Title: Cold Fear by Mads Peder Nordbo
Matthew Cave Thriller Book Two
Publisher: Text Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 357 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
A thrilling new novel from the author of The Girl Without Skin.
When Danish Journalist Matthew Cave’s half-sister Arnaq disappears, leaving behind only a trail of blood, he realises they are both pawns in a game of life and death.
As a young US soldier stationed in Greenland, their father took part in a secret experiment with deadly consequences. Accused of murder, he was forced into hiding.
Desperate to discover the link between these two disappearances, Matthew is joined by Tupaarnaq, a young Inuit woman, who returns to Nuuk to help her only friend—and to settle a few scores of her own.
But, as things begin to unravel, Matthew begins to wonder: Is the father he has been searching for his entire life actually a cold-blooded murderer? And is Tupaarnaq really who he thinks she is?
Review:
Cold Fear by Mads Peder Nordbo is a dark and gritty mystery set in Greenland. This newest release is the second book in the Matthew Cave Thriller series. While it can be read as a standalone, I strongly recommend reading book one in the series for important background information.
Newspaper reporter Matthew Cave is still reeling from the discovery of his half-sister, Arnaq. When he goes to visit her, he is further stunned when he receives a letter from his father, Tom, who has been missing for over two decades. While he plans to go see Tom, Matthew first goes to visit Arnaq whom he learns is with her friends in a deserted town. Not long after he and his friend, Tupaarnaq, visit them, Aranaq and her friends go missing. As they try to find the missing teens, Matthew and Tupaarnaq are soon caught up in a situation in which long ago events involving Tom put everyone in danger.
In 1990, Tom, who is a sergeant in the US Marines, is stationed at Thule Air Force Base. Tom and three other marines are participating in an experimental military program. They are closely monitored as they are given a drug that could radically alter military operations in extreme cold condition. However, as the drug’s dosage is increased, Tom and the others begin experiencing dangerous side effects. The situation culminates with Tom going on the run and completely disappearing for decades.
In the present, Matthew and Tupaaranaq find themselves in perilous circumstances. They have no idea what they are walking into and soon after their arrival, someone dear to Matthew is murdered. After Arnaq vanishes, they return to the desolate town in hopes of locating her and her friends. Unbeknownst to them, they have stumbled into a conspiracy that could have far reaching political implications for Greenland. Will they untangle the twisted web of deceit and secrets before it is too late?
Cold Fear is an intricately plotted mystery that is quite atmospheric. The characters are interesting and multi-layered. The plot is well-developed and rife with shocking twists and unexpected turns. This second installment in Mads Peder Nordbo’s Matthew Cave Thriller series is a riveting mystery that fans of Nordic fiction are sure to enjoy.
