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The Ice cover art

The Ice

By: Laline Paull
Narrated by: Samuel West
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Summary

An electrifying story of friendship, power and betrayal by the best-selling, Baileys-prize shortlisted author of The Bees.

It's the day after tomorrow and the Arctic sea ice has melted. While global business carves up the new frontier, cruise ships race each other to ever-rarer wildlife sightings. The passengers of the Vanir have come seeking a polar bear. What they find is even more astonishing: a dead body.

It is Tom Harding, lost in an accident three years ago and now revealed by the melting ice of Midgard glacier. Tom had come to Midgard to help launch the new venture of his best friend of thirty years, Sean Cawson, a man whose business relies on discretion and powerful connections – and who was the last person to see him alive.

Their friendship had been forged by a shared obsession with Arctic exploration. And although Tom's need to save the world often clashed with Sean's desire to conquer it, Sean has always believed that underneath it all, they shared the same goals.

But as the inquest into Tom's death begins, the choices made by both men – in love and in life – are put on the stand. And when cracks appear in the foundations of Sean's glamorous world, he is forced to question what price he has really paid for a seat at the establishment's table.

Just how deep do the lies go?

©2017 Laline Paull (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

''Beautifully written and unusual.... Captivating.... A brave and original story that highlights our modern environmental crimes, and offers a fascinating glimpse into the intricacies of bee world.... Any book that changes the way we see our world surely deserves to be a success.'' (Lucy Atkins, Sunday Times)

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What listeners say about The Ice

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Gripping

The interspersing of quotes from Arctic explorers with this gripping tale set in Svalbard really brings the Arctic environment to life. I throughly enjoyed the narration and the mix of business, exploration and ecocrime really moved the story on. The ending was a wee bit contrived thus the four rather than five stars but a very good listen nonetheless.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable and well read.

I really enjoyed this story, a bit like a good Clare Francis. It moves in worlds I know little about but was convincing in relationships and proposition. I found this by searching for anything narrated by Samuel West as one of my favourite voices to listen to. It’s a tactic that has broadened my subject range quite a bit.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining, but too many stories of frozen poo

I liked the overall story, it's just a few things here and there which were typically male centric behaviours that annoyed. Like all good wives who have been discarded for younger models simply wait around for the man in question to came to his senses and she will always remain available to him no matter what. Yuk! Oh, and of course he has time to buy incredibly expensive watches, and if I hear one more story of frozen poo being made into things!

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2 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Didn't live up to expectations

A rather long-winded murder story. I was bored pretty much from the beginning but stuck with it because other reviewers mentioned a plot twist at the end. That's 11+ hours I'll never get back! It wasn't worth listening to the end. The author could have conveyed his eco-political message with more punch. It doesn't work as an eco-political novel nor as a murder mystery and certainly not as both.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Spoilt by ending but ....

Enjoyable and absorbing for the most part. The prose is just wonderful. The quibble is with the plot. The ending especially, was completely over the top. Would have been far better if it had ended at chapter 36 followed by an epilogue. Still, would recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fine tale

Perfectly read by Samuel West (he manages women's voices well - no Hinge & Bracket here) this is a great exploration of ambition, naivety and integrity. It's been in my library for a while, and I'm so annoyed that I'd waited. The characters and scenario are believable and topical, entirely possible in the very near future. It's a book which I'll listen to again in a little while, approaching it with foreknowledge, and see if my perceptions change.

And also because it's a fine tale.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazingly different 2nd novel from her first

loved everything about The Bees and this is different but very very good although the wordsmithery is just as brilliant

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping.

A brilliantly written, environmental adventure/love story. I bought it because i had enjoyed The Bees so much. This was totally different but I loved it too.

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