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Anders Nordvelt #1
Night Shift
"Robin Triggs does a good job setting up a climate of suspicion in Night Shift, and the book has some genuinely chilling moments." - Crime Review
Antarctica. A mining base at the edge of the world.
Anders Nordvelt, last-minute replacement as head of security, has no time to integrate himself into the crew before an act of sabotage threatens the project. He must untangle a complex web of relationships from his position as prime suspect.
Then a body is found in the ice. Systems fail as the long night falls. Now Anders must do more than find a he must find a way to survive.
Will anyone endure the night shift, or will ice and frozen corpses be all that remains?
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launching in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
Antarctica. A mining base at the edge of the world.
Anders Nordvelt, last-minute replacement as head of security, has no time to integrate himself into the crew before an act of sabotage threatens the project. He must untangle a complex web of relationships from his position as prime suspect.
Then a body is found in the ice. Systems fail as the long night falls. Now Anders must do more than find a he must find a way to survive.
Will anyone endure the night shift, or will ice and frozen corpses be all that remains?
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launching in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2018
40 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 21, 2018
When Anders is given a new job way above his pay grade, he’s grateful. Working as the only security guard overlooking a crew of a dozen miners in Antarctica for six months? Everyone assumes it’s going to be a quiet six months of kicking back and doing nothing—until the bodies start piling up, and all fingers are pointed in his direction.
I can be picky about “whodunit” thrillers like this, but I absolutely adore Antarctica as a setting, so I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis. I’m a sucker for any sort of icy, snowy tundra-esque settings in spooky reads, and sometimes you just can’t beat a good murder mystery.
→ L I K E S :
Just a few days into the night shift and we had a death on our hands.
One thing that Triggs does exceptionally well is utilizing the setting here—if you enjoy thrillers set in icy settings like I do, you’ll enjoy how heavily Triggs relies on the snow, the freezing temperatures, and the total isolation to build up the dread. You can really feel how isolated these characters are, and that gives a sense of hopelessness to the entire mystery.
The characters themselves are also pretty interesting. Usually, when a book has this many fairly prominent roles, the characters all begin to feel very one-dimensional and similar, but several (not all, truthfully) of the crew members are intriguing, complex beings with their own motives and stories, and that’s a nice touch.
→ D I S L I K E S :
Unfortunately, neither of those benefits were able to totally outweigh the general blandness of the story, or its predictability. I pegged the killer within the first two chapters or so, and while one small element of the ending did surprise me, I still felt a very anti-climactic sort of letdown by the whole thing.
Beyond that, this book just has so much unused potential! There’s a whole sci-fi element to it, yet it’s never fleshed out enough to be what I wanted. Instead, it feels very underdeveloped and as though it was only put in the story to explain the ending—without this one tiny twist in the end, honestly, the entire story could have gone without any sci-fi elements and been chalked up to a standard murder mystery in our current time period.
→ F I N A L THOUGHTS :
While Night Shift has a lot of potential, it simply missed the mark on a lot of things for me. I wanted more thrills, more development in the world-building, and a better ending, but I did enjoy the immersive setting of Antarctica and the writing itself, which is fast and fun to read.
→ RECOMMENDING TO… :
If you’re someone who doesn’t read a lot of thrillers or isn’t particularly picky about them—and you don’t care much about sci-fi plots—I would definitely recommend Night Shift to you. While I wasn’t the ideal audience for this story, I can think of plenty of people who would love it!
All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Flame Tree Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
———
Buddy read with Kal 💖
September 2, 2024
At the start of the story, there is a note requesting for the "recipient to do with the following account what is deemed appropriate". Of course, also bear in mind the cover of the book, and you know that something went very, very wrong. Now we meet the new Chief of Security, Anders Nordvel, who has arrived at Australis to replace the last Chief who left after some health issues, headaches, sleepwalking, and other such things. Nordvelt is viewed as an outsider from the very start; the crew doesn’t trust him. They also don’t think that they need him, and everyone knows that there is something not quite right with the promotion to start with.
The crew goes out to a ridge to celebrate the final sunset before the area goes into darkness for the next six months. From there, the story takes off on a suspenseful ride that is both exciting and frightening. Can't say much more, as it would give away a very exciting and suspenseful plot. We are given just enough information to understand everything about the situation that follows. The descriptions of the base and the conditions were also perfect, letting you imagine the overall environment, but also letting you fill in the blanks. The same was true with each of the characters and their descriptions.
There are some sci-fi elements and some pieces of horror that may produce some feelings of claustrophobia, but not too many. All these layers only added to the environment and will keep you guessing. I believe this is Robin Triggs first book, and if this is any indications of his talent, I hope there will be more.
The crew goes out to a ridge to celebrate the final sunset before the area goes into darkness for the next six months. From there, the story takes off on a suspenseful ride that is both exciting and frightening. Can't say much more, as it would give away a very exciting and suspenseful plot. We are given just enough information to understand everything about the situation that follows. The descriptions of the base and the conditions were also perfect, letting you imagine the overall environment, but also letting you fill in the blanks. The same was true with each of the characters and their descriptions.
There are some sci-fi elements and some pieces of horror that may produce some feelings of claustrophobia, but not too many. All these layers only added to the environment and will keep you guessing. I believe this is Robin Triggs first book, and if this is any indications of his talent, I hope there will be more.
November 9, 2018
Anders Nordvelt has been hired to work the night shift. But in Antarctica in a mining camp, the night shift is six months long. Anders will effectively be stranded at the end of the world with 12 other people. While Anders feels he isn't really qualified to be the security chief at an Antarctic station, the mining operation is well supplied and safe....so what could possibly go wrong? Turns out.....a lot.
I love reading action stories or thrillers about Antarctica. It's the ultimate spot, isn't it? Especially with darkness falling for six months. The port closed. No help for months. If something goes wrong....if things go bad....all the mining crew has to rely on is themselves. But what if one of them is a saboteur and murderer? Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Only 13 people within 1000 miles. 12...11...10....
Definitely not a place for the cowardly.
The pace and suspense of this story definitely kept my attention. There were enough twists to surprise me several times. Really I should have seen the ending coming....but I didn't. Perfect ending. Nicely done!
I enjoyed this story. I will definitely be looking for more by this author. And so far I'm quite impressed with the horror and fantasy books published by Flame Tree Press. I've enjoyed every one I've read so far.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Flame Tree Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I love reading action stories or thrillers about Antarctica. It's the ultimate spot, isn't it? Especially with darkness falling for six months. The port closed. No help for months. If something goes wrong....if things go bad....all the mining crew has to rely on is themselves. But what if one of them is a saboteur and murderer? Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Only 13 people within 1000 miles. 12...11...10....
Definitely not a place for the cowardly.
The pace and suspense of this story definitely kept my attention. There were enough twists to surprise me several times. Really I should have seen the ending coming....but I didn't. Perfect ending. Nicely done!
I enjoyed this story. I will definitely be looking for more by this author. And so far I'm quite impressed with the horror and fantasy books published by Flame Tree Press. I've enjoyed every one I've read so far.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Flame Tree Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
November 12, 2018
Robin Triggs delivers an initially-solid-but-ultimately-rage-inducing Antarctic mystery-thriller peppered with a few doses of low-key science fiction concepts, in his debut, Night Shift.
As the Australis base prepares for six months of darkness, a freshly-appointed security officer, Anders Nordvelt, arrives just in time for the crew to find themselves under attack. Obviously, it doesn't take long for Nordvelt to become the prime suspect in the baffling string of disasters befalling the Australis's researchers and miners, and Triggs keeps both Anders and readers guessing about the real culprit and his or her motivations in this little whodunnit.
The isolated Australis is positively rife with suspects, from the overbearing and sexually promiscuous base commander, right down to the janitor, Max, who keeps herself secluded from the rest of the crew and surrounded by jury-rigged robots and welded metal sculptures. Seemingly everyone has a motive, and as Triggs reveals new facets of his characters he gives readers plenty of meat to chew on as the guessing game wears on.
While the mystery aspect of Night Shift is pacey and intriguing, the science fiction aspects feel a bit tacked on, and even superfluous at times. Triggs gives us small doses of near-future tech and hints of a dystopic Company-ruled world at large, but these minor conceits are never explored deeply enough to feel wholly necessary. Even the book's climax, which ultimately hinges on the half-baked incorporation of these sci-fi elements, lacks the necessary oomph and depth of information to really deliver a powerhouse of a finale as the culprit's motivations come unraveled.
After seeing how the all pieces fell together, I was still left with a frustrating question of why? Why was any of what happened necessary? Unfortunately, Night Shift isn't able to provide a satisfying answer to resolve its own premise, and Triggs simply doesn't do enough world-building or provide us with enough information to make the culprit's motivation for the attacks feel smooth and logical. Worse still, in a brief supplemental interview with the author at book's end, Triggs compounds the lack of information in Night Shift with a promise to explore all this stuff in better detail over the course of a trilogy. As far as I'm concerned, it's a cardinal sin, as well as a rage-inducing annoyance, to knowingly fail to properly execute a narrative in book one, hinging the importance of your book's finale on concepts reserved for book two, and promise to make it up to readers at a later date. Night Shift's finish is the type of cash-grab finale that makes me hate the whole damn thing, which is a shame because I did enjoy most of it, right until it royally pissed me off for wasting so much of my precious time.
The bulk of Night Shift is a breezy and engaging enough read, right until the book's last few chapters where it quickly falls apart and devolves into a supremely frustrating experience as Triggs delivers a softball non-ending that serves only to provide fuel for additional mysteries regarding a concept that felt largely extraneous to begin with. It's a book that I mostly liked, right up until the bait-and-switch revelation that Night Shift is intended to be the first in a trilogy. Triggs gives us an interesting bit of mystery in the Antarctic, a location I absolutely love to see explored in fiction, but fails to stick the landing, delivering a finale that's cheap and flimsy, and, worse, predicated upon its expectation that readers cough up for more time and money for a sequel if they want the real story.
[Note: I received an advanced reading copy of Night Shift from its publisher, Flame Tree Press.]
As the Australis base prepares for six months of darkness, a freshly-appointed security officer, Anders Nordvelt, arrives just in time for the crew to find themselves under attack. Obviously, it doesn't take long for Nordvelt to become the prime suspect in the baffling string of disasters befalling the Australis's researchers and miners, and Triggs keeps both Anders and readers guessing about the real culprit and his or her motivations in this little whodunnit.
The isolated Australis is positively rife with suspects, from the overbearing and sexually promiscuous base commander, right down to the janitor, Max, who keeps herself secluded from the rest of the crew and surrounded by jury-rigged robots and welded metal sculptures. Seemingly everyone has a motive, and as Triggs reveals new facets of his characters he gives readers plenty of meat to chew on as the guessing game wears on.
While the mystery aspect of Night Shift is pacey and intriguing, the science fiction aspects feel a bit tacked on, and even superfluous at times. Triggs gives us small doses of near-future tech and hints of a dystopic Company-ruled world at large, but these minor conceits are never explored deeply enough to feel wholly necessary. Even the book's climax, which ultimately hinges on the half-baked incorporation of these sci-fi elements, lacks the necessary oomph and depth of information to really deliver a powerhouse of a finale as the culprit's motivations come unraveled.
After seeing how the all pieces fell together, I was still left with a frustrating question of why? Why was any of what happened necessary? Unfortunately, Night Shift isn't able to provide a satisfying answer to resolve its own premise, and Triggs simply doesn't do enough world-building or provide us with enough information to make the culprit's motivation for the attacks feel smooth and logical. Worse still, in a brief supplemental interview with the author at book's end, Triggs compounds the lack of information in Night Shift with a promise to explore all this stuff in better detail over the course of a trilogy. As far as I'm concerned, it's a cardinal sin, as well as a rage-inducing annoyance, to knowingly fail to properly execute a narrative in book one, hinging the importance of your book's finale on concepts reserved for book two, and promise to make it up to readers at a later date. Night Shift's finish is the type of cash-grab finale that makes me hate the whole damn thing, which is a shame because I did enjoy most of it, right until it royally pissed me off for wasting so much of my precious time.
The bulk of Night Shift is a breezy and engaging enough read, right until the book's last few chapters where it quickly falls apart and devolves into a supremely frustrating experience as Triggs delivers a softball non-ending that serves only to provide fuel for additional mysteries regarding a concept that felt largely extraneous to begin with. It's a book that I mostly liked, right up until the bait-and-switch revelation that Night Shift is intended to be the first in a trilogy. Triggs gives us an interesting bit of mystery in the Antarctic, a location I absolutely love to see explored in fiction, but fails to stick the landing, delivering a finale that's cheap and flimsy, and, worse, predicated upon its expectation that readers cough up for more time and money for a sequel if they want the real story.
[Note: I received an advanced reading copy of Night Shift from its publisher, Flame Tree Press.]
March 19, 2019
I was given this book by Flame Tree publishing in exchange for an honest review. I've loved each book they've sent me which are all horror/supernatural which is absolutely my thang! But when I realised this book was science fiction I was instantly put off.
However I really loved this book, it only took me a day to read it. I would actually classify this as a dystopian thriller with a thin element of science fiction.
Robin Triggs does a great job of writing a book full of mystery and intrigue. I love a great "whodunnit" and had a great time trying to figure out who the saboteur was before Anders did. The plots moves rapidly, I couldn't put it down. I'd love to see this made into a film.
I really liked the writing style and I think fans of Harlan Coben will love this book. I would have liked to have seen a bit more back story but the author has stated that he has planned this to be the first in a trilogy and if that happens this is a great first book in the series.
However I really loved this book, it only took me a day to read it. I would actually classify this as a dystopian thriller with a thin element of science fiction.
Robin Triggs does a great job of writing a book full of mystery and intrigue. I love a great "whodunnit" and had a great time trying to figure out who the saboteur was before Anders did. The plots moves rapidly, I couldn't put it down. I'd love to see this made into a film.
I really liked the writing style and I think fans of Harlan Coben will love this book. I would have liked to have seen a bit more back story but the author has stated that he has planned this to be the first in a trilogy and if that happens this is a great first book in the series.
November 13, 2021
This book should have terrified me, but it didn't. Antarctica in the winter time? Heck no! My problem is that I figured out whodunit almost from the beginning. Normally this wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, if there had been more world and character building. The little I did get to know about these people, the less I liked. The world outside of Antarctica is something I was real curious about, yet not much was revealed, and what was revealed just left me with more questions. I did like the MC Anders. Sorry, but the rest of the people in this book left little impression on me. I'll admit there were a few tense moments, but all in all I ended up disappointed. My thanks to Flame Tree Press and Netgalley.
April 10, 2019
Review copy
Let me start by saying I wanted Night Shift to be something other than what it turned out to be. Let's face it, a mining base in the Antarctic at the start of a six-month-long night shift doesn't your mind immediately turn to The Thing? So, I'm expecting a monster. I got one, it just happened to be of the human variety.
Anton Nordvelt is a last-minute replacement for head of security at Australis...
"I don’t know what they told you back in Tierra, but you’re only here because we have to have someone, you know that? You’ll walk out of here, your wallet three times as thick and your pick of jobs to walk into. And what’ll you have to do for that? Nothing.
There’s no crime here, none at all. No crime, no drugs, no alcohol, only thirteen people, including you. But because it says in some Company rulebook that we must have a commander, a doctor and a chief of security, here you are...Welcome to Australis, Mr. Nordvelt. Good to have you aboard.”
Just a few days later there's death with more mayhem to follow.
Although Night Shift was not what I expected, that's not to say this debut novel from author Robin Triggs wasn't a story well told, because it certainly was. It's a joy to read the words of a writer you've not read before and immediately feel you're in good hands.
There is sufficient action start-to-finish in Night Shift with an avalanche taking out the base's Comm Center and later, an explosion at the refinery. Is one of the thirteen members of the crew responsible or is there an outside entity responsible for all of the death and destruction.
Not my favorite read of the last year, but not the worse by a long stretch.
Published byFlame Tree Press, Night Shift is available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audible formats.
From the author's bio - Rob was raised in Bradford before heading, at eighteen, to the bright libraries of Norfolk. Music was his main interest at this time. He played drums and sang whilst writing copious amounts of lyrics, some of which tipped over into the vaguely-defined realm of poetry. He studied archaeology at Queen's University, Belfast before returning to Norfolk and starting to write seriously. When not writing he studies the past: archaeology and the historic landscape remain passions. He's also an exceptionally poor cricketer, turning out for The Bodleian Library's collection of misfits. At the Bodleian, he tells tourists that yes, Harry Potter was filmed here, but no, they can't go inside. He also works as a proofreader. A freshly-minted father, he spends his time changing nappies, Tweeting and, when the opportunity presents itself, doing the odd bit of creating.
Let me start by saying I wanted Night Shift to be something other than what it turned out to be. Let's face it, a mining base in the Antarctic at the start of a six-month-long night shift doesn't your mind immediately turn to The Thing? So, I'm expecting a monster. I got one, it just happened to be of the human variety.
Anton Nordvelt is a last-minute replacement for head of security at Australis...
"I don’t know what they told you back in Tierra, but you’re only here because we have to have someone, you know that? You’ll walk out of here, your wallet three times as thick and your pick of jobs to walk into. And what’ll you have to do for that? Nothing.
There’s no crime here, none at all. No crime, no drugs, no alcohol, only thirteen people, including you. But because it says in some Company rulebook that we must have a commander, a doctor and a chief of security, here you are...Welcome to Australis, Mr. Nordvelt. Good to have you aboard.”
Just a few days later there's death with more mayhem to follow.
Although Night Shift was not what I expected, that's not to say this debut novel from author Robin Triggs wasn't a story well told, because it certainly was. It's a joy to read the words of a writer you've not read before and immediately feel you're in good hands.
There is sufficient action start-to-finish in Night Shift with an avalanche taking out the base's Comm Center and later, an explosion at the refinery. Is one of the thirteen members of the crew responsible or is there an outside entity responsible for all of the death and destruction.
Not my favorite read of the last year, but not the worse by a long stretch.
Published byFlame Tree Press, Night Shift is available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audible formats.
From the author's bio - Rob was raised in Bradford before heading, at eighteen, to the bright libraries of Norfolk. Music was his main interest at this time. He played drums and sang whilst writing copious amounts of lyrics, some of which tipped over into the vaguely-defined realm of poetry. He studied archaeology at Queen's University, Belfast before returning to Norfolk and starting to write seriously. When not writing he studies the past: archaeology and the historic landscape remain passions. He's also an exceptionally poor cricketer, turning out for The Bodleian Library's collection of misfits. At the Bodleian, he tells tourists that yes, Harry Potter was filmed here, but no, they can't go inside. He also works as a proofreader. A freshly-minted father, he spends his time changing nappies, Tweeting and, when the opportunity presents itself, doing the odd bit of creating.
November 12, 2018
We had good cause for fear. This assignment was rapidly becoming a nightmare. Just a few days into the night shift and we already had a death on our hands.Night Shift is more of a whodunit thriller story with some underdeveloped science fiction worldbuilding elements. The story is a spin on the And Then There Were None motif of a group of strangers are isolated from the outside and are picked off one by one. 13 people are working in Antarctica for what is known as the night shift: a six month period where the sun doesn't rise and inclement weather isolates them completely from outside help.
This is a plot driven narrative told in the first person perspective of Anders and written well to keep the suspense throughout for the reader, and Triggs does a good job of expressing the characters' paranoia through the text. I liked that the beginning started at the end with the tease of the terror about to unfold with the confidential memo.
Where this story fell flat for me was the worldbuilding. There are actually a lot of nuggets of interest that are woven into the exposition well, but we all know that I love me some worldbuilding. I was left wanting to know more about the Company, the Resource Wars, and what happened in the world to bring humanity to this point. The book is set in some undertermined future that is possibly post-apocalyptic as they purpose of the project is to mine fuel and find food and clothing solutions for the people.
I guessed the reveal, but for me the impact that Triggs was going for was undermined by the underdeveloped worldbuilding and the ending also left me unsatisfied as there is no real resolution. And I suppose that is the point: it is about the ordeal that those at Australis went through. But there are allusions to a greater conspiracy that I would have been interested in exploring.
Overall as a thriller is concerned, it is an enjoyable read but I was left wanting more because the world sounds so interesting. I wouldn't be surprised if Triggs expands this into a series, and I would happily read to find out more about this world.
🤝 Buddy read with Destiny!
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for sending me an eARC for review. Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof and may change upon publication.
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February 15, 2019
I was really wanting to love this. Stories that are set in Antarctica are a big draw for me. The harshness of frigid temps and the isolation from society. It brings group dynamics into play. Another favorite aspect for me.
It was fascinating to see how this group of miners would handle the challenges that were thrown at them. The long night is coming. A new Chief of Security, Anders Norvekdt, arrives. The crew lacks confidence in his abilities as the winter over starts. His own self doubt is evident and when the commander’s body is found frozen outside and communication with the outside world goes down, he’s the likely suspect. But, trust is in short supply, and the crew also turn their suspicions on each other.
Who would fall to the hunger, fear and isolation and who would rise to lead was the best part of this story. I can’t say it was the character’s personalities. I didn’t warm up to any of them. And I was disappointed in the world building. I gathered it was in the near future as the mining operation was a last ditch hope to discover a new energy source to keep society alive. But it was never really explained. You’re left to draw your own conclusions.
The last quarter of the book was pretty thrilling. As the last remaining crew members have to rely on each other to survive, despite their mistrust, their situation gets more dire. Lack of food and water and a way to stay warm force them into smaller and smaller locations. The author put me in their shoes as they despair, grow weaker and weaker. Crammed together, they wait for the night shift to end.
The issues that kept me from loving this book weren’t major, yet, they did add up. I can say I never wanted to stop reading and I did enjoy it.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and Robin Triggs for a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
It was fascinating to see how this group of miners would handle the challenges that were thrown at them. The long night is coming. A new Chief of Security, Anders Norvekdt, arrives. The crew lacks confidence in his abilities as the winter over starts. His own self doubt is evident and when the commander’s body is found frozen outside and communication with the outside world goes down, he’s the likely suspect. But, trust is in short supply, and the crew also turn their suspicions on each other.
Who would fall to the hunger, fear and isolation and who would rise to lead was the best part of this story. I can’t say it was the character’s personalities. I didn’t warm up to any of them. And I was disappointed in the world building. I gathered it was in the near future as the mining operation was a last ditch hope to discover a new energy source to keep society alive. But it was never really explained. You’re left to draw your own conclusions.
The last quarter of the book was pretty thrilling. As the last remaining crew members have to rely on each other to survive, despite their mistrust, their situation gets more dire. Lack of food and water and a way to stay warm force them into smaller and smaller locations. The author put me in their shoes as they despair, grow weaker and weaker. Crammed together, they wait for the night shift to end.
The issues that kept me from loving this book weren’t major, yet, they did add up. I can say I never wanted to stop reading and I did enjoy it.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and Robin Triggs for a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
November 15, 2018
Review of NIGHT SHIFT by Robin Triggs
I love Antarctica. I always have loved everything about the concept of Antarctica (up until the last few years of ice melt and global warming). I am fascinated by the “winter over” syndrome which seems to occur only in Antarctica: that specialized, location-specific version of Seasonal Affective Disorder, caused by isolation, deep winter, and six months of night (hence the term, night shift). So I was delighted to find NIGHT SHIFT, an engrossing, captivating, intriguing novel of a winter over in Antarctica, set in the slightly near future, after Resource Wars have resulted in the virtually complete takeover by The Company, a multinational megalith which provides resources and employment to much of the globe, and is opposed by a quite weakened United Nations.
