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The Snow Tiger
Action thriller by the classic adventure writer set in New Zealand.
Fifty-four people died in the avalanche that ripped apart a small New Zealand mining town. But the enquiry which follows unleashes more destructive power than the snowfall. As the survivors tell their stories, they reveal a community so divided that all warnings of danger went unheeded. At the centre of the storm is Ian Ballard, whose life depends upon being able to clear his name…
Fifty-four people died in the avalanche that ripped apart a small New Zealand mining town. But the enquiry which follows unleashes more destructive power than the snowfall. As the survivors tell their stories, they reveal a community so divided that all warnings of danger went unheeded. At the centre of the storm is Ian Ballard, whose life depends upon being able to clear his name…
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1975
28 people are currently reading
313 people want to read
About the author
Desmond Bagley
114 books165 followersDesmond Bagley was a British journalist and novelist principally known for a series of best-selling thrillers. Along with fellow British writers such as Hammond Innes and Alistair MacLean, Bagley established the basic conventions of the genre: a tough, resourceful, but essentially ordinary hero pitted against villains determined to sow destruction and chaos in order to advance their agenda.
Bagley was born at Kendal, Cumbria (then Westmorland), England, the son of John and Hannah Bagley. His family moved to the resort town of Blackpool in the summer of 1935, when Bagley was twelve. Leaving school not long after the relocation, Bagley worked as a printer's assistant and factory worker, and during World War II he worked in the aircraft industry. Bagley suffered from a speech impediment (stuttering) all of his life, which initially exempted him from military conscription.
He left England in 1947 for Africa and worked his way overland, crossing the Sahara Desert and briefly settling in Kampala, Uganda, where he contracted malaria. By 1951, he had settled in South Africa, working in the gold mining industry and asbestos industry in Durban, Natal, before becoming a freelance writer for local newspapers and magazines.
His first published short story appeared in the English magazine Argosy in 1957, and his first novel, The Golden Keel in 1962. In the interval, he was a film critic for Rand Daily Mail in Johannesburg from 1958–1962. Also during this period, he met local bookstore owner Joan Margaret Brown and they were married in 1960.
The success of The Golden Keel led Bagley to turn full time to novel writing by the mid-1960s. He published a total of sixteen thrillers, all craftsmanlike and nearly all best-sellers. Typical of British thriller writers of the era, he rarely used recurring characters whose adventures unfolded over multiple books. Max Stafford, the security consultant featured in Flyaway and Windfall, is a notable exception. Also typically, his work has received little attention from filmmakers, yielding only a few, unremarkable adaptations. Exceptions were The Freedom Trap (1971), released in 1973 as The Mackintosh Man by Warner Brothers, starring Paul Newman and Dominique Sanda; and Running Blind which was adapted for television by the BBC in 1979.
Bagley and his wife left South Africa for Italy in 1960, and then England in 1965. They settled in Totnes, Devon from 1965–1976, then lived in Guernsey in the Channel Islands from 1976-1983.
Bagley also published short stories. When not traveling to research the exotic backgrounds for his novels, Bagley spent his time sailing and motor-boating. He loved classical music and films, military history, and played war games.
Desmond Bagley died of complications resulting from a stroke at a hospital in Southampton. He was fifty-nine. His last two novels Night of Error and Juggernaut were published posthumously after completion by his wife. His works have been translated into over 20 languages.
Bagley was born at Kendal, Cumbria (then Westmorland), England, the son of John and Hannah Bagley. His family moved to the resort town of Blackpool in the summer of 1935, when Bagley was twelve. Leaving school not long after the relocation, Bagley worked as a printer's assistant and factory worker, and during World War II he worked in the aircraft industry. Bagley suffered from a speech impediment (stuttering) all of his life, which initially exempted him from military conscription.
He left England in 1947 for Africa and worked his way overland, crossing the Sahara Desert and briefly settling in Kampala, Uganda, where he contracted malaria. By 1951, he had settled in South Africa, working in the gold mining industry and asbestos industry in Durban, Natal, before becoming a freelance writer for local newspapers and magazines.
