A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke - Book Review

Publication Date: 12th Oct 2023

Genre: Multi Timeline, Dark Fiction, Paranormal 

2.5 Stars 

One Liner: Atmospheric but ruined by the ending (outliner opinion) 

1901, Dundee, Scotland 

Nicky is missing her husband Allan, who is at war. One day, she is attacked by a stranger and wakes up aboard the Ormen, her father’s whaling ship. Soon, Nicky realizes she is in big trouble, and things aren’t what they seem. 

2023, Skúmaskot, Iceland 

Dominique is an urban explorer. She finally managed to reach Skúmaskot, an old shark fishing village on the northern tip of Iceland, to stay aboard Ormen, which was to be dismantled in the next few weeks. She meets a trio of explorers who may or may not have hidden intentions. 

What is the connection between the two timelines? Where will the stories intersect, and what happens next? 

The past timeline comes in the third-person POV of Nicky, and the present timeline is in the first-person POV of Dominique. 

What I Like: 

After enjoying the previous two books by the author, I was excited to read this one. As always, the setting is atmospheric and has touches of magic realism. The book starts slowly but picks up pace, which turns out to be a blessing. 

The book tries to deal with issues like past trauma, grief, closure, etc. It does get a few things right, especially Nicky’s life with Allan, her father’s business, her dysfunctional family, etc. 

The third-person narration for Nicky’s timeline is a relief, given the content. While some readers may find it too distant, I prefer it that way. Makes it easier to continue reading at a stretch. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

First, this one is a dark read. I was expecting it, so that wasn’t an issue (please check the triggers at the end of the review) for me. However, as the book progressed, it felt more like misery porn (most of Nicky’s track is a torture) rather than having the characters do something to change the situation. When it does happen, it feels a little too late. 

Second, I confess to having little to no idea about ships and the whaling industry. However, it does seem that the Ormen spent a long time on the sea, that too, with the men more interested in r*ping the MC rather than catching whales (there is just one instance of capturing a whale). 

Third, the present timeline seemed quite well until the end. Then, it made almost no sense. The author’s note explains the intentions behind the concept, but TBH, it’s badly done. I wish I could say otherwise. I don’t want to reveal spoilers, but the ‘truth’ nullifies a majority of the timeline, which is not how one handles a plot. I have too many questions with no answers. I knew there would be weak points (the previous books had them), but this one gets too much. 

Fourth, if the book has magic realism, it should be more than a decorative piece. The Selkie stuff was interesting until it wasn’t. It takes way too much time to see it in action. Even then, it’s just a glimpse. For a book based on revenge, this one doesn’t even show the actual bits. That’s the most disappointing part. If you make me read so much tragedy and tell me multiple times that someone got their revenge on the actual bad guys, have the courtesy to show me at least a scene or two. 

Fifth, I don’t like the representation of the Inuit tribe. It may or may not have been based on truth, and I will not take a non-native’s version as ultimate. 

Sixth, there are third and fourth timelines, which are vague and try to add to the atmosphere but don’t really work. They only cause more confusion and add to the questions. Just because a book has supernatural elements doesn’t mean it cannot make sense. It still needs to stand on its own and provide satisfactory answers. 

To summarize, A Haunting in the Arctic starts great but spirals into a neverending tragedy and an unappealing reveal/ twist. I wish I loved this, but I don’t. 

I’m an outliner (until now), so please read other reviews before you decide. 

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #AHauntingintheArctic

***

T.W.: Kidnap, rape (multiple), hostage, injuries, assault, miscarriage, self-harm, death of a child, animal death, mentioned suicide (off-page)