situation became. In order to get the answers she needs, Laura does have to leave Antarctica and for me, I did feel that once the action relocated, I really was just hanging out for the time that it returned down south. I know that she needed to find the answers elsewhere and that included travelling to Nantucket and then Venice before she could return to Antarctica with the knowledge she needed to create the full picture as well as how to go about exposing it.
Out Of The Ice was an unputdownable thriller that took me in unexpected directions with some truly expert twists. The beauty of Antarctica was showcased wonderfully, with a bit of a glimpse into a bloodied past. I wasn’t 100% sure on the ending…for me it did feel really neat and perhaps a little unlikely but I think it attempted to give the reader a sense of satisfaction and closure. All in all, a very good read and one I enjoyed a lot.
Laura is an environmental scientist assigned to a station in Antarctica when she is unexpectedly sent to an abandoned whaling station, a forbidden area. Charged with an impact study to see if it could be opened up as a tourist prospect, Laura is alarmed by the strange happenings on the base nearby as well as some signs of life in a place that supposedly hasn’t been touched in fifty years. She’s even more disturbed by the fact that the local protected wildlife, which should be curious about her but not alarmed, are terrified and overprotective, going so far as to attack her. That suggest to Laura that they’ve been given reason to be afraid of humans…..something very strange is going on, Laura is sure of it. However Antarctica has a way of getting to you, of making your mind play tricks so Laura needs someone she can trust. Her colleague Kate and her boss Georgia are two likely candidates. If there’s something sinister going on, they will find out.
This book had me hooked from the very beginning, when Kate and Laura are observing a penguin colony. Penguins are my absolute favourite animals and the idea of doing what Kate and Laura were doing, observing them in their habitat, following them through their mating and breeding cycles sounds so amazing. Especially as the penguins are not particularly frightened of humans – they have no reason to be. Their predators are in the ocean and the scientists have never given them cause for fear. From there the book just escalates as Laura is sent to do the study on the abandoned whaling station, something that weighs heavily on her. Antarctica has a bloody history, slaughtering many species almost to extinction – in some years, the numbers of a particular species killed could be as many as 25,000. Even today the Japanese for example, still attempt whaling in Antarctic waters, ostensibly for “research”, despite numerous actions by other countries such as Australia, and organisations that seek to protect them. In fact according to this article, Japanese whalers killed over 300 minke whales in the 2015-16 season, including 200 pregnant females.
When Laura spots some signs of life at the abandoned whaling community, I was really intrigued – especially after what she thinks she sees behind a wall of ice: a face, begging her for help. I have to admit that I really did not pick the direction in which the book was heading and the more that Laura managed to uncover, the more horrifying the situation became. In order to get the answers she needs, Laura does have to leave Antarctica and for me, I did feel that once the action relocated, I really was just hanging out for the time that it returned down south. I know that she needed to find the answers elsewhere and that included travelling to Nantucket and then Venice before she could return to Antarctica with the knowledge she needed to create the full picture as well as how to go about exposing it.
Out Of The Ice was an unputdownable thriller that took me in unexpected directions with some truly expert twists. The beauty of Antarctica was showcased wonderfully, with a bit of a glimpse into a bloodied past. I wasn’t 100% sure on the ending…for me it did feel really neat and perhaps a little unlikely but I think it attempted to give the reader a sense of satisfaction and closure. All in all, a very good read and one I enjoyed a lot.
June 1, 2016
‘There was no normal in Antarctica.’
Laura Alvarado is an environmental scientist working in Antarctica. She is sent to an outpost on a remote Antarctic island to report on an abandoned Norwegian whaling station, as part of an environmental impact assessment. But nothing is as it seems in this place. From the beginning,
Laura finds she is treated as an outsider. And when she travels to the whaling station, the wildlife behaves strangely. There are signs of recent human interference around the whaling station, yet no one is supposed to have been there. What is going on?
Laura and a colleague become separated while on a diving expedition. Laura enters an ice cave, and is sure that she sees a boy, crying for help. Reunited with her colleague, they can find no sign of any other human. But Laura doesn’t give up easily.