The novel takes place in Australis, a Company-owned mining and oil-drilling site in Antarctica, not far from the South Pole. Anders Norveldt, a man with a bizarre childhood history, raised in the Company foster system, is unexpectedly a last-moment inclusion for Australis' Night Shift, as replacement for the departed Chief of Security, who apparently had psychological and health issues. Nobody likes Norveldt, from the commander on through the crew, for no particular reason it seems, but he soon becomes the target of rampant suspicion. As one tragic event follows another, morale doesn't just wane—it collapses, and eventually the remaining crew are suffering near-starvation, cold, and lack of security and privacy, wondering if any will survive till the sunrise (after Antarctica's six months of night).
I love Antarctica. I always have loved everything about the concept of Antarctica (up until the last few years of ice melt and global warming). I am fascinated by the “winter over” syndrome which seems to occur only in Antarctica: that specialized, location-specific version of Seasonal Affective Disorder, caused by isolation, deep winter, and six months of night (hence the term, night shift). So I was delighted to find NIGHT SHIFT, an engrossing, captivating, intriguing novel of a winter over in Antarctica, set in the slightly near future, after Resource Wars have resulted in the virtually complete takeover by The Company, a multinational megalith which provides resources and employment to much of the globe, and is opposed by a quite weakened United Nations.
The novel takes place in Australis, a Company-owned mining and oil-drilling site in Antarctica, not far from the South Pole. Anders Norveldt, a man with a bizarre childhood history, raised in the Company foster system, is unexpectedly a last-moment inclusion for Australis' Night Shift, as replacement for the departed Chief of Security, who apparently had psychological and health issues. Nobody likes Norveldt, from the commander on through the crew, for no particular reason it seems, but he soon becomes the target of rampant suspicion. As one tragic event follows another, morale doesn't just wane—it collapses, and eventually the remaining crew are suffering near-starvation, cold, and lack of security and privacy, wondering if any will survive till the sunrise (after Antarctica's six months of night).
December 17, 2018
Anders Nordvelt arrives, newly promoted, at Australis, a mining base located in the desolate plains of Antarctica. As Chief of Security, it's his responsibility to make daily life is as smooth as possible for the crew, however it's soon apparent he's not welcome. Complicated relationships and old resentment are just the beginning however, as when the night shift begins, so does the sabotage. The very future of humanity falls upon Anders, and he struggles to discover the traitor of the project.
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank Flame Tree Press for giving me the opportunity.
I like to indulge in something a little different now and again, dip my toes into the unfamiliar, and I honestly couldn't say no to an Antarctica thriller. There's something about that part of the world that frightens yet fascinates me, it's also very much an alien concept. I can't imagine how it must feel to be surrounded by white, to be without the sun for half a year, therefore I rely very much on the author's interpretation. Triggs created a fairly unique voice in Anders, as it was apparent early on he had certain problems relating to social interactions, as well as establishing that line between business and pleasure. He was, without a doubt, a workaholic with a very clear-cut mindset. Granted, he may not have been the most exciting main character ever, but he elicited enough intrigue over the course of the book, especially regarding his past.
I was surprised to find science fiction elements interweaved into the story; I didn't glean such from the synopsis. The state of the world was mentioned several times - a dystopic future where humanity is struggling with the lack of sufficient resources to feed and power its overpopulation. Whilst I appreciated the flavour, that's all it was; a mild taste that lingered in the background. World-building wasn't priority, it was merely used in a casual manner to explain why this and this was happening. I felt that Triggs could have included more depth, perhaps to further convey the importance of the mission. I can't say I particularly cared if they succeeded or not, the gravity just didn't hit home.
Despite that, the mystery aspect made me eagerly turn the pages. At first, I was thoroughly immersed in the unfolding drama, and I enjoyed getting to know the twelve other individuals of Australis, even though there were moments I had difficulty in telling them apart. The suspicion, the tempers and morale rising and falling in such close quarters, it was genuinely absorbing. I've always found a certain appeal to stories that put a large amount of pressure on the sanity of the characters. Truth is, I want to see the chipping away and breaking of the psyche. The more horrific, the better in my opinion, and I have to give praise where it's due, events became pretty dire in this debut. It's just a shame it was over so quickly, like it was rushed, with very little in terms of answers. I understand it's a marketing tactic, to leave the conclusion open-ended so that the reader will feel intrigued enough to return to the series, but it's quite frustrating when you spend precious hours on it only to never experience a proper outcome.
As for the whodunit, my prediction came early on, perhaps too early on, due to the multitude of hints spread throughout. There was one paragraph in particular that basically laid it all on the table right before the big reveal, so it could have benefited in being more vague. It's hard enough to incorporate twists - many authors think they're being clever when they're not - so there wasn't even a modicum of surprise when the real identity of the culprit was exposed. Due to the aforementioned lack of ending, it wasn't entirely clear on the reasoning either.
In conclusion: It interested me to a certain extent; the atmosphere, the small window of mystery, and the emphasis on isolation, but there was obvious flaws in execution. The no-ending was the biggest disappointment.
Notable Scene:
I almost felt content. Almost felt happiness. Death was good. This was the way it should be. My thoughts drifted, my mouth curled into a smile. The worries I always carried with me slowly emptied into the clouds above. Death was kind.
© Red Lace 2018
Wordpress ~ Twitter
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank Flame Tree Press for giving me the opportunity.
I like to indulge in something a little different now and again, dip my toes into the unfamiliar, and I honestly couldn't say no to an Antarctica thriller. There's something about that part of the world that frightens yet fascinates me, it's also very much an alien concept. I can't imagine how it must feel to be surrounded by white, to be without the sun for half a year, therefore I rely very much on the author's interpretation. Triggs created a fairly unique voice in Anders, as it was apparent early on he had certain problems relating to social interactions, as well as establishing that line between business and pleasure. He was, without a doubt, a workaholic with a very clear-cut mindset. Granted, he may not have been the most exciting main character ever, but he elicited enough intrigue over the course of the book, especially regarding his past.
I was surprised to find science fiction elements interweaved into the story; I didn't glean such from the synopsis. The state of the world was mentioned several times - a dystopic future where humanity is struggling with the lack of sufficient resources to feed and power its overpopulation. Whilst I appreciated the flavour, that's all it was; a mild taste that lingered in the background. World-building wasn't priority, it was merely used in a casual manner to explain why this and this was happening. I felt that Triggs could have included more depth, perhaps to further convey the importance of the mission. I can't say I particularly cared if they succeeded or not, the gravity just didn't hit home.
Despite that, the mystery aspect made me eagerly turn the pages. At first, I was thoroughly immersed in the unfolding drama, and I enjoyed getting to know the twelve other individuals of Australis, even though there were moments I had difficulty in telling them apart. The suspicion, the tempers and morale rising and falling in such close quarters, it was genuinely absorbing. I've always found a certain appeal to stories that put a large amount of pressure on the sanity of the characters. Truth is, I want to see the chipping away and breaking of the psyche. The more horrific, the better in my opinion, and I have to give praise where it's due, events became pretty dire in this debut. It's just a shame it was over so quickly, like it was rushed, with very little in terms of answers. I understand it's a marketing tactic, to leave the conclusion open-ended so that the reader will feel intrigued enough to return to the series, but it's quite frustrating when you spend precious hours on it only to never experience a proper outcome.
As for the whodunit, my prediction came early on, perhaps too early on, due to the multitude of hints spread throughout. There was one paragraph in particular that basically laid it all on the table right before the big reveal, so it could have benefited in being more vague. It's hard enough to incorporate twists - many authors think they're being clever when they're not - so there wasn't even a modicum of surprise when the real identity of the culprit was exposed. Due to the aforementioned lack of ending, it wasn't entirely clear on the reasoning either.