His first published short story appeared in the English magazine Argosy in 1957, and his first novel, The Golden Keel in 1962. In the interval, he was a film critic for Rand Daily Mail in Johannesburg from 1958–1962. Also during this period, he met local bookstore owner Joan Margaret Brown and they were married in 1960.
The success of The Golden Keel led Bagley to turn full time to novel writing by the mid-1960s. He published a total of sixteen thrillers, all craftsmanlike and nearly all best-sellers. Typical of British thriller writers of the era, he rarely used recurring characters whose adventures unfolded over multiple books. Max Stafford, the security consultant featured in Flyaway and Windfall, is a notable exception. Also typically, his work has received little attention from filmmakers, yielding only a few, unremarkable adaptations. Exceptions were The Freedom Trap (1971), released in 1973 as The Mackintosh Man by Warner Brothers, starring Paul Newman and Dominique Sanda; and Running Blind which was adapted for television by the BBC in 1979.
Bagley and his wife left South Africa for Italy in 1960, and then England in 1965. They settled in Totnes, Devon from 1965–1976, then lived in Guernsey in the Channel Islands from 1976-1983.
Bagley also published short stories. When not traveling to research the exotic backgrounds for his novels, Bagley spent his time sailing and motor-boating. He loved classical music and films, military history, and played war games.
Desmond Bagley died of complications resulting from a stroke at a hospital in Southampton. He was fifty-nine. His last two novels Night of Error and Juggernaut were published posthumously after completion by his wife. His works have been translated into over 20 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
August 7, 2023
Intrigue and avalanches, a bop
January 1, 2017
As a child/teenager I absolutely loved the ”simple” suspense novels by Desmond Bagley & Alistair MacLean, eating up every word. Triggered by an audio adaption of Landslide I fell upon, I decided to revisit Desmond Bagley to see if the Novels could withstand the wear of more than 35 years.
The first (pleasant) surprise was that even though I thought I had read all the books, not all were translated to Danish at that time, so I could start out with a couple of new experiences.
The Golden Keel (1963) , High Citadel (1965) , Wyatt's Hurricane (1966)
The first 3 books, all new to me, were pleasant surprises and it was plain to see why Bagley so quickly became a best-seller novelist, the stories are well written with a fast pace and a sense of detail which makes them readable even today.
Landslide (1967)
Landslide was a revisit and one of my favorites both back then and now, the story is catching and has a definite film manuscript feeling about it,
The Vivero Letter (1968)
Another “new” novel, it was not as strong as the first 4 but still enjoyable.
The Spoilers (1969)
Another new novel and a definitely low point, the story is weak and utterly unbelievable.
Running Blind (1970)
Another reread and another favorite, maybe his best novel, the story is strong, the setting in Iceland is brilliant and characters, simple as they are, are believable.
The Freedom Trap (1971)
Another new novel very loosely connected to "running blind", this time mostly placed in Ireland, slightly weaker than it's predecessor but still a enjoyable read.
The Tightrope Men (1973)
Another reread, Bagley's take on the Cold War political thriller, which Le Carre made famous in those years, The political intrigues falls somewhat flat for me, but the surrounding action story is Bagley at his best
The Snow Tiger (1975)
I read this in 2012 and decided not to reread it this time around. The story is well written and as something new constructed around a retrospektiv framework so the first half of the book retells events already happened whereas the story kicks off from there, Bagleys first attempt to play with the narrative form and well carried out. definitely in top 3 bagley.
, The Enemy (1977)
Flyaway (1978), Bahama Crisis (1980), Windfall (1982), Night Of Error (1984), Juggernaut (1985)
The first (pleasant) surprise was that even though I thought I had read all the books, not all were translated to Danish at that time, so I could start out with a couple of new experiences.
The Golden Keel (1963) , High Citadel (1965) , Wyatt's Hurricane (1966)
The first 3 books, all new to me, were pleasant surprises and it was plain to see why Bagley so quickly became a best-seller novelist, the stories are well written with a fast pace and a sense of detail which makes them readable even today.
Landslide (1967)
Landslide was a revisit and one of my favorites both back then and now, the story is catching and has a definite film manuscript feeling about it,
The Vivero Letter (1968)
Another “new” novel, it was not as strong as the first 4 but still enjoyable.
The Spoilers (1969)
Another new novel and a definitely low point, the story is weak and utterly unbelievable.
Running Blind (1970)
Another reread and another favorite, maybe his best novel, the story is strong, the setting in Iceland is brilliant and characters, simple as they are, are believable.
The Freedom Trap (1971)
Another new novel very loosely connected to "running blind", this time mostly placed in Ireland, slightly weaker than it's predecessor but still a enjoyable read.
The Tightrope Men (1973)
Another reread, Bagley's take on the Cold War political thriller, which Le Carre made famous in those years, The political intrigues falls somewhat flat for me, but the surrounding action story is Bagley at his best
The Snow Tiger (1975)
I read this in 2012 and decided not to reread it this time around. The story is well written and as something new constructed around a retrospektiv framework so the first half of the book retells events already happened whereas the story kicks off from there, Bagleys first attempt to play with the narrative form and well carried out. definitely in top 3 bagley.
, The Enemy (1977)
Flyaway (1978), Bahama Crisis (1980), Windfall (1982), Night Of Error (1984), Juggernaut (1985)
June 9, 2020
Something of a companion piece to ‘Landslide’, replete with a hefty slice of small town melodrama, but structured as a courtroom drama. Given that the courtroom drama is perhaps the dullest of all genres - it is by nature entirely static - Bagley makes the wise decision to utilise flashbacks to heighten pace and tension, both of which build nicely, culminating in a tour de force 40-pace chapter describing an avalanche, its destructive toll, and the subsequent rescue operation.
January 6, 2019
I have been fortunate to find quite a few novels set in the South of New Zealand in the recent past, and reading one written by Desmond Bagley, one of my favourite authors, has been the perfect start to my reading this year.
This is the story of a snow avalanche that killed more than fifty people in a gold mining town called Hukahoronui in South New Zealand, narrated primarily through the proceedings of the enquiry commission into the incident. Though it is a simple story, the execution by Bagley, the master adventure writer, is gripping. The narration alternates between the present and past seamlessly as the chairman of the enquiry commission goes about the probe chronologically. The story moves at a fast clip with vivid descriptions of the avalanche and the destruction it wreaks. The major characters are quite nicely worked out and the explanation on the technicalities of snow and avalanche is informative.
The Snow Tiger, in spite of seeming a bit too simple, is an engaging read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is the story of a snow avalanche that killed more than fifty people in a gold mining town called Hukahoronui in South New Zealand, narrated primarily through the proceedings of the enquiry commission into the incident. Though it is a simple story, the execution by Bagley, the master adventure writer, is gripping. The narration alternates between the present and past seamlessly as the chairman of the enquiry commission goes about the probe chronologically. The story moves at a fast clip with vivid descriptions of the avalanche and the destruction it wreaks. The major characters are quite nicely worked out and the explanation on the technicalities of snow and avalanche is informative.
The Snow Tiger, in spite of seeming a bit too simple, is an engaging read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
June 25, 2025
Supes enthralling plot, I love the mystery feel of it. The switching between past and present was also very fun, though the legal jargon was a bit of a pain to acclimatize to in the beginning. Only wish it was longer! The conclusion felt halfway finished and extremely compacted. All the sub plots, along with the major plot, were resolved in the last 2 pages which was pretty disappointing. Honestly I think this kind of book would do really well with a prequel to flesh out the background and supporting characters’ connections more. Also in general it was a bit dizzying trying to figure out when the story is taking place. But overall, much fun!
December 31, 2023
A town in New Zealand, a multi million dollar mine and an avalanche. These are the makings of one suspenseful story. My first read by Desmond Bagley, I look forward to more from this author.
January 10, 2017
One of the most memorable books I have ever read. Set in my own country of New Zealand, and city of Christchurch - every aspect of which is correct, a thoroughly riveting read. Learned a thing or two aswell ! Highly recommend this as a first to read of Bagleys if you want to try this author for the first time.
June 25, 2025
“It wasn’t the avalanche that terrified me—it was the silence just before, when the whole mountain held its breath.”
The Snow Tiger is one of Bagley’s most unique thrillers—a gripping disaster novel dressed in the sharp suit of a mystery. Set in the fictional New Zealand alpine town of Huka, it revolves around an avalanche… or was it sabotage? Bagley blends forensic geology, small-town politics, and a ticking-time-bomb atmosphere to deliver a white-knuckle narrative with real emotional stakes.
What makes this one special is the structure: it starts after the disaster, with a formal inquiry, and slowly unravels the timeline through flashbacks and testimony. It’s as much about human pride, denial, and blame as it is about snow and science. Bagley’s cold, methodical tension-building is at its peak here—icy, clinical, devastating.
I read The Snow Tiger after devouring Landslide, as part of my 2008 Kolkata Book Fair treasure hunt. This one, though, felt personal. I remember curling up under a quilt during a December power cut, the air outside thick with fog. The book chilled me from the inside out—and not just because of the snow. Bagley made the mountain feel alive. And angry.
The Snow Tiger is one of Bagley’s most unique thrillers—a gripping disaster novel dressed in the sharp suit of a mystery. Set in the fictional New Zealand alpine town of Huka, it revolves around an avalanche… or was it sabotage? Bagley blends forensic geology, small-town politics, and a ticking-time-bomb atmosphere to deliver a white-knuckle narrative with real emotional stakes.
What makes this one special is the structure: it starts after the disaster, with a formal inquiry, and slowly unravels the timeline through flashbacks and testimony. It’s as much about human pride, denial, and blame as it is about snow and science. Bagley’s cold, methodical tension-building is at its peak here—icy, clinical, devastating.
I read The Snow Tiger after devouring Landslide, as part of my 2008 Kolkata Book Fair treasure hunt. This one, though, felt personal. I remember curling up under a quilt during a December power cut, the air outside thick with fog. The book chilled me from the inside out—and not just because of the snow. Bagley made the mountain feel alive. And angry.
January 7, 2024
I wasn't engrossed until about halfway when the avalanche took over the story. I think this is the first book I have read that was set in New Zealand. So, the first part I took my time trying to get situated with the setting and researched a little about the south island. I don't think most readers would need that to happen because the story moves right along, but I think it added to my reading experience. I thought the author's writing style was a good match for my preferences, except I probably like a deeper character development, so I deducted a star. Still a great book!
December 3, 2025
i am so glad i got to finish this years 20 book challenge on a good one! Desmond Bagley is really my discovery of the year! read 3 books by him and this is the best i read of the 3. it has everything i would want in a thriller: suspense, build up, plot twists, a difficult love story, great characters and a page turner! Bagley just discribes everything like a pro and you really start to understand the fear of an avalanche. Very minor negative point is that i could not read the backside without getting spoilers until like 2/3th of the book.
November 30, 2017
For mange år siden læste jeg flere bøger af Desmond Bagley. Men ærlig talt, det er mange år siden og jeg har ikke længere den store erindring om dem. Jeg må derfor tilstå at jeg åbnede bogen uden de store forventninger. Det viste sig at være en velskrevet bog, der trods mere end 40 år på bagen stadig er fængende og velskrevet. Bogen handler om en landsby der drukner i en lavine. En efterfølgende udredning skal klarlægge hvad der skete og om nogen kan holdes ansvarlig.
January 14, 2023
Desmond Bagley writes a very good story and he obviously did his research.
This is a good story , well written and flows well. A little bit of a slow start and for me personally I found the “inquiry” scenes a bit slow going. The actual events of the avalanche were much better.
It’s not his best book , but it’s fine. If it’s your first of his books please don’t jusge him by it . Some of his others are serious page turners .
This is a good story , well written and flows well. A little bit of a slow start and for me personally I found the “inquiry” scenes a bit slow going. The actual events of the avalanche were much better.
It’s not his best book , but it’s fine. If it’s your first of his books please don’t jusge him by it . Some of his others are serious page turners .
March 12, 2023
By far for me the best book that Desmond Bagley wrote due is to its unique plot plan.
