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Alex Mason #2
Ice Cold Spy
Why was Dr. Robert Magnusson murdered? More to the point, why was he murdered five hundred miles from anywhere, in the frozen wilderness of Greenland?
And then there is the question of what he was doing seventy miles north of the UCLA base camp, where he should have been - and what were the instruments he had secretly set up and housed in the shack out there?
And then again. there is the question of who killed him. Thor Olafson, his colleague and friend, blames the United States’ Presidential Commission on Sustainable Energy, because his findings defied the Commission’s wishes. Dr. Bernard Monet, another team member, blames the Green Tomorrows Corporation, who partly funded the report. What his girlfriend Silvia thinks nobody knows, because she has disappeared with all his papers and research.
When Alex Mason is sent to Greenland to find answers to these questions, what he finds is something far more harrowing and far reaching than anyone could have expected. The investigation will take him, and Mossad Agent Aila Gallin, from DC to Nuuk, to London and the Bahamas – and to the very edge of perdition…
And then there is the question of what he was doing seventy miles north of the UCLA base camp, where he should have been - and what were the instruments he had secretly set up and housed in the shack out there?
And then again. there is the question of who killed him. Thor Olafson, his colleague and friend, blames the United States’ Presidential Commission on Sustainable Energy, because his findings defied the Commission’s wishes. Dr. Bernard Monet, another team member, blames the Green Tomorrows Corporation, who partly funded the report. What his girlfriend Silvia thinks nobody knows, because she has disappeared with all his papers and research.
When Alex Mason is sent to Greenland to find answers to these questions, what he finds is something far more harrowing and far reaching than anyone could have expected. The investigation will take him, and Mossad Agent Aila Gallin, from DC to Nuuk, to London and the Bahamas – and to the very edge of perdition…
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2021
3090 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
David Archer
189 books504 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
David Archer was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He is a fiction author and novelist, writing in the mysteries and thrillers genre. His approach to writing is to hit deep, keep you entertained, and leave you wanting MORE with every turn of the page. He writes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, all of which are primed to get your heart pumping.
David Archer was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He is a fiction author and novelist, writing in the mysteries and thrillers genre. His approach to writing is to hit deep, keep you entertained, and leave you wanting MORE with every turn of the page. He writes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, all of which are primed to get your heart pumping.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
February 2, 2023
Good amount of action, relevant story lines but, a bit predictable. Will read the next book in this series.
January 30, 2025
This felt like an old-school geopolitical thriller. The author had some good research on topics like climate change, ‘green’ energy, and Greenland. Sometimes, it seemed like the author wrote characters and the story around what they wanted to convey about these topics. There were lot of threads going on and I liked how they connected. Time pass
March 18, 2022
Ice Cold Spy - Alex Mason #2 David Archer I'm Hooked Again
I so love when a writer gives us a serious series. You know, five or more books. I used to be thrilled at finding a good trilogy. Now I think nothing of reading 20 books with the same main character! This is my first experience with Blake Tanner and I'm not disappointed. Matching up with David Archer, I pretty much expected world order chaos to be on the menu. Again not disappointed. Alex Mason is not just a man's man out there doing anything and everything getting the job done. Flying jets at the drop of a hat. Taking out an assassin squad single handedly. (book #1) He's highly intelligent, witty, and oh so yummy. He's that smooth decadent chocolate we don't want to share but truly should to be polite. I've had these books on my radar for a long time and I'm sooo glad I finally got around to them. They are getting my absolute full attention. For now on KU but I'll be watching to add these babies to my permanent library for later second and third read consumption!
I so love when a writer gives us a serious series. You know, five or more books. I used to be thrilled at finding a good trilogy. Now I think nothing of reading 20 books with the same main character! This is my first experience with Blake Tanner and I'm not disappointed. Matching up with David Archer, I pretty much expected world order chaos to be on the menu. Again not disappointed. Alex Mason is not just a man's man out there doing anything and everything getting the job done. Flying jets at the drop of a hat. Taking out an assassin squad single handedly. (book #1) He's highly intelligent, witty, and oh so yummy. He's that smooth decadent chocolate we don't want to share but truly should to be polite. I've had these books on my radar for a long time and I'm sooo glad I finally got around to them. They are getting my absolute full attention. For now on KU but I'll be watching to add these babies to my permanent library for later second and third read consumption!
