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Valena Walker #1
In Cold Pursuit: A Mystery from the Last Continent
Valena Walker is a dedicated master's student in geology headed to Antarctica to study glaciology with the venerable Dr. Emmett Vanderzee. Being on the ice is something she's dreamed about since she was a little girl. But when she finally arrives at McMurdo, she discovers that her professor has been arrested for murder, and what's more, that the incident happened a year ago. A newspaper reporter who'd visited Antarctica the previous winter had died from exposure, and though no one was a fan of the guy—he was attempting to contradict Vanderzee's research—by all accounts, everyone was devastated to lose someone on the ice.
Valena quickly realizes that in order to avoid being shipped north immediately and having her grant canceled, she must embrace the role of detective and work to clear his name—and save herself in the process.
Valena quickly realizes that in order to avoid being shipped north immediately and having her grant canceled, she must embrace the role of detective and work to clear his name—and save herself in the process.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 7, 2007
6 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Andrews
46 books81 followersSarah Andrews is a geologist who writes mystery novels about a geologist.
She currently lives in northern California and invests her free time on community pursuits and flying, skiing, and sailing with her husband and son.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
She currently lives in northern California and invests her free time on community pursuits and flying, skiing, and sailing with her husband and son.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
September 9, 2025
Where do I start with this hot mess of a book? The atrocious dialogue, the boring mystery or the convoluted storyline? The best thing about this book was the 🔥discussion at book club. The one star is for the research about Antarctica and for getting a book published.
February 11, 2013
I really wanted to like this book. The concept is great, the setting is interesting, and the science should be good.
And it utterly managed to blow all of that. The science was tacked in there, with very little relevance to the story, and was overly simplistic. The characters were inconsistent and hard to keep track of. Even the setting got old. And judging from the sheer number of misplaced quotation marks and sentences missing words, a copy editor was desperately needed for this.
And it utterly managed to blow all of that. The science was tacked in there, with very little relevance to the story, and was overly simplistic. The characters were inconsistent and hard to keep track of. Even the setting got old. And judging from the sheer number of misplaced quotation marks and sentences missing words, a copy editor was desperately needed for this.
January 23, 2017
Wah wah. Wah wah wah wah. I didn't make it far; but several things annoyed me immediately. Valena on one page doesn't want to seem TOO interested in making friends with one man. On the very next page, she's changing into a curve hugging fleece top before she goes to the mess hall for the very first time. Also, the dialog is stiff; and Andrews spends a lot of time telling not showing. Meh.
April 4, 2014
I hate it when the title is the most interesting thing about a book.
January 30, 2021
When glaciology graduate student Valena Walker arrives at McMurdo base in Antarctica, she discovers that her mentor has been arrested for the death of a reporter the year before (even though no one seems to think he did anything wrong, and the authorities barely talked to anyone at McMurdo). To save her professor (and her own career), Valena starts investigating the crime herself. But what happens when she gets too close?
Author Andrews actually went to Antarctica to research this book, and it shows. I think only someone else who had been to The Last Continent (or was otherwise an expert in cold survival) would know the difference. That adds a lot of realism to the story. The mystery itself is relatively standard, but with the location itself creating obstacles for Valena to overcome, it's a good change of pace to most other mysteries.
Author Andrews actually went to Antarctica to research this book, and it shows. I think only someone else who had been to The Last Continent (or was otherwise an expert in cold survival) would know the difference. That adds a lot of realism to the story. The mystery itself is relatively standard, but with the location itself creating obstacles for Valena to overcome, it's a good change of pace to most other mysteries.
April 4, 2017
This book had everything in it that I look for in an excellent read. The perfect amount of mystery, setting-descriptions, character development, educational value and that feeling of "I just cant set this book down"...
This author researched Antarctica very well, the comings and goings and day in and out of McMurdo Station. She even went to the continent in order to make this read as accurate as possible in combination with her fictional mystery.
Ive always wished to go to the great white continent in the south and this book is as close as I can get. LOVED it!
This author researched Antarctica very well, the comings and goings and day in and out of McMurdo Station. She even went to the continent in order to make this read as accurate as possible in combination with her fictional mystery.
Ive always wished to go to the great white continent in the south and this book is as close as I can get. LOVED it!
February 9, 2013
I received this book as a gift from a biologist friend who's given me stuff I enjoyed before. This was another hit! I really enjoyed the unique setting and the careful and detailed descriptions of Antarctica and its various environments and history. Everything appeared to have been meticulously researched. I also enjoyed the no-nonsense approach to science and what it's telling us about our world - past, present, and future. I've known a few people who worked at McMurdo, and this book gave me a much more complete picture of what their lives must have been like and how the place was set up.
I found it a little difficult to track the large number of characters; a list of who's who would have been nice, but there didn't seem to be one, at least not in my Nook version (the formatting for which was terrible - but that's not the author's fault). I also hoped for a little less mundane of a solution to the mysteries that are central to the book, maybe something that could only be motivated by the Antarctic environment and the occupations of the people who lived there. Instead, the mysteries were transplanted to an exotic locale, but remained run-of-the-mill in motive.
I still enjoyed the book a lot and will look for other works by this author. the setting-immersion makes up for any shortcomings in plot.
I found it a little difficult to track the large number of characters; a list of who's who would have been nice, but there didn't seem to be one, at least not in my Nook version (the formatting for which was terrible - but that's not the author's fault). I also hoped for a little less mundane of a solution to the mysteries that are central to the book, maybe something that could only be motivated by the Antarctic environment and the occupations of the people who lived there. Instead, the mysteries were transplanted to an exotic locale, but remained run-of-the-mill in motive.
I still enjoyed the book a lot and will look for other works by this author. the setting-immersion makes up for any shortcomings in plot.
November 30, 2015
This book was pretty slow and hard to get into. It had very long sections of technical descriptions that I had to basically skim over. Also too many characters were introduced in a short time and a lot of times I didn't know what character they were talking about. In the end the mystery did pick up and I got a little bit into it, but it was too little too late. I would not recommend this book to a friend.
September 5, 2011
Another stunner from author Sarah Andrews, this one with a new protag, Valena Walker, working on a master in geology, specializing in glaciology. In Cold Pursuit is set in Antarctica and I was caught from the opening pages as Valena is in transport to the South Pole.
Like Em Hansen, Valena feels herself apart and alone, someone who doesn't belong. So one aspect of the mystery is Valena's search for community, for inner peace and for her own identity. Valena has an almost sixth sense about people, as if she sees their souls and inner truth.
Andrews as always, teaches through science. In Cold Persuit is the product of an NSF grant in support of science learning and outreach, funding Andrews' research and study at McMurdo and in the field, on the ice.
I loved Andrews' glorious writing of the ice! The majesty of the glaciers, the mystery of the ice. The enormity of this protected continent, hidden by weather, extreme cold and forbidding environs that support only the most basic of life forms - and also seals, penguins and petrels. I imagine that Valena's awe is also Andrews as she first sees the massive geological ruptures that create the Ferrar Dolerite. That Valena's giddy joy and absolute purity of vision is also Andrews'.
It's so hard to choose just one of Andrews' passages, and you'll just have to read In Cold Pursuit for yourself - but here's one small teaser. "As they flew deeper into the continent, the mountains rose above them into minarets and castles. Mammoth tongues of glacial ice licked down wide valleys from the impossibly broad reaches of the Antarctic Plateau. Ice and rock, rock and ice rolled out all around them, a symphony of harsh beauty. The brute strength and naked vulnerability of the land called Valena to its icy breast..."
Andrews writes of the ice as a living, breathing being that changes and morphs and calls out its soul to those who listen. Scott and Shackleton listened,consumed with the idea of conquering Antarctica. Valena and I'm certain Andrews as well, is breathless here too, seeing the remains of their expeditions preserved in the cold, reminders of mad courage.
In Cold Pursuit is a marvelous mystery. I hope Andrews will write more mysteries set in the last continent, an amazing place. If not, I'll just have to read In Cold Pursuit again and again.
--Ashland Mystery
Like Em Hansen, Valena feels herself apart and alone, someone who doesn't belong. So one aspect of the mystery is Valena's search for community, for inner peace and for her own identity. Valena has an almost sixth sense about people, as if she sees their souls and inner truth.
Andrews as always, teaches through science. In Cold Persuit is the product of an NSF grant in support of science learning and outreach, funding Andrews' research and study at McMurdo and in the field, on the ice.
I loved Andrews' glorious writing of the ice! The majesty of the glaciers, the mystery of the ice. The enormity of this protected continent, hidden by weather, extreme cold and forbidding environs that support only the most basic of life forms - and also seals, penguins and petrels. I imagine that Valena's awe is also Andrews as she first sees the massive geological ruptures that create the Ferrar Dolerite. That Valena's giddy joy and absolute purity of vision is also Andrews'.
It's so hard to choose just one of Andrews' passages, and you'll just have to read In Cold Pursuit for yourself - but here's one small teaser. "As they flew deeper into the continent, the mountains rose above them into minarets and castles. Mammoth tongues of glacial ice licked down wide valleys from the impossibly broad reaches of the Antarctic Plateau. Ice and rock, rock and ice rolled out all around them, a symphony of harsh beauty. The brute strength and naked vulnerability of the land called Valena to its icy breast..."
Andrews writes of the ice as a living, breathing being that changes and morphs and calls out its soul to those who listen. Scott and Shackleton listened,consumed with the idea of conquering Antarctica. Valena and I'm certain Andrews as well, is breathless here too, seeing the remains of their expeditions preserved in the cold, reminders of mad courage.
In Cold Pursuit is a marvelous mystery. I hope Andrews will write more mysteries set in the last continent, an amazing place. If not, I'll just have to read In Cold Pursuit again and again.
--Ashland Mystery
August 24, 2011
3 1/2 stars. Valena Walker is living her dream of traveling to Antarctica to work on her master's degree. She has snagged an assistantship with a well-known and respected glaciologist, Dr Emmett Vanderzee. But as soon as she arrives, Valena learns that Vanderzee has been arrested for murder. In order to stay in Antarctica, Valena needs to clear the professor's name. To do this, she seeks out all the people who were at the camp where the death occurred. This takes her on the adventure of a life time, and brings her close to danger, when another suspicious death occurs.
I enjoyed this book. The mystery was good and I liked the way the clues were given to the reader. There is also a lot about Antarctica, ice and global warming. I found all this very interesting but it might not be everyone's cup of tea. We also get introduced to a large group of eccentrics who are the people who dare to inhabit this very dangerous continent. I enjoyed the people, but there were just a few too many and I sometimes lost who different folks were. But overall, a very good Summer read.
I enjoyed this book. The mystery was good and I liked the way the clues were given to the reader. There is also a lot about Antarctica, ice and global warming. I found all this very interesting but it might not be everyone's cup of tea. We also get introduced to a large group of eccentrics who are the people who dare to inhabit this very dangerous continent. I enjoyed the people, but there were just a few too many and I sometimes lost who different folks were. But overall, a very good Summer read.
December 31, 2019
Completely engaging! The research Sarah Andrews must’ve done to write this was extensive The details of scenery and technology made me feel like I was in Antarctica too. I loved the explanations of the evidence scientists collect. Nothing scientific was glossed over. The plot moved at a good pace and the complexity of the setting and characters reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel. If you like to solve the puzzle before the reveal, you might want to read with a notepad nearby. I definitely recommend this to people who enjoy science, nature, mysteries, adventures and diverse teams.
September 30, 2024
This is a great mystery set in fantastic Antarctica! Andrews describes the setting in detail for the reader to be transported to the bottom of the world in its magnificent glory. The scientist Valena is trying to prove her project director did not murder a vindictive reporter who decried science altogether.
I really enjoyed this book and the great description of Antarctica.
The author passed away several years ago so I feel fortunate to have found this book.
I really enjoyed this book and the great description of Antarctica.
The author passed away several years ago so I feel fortunate to have found this book.
October 10, 2025
Sarah Andrews’ In Cold Pursuit is an arctic fusion of intellect and intrigue a masterfully woven mystery that plunges readers into the blinding white silence of Antarctica, where secrets lie buried beneath the ice.
At the heart of it is Valena Walker, a brilliant geology student chasing her dream to study glaciology on the last continent. But the frozen landscape she’s longed to explore quickly becomes a labyrinth of suspicion when her mentor, Dr. Emmett Vanderzee, is arrested for murder. With her research and life suddenly on the line, Valena must trade her rock hammer for deductive grit, uncovering truths as treacherous as the shifting glaciers around her.
Andrews, herself a geologist, brings scientific precision and visceral authenticity to every detail from the biting cold of McMurdo to the claustrophobic politics of academic research in isolation. The result is a novel that’s both intellectually sharp and emotionally gripping, where science and survival entwine in a chilling dance.
Fans of Ann Cleeves, Nevada Barr, and The Terror will find In Cold Pursuit impossible to put down a cerebral, slow-burn thriller that proves even at the ends of the Earth, the human heart remains the most mysterious terrain of all.
At the heart of it is Valena Walker, a brilliant geology student chasing her dream to study glaciology on the last continent. But the frozen landscape she’s longed to explore quickly becomes a labyrinth of suspicion when her mentor, Dr. Emmett Vanderzee, is arrested for murder. With her research and life suddenly on the line, Valena must trade her rock hammer for deductive grit, uncovering truths as treacherous as the shifting glaciers around her.
Andrews, herself a geologist, brings scientific precision and visceral authenticity to every detail from the biting cold of McMurdo to the claustrophobic politics of academic research in isolation. The result is a novel that’s both intellectually sharp and emotionally gripping, where science and survival entwine in a chilling dance.
Fans of Ann Cleeves, Nevada Barr, and The Terror will find In Cold Pursuit impossible to put down a cerebral, slow-burn thriller that proves even at the ends of the Earth, the human heart remains the most mysterious terrain of all.
October 4, 2021
So many stories within each other. Valena arrives in Antarctica planning to work on her masters thesis, only to find her professor and sponsor has been arrested for something that happened the previous year. She’s to be sent back on the next available flight. To prevent that from happening she starts investigating what happened the previous year and continues to act like everything is OK for as long as she can. Some of the people she talks to aren’t real forthcoming with information from previous season and others are at other camp locations. Still others warn her to let it be.
After another person turns up dead, artifacts and penguin eggs are stolen, the mysteries start piling up and everyone starts worrying about Valena’s safety.
In addition to being a good mystery, the details of life on Antarctica and facts related to climate change are fascinating and insightful.
After another person turns up dead, artifacts and penguin eggs are stolen, the mysteries start piling up and everyone starts worrying about Valena’s safety.
In addition to being a good mystery, the details of life on Antarctica and facts related to climate change are fascinating and insightful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2025
Valena Walker has gone to the Antarctica to be with Professor, Dr. Emmett Vanderzee, to research for her master's degree. When she arrives, she finds he has been accused of murder and not there. Valena is now trying to find who really killed the newspaper reporter.
There are two deaths in this mystery. A different mystery book that I have read because so much of the book is about Antarctica and a lot of the book is about the area for the geology and glaciers.
I saw a lot of reviews of some who did not like the book. It is very detailed about the geology of the area, what they wear, what they eat and the equipment used. I personally liked the book and what was happening with the detailed information. The author spent time in the area researching her book. It was published in 2007. Sarah Andrews was an American geologist and author of twelve science-based mystery novels and several short stories. Sad to say the author, her son and her husband died in a plane crash in 2019.
5*
There are two deaths in this mystery. A different mystery book that I have read because so much of the book is about Antarctica and a lot of the book is about the area for the geology and glaciers.
I saw a lot of reviews of some who did not like the book. It is very detailed about the geology of the area, what they wear, what they eat and the equipment used. I personally liked the book and what was happening with the detailed information. The author spent time in the area researching her book. It was published in 2007. Sarah Andrews was an American geologist and author of twelve science-based mystery novels and several short stories. Sad to say the author, her son and her husband died in a plane crash in 2019.
5*
March 11, 2018
the author was more interested in proving she knew the technical details of going to Antarctica than developing plot. it was cute for a few pages then just tedious. a few details to highlight the unique properties of the location would have served the story better than inundating the reader with a "welcome to mcmurdo" documentary.
December 5, 2024
What? Not an Em Hansen mystery? But an interesting new main character, and a non-Hansen environment, at the big international Antarctic research station. An intriguing mystery and lots of fascinating background around cold world science & the Antarctic.
November 24, 2017
Excellent 😊 Love the science and mystery. Wonderful descriptions of the people, buildings and landscape. I could get a feel for what it would be like to live there.
March 14, 2018
read a couple of years ago. Failed to record.
February 18, 2019
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. A great mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.
August 16, 2019
Who really wrote this book? It did not measure up to her earlier books - I read and enjoyed all of them. The text was downright annoying; it was poorly edited and perhaps not proof-read at all.
March 9, 2021
Good mystery. Loved learning all about Antarctica. Exciting informative fun read.
March 21, 2022
I thought this could be really interesting but after 3 pages of a dining room conversation about which girls had the nicest breasts, I just didn't care anymore.
January 8, 2023
I liked the setting (the author actually spent time in Antarctica to research this book) and the science described…the mystery took a backseat in this book but overall, I liked the book!
February 20, 2024
I enjoyed the descriptions and infomation about Antarctica but found the story line hard to follow, toom many characters and just not connecting to any of them.
Read
September 5, 2025Great descriptions of Antarctica!
September 6, 2025
5 stars, mostly because 5 pages till the end I still didn't know whodunnit and because of the gorgeous antarctic setting.
August 12, 2016
I dragged my way through this book. There was nothing about it that caught or kept my attention for more than a few minutes. I would vow to read for at least an hour and 10 minutes in would be picking up my phone. Finally, finished reading it so I could include it in the reading challenge as a book set in Antarctica.
Sadly, what promised to be one of my favorite reads for this years challenge, became one of the worst. There was nothing interesting about the lead character, Valena, who is a grad student traveling to the icy continent to complete work towards an advanced degree. She arrives fresh faced and excited, only to find that the professor she is to work with has been arrested in connection with a death that happened the previous year. Told she will be sent home on the next available flight, Valena decides to investigate on her own, with the belief that if she can solve the mystery, she will be able to finish the work she came to Antarctica to do.
While I won't give away specifics, the ending is what would be expected. Sadly though, there is no clear path to how Valena arrived at the answer to the puzzle, so it doesn't really make sense. Also, as in all good who done its, the guilty party tries to do away with her. But there is absolutely no reason for it, since there was really no way he could have known that she had enough to expose him.
I gave it one star, though I did find tidbits of information about the frozen continent to be of interest. They were just told in such a dull voice that I fear I may have missed some.
Sadly, what promised to be one of my favorite reads for this years challenge, became one of the worst. There was nothing interesting about the lead character, Valena, who is a grad student traveling to the icy continent to complete work towards an advanced degree. She arrives fresh faced and excited, only to find that the professor she is to work with has been arrested in connection with a death that happened the previous year. Told she will be sent home on the next available flight, Valena decides to investigate on her own, with the belief that if she can solve the mystery, she will be able to finish the work she came to Antarctica to do.
While I won't give away specifics, the ending is what would be expected. Sadly though, there is no clear path to how Valena arrived at the answer to the puzzle, so it doesn't really make sense. Also, as in all good who done its, the guilty party tries to do away with her. But there is absolutely no reason for it, since there was really no way he could have known that she had enough to expose him.
I gave it one star, though I did find tidbits of information about the frozen continent to be of interest. They were just told in such a dull voice that I fear I may have missed some.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2009
Book 11 in the Em Hansen mystery series
After reading this novel, I was surprised to discover it is part of a series, I found it could be enjoyed on its own. The author's long time protagonist Em Hansen has a very limited role, a token appearance, in fact, she introduces a new character: Valena Walker, a geology student. In this story we are plunged into a world that most of us only dream of visiting... Antarctica...
Upon arriving in Mc Murdo to study glaciology with the famous Dr. Emmett Vanderzee, Valena soon discovers that her mentor has been arrested for murdering a newspaper reporter who was critical of his research. The previous year, under the supervision of Vanderzee, he went missing and was later found dead of exposure.
With her sponsor under arrest, Valena's studies are in peril. Determine not to let this happen she turns into an amateur sleuth investigator to clear her mentor's name and find out what really happened... The story is told through her eyes.
Ms Andrews rewards us with a wonderful descriptive imagery of Antarctica, a carefully plotted murder mystery, plenty of technological and geographical details and an intrepid new heroine. Unfortunately, I found the story tended to ramble a lot and there were too many characters that were hard to tell apart, confusing at times.
I enjoyed this story but tend to believe it is not the author's best.
After reading this novel, I was surprised to discover it is part of a series, I found it could be enjoyed on its own. The author's long time protagonist Em Hansen has a very limited role, a token appearance, in fact, she introduces a new character: Valena Walker, a geology student. In this story we are plunged into a world that most of us only dream of visiting... Antarctica...
Upon arriving in Mc Murdo to study glaciology with the famous Dr. Emmett Vanderzee, Valena soon discovers that her mentor has been arrested for murdering a newspaper reporter who was critical of his research. The previous year, under the supervision of Vanderzee, he went missing and was later found dead of exposure.
With her sponsor under arrest, Valena's studies are in peril. Determine not to let this happen she turns into an amateur sleuth investigator to clear her mentor's name and find out what really happened... The story is told through her eyes.
Ms Andrews rewards us with a wonderful descriptive imagery of Antarctica, a carefully plotted murder mystery, plenty of technological and geographical details and an intrepid new heroine. Unfortunately, I found the story tended to ramble a lot and there were too many characters that were hard to tell apart, confusing at times.
I enjoyed this story but tend to believe it is not the author's best.
December 26, 2014
Wow! This was the first book I truly struggled to read.
First, let me start by saying that this book is about a masters student who goes to Antarctica and is confronted by the knowledge that her professor had been arrested for murder. She was forced to play detective or get sent back to the states.
The book sounds incredible, suspenseful, and thrilling. None of the above are true. I found Sarah Andrews' writing less than gripping. It was a chore to finish the book. Once it started to get good or exciting, you'd turn the page to be dropped back down to boresville.
If you're unfamiliar with Antarctica you're destined to spend some time incredibly confused or on Google. The terms used were not terms known to the common person, in my opinion.
I do, however, enjoy that this book did have a science teaching to it. It was cool to learn some things that I didn't know, and to learn and understand a touch more about global warming.
If asked to recommend this book, I would not. There were a lot of glaring errors throughout, from misplaced quotation marks, to words repeated in a sentence, that didn't belong. Ex: "the dog looked the dog looked at the tree". (Not from the book).
I do not believe I will read any further of her books, and may avoid the publisher as well.
First, let me start by saying that this book is about a masters student who goes to Antarctica and is confronted by the knowledge that her professor had been arrested for murder. She was forced to play detective or get sent back to the states.
The book sounds incredible, suspenseful, and thrilling. None of the above are true. I found Sarah Andrews' writing less than gripping. It was a chore to finish the book. Once it started to get good or exciting, you'd turn the page to be dropped back down to boresville.
If you're unfamiliar with Antarctica you're destined to spend some time incredibly confused or on Google. The terms used were not terms known to the common person, in my opinion.
I do, however, enjoy that this book did have a science teaching to it. It was cool to learn some things that I didn't know, and to learn and understand a touch more about global warming.
If asked to recommend this book, I would not. There were a lot of glaring errors throughout, from misplaced quotation marks, to words repeated in a sentence, that didn't belong. Ex: "the dog looked the dog looked at the tree". (Not from the book).
I do not believe I will read any further of her books, and may avoid the publisher as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews