Cold Truth

by Richard Woodman

‘A tense, atmospheric nautical thriller, filled to the gunwales with Woodman’s trademark authenticity. The Cold Truth is a chilling journey into the heart of a dark, Arctic mystery.’ Matthew Willis, author of Bastion


Shortly after the carnage of the First World War, an advertisement in a newspaper, The Courier, sets merchant naval officer Edward Adams on a strange voyage to the Arctic to discover the fate of a lost Swedish polar expedition.


Funded by The Courier’s owner in an attempt to uncover the truth, the voyage aboard the Alert is also conceived as a philanthropic gesture to the Swedes, who regard the lost members of the expedition as national heroes.


But the Alert’s expedition fails to achieve anything - and the details of what happened aboard the vessel remain a mystery for many years.


It is only during the worst weeks of the Battle of the Atlantic in 1943, that Adams unwillingly reveals the cold truth to the daughter of his old employer.


Praise for Richard Woodman:

'This series could develop into something very special. Richard Woodman knows how to tell a story, but has a healthy respect for history... Compulsive reading.' Saul David


'Brings medieval Europe to life. The well-crafted action and historical insights enthral and entertain.' Richard Foreman, author of Band of Brothers


‘If Neptune’s Trident sets the standard for what is to follow - we can at least rest assured that there is a series that truly does justice to our proud merchant maritime past.’ Nautilus UK Telegraph


‘Richard Woodman tells many a good tale in this first volume and it is fascinating to read. If the rest of the series is as good as this one, they should all be on the bookshelves of those studying the history of Britain, from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries.’ Open History


Captain Richard Martin Woodman LVO is an English novelist and naval historian. He is the author of the series ‘A History of the British Merchant Navy’ and the Sword of State trilogy, which recreates the true story of George Monck, a giant of the 17th Century.

Genres: Thriller

129 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2020

About the author

Captain Richard Martin Woodman was an English novelist and naval historian who retired in 1997 from a 37-year nautical career, mainly working for Trinity House, to write full-time.

Reviews

[Wytzia Raspe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A navy commander tells a young female journalist during his WW2 leave about a Polar expedition he joined just after WW1. What happened there was never disclosed. As the daughter of the sponsor of that expedition she wants to discover the truth. I think the story gives a harrowing account of the mental stress the sailors endured during the years on convoy duty. But you have to wait till the ending of the Polar tale for that part of the story. PTSD is a theme.

[Sandra Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike any other book you’ve read.

This book deals with several subjects which, in reality, occurred many, many years ago but was not talked about. I found this book so fascinating that I read it in one sitting. Although based on several true events, I find it hard to believe that it is not entirely so. You’ve got to read this book.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really care for it. I couldn’t really identify or sympathize with any of the characters, and didn’t care for the gruesomeness involved. I guess I was looking for more on the perils of Arctic seafaring. Glad when I finished. Now I can move on to something else.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different sea story

I am a bit perplexed as to how strong I feel about the rating I gave it. It was an interesting storyline but left me with mixed feelings.

[Greg D]

DNF