In conclusion: It interested me to a certain extent; the atmosphere, the small window of mystery, and the emphasis on isolation, but there was obvious flaws in execution. The no-ending was the biggest disappointment.
Notable Scene:
I almost felt content. Almost felt happiness. Death was good. This was the way it should be. My thoughts drifted, my mouth curled into a smile. The worries I always carried with me slowly emptied into the clouds above. Death was kind.
© Red Lace 2018
Wordpress ~ Twitter
November 28, 2019
3.5 rounded up for Goodreads.
This was a solid 4 stars for me until the final 30 pages. I didn't see the ending coming but, I was rather indifferent to "the twist".
Set in Antartica, this crime/mystery novel centers around 13 individuals tasked with mining coal in one of the most remote places on Earth.
After the crews Chief of Security is excused for health reasons, Anders Nordvelt is brought in to take over the position. As if possessing no experience for what you were hired to do wasn't bad enough, within his first few days, Anders has a murder on his hands in which he becomes the prime suspect.
There were a few characters that I feel like I never really got to know or, I just couldn't keep them straight. However, the story kept me fairly engaged and flying through the pages. Definitely worth the read!
This was a solid 4 stars for me until the final 30 pages. I didn't see the ending coming but, I was rather indifferent to "the twist".
Set in Antartica, this crime/mystery novel centers around 13 individuals tasked with mining coal in one of the most remote places on Earth.
After the crews Chief of Security is excused for health reasons, Anders Nordvelt is brought in to take over the position. As if possessing no experience for what you were hired to do wasn't bad enough, within his first few days, Anders has a murder on his hands in which he becomes the prime suspect.
There were a few characters that I feel like I never really got to know or, I just couldn't keep them straight. However, the story kept me fairly engaged and flying through the pages. Definitely worth the read!
December 14, 2018
There are other Antarctic mysteries out there, but this is a very good one!
The author puts directly into that cold wasteland and gives us a very intriguing mystery with an absolutely surprising solution. I truly didn’t expect the *who* in our ice-cold whodunnit – it was a nice surprise.
The book is a fast read and features a small group of fascinating characters.
Happy I read this one!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
The author puts directly into that cold wasteland and gives us a very intriguing mystery with an absolutely surprising solution. I truly didn’t expect the *who* in our ice-cold whodunnit – it was a nice surprise.
The book is a fast read and features a small group of fascinating characters.
Happy I read this one!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
January 15, 2019
*I was given a copy by the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
Night Shift by Robin Triggs is a fast, dystopian type novel that mimics "The Thing" in many ways. Only in this story, the monster is human. The writer settles on two key elements for the theme, isolation and survival, and all the fears and threats that come with it.
Taking place sometime in the near future- 20 years give or take, the world is depleting its resources at an alarming rate. A corporation called "The Company" has basically taken the reigns from the U.N. and is running the world by providing the people with resources and employment to much of the globe. They are mining for coal, oil and iron in the desolate, icey wasteland of Antarctica. We meet our protagonist, Anders- a "Company" man, sent to fill the head of security position at one of the settlements in there. He arrives on the last transport before the "night shift", the time of year when Antarctica is in darkness for six months.
As soon as Anders arrives at the settlement he is made well aware he is unwanted and unneeded by the twelve other men living at this settlement. The reader at this point gets the feeling that not everyone likes "The Company", and there is a bit of foreboding that it might not be as great as they make themselves out to be. DeVilliers, the head of the settlement, allows many "Company" policies to be broken- the growing of weed, distilling alcohol, etc. And Anders is given a firm warning to look the other way. Just as Anders begins to settle in, an avalanche takes out the communication center. Being the odd man out, Anders is blamed for this, but when he wants to investigate, the men will not allow him. Then one of the 13 men is killed- murdered. Again, Anders is blamed and subsequently locked in his room. But the tragic events continue to happen, proving to the men it couldn't be Anders. As the settlement begins to run out of food and heat, with no way to communicate with the outside world, they finally allow Anders to investigate. But what Anders uncovers is not what he expects. Not what any of them expects. And no way to tell anyone about it.
This was a quick read with unremarkable characters, and an unoriginal plot. I was unable to connect with any of the characters, including our "hero", who I thought was a very weak character in numerous ways. The reader is not given a reason as to why the world is in such chaos. We get a few sneak peeks through Anders inner monologue- the story is told from his POV, but that's it. I sort of thought that the author did this on purpose as it makes the reader feel a bit isolated, just like the characters. I had a hard time understanding what was going on at first- who was who, what is going on, why. It took a little time for me to get a firm grasp on the story and I felt that took away from what the author was trying to convey.
Night Shift, though at times intriguing, ended up falling a bit flat for me. The ending you can see coming from a mile away and it's difficult to get into a story when you don't like or can relate to any of the characters. I can appreciate where the author was trying to go with the story- the isolation, desperation, and what lengths people will go to to survive. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, but this is suppose to be the first book in a trilogy. There is still hope to save this series in the two subsequent novels to come, giving Robin Triggs the time for the explaining his has and needs to do.
Night Shift by Robin Triggs is a fast, dystopian type novel that mimics "The Thing" in many ways. Only in this story, the monster is human. The writer settles on two key elements for the theme, isolation and survival, and all the fears and threats that come with it.
Taking place sometime in the near future- 20 years give or take, the world is depleting its resources at an alarming rate. A corporation called "The Company" has basically taken the reigns from the U.N. and is running the world by providing the people with resources and employment to much of the globe. They are mining for coal, oil and iron in the desolate, icey wasteland of Antarctica. We meet our protagonist, Anders- a "Company" man, sent to fill the head of security position at one of the settlements in there. He arrives on the last transport before the "night shift", the time of year when Antarctica is in darkness for six months.
As soon as Anders arrives at the settlement he is made well aware he is unwanted and unneeded by the twelve other men living at this settlement. The reader at this point gets the feeling that not everyone likes "The Company", and there is a bit of foreboding that it might not be as great as they make themselves out to be. DeVilliers, the head of the settlement, allows many "Company" policies to be broken- the growing of weed, distilling alcohol, etc. And Anders is given a firm warning to look the other way. Just as Anders begins to settle in, an avalanche takes out the communication center. Being the odd man out, Anders is blamed for this, but when he wants to investigate, the men will not allow him. Then one of the 13 men is killed- murdered. Again, Anders is blamed and subsequently locked in his room. But the tragic events continue to happen, proving to the men it couldn't be Anders. As the settlement begins to run out of food and heat, with no way to communicate with the outside world, they finally allow Anders to investigate. But what Anders uncovers is not what he expects. Not what any of them expects. And no way to tell anyone about it.
This was a quick read with unremarkable characters, and an unoriginal plot. I was unable to connect with any of the characters, including our "hero", who I thought was a very weak character in numerous ways. The reader is not given a reason as to why the world is in such chaos. We get a few sneak peeks through Anders inner monologue- the story is told from his POV, but that's it. I sort of thought that the author did this on purpose as it makes the reader feel a bit isolated, just like the characters. I had a hard time understanding what was going on at first- who was who, what is going on, why. It took a little time for me to get a firm grasp on the story and I felt that took away from what the author was trying to convey.
Night Shift, though at times intriguing, ended up falling a bit flat for me. The ending you can see coming from a mile away and it's difficult to get into a story when you don't like or can relate to any of the characters. I can appreciate where the author was trying to go with the story- the isolation, desperation, and what lengths people will go to to survive. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, but this is suppose to be the first book in a trilogy. There is still hope to save this series in the two subsequent novels to come, giving Robin Triggs the time for the explaining his has and needs to do.
January 25, 2019
This Antarctica thriller slight sci-fi novel takes an age old plot device and gives it an exotic backdrop and delivers. It is a page turner that truly delivers and kept me engaged throughout.
