This was an easy to read thriller that works if you suspend reality for a while. The setting is fantastic for a creepy whodunnit, in the Antarctic winter with no way of leaving, and a group of seriously flawed individuals.

However, Kate is a very unlikeable main character and there’s no way she would have been allowed to a UN base in Antarctica with such a severe addiction as she had. So as I say, suspend reality. She also says the word ‘hell’ SO MUCH that it really grated on me by the end.

I did also guess the killer almost from the start, but that didn’t really take anything away from the story.

All in all, a quick read thriller that was just alright. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Kate is a young Doctor flying out to the UN Antarctica ice station from Christchurch, NZ to replace their previous Doctor who died in a team bonding exercise which went wrong. She can't believe her luck but is not over-confident of her own skills, despite a gruelling international selection procedure.
The scenery is white, white and more white; it is vast, remote and of course, freezing! In the middle of all this lies a little ice station totally dependent on generators for heat, light and survival. She meets her team and once her little plane has returned to Christchurch with the remnants of the 'summer team', there's no other external physical contact to be had for months. Just the ever-darkening Winter to get through, doing the experiments, logs and research.
Flaws begin to show in the relationships between the members; mental health is affected by the increasing daily hours of darkness and claustrophobic atmosphere within the station. Kate has her own demons to deal with. She's recovering from an serious accident and takes heavy painkillers, which she fears she is becoming reliant on.
Suspicions, a needlessly hostile Station Leader, lies, deleted files and lost equipment all conspire to up the ante. Then it gets really serious - murder! Their vulnerability is heightened - the fear of a murderer in their midst, one of 'the Team' and constant knowledge of how confined they are and the fact that it's only the technology keeping everyone alive, makes this book a real page turner.
I found towards the middle it started to get a bit slow, then everything went crazy and I could not stop reading. A very entertaining read.

A new variation on the famous And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. A dozen scientists locked in their habitats during the Artic winter… who talk about a murder. Or wasn’t it? It can also count as a ‘locked room’ mystery, because it’s not that people are running around freely in the pitch-black outside, with temperatures that can reach minus 60. Soon the main character, medical doctor Kate, starts to have even more reservations about her work among those people than she had before. Although they seem a steady group of colleagues and welcome her friendly enough, there is something chilly in the air (pun intended!).
The book made for a light read and if it wasn’t for the fact that Kate is an addict who’s swallowing pills like candy all day, I would have given it one star more. I can understand where the pill-popping comes from, but seriously? I counted sometimes a dozen very strong pills a day she took… even when she didn’t need them. No way she would have been allowed to come near patients, let alone pills. However, there are some good things to, of course. I mention lovely knitting work and delicious food. You’ll have to read to book to find out more.

Doctor Kate signs up for a year on a station on the desolate Antarctic. When she arrives it becomes clear the previous doctors death may not have been the accident everyone assumes, and everyone is trapped in the station in real danger.
I thought this was a perfect setting for a tense and atmospheric thriller. the feeling of claustrophobia from the other people and being totally isolated worked really well.
I found Kate a really interesting character her problems stem from a hidden secret which makes her difficult to connect with, yet adds layers to the mystery.
The many characters were a little tricky for me to really get to know at first, but their back grounds and secrets really add layers to the plot.
A really tense and atmospheric read, I enjoyed it and found the setting truly fascinating
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC copy..

I do not have spoilers in this review.

This book of fiction is a CHILLING story of an Ice Station in Antarctica at the South Pole about thirteen people, living & working for one year through summer and winter. The main character, Dr Kate North, is a fractured lady, who leaves Bristol, England to work as station doctor to take care of the health & welfare of the remaining workers at the Ice Station. Kate has her own personal problems, which escalate & affect her work. This edgy, compelling storyline keeps the reader wondering to the end.

I found the writing witty, engrossing, sad and funny. I would really recommend this novel, please read and make your own mind up.

I give a 4 star rating.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REPLY

This was a cracking, atmospheric novel set in the Antarctic winter, with boatloads of suspense and an absolutely stunning (in a horrifying way) setting. While Kate North is not the most endearing of characters, I found her quite believable. For a while I was expecting a "and then there were none" type of situation, but that didn't happen. The only place I needed a suspension of disbelief was Kate knowing nothing about her predecessor's death—surely she had to have been briefed, or had the right to demand answers.

Anyway, Emma Haughton does a great job of setting up the space and the characters, and as unimaginable as it is to understand what that kind of deadly cold weather would feel like, you do get a sense of the imminent danger from the surroundings. I'll be looking out for more books from this author.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

When the Doctor at a Research Station in Antarctica dies unexpectedly, Dr Kate North is offered the chance to be an emergency placement. Thankful for a fresh start, she takes up the position. As the beginning of winter sets in, Kate is engulfed by the blackness and snow…in massive quantities! It isn’t long before Kate begins to discover that all is not as it seems, and her predecessor’s accident may not have been as innocent as first implied.

The descriptive methods this author uses for scene setting is superb. Having never been to the location, I had nothing to compare it with, now I have an image in my head of what it would be like if I were to visit (not that it seems appealing, and is very very unlikely to happen!)

A incredibly dark, addictive, twisted thriller that is different to many others in this genre that I have read before. The feeling of being in danger was immense, and the atmosphere was incredibly intense throughout. A great page turner that left me feeling quite scared in a few places.

Unfortunately, this was a bit too dark for my personal preference, so it’s not a read I particularly enjoyed. However, please don’t be put off by the review as I am sure anyone who likes the more panic-stricken plots will definitely enjoy this! This is an ideal read for anyone who enjoys being fearful of what is coming next, with jumpy twists and a perfect panicky plot.

I absolutely loved this book and it pulled me out of a huge book slump! The story is packed full of mystery and deeply unsettling characters. All stuck together in a research lab in Antarctica. An amazing, suspensful story with a story that continues to unravel and shock. I loved the cold snowy setting, perfect for a cosy evening. A dark and incredibly interesting story. Highly recommended xx

Loved this! Thought it was very Agatha Christie/Ruth Ware - extremely gripping, lots of fun. Found it to be very atmospheric, and I thought the layers of plotting was very neatly done.

The Dark tells the story of Kate, an A&E doctor who has taken a posting to a United Nations research station in Antartica.

Kate has many demons and a sometimes shaky grip on reality. She is suspicious about what happened to her predecessor and starts piecing things together, only to discover that someone is destroying vital information and blocking her at every turn. Kate's own past makes her question the reality of what she finds, and a prescription medication addiction adds to her turmoil.

This is a clever thriller. Claustrophobic, descriptive and atmospheric. You can feel the tension at the base and the various characters are challenging to untangle.

I was thoroughly engaged throughout.

I had high hopes for this novel as the setting was quite unique but it was a real slow burner and I was keen for something to happen quite quickly.. As I was reading it on a kindle I wrote down all the people involved and their jobs at the ice station otherwise I know I would have forgotten early on who everyone was, it’s almost impossible to go back on a reading device without spending a lot of time flicking backwards then forwards. I would suggest other readers think about doing the same.
Sad.y I have to agree with another reviewer in that I was surprised by Kate being appointed as a doctor for a twelve month, basically shut in, period in an Antarctic research establishment. Not sure how a doctor from England leading an ordinary life would be experienced enough for the role and all the relative scientific projects this would entail. Most of the other residents were specialist professionals from different countries apart from Alice who was a scientist from Scotland and Alex from "Donegal. Additionally Kate has obviously been in a very serious life changing accident where it seems she lost the love of her life and is still addicted to mega painkillers and hasn’t fully recovered emotionally or mentally, she is scarred in more ways than one. These pointd in particular would have concerned an interviewing panel. Nevertheless an interesting book.

Locked room mysteries are my favourite, and this took place in such an interesting location that I couldn't help requesting it.

I did find it a bit slow to get started, it's quite a long time before anything actually happens but once it does I was gripped and couldn't put it down.

Some of the characters were more developed than others. I think it can be difficult with a large cast of characters to make them all unique and I did find a couple of them interchangeable but there were some gems in there too. I really liked the setting and thought it was described very well.

I only guessed who the killer would be towards the end and I think it was more of a lucky guess than because it was made obvious. I had to suspend disbelief a bit at how easily things came together in the end, and the ending itself was a little abrupt. I think an epilogue would have been nice.

Overall I would recommend the book as it definitely held my interest, but I wouldn't say it's a particular favourite.

This is a wonderfully atmospheric thriller by a gifted writer. The descriptions of life on the Antarctic base are so mesmerising that I could feel the sense of isolation, claustrophobia and growing suspicion, but also the enforced reliance on the skills and comradeship of twelve other people for survival.

Kate North is a relief doctor who arrives at the base at very short notice following the death of their previous doctor. The Antarctic is about to 'close' to flights for several months over winter when the sun doesn't rise at all. Kate is escaping from her own recent trauma and has problems of her own, but is soon caught up in the mystery of what happened to her predecessor. The book has many twists and red herrings, casting suspicion on most of the overwintering crew.

As for the characters, I found Kate to be somewhat annoying - she made poor decisions, jumped to conclusions too easily and managed to upset several of her colleagues (but that only makes her a flawed human, so is not meant as a criticism!) The others were all quite distinctive, with their quirks and routines and ways of coping with the lack of daylight which threw their natural metabolic cycles into haywire. Kate made many mistakes early on, but towards the end suddenly became the de-facto leader, which I must admit I found a bit hard to swallow. The reason I've given this 4 stars instead of 5 is because I didn't really understand the motivation of the murderer, or what he/she had to gain from their actions. Nevertheless, it's a great read with excellent pacing, characterisation, atmosphere and tension. Definitely recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance readers e-copy in return for an honest review.

I liked the sound of this book but found it lacking the suspense and intrigue that should come with a mystery book. I find it unbelievable that Kate would have passed any of the medical tests to get sent to Antarctica in the first place. If someone asks me about this book in twelve months I’m not sure I’d remember much about it.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reading copy.

Would you cope? I’m not sure I would when faced with the reality of this chilling novel (chilling in more ways than one). I gobbled it up in one go and I feel it needs to be read as a whole to get the idea of the claustrophic, scary environment. It’s almost like a locked room mystery, though set in the UN research station in Antartica. A&E doctor Kate North readily agrees to become the emergency replacement at the location after the previous doctor died in an accident. It could be argued that it’s not the best time or place for Kate but once she’s made the decision, there’s no going back – especially when, after a few months there, the community is faced with 24 hours of darkness every day. As Kate looks after the welfare of those working there – with more medical issues than she could have predicted – she begins to think the previous doctor’s death wasn’t so accidental. The location is inhospitable, the company isn’t always friendly and someone is determined to purge the community as they see fit. Beautifully and effectively written, you get a real sense of the complete darkness that envelops the station. Highly recommended.

Amazing book. I thought I had seen a few red herrings but I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. Looking forward to more from this author

This book turned out to be a classic 'who dunnit' but set in a claustrophobic setting. I did not like the main character and felt that the first quarter of the book was quite slow. I realize that it is setting the scene but.... I was looking forward to reading this book but it turned out to be quite ordinary in the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.

Absolutely brilliant suspense thriller. This book tells the story of Kate, a doctor, posted to the Antarctic for the winter. Keeps you guessing right to the end and describes the wild Antarctic very vividly. Not sure I want to visit! A fantastic book - really enjoyed the story, and by the middle couldn’t put it down until I saw how it ended! Great read!!!!

Very atmospheric, taut and exciting thriller. Grips the reader from start to finish and totally puts you right there.

Kate North signs up for a year as a doctor on the United Nations Antarctic Station after a personal tragedy, which has left her scarred and heart broken. Running away from her problems seemed a good idea, but – when she arrives – she is immediately struck by the less than welcoming atmosphere and an undercurrent of trained suspicion and animosity on the base. The previous doctor, Jean-Luc Bernas, died in an accident and it seems that not everyone believes it occurred without either negligence or more suspicious human intervention.

Although Kate is not a greatly sympathetic character, with her reliance on medication and rather blundering approach to problems, the setting is excellent and the remote research station, plunged into darkness, creates a compelling atmosphere. As Kate struggles with the cold, remote leadership of station leader, Sandrine, the suspicion of other members of the group and the desolation of feeling alone, the situation escalates and leads to danger and death.

Overall, this is a fairly typical mystery, but the setting makes up for my slight lack of empathy for the characters to make this an interesting read. Best read during the winter, rather than during the sunny summer weather, to get more out of the cold, creepy atmosphere. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.