November 22, 2021
Another Fine Alex Mason of ODIN Tale with Oil & Gas at its Center
Greenland may be sitting on vast resources of natural gas and oil a mile under the ice. That was the belief of researchers and the Green Company associated with a Presidential commission to investigate. Whenever there's gas and oil reserves, there's also danger from greedy nations and interference from environmentalists. As bodies begin to drop, people go missing, the president's office get the specialists at ODIN involved and Alex Mason is sent to investigate. An espionage story of nail biting intrigue, spies and missing papers novel you will want in your library.
Greenland may be sitting on vast resources of natural gas and oil a mile under the ice. That was the belief of researchers and the Green Company associated with a Presidential commission to investigate. Whenever there's gas and oil reserves, there's also danger from greedy nations and interference from environmentalists. As bodies begin to drop, people go missing, the president's office get the specialists at ODIN involved and Alex Mason is sent to investigate. An espionage story of nail biting intrigue, spies and missing papers novel you will want in your library.
April 16, 2022
Highly improbable
A fun read, but two important and unrealistic elements to the plot undermined its believability.
There is no credence to the idea that the world is running out of oil and gas. The USA and Canada have vast reserves.
Secondly, it's fantastical to believe a raw Jihadi recruit could be capable of flying a jet plane within a week or two of training from Nassau to Greenland.
A fun read, but two important and unrealistic elements to the plot undermined its believability.
There is no credence to the idea that the world is running out of oil and gas. The USA and Canada have vast reserves.
Secondly, it's fantastical to believe a raw Jihadi recruit could be capable of flying a jet plane within a week or two of training from Nassau to Greenland.
April 22, 2023
didn’t make sense
To many logic leaps. Not enough realism. How could someone hear about the report details “on the grapevine” ? This one fell apart with Toby Grimes character and everything after was one unrealistic logic leap after another. Felt like two stories that made absolutely no sense together or separately
To many logic leaps. Not enough realism. How could someone hear about the report details “on the grapevine” ? This one fell apart with Toby Grimes character and everything after was one unrealistic logic leap after another. Felt like two stories that made absolutely no sense together or separately
January 17, 2022
Heart beating fast, still trying to see where Alex Mason is going
Ice Cold Spy is the second of of four books in this series, so far. This collaboration of two superb writers exceeds expectations. Alex Mason is the next big unknown hero who doesn't always get the girl. If you like suspense seasoned with a scenario that almost too close to current affairs, this book, the one before it and the two coming next is for you. Three are currently available and number 4 is available for advance purchase. Highly recommended by an avid reader of action/suspense books. You will not be disappointed.
Ice Cold Spy is the second of of four books in this series, so far. This collaboration of two superb writers exceeds expectations. Alex Mason is the next big unknown hero who doesn't always get the girl. If you like suspense seasoned with a scenario that almost too close to current affairs, this book, the one before it and the two coming next is for you. Three are currently available and number 4 is available for advance purchase. Highly recommended by an avid reader of action/suspense books. You will not be disappointed.
June 18, 2024
Alex Mason is less James Bond and is a more serious character to go with a very serious story.
In book two Alex Mason is more serious and better for it as the subject matter of this story is nothing to laugh about not that all the hunting and killing that went on in book one was any laughing matter. In this book Mason is joined again with the beautiful and very dangerous Aila Gallin as they search for a woman who has the information that people are killing for and if it ends up in the wrong hands the implications are terrifying. This is a much better Alex Mason and ODIN story with a bit of a whodunit thrown in to add more excitement to an already exciting story.
In book two Alex Mason is more serious and better for it as the subject matter of this story is nothing to laugh about not that all the hunting and killing that went on in book one was any laughing matter. In this book Mason is joined again with the beautiful and very dangerous Aila Gallin as they search for a woman who has the information that people are killing for and if it ends up in the wrong hands the implications are terrifying. This is a much better Alex Mason and ODIN story with a bit of a whodunit thrown in to add more excitement to an already exciting story.
December 6, 2021
Ice Cold Spy David Archer
Greed appears to be mans primary motivator. The loss of human life is inconsequential. Their is oil underneath the ice in Greenland. It's also lying on top of a massive dormant volcano. Any attempt to drill will activate the volcano with catastrophic results. London, New York.... Will perish. But the monetary gains are worth the risk. Alex Mason is the only person who appears to be able to stop this. Non stop action to the first and last page!!! An excellent read!!
Greed appears to be mans primary motivator. The loss of human life is inconsequential. Their is oil underneath the ice in Greenland. It's also lying on top of a massive dormant volcano. Any attempt to drill will activate the volcano with catastrophic results. London, New York.... Will perish. But the monetary gains are worth the risk. Alex Mason is the only person who appears to be able to stop this. Non stop action to the first and last page!!! An excellent read!!
January 12, 2022
This is the first book I have read in this series. Whilst I enjoyed it, I found the plot to be quite complicated and I did have to backtrack a few times to remind myself who was who. It took a while to get in to the story since nothing seemed to link together for while, but eventually things started to slot into place. There are plenty of twists and turns, many leading the reader up the garden path. It certainly wasn't obvious who the murderer was, although I did work it out right towards the end.
May 5, 2022
Gripping storyline.
Another great storyline that grabs your attention from start to finish.
Although fictional the reader has an insight to the world of greed and corruption that contains some information which could possibly be happening in the present climate that we live in where powerful men who believe that they are untouchable can get away with what ever they want without consequences,however they have not taken into account Alex Mason and his friends who will find them and put an end to their scheming in a permanent way.
Another great storyline that grabs your attention from start to finish.
Although fictional the reader has an insight to the world of greed and corruption that contains some information which could possibly be happening in the present climate that we live in where powerful men who believe that they are untouchable can get away with what ever they want without consequences,however they have not taken into account Alex Mason and his friends who will find them and put an end to their scheming in a permanent way.
May 25, 2023
Great story, unexpected ending
The story line, characters, and pace are everything that a reader wants. I have a pet peeve that means my review rating is 4 stars not five. In their prior book, ODIN, and in this book the authors send Mason to a place he admits that he has never been to. Then, they proceed to have Mason give a street by street play by play as he is driving, sometimes even describing streets he has not crossed or turned onto. This just doesn’t make sense and distracts from an otherwise good book.
The story line, characters, and pace are everything that a reader wants. I have a pet peeve that means my review rating is 4 stars not five. In their prior book, ODIN, and in this book the authors send Mason to a place he admits that he has never been to. Then, they proceed to have Mason give a street by street play by play as he is driving, sometimes even describing streets he has not crossed or turned onto. This just doesn’t make sense and distracts from an otherwise good book.
October 2, 2023
Misdirection.
Greenland, oil, natural gas, ice cap and a volcano = dead scientist.
When scientist, Bob Magnusson is followed to the shack containing the monitoring sensors for what lies beneath a mile or two of ice, he knows his death is close by.
He phones his girlfriend, Silvia, and tells her to leave Greenland and take his research with her. His killer completes his task and leaves.
Meanwhile Silvia has contacted local police, who find Bob's body on the ice field.
And so it begins.....
Good read, interesting story line.
Greenland, oil, natural gas, ice cap and a volcano = dead scientist.
When scientist, Bob Magnusson is followed to the shack containing the monitoring sensors for what lies beneath a mile or two of ice, he knows his death is close by.
He phones his girlfriend, Silvia, and tells her to leave Greenland and take his research with her. His killer completes his task and leaves.
Meanwhile Silvia has contacted local police, who find Bob's body on the ice field.
And so it begins.....
Good read, interesting story line.
December 16, 2023
Light weight spy novel
Book 2 and still no real understanding of who Mason is, other than an investigator for ODIN. To call him a spy is a stretch
Gallin reappears and I assume she will be a recurring character the books and strangely I feel you know her, better than Mason
The story this time round is convoluted and full of coincidences, if you can get over this, then you may enjoy it more than me. I just find too many coincidences too disbelieveanle.
It's good enough for me to keep going with the series, at least for now.
Book 2 and still no real understanding of who Mason is, other than an investigator for ODIN. To call him a spy is a stretch
Gallin reappears and I assume she will be a recurring character the books and strangely I feel you know her, better than Mason
The story this time round is convoluted and full of coincidences, if you can get over this, then you may enjoy it more than me. I just find too many coincidences too disbelieveanle.
It's good enough for me to keep going with the series, at least for now.
November 28, 2021
Another great read by a great pair
Having lived in Alaska for over 20 years, I could almost feel the cold and disolution that their characters suffered. They were spot on. The story moves right along and is often difficult to put down. It’s fast paced, moves among the continents with ease, and makes one wish they could really see the places the characters visit, and spend time on one of the sandy beaches, with one of those drinks with the umbrella.
Having lived in Alaska for over 20 years, I could almost feel the cold and disolution that their characters suffered. They were spot on. The story moves right along and is often difficult to put down. It’s fast paced, moves among the continents with ease, and makes one wish they could really see the places the characters visit, and spend time on one of the sandy beaches, with one of those drinks with the umbrella.
December 13, 2021
Ice Cold Spy
I found this to be a red hot story. Well written with a believable story line and easy to retain the readers interest. The only major flaw I would say is that a low level jihadist coming out training would have been trained to fly an airplane half way around the world and land it in Greenland on an Ice field and then try to plant a nuclear device. That seems like it would require a lot of training and planning, but the book is still a good one.
I found this to be a red hot story. Well written with a believable story line and easy to retain the readers interest. The only major flaw I would say is that a low level jihadist coming out training would have been trained to fly an airplane half way around the world and land it in Greenland on an Ice field and then try to plant a nuclear device. That seems like it would require a lot of training and planning, but the book is still a good one.
March 1, 2022
Too Cold for Words
I stumbled upon this book and this writer. I immediately got intrigued with the story that held my interest in such a way that I had to find out what happened. The pieces of the story were somewhat disjointed for quite awhile. I couldn’t believe the worst could happen but I had no idea it would play out the way it did.
A very different plot than I imagined but nevertheless it really kept me reading.
I highly recommend this book!
I stumbled upon this book and this writer. I immediately got intrigued with the story that held my interest in such a way that I had to find out what happened. The pieces of the story were somewhat disjointed for quite awhile. I couldn’t believe the worst could happen but I had no idea it would play out the way it did.
A very different plot than I imagined but nevertheless it really kept me reading.
I highly recommend this book!
December 19, 2022
Alex Mason versus Harry Bauer
I really enjoyed the first two books of the A!ex Mason saga. I've always been a sucker for a little romance in an action book. And Alex's relationship with Gallin is just the ticket. I also find Alex a lot more subtle action figure than Harry Bauer. Of course he can afford to be with Gallin as his partner. Look forward to their adventures continuing!
I really enjoyed the first two books of the A!ex Mason saga. I've always been a sucker for a little romance in an action book. And Alex's relationship with Gallin is just the ticket. I also find Alex a lot more subtle action figure than Harry Bauer. Of course he can afford to be with Gallin as his partner. Look forward to their adventures continuing!
December 27, 2022
Greenland to London to D.C. and Back
This story of three governments and one global energy company, all with different agendas, battle each other for possession of scientific research that is adverse to politicians’ grab for power and energy company profits. This complex struggle exposes government corruption, religious theocracy ruthlessness and win at any costs by all players. Fast paced with good character development this is a must read.
This story of three governments and one global energy company, all with different agendas, battle each other for possession of scientific research that is adverse to politicians’ grab for power and energy company profits. This complex struggle exposes government corruption, religious theocracy ruthlessness and win at any costs by all players. Fast paced with good character development this is a must read.
August 24, 2023
Alex Mason and his sort-of girlfriend Aila Gillin have to save the world from a villainous plot involving glaciers in the frozen wastes of Greenland. If this were James Bond there would be a cartoon-like super-villain - instead we have greedy corporate types and rabid religious nuts and a buried volcano. And it's really a lot scarier and yet more fun because it's something we can all relate to in these all-too-interesting times.
November 11, 2023
A Great Tall Tale With Twists
Our hero Alex gets placed in harms way once again. Have never visited Greenland before but I know of it's vast snow and ice. It has killed many that have fond themselves lost.There are many lying agent from other jurisdictions involved here. A reader must follow closely, as the twists and turns abound. A nuclear disaster iscavoided. Our hero survives. In the end he is recovering in the Bahamas with drinks on the back with a talented woman!
Our hero Alex gets placed in harms way once again. Have never visited Greenland before but I know of it's vast snow and ice. It has killed many that have fond themselves lost.There are many lying agent from other jurisdictions involved here. A reader must follow closely, as the twists and turns abound. A nuclear disaster iscavoided. Our hero survives. In the end he is recovering in the Bahamas with drinks on the back with a talented woman!
February 1, 2024
Hard read for me
I really like David Archer’s writing. This was a hard read for me. I suppose it was too wordy…I couldn’t get into the characters nor storyline. A good topic and you could certainly identify with the crisis. It just didn’t grab me like most of his stories. I plundered along because I never start a book and not finish but it was a long and hard road. I usually read a book a day…2 days at most. This took me almost a week.
