The word original is bandied about much too often in the fiction world, but The Dogs of Winter is nothing if not wholly unique and that is exactly what attracted me to it. Although I have no interest or knowledge of surfing I could definitely see why the brutal setting of the sea, with all of its power, would be beautiful, scenic surroundings in which to base this novel. His novels have been described as "surf-noir" for their dark themes, political overtones and surf settings. His description of the sea, the waves and nature, in general, are stunning, but there is also an exploration of some heavier themes such as nature vs mankind.

The pacing is slow and steady allowing you to savour every moment and every word, and the dual narrative is interesting with the two entertaining and actually merging towards the back end of the novel. It encompasses a wide range of issues within its pages - vulnerability, witchcraft, the supernatural, sexual impropriety, Indian culture and a surfer's turbulent relationship with the waves. With complex and captivating storytelling, Nunn created an atmosphere I was sad to be parted from. Immersive and intricate in equal measure, this is a character-driven story where the natural elements serve as one of the major characters, but there is also a philosophical depth to it that appealed to me.

Many thanks to No Exit Press for an ARC.

Kem Nunn writes extraordinary and complex California Noir set in the world of surfing, reminscent of the movie, Point Break. The Dogs of Winter is a phrase generally reserved for huge waves generated by winter storms. Heart Attacks is the last Californian mytho surf premier surfing spot, a place that no-one is sure even exists. It is said to cross sacred ceremonial Indian land, populated by hostile Indians, amidst shark infested seas, where monster waves break a little distance from the shore. Humaliwu is the Indian strip of land of tragedy and Indian lore. Famous old Viking surfing legend, Drew Harmon, a recluse of many years, proposes to unveil the remote and desolate Heart Attacks place and a ride on the waves to the editor of the prime surfing magazine, Michael Peters, but insists that the photographer has to be the down and out Jack Fletcher. Fletcher is now a struggling wedding photographer, divorced with one daughter, desperate for a commission that will reignite the heyday of his illustrious past. He, along with two young stars of the surfing world today, Robbie Jones and Sonny Martin, are in search of a story of big waves and outlaws that makes history and headlines. The reality is to be far removed from Fletcher's expectations, in what turns out to be more a journey into the past, rather than that of place, and marked by tragedy and horror.

Harmon turns out to be man who spends time carving big boards from wood, living in a trailer with his strange and beautiful wife, Kendra and seemingly short of funds, taking risks with little care for the consequences. His body is heavily scarred from a shark bite, a man of apparently deep philosophical thought, engaging in spiritual communion with the sea and land that he knows like the back of his hand. Fletcher is unsure why Harmon is engaging in this venture, it seems so out of character with the man he used to know. As events spin out of control, the group set off for Heart Attacks amidst a raging and febrile atmosphere in a Indian community looking for vengeance, with little understanding of the dangers awaiting them. The beautiful and strange Kendra is obsessed with the murder of Amanda Jaffey, convinced the convicted Marvus Dove who hanged himself is not guilty. Drew and Kendra live in Jaffey's trailer, and Kendra is dressing in Amanda's clothes and physically changing her appearance to resemble her. Travis McCade, drawn to Kendra and responsible for managing the difficult conflicts between the different Indian tribes, finds himself out of his depth as matters escalate, confronted by life threatening circumstances. In a story of spells, black magic, Indian Heedees, sexual abuse, rape, a dedication to an obsession for surfing that mirrors that of a junkie on a drug run, there is an exploration into the heart of maleness and the darkness within that borders on insanity.

Kem Nunn excels in his atmospheric rich descriptions of the remote Californian location, of the land and sea, of surfing, whilst burrowing into the psyche of Harmon, an ageing man unwilling to settle for the legacy of his past, still looking to create history by documenting the ultimate ride on the big waves at the elusive Heart Attacks. It becomes understandable that Harmon chooses Fletcher as the man to photograph this, Fletcher too is a man with much to prove, he gets the madness and inner need that drives the surfer, and their connected history underpins their present. Each man makes sense to the other as their journey comes to an end. I found this an immersive and superb read, exploring the relationship between the surfer and nature's elements, the process of ageing, finding it heartbreaking, yet redemptive, amidst the tragic fallouts that are almost inevitable. This is brilliant and complicated storytelling from Nunn, where the myth of Heart Attacks remains intact. This is not for those looking for a fast paced, action led read, this has to be savoured to get the best from it. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Oldcastle Books for an ARC.

Laconic, macho, this is about romantic outcasts pitching themselves against brutal nature and themselves. In places there are flavours of Hemingway, offset by the supernatural and witchy. The descriptions of surfing and waves can be breathtaking, the mix of genres interestingly skewed. I'd have liked more changes of pace in the writing - it has a tendency to plateau. I never knew 'surf noir' was a thing, but that label fits this perfectly.

This had an interesting depth to it, beyond the unquestionable surfing knowledge, There are levels to the story-telling, echoing the classic strands of the journey becoming the destination and touching into past and present cultural resonance. The pacing is well structured, shifting from narrative progression to showing a deep technical and personal surfing history in the descriptions which cannot contain the sheer unfettered joy of riding a wave.