The story is about the an avalanche in New Zealand. It is told via the enquiry into how the avalanche occurred as well as poignant events before and after it.
The book may have been written over 40 years ago but it reads as if it was only written yesterday. That in itself must reflect on Desmond Bagley's ability as a writer.
The story is about the an avalanche in New Zealand. It is told via the enquiry into how the avalanche occurred as well as poignant events before and after it.
The book may have been written over 40 years ago but it reads as if it was only written yesterday. That in itself must reflect on Desmond Bagley's ability as a writer.
May 18, 2019
A great example of the classic Adventure-Thriller genre
Desmond Bagley is a Grand-Master of the Adventure-Thriller Genre. As such, he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Alistair MacLean, Duncan Kyle, Helen MacInnis, and Hammond Innis. In a review of one of Bagley’s books, MacLean wrote, “He writes better than I do.” A GREAT read!
Desmond Bagley is a Grand-Master of the Adventure-Thriller Genre. As such, he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Alistair MacLean, Duncan Kyle, Helen MacInnis, and Hammond Innis. In a review of one of Bagley’s books, MacLean wrote, “He writes better than I do.” A GREAT read!
April 6, 2023
Builds and builds to one hell of a climax. There’s a sequence in here that made me think of those intricate if-then-else mass disaster sequences that open the Final Destination movies and had me wincing in my seat but more than that, the interlay between courtroom and disaster scenes ratchets the tension at every opportunity - this is more than a simple retelling. One of Bagley’s best, I think.
June 16, 2024
An exciting adventure in the New Zealand Southern Alps. I last read the book whilst living in New Zealand and now reading again 16 years later I can still imagine the high mountains, deep valleys and isolated settlements that are the backdrop to this story. Despite the age of the book, it’s still hard to put down and flows well.
October 3, 2025
I remember reading some of Desmond Bagley as a teenager, this came up as an audio deal so I took a chance on it. It’s well read and a solid adventure read, though I did wonder if the author had ever had a conversation with a woman, this does not pass the Bechdel test. There’s a very 1970s disaster movie feel about the book and it’s an easy fun listen.
January 5, 2017
Fantastic thriller centering around the devastating effect of an avalanche on a small mining community and the even more devastating subsequent investigation as to the cause, revealing deadly greed and psychopathy.
December 6, 2018
Highly entertaining disaster/adventure novel set in New Zealand. I am a big fan of this author and he did a great job of mixing action with a touch of romance and court room drama. Listened to the audio version which was ably read by Paul Tyreman.
January 16, 2022
A pretty decent thriller from the early 1970s, set around an avalanche in a New Zealand mining town, six weeks after the arrival of a new Managing Director who ended his childhood there 16 years earlier.
July 23, 2025
My first Desmond Bagley and, it won't be my last. Liked the thrill and I had to keep reading into the wee hours to finish. Those who struggle with reading through descriptions of courtroom battles and debates might want to check out a different book. Learned a lot about avalanches.
October 16, 2025
Bagley Bags #1
My first Bagley book and it was a cracking yarn set around an inquiry after an avalanche in a mining town of New Zealand.
It maintained your interest all the way through, and had a very satisfying ending.
A good old fashioned read!
My first Bagley book and it was a cracking yarn set around an inquiry after an avalanche in a mining town of New Zealand.
It maintained your interest all the way through, and had a very satisfying ending.
A good old fashioned read!
October 30, 2025
What an interesting story. Part disaster plot, part corporate machinations, part trial tale. Most of the plot was quite noteworthy, and the characters were unique though predictable. It was still a pleasant read.
May 13, 2018
Not one of Bagley's better books but still readable.
June 25, 2020
A great read. Adventure and mystery in a fast moving tale.
June 30, 2020
Probably the last Bagley I actually enjoyed - and was very excited to find it in the library! Weird kid.
December 10, 2020
3 1/2 stars
March 13, 2021
An enjoyable, fast paced book.
April 1, 2021
Was one of my favourite Bagley’s. Still good 45 years later. (And the only novel I know that uses the word ‘propinquity’ :-)
July 15, 2022
Read in Norwegian. 4.5 stars. Could be the best Bagley thriller.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews