The Ice
Next: White Harvest
The world’s most hostile environment just became even deadlier…
Brutal, unforgiving, and breathtaking—for American biologist Kathy McNeely, much of Antarctica’s lure lies in its dangerous beauty. Part of an international research team sent to study the long-term effects of an oil spill on the ecology, Kathy’s focus is on the penguin population. As she uncovers a mysterious new threat to the birds, a sudden blizzard drives more than snow to her team’s remote field camp.
Archaeologist-turned-adventurer Brian Hurley isn’t the kind of man to stay in one place very long. But the fierce whiteout conditions force him to postpone training for his record-breaking sledge run to the South Pole. He’s not the only one stranded at the scientists’ camp—a pair of cagey energy contractors and a dogged L.A. journalist also wait for the severe weather to pass.
As the storm rages on, a dangerous and potentially deadly spate of accidents plagues the Ice. Missing supplies, damaged equipment, and communication errors—too many to be coincidence—spur rumors of sabotage. Someone is conducting unsanctioned research in protected areas, and they’ve discovered something so valuable, they will do anything keep it secret.
Reviews
“A deep-freeze Grand Hotel complete with scientific exploration, corporate shenanigans, equipment malfunctions, and superhuman acts of individual heroism […] a rousing finale.”Kirkus
“His prose has the texture of survival in Antarctica’s unforgiving environment, the fragility of which inspires his and his readers’ deep worry for the fate of Earth’s last land frontier [...] A strong-willed, intelligent female character, the harsh Antarctic setting, and an ecology theme add to the satisfying suspense story.”Booklist
“Timely, credible and suspenseful [...] experienced adventure novelist Charbonneau convincingly presents the psychological and technical problems of Antarctic survival […] Charbonneau’s passion for this last unspoiled land infuses the book and inspires the reader.”Publishers Weekly
“Charbonneau’s feel for the immensity, harshness and fragility of the Antarctic landscape and his strong ecoaction message do not overpower this thriller. Recommended for quick action and sense of location.”Library Journal
“Charbonneau has given us a very well-written, exciting and thought-provoking adventure here, blending ecological activism with intrigue that is carried out by some nicely developed characters.”Los Angeles Daily News
“Charbonneau’s novel has it all — adventure, mystery and romance, plus a good dose of modern environmental concerns […] a fast-paced thriller.”The Daily Oklahoman
“With twenty other books to his credit, he is particularly amazing with this latest one because of its powerful imaginative scope […] I was overwhelmed by his visual images of the South Pole […] I shivered as I vicariously explored the blinding white tundra and glaring ice in which his characters playes their roles amidst this impressive and awesome backdrop. Never for a moment is the mesmerized reader allowed to forget that he is battling the hostile elemnts, the rigid nature of the sea, the capricious weather and all the dangers of life upon a glacier.”Alpena News
“THE ICE builds to a riveting climax […] Louis Charbonneau has written a novel of human courage and endurance in a struggle against exploitive greed […] THE ICE proves to be a timely, credible and suspenseful eco-thriller.”Times Record News
“This sample of the latest adaptation of an old genre qualifies as an “eco-thriller” and should put to rest any fears that the suspense field is ready to rest in peace as a result of the end of the Cold War. With dramatic scenes — a dog sled team dashing down a craggy glacier, a blizzard trapping its victims in 80-below-zero temperatures — Charbonneau’s novel explores life on Antarctica, the coldest, most isolated continent.”Amarillo Daily News