The characters are well developed and when they start disappearing one by one, you particularly start to care and they are not there as just fodder for the plot to spit out. This is a credit to Triggs to be able to provide a classic plot of people in a remote area and being picked off one by one. He pulled the rabbit out of the hat by ensuring that all these characters are memorable as a lesser writer tends to give you characters that are just body count.
The plotting of the novel is well handled and moves at a jaunty pace. Some of the science was a bit loss on this reader but this is not the fault of the author but more to the fault of this reader as I am not very science minded. Triggs keeps things tightly wound and though I was frantic towards the end, I was very much involved to the final page.
Overall, this is a tightly written strong book that lends itself to the thriller genre using good old fashion storytelling and strong characters to reach its triumphant conclusion.
The characters are well developed and when they start disappearing one by one, you particularly start to care and they are not there as just fodder for the plot to spit out. This is a credit to Triggs to be able to provide a classic plot of people in a remote area and being picked off one by one. He pulled the rabbit out of the hat by ensuring that all these characters are memorable as a lesser writer tends to give you characters that are just body count.
The plotting of the novel is well handled and moves at a jaunty pace. Some of the science was a bit loss on this reader but this is not the fault of the author but more to the fault of this reader as I am not very science minded. Triggs keeps things tightly wound and though I was frantic towards the end, I was very much involved to the final page.
Overall, this is a tightly written strong book that lends itself to the thriller genre using good old fashion storytelling and strong characters to reach its triumphant conclusion.
September 20, 2022
Interesting plot and twists with “unclear” characters (genders were changed mid-sentence. Though this stopped later in the narration). Storylines are literature and I don’t opt for political books (Woke) when they are labeled as a rule. As the old saying goes, “… you pays your money and you takes your chances!” But I will not chance this author again, I don’t think.
Review on CHIRP site:
Interesting plot and twists but genders seemed ‘unclear’ in the narration (WOKE?). As the old saying goes, “… you pays your money and you takes your chances!” But I will not chance this author again, I don’t think.
Review on CHIRP site:
Interesting plot and twists but genders seemed ‘unclear’ in the narration (WOKE?). As the old saying goes, “… you pays your money and you takes your chances!” But I will not chance this author again, I don’t think.
April 2, 2024
This wasn't the book I expected it to be, but the further I got into it, the more I enjoyed it. An old-fashioned mystery in a high-tech, high-stress environment, it ramps up more and more as a reader pursues the story, and there are some fun twists to keep it moving fast. The characters are believable and strong, as well, so while there were moments when I wished for a slightly deeper read, I ended up having a lot of fun with it.
Recommended for readers of thrillers.
Recommended for readers of thrillers.
April 25, 2021
I really enjoyed this book kept me hooked from beginning to end lots of twists and turns highly recommend
June 23, 2019
I absolutely loved this Murder mystery with a hint of futurism (is that a word lol). The isolation, the characters are great. Definitely was a page turner! 5 star review!
December 8, 2018
The desolate, cold, harsh landscape of an Arctic book always draws me in.
This was a relatively simple whodunit novel, with elements of science-fiction blended in.
Although I cannot quite put my finger on it, there was something missing from the story to make it terrifying. Perhaps it was my guessing the culprits identity rather early on which detracted from the story.
All in all, a three-star rating.
Could have been worse.
That being said, I will give this author another chance in the future and read another of his novels, when published.
My sincere thanks to Flame Tree Press for sending me an ARC of this book.
This was a relatively simple whodunit novel, with elements of science-fiction blended in.
Although I cannot quite put my finger on it, there was something missing from the story to make it terrifying. Perhaps it was my guessing the culprits identity rather early on which detracted from the story.
All in all, a three-star rating.
Could have been worse.
That being said, I will give this author another chance in the future and read another of his novels, when published.
My sincere thanks to Flame Tree Press for sending me an ARC of this book.
January 11, 2023
Quick little read with an interesting premise. I went in knowing that the ending was going to be ridiculous, and I think that actually improved the experience a little. One of my wilder theories ended up being more or less correct, and I think the author actually does an alright job setting it up.
The writing and the world building are good enough that I might consider giving this author another go.
You will probably get what you came for with this book.
The writing and the world building are good enough that I might consider giving this author another go.
You will probably get what you came for with this book.
October 26, 2018
First time reading anything by this author. Mystery thriller. It was a little repetitious for me. I became bored about halfway through, and wasn't too surprised to find out who did it and why.
December 26, 2019
Night Shift by Robin Triggs is an intense and claustrophobic tale about extreme cold, murder, and a plot to take down Australis. But who is the culprit?
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
In the first few pages of the book, we see a note requesting the recipient to do with the following account what is deemed appropriate. Right off the bat, and of course also keeping the cover of the book in mind, you know that something went very, very wrong…
As the account begins, we meet the new Chief of Security, Anders Nordvelt. Nordvelt has arrived at Australis to replace the last Chief who left the base after some health issues; headaches, sleepwalking, and other such things. Nordvelt, who clearly has ties to The Company, is seen as an outsider from the very beginning; the crew that has already been there for months doesn’t trust him. They also don’t believe that they need him and everyone know that there is something fishy with the promotion in the first place as Nordvelt is quite young.
One afternoon, the crew goes out to a ridge to celebrate the final sunset before the area is plunged into darkness for the next six months. While out on this excursion, Nordvelt sees the crew drinking and smoking which The Company would not approve of. Before this becomes much of an issue, the first of the slew of major events occurs and of course, suspicion lands on Nordvelt first.
From there, we’re off on a fast-paced and suspenseful ride where finding out what happened next was equally exciting and frightening.
This is a book that I had a very hard time putting down! The writing was wonderful and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Mr Triggs work!
The world building was light, but as readers I felt that we were given just enough information to understand what the situation was. The descriptions of the base and the conditions were also just right; it let you imagine the space and scenery overall, but also let you fill in the blanks in your own mind. Same held true with each of the characters and their descriptions.
I also really appreciated that there was some sci-fi elements, but that they weren’t too intense. This allowed me to stay focused on the mystery elements rather than getting too tied up in the smaller details.
I really enjoyed learning more and more about The Company, the state of the world, and little tid-bits about each character and their roles as the story progressed. All of these layers made the tale even more engaging than the overall plot already was.
Toward the end of the book, I loved how well all the puzzle pieces fell into place. This was a situation that I did not see coming in the slightest, but once it was laid out, it made total sense. I cannot wait to reread this one from the beginning now that I know what had really been going in.
My Favorite Passages:
Our torches were powerful but the blizzard smothered all.
The wind blew across the courtyard like the exhalation of giants.
A novel is a puzzle: you set out all the pieces, lay them in order and try to link them together only to find out that they’ve transmogrified whilst your attention was elsewhere.
My Final Thoughts:
I absolutely relished my time reading this one; each second was so entertaining. I thought the plot was super interesting, the writing style was wonderful, the cast was great… Zero complaints from me!
This is another that I would LOVE to see as a film. Perhaps staring Timothée Chalamet.
If you’re a fan of tales that will keep you guessing while also feeling a bit claustrophobic, this is a great pick for you!
And stay tuned, book number two is in the works! The expected publication date is July 23rd 2020 by Flame Tree Press. I CANNOT WAIT!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
In the first few pages of the book, we see a note requesting the recipient to do with the following account what is deemed appropriate. Right off the bat, and of course also keeping the cover of the book in mind, you know that something went very, very wrong…
As the account begins, we meet the new Chief of Security, Anders Nordvelt. Nordvelt has arrived at Australis to replace the last Chief who left the base after some health issues; headaches, sleepwalking, and other such things. Nordvelt, who clearly has ties to The Company, is seen as an outsider from the very beginning; the crew that has already been there for months doesn’t trust him. They also don’t believe that they need him and everyone know that there is something fishy with the promotion in the first place as Nordvelt is quite young.
One afternoon, the crew goes out to a ridge to celebrate the final sunset before the area is plunged into darkness for the next six months. While out on this excursion, Nordvelt sees the crew drinking and smoking which The Company would not approve of. Before this becomes much of an issue, the first of the slew of major events occurs and of course, suspicion lands on Nordvelt first.
From there, we’re off on a fast-paced and suspenseful ride where finding out what happened next was equally exciting and frightening.
This is a book that I had a very hard time putting down! The writing was wonderful and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Mr Triggs work!
The world building was light, but as readers I felt that we were given just enough information to understand what the situation was. The descriptions of the base and the conditions were also just right; it let you imagine the space and scenery overall, but also let you fill in the blanks in your own mind. Same held true with each of the characters and their descriptions.
I also really appreciated that there was some sci-fi elements, but that they weren’t too intense. This allowed me to stay focused on the mystery elements rather than getting too tied up in the smaller details.
I really enjoyed learning more and more about The Company, the state of the world, and little tid-bits about each character and their roles as the story progressed. All of these layers made the tale even more engaging than the overall plot already was.
Toward the end of the book, I loved how well all the puzzle pieces fell into place. This was a situation that I did not see coming in the slightest, but once it was laid out, it made total sense. I cannot wait to reread this one from the beginning now that I know what had really been going in.
My Favorite Passages:
Our torches were powerful but the blizzard smothered all.
The wind blew across the courtyard like the exhalation of giants.
A novel is a puzzle: you set out all the pieces, lay them in order and try to link them together only to find out that they’ve transmogrified whilst your attention was elsewhere.
My Final Thoughts:
I absolutely relished my time reading this one; each second was so entertaining. I thought the plot was super interesting, the writing style was wonderful, the cast was great… Zero complaints from me!
This is another that I would LOVE to see as a film. Perhaps staring Timothée Chalamet.
If you’re a fan of tales that will keep you guessing while also feeling a bit claustrophobic, this is a great pick for you!
And stay tuned, book number two is in the works! The expected publication date is July 23rd 2020 by Flame Tree Press. I CANNOT WAIT!
January 29, 2019
I requested this title for one reason: Antarctica. I am endlessly fascinated by the icy, desolate continent and will devour any books – fiction or non-fiction – that are set there. There is something in the isolation that I find both alluring and utterly terrifying.
Night Shift proved itself to be an enjoyable whodunnit that contained all of the fear and paranoia of John Carpernter’s The Thing mixed with the almost cozy quality of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express.
I don’t want to give too much away, but the basic premise is this: Anders Nordvelt is sent to the Australis base in the Antarctic as a last-minute replacement for their head of security. He joins a team of twelve others who have been working together for the last six months – each with a specific skill set geared toward the success of their mission. Anders arrives as the base is being locked-down for the winter. They will be self-sustaining for the next six months with no shipments going in or out. As the night shift begins – everything starts to fall apart.
For me, Night Shift read as a character-driven mystery more than it was a horror or science-fiction novel – although it did contain elements of both. There is an almost casual world-building element that introduces a near-future, dystopian society where most of the world is controlled by a single, governing body – The Company. I appreciate that the author did not overly saturate the novel with dry details and instead chose to divulge a little bit at a time. It allowed you both the time to slowly acclimate to the world and to crave more knowledge of it.
Every character in this novel was fully fleshed out and not a one was wasted, or served as a throw-away character. Overall, this was a mature first novel and thoroughly enjoyable. I read that this is the first of a planned trilogy and I hope that is the case – I would love to read more novels set in this new world.
As a note, I received Night Shift as a galley from Flame Tree Books in exchange for an honest review.
Night Shift proved itself to be an enjoyable whodunnit that contained all of the fear and paranoia of John Carpernter’s The Thing mixed with the almost cozy quality of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express.
I don’t want to give too much away, but the basic premise is this: Anders Nordvelt is sent to the Australis base in the Antarctic as a last-minute replacement for their head of security. He joins a team of twelve others who have been working together for the last six months – each with a specific skill set geared toward the success of their mission. Anders arrives as the base is being locked-down for the winter. They will be self-sustaining for the next six months with no shipments going in or out. As the night shift begins – everything starts to fall apart.
For me, Night Shift read as a character-driven mystery more than it was a horror or science-fiction novel – although it did contain elements of both. There is an almost casual world-building element that introduces a near-future, dystopian society where most of the world is controlled by a single, governing body – The Company. I appreciate that the author did not overly saturate the novel with dry details and instead chose to divulge a little bit at a time. It allowed you both the time to slowly acclimate to the world and to crave more knowledge of it.
Every character in this novel was fully fleshed out and not a one was wasted, or served as a throw-away character. Overall, this was a mature first novel and thoroughly enjoyable. I read that this is the first of a planned trilogy and I hope that is the case – I would love to read more novels set in this new world.
As a note, I received Night Shift as a galley from Flame Tree Books in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2018
So this book starts up right as Anders, the MC, arrives at the mining base of Australis. The previous security guard left under questionable circumstances and the crew are not very welcoming of a new member. A few days after Anders arrives, a celebration is held honoring the last sunset for six months. Anders is still learning about the individuals stationed at Australis when he is thrown smack dab in a murder investigation. Slowly but surely someone is picking off the crew and since he is the new kid on the ice, Anders may be the best suspect. Knowing this, he sets out to catch the true culprit and clear his name in the process.
"Night Shift" is full of action and atmosphere. I love book set in snowy, wintry settings and you don't get much more snowy and wintry than the Antartic. I loved getting to know the crew alongside of Anders and I have to admit, I was slightly pleased to learn the identity of the first victim. Because the crew is so isolated, they soon not only start fighting each other but they also have to rage a war against the elements.
I am hesitant to say that Anders is not the most reliable narrator (and nope, there is no Gone Girl of Woman in the Window comparisons here). Nonetheless, I found him likable and was rooting for him. I also really liked Max, the janitor. She's pretty kick ass and I adore the fact that the person most familiar with the machinery and technology of Australis just so happens to be a woman. While there are hints of some romance, or to be honest, sexual encounters, anyone turned off by those elements in an action, survivalist setting need not worry. That element is not overwhelming and not shoved down your throat.
"Night Shift" is best described as a book about survival and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC.
"Night Shift" is full of action and atmosphere. I love book set in snowy, wintry settings and you don't get much more snowy and wintry than the Antartic. I loved getting to know the crew alongside of Anders and I have to admit, I was slightly pleased to learn the identity of the first victim. Because the crew is so isolated, they soon not only start fighting each other but they also have to rage a war against the elements.
I am hesitant to say that Anders is not the most reliable narrator (and nope, there is no Gone Girl of Woman in the Window comparisons here). Nonetheless, I found him likable and was rooting for him. I also really liked Max, the janitor. She's pretty kick ass and I adore the fact that the person most familiar with the machinery and technology of Australis just so happens to be a woman. While there are hints of some romance, or to be honest, sexual encounters, anyone turned off by those elements in an action, survivalist setting need not worry. That element is not overwhelming and not shoved down your throat.
"Night Shift" is best described as a book about survival and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC.
November 4, 2018
Set in the Antarctic, Night Shift is certainly not the normal type of book you would find me reading, however I am glad that I picked it up. From the first few pages I was hooked as I wanted to know what had led up to that moment and why the character was in fear for their life.
Set in the future and told from the viewpoint of Anders Nordvelt who has been sent to the Australis station to replace the previous head of security, you get the feeling of isolation right from the start as they are cut off from the rest of civilisation for 6 months as part of the “Night Shift”, where basically there is no real thing as daylight during this time.
Most of the team have been there for a long time so they are very distrusting of the new addition and this is not helped by the example set by the Base commander, who on one hand seems very much the Company man yet on the other hand thinks nothing of having affairs with the women under his command, causing dislike and distrust and allowing illegal drinking and smoking. His rationale for the latter is that this turning a blind eye allows the staff to let of steam and relax, which taking into account where they are and the limits on what they can do, I can kind of understand.
There is definitely a strange dynamic amongst the team and their only common ground seems to be their distrust of Anders. When things start to go wrong and people start to die, he seems to be the obvious choice as the person behind it all… after all it did only start to go wrong when he turned up. As the situation gets worse and information and actions come to light the distrust spreads further to others within the small group.
This is not a faced paced book but for me this works as it helps build the atmosphere for what is happening. The author did a good job with building the tension and I was kept guessing as to who was behind the sabotage. Just as I thought I had an idea of who it was, a little doubt would creep in as something else was revealed. The who, why and how was not what I expected at all.
If you are looking for something different then this would definitely be the book to read.
Set in the future and told from the viewpoint of Anders Nordvelt who has been sent to the Australis station to replace the previous head of security, you get the feeling of isolation right from the start as they are cut off from the rest of civilisation for 6 months as part of the “Night Shift”, where basically there is no real thing as daylight during this time.
Most of the team have been there for a long time so they are very distrusting of the new addition and this is not helped by the example set by the Base commander, who on one hand seems very much the Company man yet on the other hand thinks nothing of having affairs with the women under his command, causing dislike and distrust and allowing illegal drinking and smoking. His rationale for the latter is that this turning a blind eye allows the staff to let of steam and relax, which taking into account where they are and the limits on what they can do, I can kind of understand.
There is definitely a strange dynamic amongst the team and their only common ground seems to be their distrust of Anders. When things start to go wrong and people start to die, he seems to be the obvious choice as the person behind it all… after all it did only start to go wrong when he turned up. As the situation gets worse and information and actions come to light the distrust spreads further to others within the small group.
This is not a faced paced book but for me this works as it helps build the atmosphere for what is happening. The author did a good job with building the tension and I was kept guessing as to who was behind the sabotage. Just as I thought I had an idea of who it was, a little doubt would creep in as something else was revealed. The who, why and how was not what I expected at all.
If you are looking for something different then this would definitely be the book to read.
July 27, 2021
I didn't realize this is #1 of a series! What fun!
This book whisks readers to the cold dark frozen Antarctica where a group of specially trained individuals are tasked with keeping a future dystopian-ish world alive. They must mine for coal and research ways to turn Antarctica green in order to morph the frozen environment into one that can feed a starving world.
We don't get a ton of backstory or setting details. Readers will put together the pieces of this alternative future where everything is run by a Big Brother type of firm called the Company. While the specifics may be left largely up to the imagination, readers are left with a single certainty: If the Antarctica base fails, the world fails.
Enter our protagonist Anders Nordvelt. He has a few demons in his closet, but he's loyal to the Company and determined to do his job well. But as head of security on a base with a only a few handfuls of people, there's not much for him to do, until a murder happens.
While this book had some fun tense moments, it also made a few choices that might leave some readers a little underwhelmed. Some characters came to life while others stayed within the lines, and at times, most of them exhibited behavior that felt a little out of place given their characteristics and what was happening in the plot.
Night Shift is a quick read and a perfect selection for a rainy day. Fans of mysteries will enjoy this cold plot-driven thriller.
This book whisks readers to the cold dark frozen Antarctica where a group of specially trained individuals are tasked with keeping a future dystopian-ish world alive. They must mine for coal and research ways to turn Antarctica green in order to morph the frozen environment into one that can feed a starving world.
We don't get a ton of backstory or setting details. Readers will put together the pieces of this alternative future where everything is run by a Big Brother type of firm called the Company. While the specifics may be left largely up to the imagination, readers are left with a single certainty: If the Antarctica base fails, the world fails.
Enter our protagonist Anders Nordvelt. He has a few demons in his closet, but he's loyal to the Company and determined to do his job well. But as head of security on a base with a only a few handfuls of people, there's not much for him to do, until a murder happens.
While this book had some fun tense moments, it also made a few choices that might leave some readers a little underwhelmed. Some characters came to life while others stayed within the lines, and at times, most of them exhibited behavior that felt a little out of place given their characteristics and what was happening in the plot.
Night Shift is a quick read and a perfect selection for a rainy day. Fans of mysteries will enjoy this cold plot-driven thriller.
January 8, 2019
Anders is a company man and he is replacing the last Chief of Security at a mining facility in the Antarctic. He doesn't get off to a good start as the Commander running the mine doesn't like him and thinks he is going to be trouble. Then not soon after he arrived an explosion happens and then a man dies.
As he is the new arrival he is automatically a suspect in everyone's eyes making it hard for him to try and do his job and find out what happened. It's going to be a long hard winter as is and they are stuck there for 6 months but it gets worse as other things starts happening. Who wants to shut down the mining operation and why?
I thought this one was okay but it was a little to slow for my liking. I did like that it was based in a very cold place (even though I hate cold places) as I like to see how people survive in those elements and this really was a book about survival. I thought the ending was a little two neatly wrapped up and I had a lot of leftover questions. Like who was the Company? Other questions I can't talk about or I would spoil things. I also don't think the cover art is accurate to what happened to the victim and it bugs me.
Overall it was okay.
As he is the new arrival he is automatically a suspect in everyone's eyes making it hard for him to try and do his job and find out what happened. It's going to be a long hard winter as is and they are stuck there for 6 months but it gets worse as other things starts happening. Who wants to shut down the mining operation and why?
I thought this one was okay but it was a little to slow for my liking. I did like that it was based in a very cold place (even though I hate cold places) as I like to see how people survive in those elements and this really was a book about survival. I thought the ending was a little two neatly wrapped up and I had a lot of leftover questions. Like who was the Company? Other questions I can't talk about or I would spoil things. I also don't think the cover art is accurate to what happened to the victim and it bugs me.
Overall it was okay.
November 15, 2018
"...this age of decay..."
Anders Nordvelt is a last minute replacement as Head of Security for the dark winter months at the Australis station in Antarctica.
The story takes place in the future at least twenty years out. The world is pretty much run by The Company. Australis is producing coal, iron and oil from an Antarctic affected by global warming.
Anders arrives at the station, contact is decreased because of winter, and almost immediately a series of horrible crimes start to happen and the other twelve people at the station are all eying each other, but especially Anders, with suspicion.
I love books about Antarctica even ones in the future. This story presents a grim look at aspects of a future world along with the crew at Australis.
This was a book that I enjoyed very much.
I received this book from Flame Tree Press through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
Anders Nordvelt is a last minute replacement as Head of Security for the dark winter months at the Australis station in Antarctica.
The story takes place in the future at least twenty years out. The world is pretty much run by The Company. Australis is producing coal, iron and oil from an Antarctic affected by global warming.
Anders arrives at the station, contact is decreased because of winter, and almost immediately a series of horrible crimes start to happen and the other twelve people at the station are all eying each other, but especially Anders, with suspicion.
I love books about Antarctica even ones in the future. This story presents a grim look at aspects of a future world along with the crew at Australis.
This was a book that I enjoyed very much.
I received this book from Flame Tree Press through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
November 14, 2018
An interesting premise in an intriguing setting. There is some good writing in this book, some excellent passages and turns of phrase, but I have to say it didn't really grab me.
I think it's mostly because I didn't like the main character. He came across as passive and weak, and lacked the hidden strength (or other traits) that would have rounded him out. I just couldn't connect with him or feel sorry for him.
I also guessed at the main gist of the twist fairly early on. There were some unexpected aspects to that reveal, but being able to see what was probably happening took away a lot of the suspense.
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC.
I think it's mostly because I didn't like the main character. He came across as passive and weak, and lacked the hidden strength (or other traits) that would have rounded him out. I just couldn't connect with him or feel sorry for him.
I also guessed at the main gist of the twist fairly early on. There were some unexpected aspects to that reveal, but being able to see what was probably happening took away a lot of the suspense.
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC.
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