I really like David Archer’s writing. This was a hard read for me. I suppose it was too wordy…I couldn’t get into the characters nor storyline. A good topic and you could certainly identify with the crisis. It just didn’t grab me like most of his stories. I plundered along because I never start a book and not finish but it was a long and hard road. I usually read a book a day…2 days at most. This took me almost a week.
December 9, 2025
I have read many books by these authors and have liked all of them until this one. This story line was way too confusing for me. Struggled to finish. The basic plot was exciting, but I got lost many times trying to figure out who was doing what to whom and why. The "good guys" and the "bad guys" kept shifting for me. Likely what the authors had in mind. Hopefully your experience is different from mine.
November 17, 2021
Complex and Confusing
I was disappointed by this book...expected more from David Archer. The plot seemed to be disjointed and more convoluted than necessary. The reasoning behind the moves of the main characters, Bob, Sylvia, Thor made little sense and the adventure began to wane long before Alex flew back to Greenland at the end. I may try Book 3...if so, I hope it's better!
I was disappointed by this book...expected more from David Archer. The plot seemed to be disjointed and more convoluted than necessary. The reasoning behind the moves of the main characters, Bob, Sylvia, Thor made little sense and the adventure began to wane long before Alex flew back to Greenland at the end. I may try Book 3...if so, I hope it's better!
November 28, 2021
Super Excellent Read!!!
Archer and Banner have outdone themselves w this conspiracy action thriller! There are many unexpected twists and turns in the story line, keeping the plot and characters engaging. One thing I enjoyed most was that you got to know the major characters involved but had to work at how they were interrelated within the conspiracy. Great job!
Archer and Banner have outdone themselves w this conspiracy action thriller! There are many unexpected twists and turns in the story line, keeping the plot and characters engaging. One thing I enjoyed most was that you got to know the major characters involved but had to work at how they were interrelated within the conspiracy. Great job!
December 8, 2021
Excellent way to spend a Sunday a afternoon with the snow falling..
This is the second book in a series by two of my favorite authors. The storyline was good and thoroughly researched. This book was actually better than the first. I expect that as David and Blake get more comfortable with each others style of writing, the next book will score a touchdown, for sure.
This is the second book in a series by two of my favorite authors. The storyline was good and thoroughly researched. This book was actually better than the first. I expect that as David and Blake get more comfortable with each others style of writing, the next book will score a touchdown, for sure.
February 15, 2022
Entertaining
This was a pretty good novel. I liked the plot, there are a few unanswered items that could cause someone to pull out their hair if they dwell on that sort of thing. I won't go into that here, I will leave it up to the reader to make their own decisions. This is not a book I couldn't put down, but I would recommend it for a decent and entertaining read.
This was a pretty good novel. I liked the plot, there are a few unanswered items that could cause someone to pull out their hair if they dwell on that sort of thing. I won't go into that here, I will leave it up to the reader to make their own decisions. This is not a book I couldn't put down, but I would recommend it for a decent and entertaining read.
April 2, 2022
Ice Cold Spy
A very interesting but very convoluted story with many characters. Mason is sent to Greenland to find out who killed an American scientist and while there others involved in the project are also killed. More people and countries want a copy of the report and more people die along the way . But eventually the case is solved.
A very interesting but very convoluted story with many characters. Mason is sent to Greenland to find out who killed an American scientist and while there others involved in the project are also killed. More people and countries want a copy of the report and more people die along the way . But eventually the case is solved.
April 3, 2022
Too much like a James Bond wanna be. The descriptions of the Savile row suits shirts and ties explanation of the wines and the food,irresistible to all women, envied by all men a bad ass with the philosophers mindset. Just too stereotypical and over done to suit me perhaps if the references were served up in smaller pieces it would be more palatable
May 23, 2022
Ice Cold Spy
I enjoyed this 2nd book by these two authors. It was more cohesive and better to understand. However, I still think that
things got too convoluted. Then, I remember that the whole book is about being a spy. Finally I realize that to be a good spy you gotta keep mixing things up for everyone!!
I enjoyed this 2nd book by these two authors. It was more cohesive and better to understand. However, I still think that
things got too convoluted. Then, I remember that the whole book is about being a spy. Finally I realize that to be a good spy you gotta keep mixing things up for everyone!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews