A review by amy_alwaysreading
A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke

2.5

Many thanks to my friends at @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the free #gifted copies of this book.  #berkleypartner

 

1901 Dundee, Scotland

Nikki’s only solace comes in the form of mail each Monday.  Dealing with unbearable grief, her husband’s absence as he serves on the warfront is deeply felt.  But life turns much bleaker after being kidnapped and thrown aboard one of her father’s whaling boats.  

 

2023 Skúmaskot, Iceland 

Dominique’s interest in the shipwrecked Orman takes her to the deserted fishing village for one last exploration before the ship is dredged out to sea to be properly sunk.  

 

What you’ll find:

⚓️Creepy atmosphere

⚓️Scottish folklore

⚓️Exploration of trauma and grief

⚓️Blend of historical fiction and horror

Early on, I found myself easily engaged with Nikki’s storyline as she walked the streets of Dundee, often reminiscing over times before her husband left for war.  Then suddenly, her storyline turned dark and volatile.  It was hard to read the torture she suffered even as it highlighted the patterns of harassment women have always faced.  

 

The modern-day storyline never quite captured my attention the way Nikki’s historical one did.  The inconsistencies and implausibility of the unfolding hindered my enjoyment even as the mystery began to reveal its closely held secrets.  

 

The author’s aspiration to explore trauma and grief through hauntings was ambitious and something I generally enjoy.  However, I found the storyline prohibited the true exploration of these themes in a meaningful way.  

 

🎧 I am easily enamored by the Scottish brogue.  And the narrator for this read, Lucy Goldie, has quite a lovely one.  But given the switches in timeline and POV, I found the audiobook difficult to follow. It was more enjoyable when partnered with my print copy, but I still found this read more accessible in print format.