The Boy in the Snow

Reviewed by Douglas Chadwick – prison supplied

A dead baby, a religious cult, a maverick cop, a corrupt politician, a ruthless businessman, a suspect with guilt written all over him but who is (of course) innocent … all the traditional elements of a good thriller come together in ‘The Boy in the Snow’. Throw in for good measure an investigator who has dark secrets of her own, and you’ve got a best seller even before you think up a plot. But what really lifts this novel into a class of its own is one unusual extra ingredient … the story is set in the frozen Arctic wastes of Alaska. The author brilliantly brings to life the customs, beliefs and daily routines of a remote Inuit community, as well as painting a vivid picture of the extreme landscape. This bleak terrain, where the temperature regularly drops below minus 40° and where there is no daylight for months on end, is portrayed so clearly that it is hard to believe the author was actually born in the UK.

This is only McGrath’s second novel, but already her tough heroine Edie looks set to become a permanent addition to the roll call of memorable sleuths in the thriller genre. Edie comes from Ellesmere Island, which is just about as close as you can get to the North Pole without the aid of an ice-breaking vessel. (McGrath helpfully provides a map for those of us who think the world ends at Scotland.) When Edie’s ex-husband asks her to travel to Alaska to support him in a dangerous 1150 mile sled race across treacherous terrain, she is probably the only person who needs to fly south to get to Alaska. Her experience of life in extreme temperatures and her inner strength of character honed in the personal struggles of her past, combine to give Edie a unique resilience and tenacity, every ounce of which will be needed in the fight ahead. She stumbles across the frozen body of a baby boy and is determined to uncover the truth behind it, even though it is a truth which the local police, politicians and businesses want to keep hidden. In the process, Edie is forced to confront her own inner demons, and unwittingly risks the lives of her companions as well as her own life.

This is a chilling tale, well matched by the chilling landscape, and both are presented so vividly that the reader will be able to feel the ice freezing body as well as spirit along the way. Despite a few clumsy plot twists and not entirely credible coincidences the novel is a compelling read and a fascinating insight into an unfamiliar culture and landscape. The characters face challenges far removed from our own experiences, yet we come to realise they share the same hopes and fears as people throughout the world, as we all muddle through life in search of meaning and fulfilment. Highly recommended!

The Boy in the Snow by M J McGrath £7.99 Publisher: Pan ISBN: 978 0 330 51776 8