‘Someone’s tampered with my property. In a zone where no one’s meant to be, in a place where I’m not allowed.’
Laura’s search for information takes her from Antarctica to Nantucket, and then to Europe. The abandoned whaling station has its own history. Finding out about that history will enable Laura to face some issues of her own as well as to find out just what is going on.
I enjoyed this novel, as I enjoyed Ms Turner’s first novel. Her descriptions of Antarctica and of the abandoned whaling station had me hooked early. The history of the whaling station kept me reading. Like Laura, I was keen to find answers. But, and without introducing spoilers, there were a couple of aspects of the story that didn’t really work well for me. By this stage, though, the story had so much momentum that I couldn’t have put it down. I love Ms Turner’s writing, the way in which she creates the atmosphere, the space in which to tell a story.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Laura Alvarado is an environmental scientist working in Antarctica. She is sent to an outpost on a remote Antarctic island to report on an abandoned Norwegian whaling station, as part of an environmental impact assessment. But nothing is as it seems in this place. From the beginning,
Laura finds she is treated as an outsider. And when she travels to the whaling station, the wildlife behaves strangely. There are signs of recent human interference around the whaling station, yet no one is supposed to have been there. What is going on?
Laura and a colleague become separated while on a diving expedition. Laura enters an ice cave, and is sure that she sees a boy, crying for help. Reunited with her colleague, they can find no sign of any other human. But Laura doesn’t give up easily.
‘Someone’s tampered with my property. In a zone where no one’s meant to be, in a place where I’m not allowed.’
Laura’s search for information takes her from Antarctica to Nantucket, and then to Europe. The abandoned whaling station has its own history. Finding out about that history will enable Laura to face some issues of her own as well as to find out just what is going on.
I enjoyed this novel, as I enjoyed Ms Turner’s first novel. Her descriptions of Antarctica and of the abandoned whaling station had me hooked early. The history of the whaling station kept me reading. Like Laura, I was keen to find answers. But, and without introducing spoilers, there were a couple of aspects of the story that didn’t really work well for me. By this stage, though, the story had so much momentum that I couldn’t have put it down. I love Ms Turner’s writing, the way in which she creates the atmosphere, the space in which to tell a story.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 29, 2016
Wow, what a read. I vacillated between holding my breath and glancing at the words through webbed fingers … you could cut the tension with a knife.
The characters were so-well drawn that I felt I knew them, and the eerie cold Antarctic setting was both intriguing and chilling, literally.
I was also delighted that the author didn’t do the cliché scary stuff – characters didn’t take stupid risks to heighten the drama; it was realistic and as a result, powerful.
I particularly loved one paragraph that really resonated with me, and in context, spoke of the tenuous link between life and death, purity and destruction for both humans and nature – Migration. A shifting world. The sea of humanity seeking new homes. We were lucky to be here.
What a treat to read. Lovers of suspense, mystery and literature will be well catered for with this book.
The characters were so-well drawn that I felt I knew them, and the eerie cold Antarctic setting was both intriguing and chilling, literally.
I was also delighted that the author didn’t do the cliché scary stuff – characters didn’t take stupid risks to heighten the drama; it was realistic and as a result, powerful.
I particularly loved one paragraph that really resonated with me, and in context, spoke of the tenuous link between life and death, purity and destruction for both humans and nature – Migration. A shifting world. The sea of humanity seeking new homes. We were lucky to be here.
What a treat to read. Lovers of suspense, mystery and literature will be well catered for with this book.
March 7, 2016
4 STARS
Beautiful, tense, haunting and thrilling. I was helpless to put this down and can’t believe this is Turner’s second novel. She managed to capture the loneliness and the bliss of working on the ice while causing my heart beat out of my chest and my mind to constantly question who is the hero and who is the villain.
It's impossible not to appreciate Turner's love for the Antarctic wildlife and their vulnerability to human interference and of course brutality. The history of whaling was both heart-rending and humbling. I can't wait to see what Turner writes next.
Beautiful, tense, haunting and thrilling. I was helpless to put this down and can’t believe this is Turner’s second novel. She managed to capture the loneliness and the bliss of working on the ice while causing my heart beat out of my chest and my mind to constantly question who is the hero and who is the villain.
It's impossible not to appreciate Turner's love for the Antarctic wildlife and their vulnerability to human interference and of course brutality. The history of whaling was both heart-rending and humbling. I can't wait to see what Turner writes next.
July 26, 2016
Ann Turner’s Out of the Ice uses the point of view of environmentalist Laura Alvarado to reveal both the wonder and the threats within this amazing landscape: Newtown Review of Books
April 3, 2021
3.5 stars. An eerie thriller set in Antarctica. Only that drove me into the story and I was very intrigued by it. It was a decent thriller but wasn't as nail bitingly exciting I had hoped but it was a good book to relax with in the end of the day
April 25, 2016
This book grabbed me right from the first page. I think it was the Antarctic setting that really got me invested. My previous visual of Antarctica was a bleak, frozen landscape with only sparse, functional buildings. I had never thought of it in terms of actual settlements with real houses and whole communities of people living and working together in one of the furtherest outposts on earth. For the first time ever I could actually understand why people might choose to visit Antarctica or even to work there for a time.
Laura is an environmental scientist who has spent many seasons in the Antarctic wilderness. Chosen to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment on the abandoned and protected Fredelighavn Whaling Station, she looks forward to the task despite getting bad vibes from almost everyone she encounters at Alliance Station, the British outpost settlement she must work from. Her first visit to Fredelighavn does little to dispel her paranoia. Despite it being classed as an environmentally sensitive "exclusion" area there is clear evidence that people have been then much more recently than she has been told. The odd behaviour of the penguins at the nearby colony confirms her suspicions that they have recently been exposed to human interraction. Yet upon making further enquiries Laura is stonewalled and told she is imagining things.
Determined to not only complete the job she has been assigned, but also to get to the bottom of the bigger conspiracy that is happening at Fedelighavn, Laura must learn to choose her friends carefully. The male dominated Alliance Station starts feeling menacing and Laura's sense of isolation and foreboding make her start questioning every element of what she is trying to do. A cave dive almost sends her over the edge when she witnesses something so seemingly impossible yet so very real. Even Kate starts to question her sanity at this point but Laura knows she will not be able to forget what she saw.
Out of the Ice is a cracker of a read. Ann Turner captures Antartica spectacularly, placing the reader right in the middle of this icy continent. For me the setting alone was captivating enough - so when the suspense and mystery elements were added, I literally couldn't put the book down. I'm not sure how much of the book was based on fact, but I had no idea so many people lived down there in the summer seasons in a real community, complete with a bakery and a cinema. She also manages to tie in the sad tale of whale hunting, a less palatable yet very important historical fact. As I mentioned before I found this whole set-up to be fascinating.
I loved the original setting, the suspense and the female heroine in Out Of The Ice. The actual mystery was possibly a tad far-fetched but I was so otherwise invested in the story that it did not really impact my overall enjoyment of this book. Overall I found this to be an utterly captivating book and much more suspenseful than Ann's first novel.
Laura is an environmental scientist who has spent many seasons in the Antarctic wilderness. Chosen to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment on the abandoned and protected Fredelighavn Whaling Station, she looks forward to the task despite getting bad vibes from almost everyone she encounters at Alliance Station, the British outpost settlement she must work from. Her first visit to Fredelighavn does little to dispel her paranoia. Despite it being classed as an environmentally sensitive "exclusion" area there is clear evidence that people have been then much more recently than she has been told. The odd behaviour of the penguins at the nearby colony confirms her suspicions that they have recently been exposed to human interraction. Yet upon making further enquiries Laura is stonewalled and told she is imagining things.
Determined to not only complete the job she has been assigned, but also to get to the bottom of the bigger conspiracy that is happening at Fedelighavn, Laura must learn to choose her friends carefully. The male dominated Alliance Station starts feeling menacing and Laura's sense of isolation and foreboding make her start questioning every element of what she is trying to do. A cave dive almost sends her over the edge when she witnesses something so seemingly impossible yet so very real. Even Kate starts to question her sanity at this point but Laura knows she will not be able to forget what she saw.
Out of the Ice is a cracker of a read. Ann Turner captures Antartica spectacularly, placing the reader right in the middle of this icy continent. For me the setting alone was captivating enough - so when the suspense and mystery elements were added, I literally couldn't put the book down. I'm not sure how much of the book was based on fact, but I had no idea so many people lived down there in the summer seasons in a real community, complete with a bakery and a cinema. She also manages to tie in the sad tale of whale hunting, a less palatable yet very important historical fact. As I mentioned before I found this whole set-up to be fascinating.
I loved the original setting, the suspense and the female heroine in Out Of The Ice. The actual mystery was possibly a tad far-fetched but I was so otherwise invested in the story that it did not really impact my overall enjoyment of this book. Overall I found this to be an utterly captivating book and much more suspenseful than Ann's first novel.
March 11, 2016
www.thereadersdomain.weebly.com
Facebook: The Reader's Domain
Put simply, I loved this book! Turner has clearly done her homework when it comes to researching her subject matter. From the detailed explanations of the various penguin colonies to the various species of the whales featured in this book. The back drop of Antartica made this a very interesting, out of the ordinary place for this thriller.
From page one I was enthralled with the creep factor that Turner managed to weave through the storyline. The main character, Laura Alvarado has been sent to a base camp in Antartica to complete a study/research/report on the viability of opening up Fredelighavn, an old whaling station that has been an exclusion zone for many years to protect the unique wildlife native to this area, as a tourist destination. Complete with housing, a cinema, a bakery and many other service buildings that a whole community would require, on the surface, everything appears to be deserted and some of the houses left as if the residents had no warning before having to leave many years previously.
Laura is ostracised by the mostly male population at base camp and questions her safety a number of times. Turner plays this card well. The isolation women can feel in a male dominated environment, Turner ticked all the boxes. In fact, I felt physically ill when I was reading the first few chapters, where Laura begins her stay at base camp and the intimidation she was exposed to.
The research that Turner would have had to do to make this story so believable I would imagine to be quite extensive. As I don't know a great deal about Antartica, I found this really interesting.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this novel that will keep the reader engaged right to the end. I did feel that as the novel was coming to an end Turner was tying up all the loose ends a bit too neatly for my liking. I won't reveal any spoilers, but it kind of had the american neat ending that often annoys me about american novels and movies. But, I still enjoyed this novel immensely and feel it is still worth 5 stars.
Well worth the read. Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Facebook: The Reader's Domain
Put simply, I loved this book! Turner has clearly done her homework when it comes to researching her subject matter. From the detailed explanations of the various penguin colonies to the various species of the whales featured in this book. The back drop of Antartica made this a very interesting, out of the ordinary place for this thriller.
From page one I was enthralled with the creep factor that Turner managed to weave through the storyline. The main character, Laura Alvarado has been sent to a base camp in Antartica to complete a study/research/report on the viability of opening up Fredelighavn, an old whaling station that has been an exclusion zone for many years to protect the unique wildlife native to this area, as a tourist destination. Complete with housing, a cinema, a bakery and many other service buildings that a whole community would require, on the surface, everything appears to be deserted and some of the houses left as if the residents had no warning before having to leave many years previously.
Laura is ostracised by the mostly male population at base camp and questions her safety a number of times. Turner plays this card well. The isolation women can feel in a male dominated environment, Turner ticked all the boxes. In fact, I felt physically ill when I was reading the first few chapters, where Laura begins her stay at base camp and the intimidation she was exposed to.
The research that Turner would have had to do to make this story so believable I would imagine to be quite extensive. As I don't know a great deal about Antartica, I found this really interesting.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this novel that will keep the reader engaged right to the end. I did feel that as the novel was coming to an end Turner was tying up all the loose ends a bit too neatly for my liking. I won't reveal any spoilers, but it kind of had the american neat ending that often annoys me about american novels and movies. But, I still enjoyed this novel immensely and feel it is still worth 5 stars.
Well worth the read. Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.
May 4, 2016
If Antarctica appeals to you and you enjoy thrilling crime novels, then don’t miss this killer read: Out of the Ice by Australian author and screenwriter, Ann Turner.
Turner has written an edge-of –your-seat-thriller set in the eerie and frozen landscape of Antarctica.
Australian scientist Laura Alvarado is sent to a remote Antarctic island to make an environmental assessment of Fredelighavn; an old Norwegian whaling station subject to an Exclusion Order and abandoned since 1957. When the wildlife acts strangely and Laura doesn’t get answers from scientists at the British base, Laura’s suspicions are raised. But when Laura starts hallucinating she starts to suspect that maybe she’s been too long on the ice. Is Laura going ‘toasty’? Can readers trust Laura’s version of events?
Turner’s descriptions of the icy wilderness and the isolated whaling village of Fredelighavn are evocative and atmospheric. Turner gives readers insights into the stark and pristine environment of Antarctica and its wildlife, while at the same time, masterfully keeping a high level of tension throughout the novel.
There were several plot twists throughout the novel and like Laura, it was difficult to know who to trust. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the icy landscape, the whales, penguins and seals, and the mysterious and enticing appeal of Antarctica. When the plot took a new direction away from Antarctica, I enjoyed the story less but Turner neatly tied up all loose ends.
Out of the Ice was action-packed and highly recommended for lovers of crime fiction and mystery. The novel will definitely impart a sense of appreciation for the wildlife and icy landscape of Antarctica to readers. It was an eerie and icy read and difficult to put down.
Out of the Ice is due for release in June 2016.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia for the opportunity to review this book.
Turner has written an edge-of –your-seat-thriller set in the eerie and frozen landscape of Antarctica.
Australian scientist Laura Alvarado is sent to a remote Antarctic island to make an environmental assessment of Fredelighavn; an old Norwegian whaling station subject to an Exclusion Order and abandoned since 1957. When the wildlife acts strangely and Laura doesn’t get answers from scientists at the British base, Laura’s suspicions are raised. But when Laura starts hallucinating she starts to suspect that maybe she’s been too long on the ice. Is Laura going ‘toasty’? Can readers trust Laura’s version of events?
Turner’s descriptions of the icy wilderness and the isolated whaling village of Fredelighavn are evocative and atmospheric. Turner gives readers insights into the stark and pristine environment of Antarctica and its wildlife, while at the same time, masterfully keeping a high level of tension throughout the novel.
There were several plot twists throughout the novel and like Laura, it was difficult to know who to trust. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the icy landscape, the whales, penguins and seals, and the mysterious and enticing appeal of Antarctica. When the plot took a new direction away from Antarctica, I enjoyed the story less but Turner neatly tied up all loose ends.
Out of the Ice was action-packed and highly recommended for lovers of crime fiction and mystery. The novel will definitely impart a sense of appreciation for the wildlife and icy landscape of Antarctica to readers. It was an eerie and icy read and difficult to put down.
Out of the Ice is due for release in June 2016.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia for the opportunity to review this book.
June 29, 2016
3.5 *
A boy trapped in ice…
a town preserved in time…
Out of the Ice by Anne Turner is absolutely chilling and very atmospheric!
The village preserved in time is an inspired setting. The location, the creepy scientists and Laura’s mental state after a year in Antarctica make for a compelling mystery. The atmosphere is (literally) chilling.
Laura is an interesting character with plenty of family issues and a trauma that makes you question what she believes. The first two chapters set this up, unnecessarily, I felt, as everything of importance in those chapters is revealed as the story progresses. This is a book with a lot of detail—about the work, the setting, Laura’s past—which did at times detract from the pace and diminish the power of the setting and the question around Laura’s mental state. For all that, Out of the Ice is an utterly compelling tale.
It was great to learn about Antarctica, the fragile environment and the danger to the animal colonies. Turner can really paint a visual. I could smell the sealions and hear the penguins. The boy behind the ice is another spooky image that haunted my dreams.
If you like to be educated as much as intrigued Out of the Ice is definitely the book for you.
Recommended
*My copy courtesy of Simon and Schuster Australia*
A boy trapped in ice…
a town preserved in time…
Out of the Ice by Anne Turner is absolutely chilling and very atmospheric!
The village preserved in time is an inspired setting. The location, the creepy scientists and Laura’s mental state after a year in Antarctica make for a compelling mystery. The atmosphere is (literally) chilling.
Laura is an interesting character with plenty of family issues and a trauma that makes you question what she believes. The first two chapters set this up, unnecessarily, I felt, as everything of importance in those chapters is revealed as the story progresses. This is a book with a lot of detail—about the work, the setting, Laura’s past—which did at times detract from the pace and diminish the power of the setting and the question around Laura’s mental state. For all that, Out of the Ice is an utterly compelling tale.
It was great to learn about Antarctica, the fragile environment and the danger to the animal colonies. Turner can really paint a visual. I could smell the sealions and hear the penguins. The boy behind the ice is another spooky image that haunted my dreams.
If you like to be educated as much as intrigued Out of the Ice is definitely the book for you.
Recommended
*My copy courtesy of Simon and Schuster Australia*
March 11, 2017
I was caught up in this one from the very beginning. I loved that it was so fast-paced, but with great descriptions of Antarctica, the penguins, the seals, the blizzards, the ice - I almost felt like I was there! I haven’t read many books set in Antarctica, but it does interest me, although not enough to go there myself, so I will have to make do with reading about it! And it was a clever idea for a story - as I read page after page, I was questioning who was trustworthy and what was really happening at Fredelighavn and at Alliance station.
April 15, 2017
What a waste of good material, I read every book I come across about polar adventures but this was sooo disappointing. Unbelievable, ridiculous situations and premises. I'd give my copy to the library but I don't want other people to be lured into reading it!
June 12, 2025
Setting: Antarctica/Boston, USA/Venice; modern day.
Environmental scientist Laura Alvarado is sent to South Safety Island in Antarctica to report on the condition of an abandoned whaling station and to consider whether it is suitable to be opened up as a tourist destination, although currently everyone is excluded from there except with special permission due to the perceived need to protect the several species of wildlife which live and breed near there. But, on arrival at the apparently abandoned township, it is clear to Laura that she is not alone - she feels that she is being watched and catches glimpses of what seem to be men in the distance on several occasions. The Commander of the base she is working from is very resentful of her and her mission - for reasons which later become clear.
Shocking revelations come to the fore as Laura pursues her investigation against a backdrop of a harsh yet beautiful environment and some unusually aggressive wildlife species. Laura's search for the truth takes her to Boston and Nantucket Island before an urgent summons sends her racing to Venice to rendezvous with her boss, Georgia, who it seems has gone missing....
Having recently read the author's debut novel The Lost Swimmer , I was quite keen to read this and found it quite different but equally enjoyable. Great descriptions of the Antarctic landscape and its wildlife added to the atmosphere of the story, where Laura is uncertain who she can trust and so tends to suspect everyone! The storyline that eventually unfolds is disturbing and unpredictable and made for a very entertaining read - 8.5/10.
Environmental scientist Laura Alvarado is sent to South Safety Island in Antarctica to report on the condition of an abandoned whaling station and to consider whether it is suitable to be opened up as a tourist destination, although currently everyone is excluded from there except with special permission due to the perceived need to protect the several species of wildlife which live and breed near there. But, on arrival at the apparently abandoned township, it is clear to Laura that she is not alone - she feels that she is being watched and catches glimpses of what seem to be men in the distance on several occasions. The Commander of the base she is working from is very resentful of her and her mission - for reasons which later become clear.
Shocking revelations come to the fore as Laura pursues her investigation against a backdrop of a harsh yet beautiful environment and some unusually aggressive wildlife species. Laura's search for the truth takes her to Boston and Nantucket Island before an urgent summons sends her racing to Venice to rendezvous with her boss, Georgia, who it seems has gone missing....
Having recently read the author's debut novel The Lost Swimmer , I was quite keen to read this and found it quite different but equally enjoyable. Great descriptions of the Antarctic landscape and its wildlife added to the atmosphere of the story, where Laura is uncertain who she can trust and so tends to suspect everyone! The storyline that eventually unfolds is disturbing and unpredictable and made for a very entertaining read - 8.5/10.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews