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themysterymaven's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 STARS
I’ve got one more novel in this series (the third, A Ghost of Caribou) to read to catch me up, and I sure hope the author continues it. I love travelling to the remote, solitary settings with the main character, and the detailed amount of wildlife knowledge included within the stories and the afterwords are just wonderful. If you’re any kind of nature/travel/biology enthusiast, this couldn’t be a more perfect series. I stand by the fact that I think the first novel excelled beyond the second, but the sophomore slump isn’t to a degree to stop me from progressing. Fingers-crossed for a fourth book on the horizon
I’ve got one more novel in this series (the third, A Ghost of Caribou) to read to catch me up, and I sure hope the author continues it. I love travelling to the remote, solitary settings with the main character, and the detailed amount of wildlife knowledge included within the stories and the afterwords are just wonderful. If you’re any kind of nature/travel/biology enthusiast, this couldn’t be a more perfect series. I stand by the fact that I think the first novel excelled beyond the second, but the sophomore slump isn’t to a degree to stop me from progressing. Fingers-crossed for a fourth book on the horizon
lavins's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Alice Henderson has a passion for wildlife and nature and does an amazing job writing novels that are full of amazing facts about animals but also building a strong, action packed, page turner thriller in the same time.
I loved the book and I am looking forward to read the next one!!
Alice Henderson has a passion for wildlife and nature and does an amazing job writing novels that are full of amazing facts about animals but also building a strong, action packed, page turner thriller in the same time.
I loved the book and I am looking forward to read the next one!!
kelly_inthe419's review against another edition
4.0
A Blizzard of Polar Bears is the second installment of the Alex Carter series. Like A Solitude of Wolverines, it examines our natural environment and the need for conservation of some of our most endangered species.
This time out, Alex is studying polar bears in the Canadian Arctic. As she gathers data on the health of individual bears, things quickly start to go amiss. Her helicopter pilot quits unexpectedly, equipment goes missing, and a late-night intruder breaks into her lab and steals the samples she’s collected. Alex soon realizes that someone doesn’t want her to complete her study.
As with the first novel, I love Alex's intelligence and determination. She is passionate about her work and the preservation of endangered species. Set in the harsh arctic climate adds to the thrills and chills as Alex fights for the polar bears as well as herself and the small community against unknown assailants.
In addition to the action and adventure, I loved the messages about conservation and the author's background as a wildlife researcher is evident, keeping the message interesting without bogging down the plot. A surprise development in the series is included in this second book and is sure to impact future installments. I'm looking forward to A Ghost of Caribou, the third book in this action, adventure series.
Thank you William Morrow Books for the complimentary copy of A Blizzard of Polar Bears.
This time out, Alex is studying polar bears in the Canadian Arctic. As she gathers data on the health of individual bears, things quickly start to go amiss. Her helicopter pilot quits unexpectedly, equipment goes missing, and a late-night intruder breaks into her lab and steals the samples she’s collected. Alex soon realizes that someone doesn’t want her to complete her study.
As with the first novel, I love Alex's intelligence and determination. She is passionate about her work and the preservation of endangered species. Set in the harsh arctic climate adds to the thrills and chills as Alex fights for the polar bears as well as herself and the small community against unknown assailants.
In addition to the action and adventure, I loved the messages about conservation and the author's background as a wildlife researcher is evident, keeping the message interesting without bogging down the plot. A surprise development in the series is included in this second book and is sure to impact future installments. I'm looking forward to A Ghost of Caribou, the third book in this action, adventure series.
Thank you William Morrow Books for the complimentary copy of A Blizzard of Polar Bears.
alex_rieflin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.25
ironhorse19's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
soton's review against another edition
3.0
Three stars because I liked the polar bear information, and focus on environmentalist issues. But the book was poorly paced. The entire book is the climax, with no opportunity to breathe. Halfway through you realize that if Alex Carter is going somewhere or doing something you can already know it's going to go wrong because people are going to try to kill her or something will explode. The nonstop action fatigued me and ironically made everything less suspenseful. Also, the love interest cheapened things lady you are a doctor why are you trying to inhale the dizzying scent of your murdering stalker? Oh, and I didn't realize this was a 2nd book until seeing the Goodreads, so if I come across the first one maybe I'll read it to see if it's similar. Overall the book was still entertaining and about being a biologist so I liked it. Maybe this could be your favorite book if you like polar bears, bad boy tropes, and have unmedicated ADHD.
hammock_and_read's review against another edition
4.0
I started this off with a big giant oh no- with the viking in NA as it has a super bad racist past but it didn not super go there but that was a bit of a turn off for me. And now a second book in a row that for the second book in the series if high level of writing dropped off. It was filled with too much science in detail of daily science life-more to do samples ect (and I’m a scientist so I’m guessing that is going to be a huge turn off for most) and she didn't do a good job of the setting. We almost get a lecturer on climate change- ice sheets-polar bear. It was too preachy for my liking. The Arctic is beautiful and I feel like that was missing compared to MT in book one.
I enjoyed that we got a bit into the mystery that is conuniting through the series. This one again has some action-twists and turns - mysteries of it all. The flow is not the best either, and some of Alex's get away moves are hard to believe as it get a too much. Don’t get me wrong I will keep reading the series, it just wasn’t as good as book one- even with archaeologists in it. And made me very glad I don't work in the treasure hunter and/or billionaire collector area for my work.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed that we got a bit into the mystery that is conuniting through the series. This one again has some action-twists and turns - mysteries of it all. The flow is not the best either, and some of Alex's get away moves are hard to believe as it get a too much. Don’t get me wrong I will keep reading the series, it just wasn’t as good as book one- even with archaeologists in it. And made me very glad I don't work in the treasure hunter and/or billionaire collector area for my work.
3.5 stars
looking4alexis's review against another edition
4.0
a lot more mystery than the first book, wasn't too fond of the ending, first book was way better and didn't seem as rushed !
lynguy1's review against another edition
5.0
Alice Henderson has become my favorite author that emphasizes facets of nature in a crime thriller. A Blizzard of Polar Bears is the second book in the Alex Carter mystery series. After the opening scenes in northwestern Montana, the rest of the book takes place in and around Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Dr. Alex Carter is a wildlife biologist who is wrapping up a study on wolverines when a friend calls and asks if she would like to do a polar bear study in Manitoba. With two weeks left on her current assignment, she jumps at the opportunity. Her assigned research assistant, Neil Trevors, has lined up a helicopter pilot for them. Tracking the polar bears by air, Alex then tranquilizes, examines, and measures them. Taking samples for study in the lab in Churchill is part of the job along with updating or adding GPS trackers. However, things start to go quickly wrong. Their pilot suddenly quits and an intruder breaks into the lab, steals her samples, and deletes her files. After finding a replacement pilot, their helicopter catches fire and armed assailants come after them. One might think this would be enough to deter Alex from her study, but it isn’t, and this is only the beginning. Who wants to stop the study and why? Will Alex and Neil survive?
Alex is a likeable character who is three-dimensional and had depth. She is a skilled wildlife biologist, adept at Jeet Kune Do style of martial arts, and an expert shooter. She enjoys solitude, but has a few very good friends. She’s supported by an array of secondary characters that enhanced the story, but were not as fully developed. However, the relationships seemed believable and not contrived and provided the needed support or conflict.
The writing was so descriptive that I felt like I was with Alex as she carried out her research. The plot had some twists and turns and several surprises. It was engrossing, heartfelt, well-researched, and action-packed. I’ve seen comparisons to Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series and I can see the similarities. The story was compelling, shocking at times, intense, and a great sophomore novel for the series. A gripping and dramatic ending was a little over-the-top, but it also tied up loose ends nicely. I enjoyed reading the Afterward that included information on the artic. The author also included a list of books and articles about polar bears as well as other reference information.
Overall, this combined mystery, nature, the environment, action adventure, and survival into one fantastic crime novel. Not only was this a fascinating mystery that kept me fully engaged, but I learned a lot about the polar bears, artic ice, and atmospheric conditions that Alex encountered. If you enjoy action-packed crime thrillers with an environmental and threatened wildlife theme, then this is a series to consider reading. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
William Morrow and Custom House and Alice Henderson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was November 9, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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Review coming soon.
Alex is a likeable character who is three-dimensional and had depth. She is a skilled wildlife biologist, adept at Jeet Kune Do style of martial arts, and an expert shooter. She enjoys solitude, but has a few very good friends. She’s supported by an array of secondary characters that enhanced the story, but were not as fully developed. However, the relationships seemed believable and not contrived and provided the needed support or conflict.
The writing was so descriptive that I felt like I was with Alex as she carried out her research. The plot had some twists and turns and several surprises. It was engrossing, heartfelt, well-researched, and action-packed. I’ve seen comparisons to Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series and I can see the similarities. The story was compelling, shocking at times, intense, and a great sophomore novel for the series. A gripping and dramatic ending was a little over-the-top, but it also tied up loose ends nicely. I enjoyed reading the Afterward that included information on the artic. The author also included a list of books and articles about polar bears as well as other reference information.
Overall, this combined mystery, nature, the environment, action adventure, and survival into one fantastic crime novel. Not only was this a fascinating mystery that kept me fully engaged, but I learned a lot about the polar bears, artic ice, and atmospheric conditions that Alex encountered. If you enjoy action-packed crime thrillers with an environmental and threatened wildlife theme, then this is a series to consider reading. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
William Morrow and Custom House and Alice Henderson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was November 9, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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Review coming soon.
soniaandstories's review against another edition
2.0
*SPOILERS*
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I think this was my fault. I should’ve realized it was environmental suspense versus a survival thriller.
The whole thing was cheesy. The action, the villains, the main character being able to suddenly fight and dive and shoot like a pro. The “love” interest being a butt hurt boy about her finding him creepy. One action scene after another and conversations between her and her dad, and her and her friend. They added nothing to the story! Some of the scenes were repetitive..her feeling hungry and getting food, her realizing her teeth felt fuzzy…
Dialogue was stale most of the time.
I appreciate how much research it took and I enjoyed the descriptions of the cold. But that’s kind of it.
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I think this was my fault. I should’ve realized it was environmental suspense versus a survival thriller.
The whole thing was cheesy. The action, the villains, the main character being able to suddenly fight and dive and shoot like a pro. The “love” interest being a butt hurt boy about her finding him creepy. One action scene after another and conversations between her and her dad, and her and her friend. They added nothing to the story! Some of the scenes were repetitive..her feeling hungry and getting food, her realizing her teeth felt fuzzy…
Dialogue was stale most of the time.
I appreciate how much research it took and I enjoyed the descriptions of the cold. But that’s kind of it.