Chillingly spooky! I loved this, set on a whaling ship in the Arctic arcoss two time periods, one, the ship is in service and our protagonist Nicky has been kidnapped and is being used by the sailors. The second, the ship is a washed up wreck ready to be sunk. Dominique is there to explore and finds she is not alone. There is something lurking just out of sight in both stories, the atmosphere is creepy. As the stories unfold we can see how they link and the reveal is excellent.

Thank you to the author, publishers Harper Collins and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

Dominique is an explorer of the abandoned and unusual spaces. She is visiting an abandoned scientific research ship in the Arctic. A ship which once served as a whaling vessel from Dundee, and which is due to be dragged from its resting place and destroyed 50 years after crashing on the rocks with no sign of the research team who should have been on board. Teaming up with another group of explorers she begins to research the history of the ship.

Told with a narrative shift between the present day and the ship’s dark past in 1701, this is a compelling gothic exploration of trauma, memory and life at sea where the captain and first mate were law. Having loved the author’s previous novels - The Lighthouse Witches is a particular favourite of mine - I was ready to expect the unexpected, and the plot absolutely delivers on that.

I’m not sure I can do this book the justice it deserves with my review
This was dark, haunting, gothic, mysterious, claustrophobic whilst also being so touching and sad. My emotions were all over the place whilst reading this masterful work, I knew I already loved this author but she has really outdone herself with this book. From the beautiful writing to the atmosphere and descriptions, everything was so realistic as well as the characters which I felt so much for
This is a book I will never forget

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc

A riveting read, it was full of twists and turns. A book that I did not want to put down. The changes from one era to another were very effective in building up an atmosphere. Whilst I suspected that there must be some connection between the main characters in the different ages the actual ending was unexpected

Overall I really enjoyed this book and read it in a day!
It's gripping, beautiful and horrifying in equal amounts.

The scenary descriptions to tend to be rather long but I can forgive that as the story is so good.

I would definitely recommend to others.

I read an eARC of this so thank you to Net Galley, the author and the publisher.

This was absolutely gripping and very creepy. This novel takes place over multiple time periods but all centred around a ship. We primarily follow Nicky in 1901 in Dundee, Scotland and Dominique in 2023 in Iceland. Nicky is the daughter of the owner of a whaling company and Dominique is an explorer. Dominique wants to document the last weeks of a shipwreck that is going to be dragged out to sea and sunk. It’s been stuck on a beach in Iceland for about fifty years but the locals are scared of it so it’s been decided it will be sunk. Dominique wants to video and post on TikTok about the wreck.

I would strongly advise checking trigger warnings on this. It’s a great book but there is some sensitive content including self-mutilation, sexual assault, loss of a child, murder.

This book is genuinely creepy. I wouldn’t call it scary, but the atmosphere is excellent. The frightening part comes more from the behaviour of certain (a lot of) humans and the horrifying things they do to other people. Truly depraved in certain instances. The ghost was somewhat sympathetic compared to many of the living who absolutely were not.

The settings in this are so oppressive. The isolation, the weather, the darkness. This is largely set in remote, difficult to reach places where there’s little human contact beyond the people you may find yourself stuck with.

I really enjoyed the folklore references in this. I won’t say too much to avoid spoilers but they added a wonderful richness to the story.

A fantastic ghost story for winter. Enjoyable and thrilling (although be warned that it is very dark).

A Haunting in the Arctic is an ambitious story, written in three different times (although the 1970s was not featured so heavily).
The story is well planned and well executed, moving swiftly back and forth from the 1900s to the present day. The characters are well-rounded, believable and we are led by the hand through the difficulties they all face with ease.
However, I found myself struggling with the amount of telling that went on. There was a lot of description about what the boat was like both inside and out but I felt I was a spectator, viewing it from afar. I wasn’t included in the drama. I wanted to feel the creepiness, the cold and I wanted to feel scared. Instead I was told what it was like, what the elements were doing, how it was cold etc which was a shame.

A seriously chilling and gloriously gothic thriller.

A historical fiction steeped in menacing folklore, this one was so dark and sinister. The story follows multiple timelines and settings onboard the Ormen. Once a whaling ship in 1901, decades later, it is found still sailing but deserted except for one body.

The different POVs spun a tale full of suspense and the mystery was fraught with tension and emotion. The settings were so vivid it was like I could hear the hustle and clamour of Victorian Dundee and feel the freeze of the Icelandic coast. Each character was held distinctly in their own right and really had me railing against them or gripped in their terror.

This was a striking novel that really got under my skin to my core. The author has tackled sensitive themes with an intensity and care that serve them justice. It was a challenging but compelling read. I could not put it down.

A brave and evocative novel. Superb writing from a storyteller worthy of the title. With numerous threads to keep the interest and the change of timelines, the plot unfolds effortlessly and in a satisfying manner. No gimmicks or forced suspense, just a beautiful, if rather tragic unfolding.

CJ Cooke has done it again. Another brilliant book that I didn't want to put down even though it was way past my bedtime. "The Haunting in the Arctic" is set in a very remote location and you could feel the cold, the loneliness, the desperation, the madness. I did question some of the plotlines but this worked itself out in the end but regardless of that, this is just another brilliant book by an amazing writer.

This is CJ Cookes new book A Haunting In The Arctic due out October.
I had high hopes based on the synopsis and gorgeous cover.
Actually I'm not a fan of whaling activities or whores and whilst there is not an excessive amount of description it kind of took the joy out of the book for me and I think will alienate some readers. Still a good triple timeline which I enjoyed and some supernatural folklore vibes. I just think it will be a 'marmite' book. Just ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.

History and folklore mixed with a modern day timeline, this was a dark and disturbing read that had me spellbound from start to finish, I'm not familiar with the author but she does atmosphere really, really well.

1901 when whaling ship, The Ormen set sail from Dundee she had an extra passenger on board, the daughter of the owner. Drugged, taken on board and held against her will.

Modern times - Dominique arrives at Skúmaskot, Iceland where the Ormen has come to rest on its rocky coastline. Due to be towed out and sunk she's hoping that video coverage of its final days will make her a tiktok success. When she gets onboard she senses very quickly she's not alone.

This novel wasn't just a great read it was a fascinating one bringing the brutal conditions on board The Ormen, a whaling ship and Skúmaskot an abandoned fishing village on the northern tip of Iceland sharply into focus. The sights, sounds and harshness of both settings were easier to visualise than was comfortable given that this novel kept me reading late into the night.

This isn't a light read. Its dark, its tragic and its sinister. 10/10 from me and totally recommended. Its a couple of days since I finished and its still whirling round inside my head.

Due for publication 12 Oct 23. My thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the review copy, I was under no obligation and all opinions expressed are my own.

A tense, gripping, haunting and completely immersive tale set across three timelines. The location - a deserted whaling ship run aground in Iceland. A good book for curling up on the sofa with on a cold wintry night.

This was a beautifully written novel, creating such a striking atmosphere in this isolated polar setting. It had me feeling all emotions at different points in the story, from anger to sorrow and hope to despair.
This novel highlights trauma and how it lingers and has no concept of time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
I highly recommend A Haunting in the Arctic if you enjoy ghost stories, wintery settings, and atmospheric tales.

Despite guessing the ‘twist’ half way through the novel I still thoroughly enjoyed this new book by C J Cooke. I love anything set in the Arctic/Antarctic. The remoteness and eeriness of the landscape is an ideal setting for a ghost story.

C J Cooke is the Queen of atmospheric, chilling novels to haunt you. This novel is no exception as the reader is taken to the outer reaches of Iceland to the old whaling ship from the early 1900's that's soon to be sunk. 1901 and Nicky Abneys father George owns the Ormen, telling her he's done something he regrets she soon wakes up on board the ship having no recollection of how she got there. 2023 and Urban explorer Dominique wants to discover the secrets the ship holds before this happens. But events from the past come back to haunt her in this eerie tale. C J Cookes writing takes you right into the heart of the story you feel the same tenseness and emotions the characters feel.

One of my highly anticipated reads of 2023 and it did not disappoint!

C.J Cooke is a master of her craft, her writing style is utterly mesmerising, atmospheric and so cleverly executed.

I was instantly drawn into this book, it was hard to put down.

A multi timeline, multi pov gothic thriller that is deliciously dark, shrouded in folklore, full of mystery, chills and dark secrets.

It was hauntingly brilliant!

I loved it!!

As someone who only occasionally crosses the threshold from fantasy to paranormal and speculative thrillers, C.J. Cooke has become my go-to author for anything creepy and time-twisting. After loving The Lighthouse Witches and The Ghost Woods, I had high hopes for this.

A Haunting in the Arctic was one of those books where, as soon as I saw the cover and read the description, I knew I would love it. This book gave me chills and had me constantly guessing what was next. I read the first half when ill and it kept me awake even when I was so desperately tired, which is a credit to the writing itself.

Everything about this book was exciting and made me want to know more. The scenes from 1901 were a blend of disturbing and emotional, and the parts from 2023 were so interesting, unravelling the mysteries of what happened. The whole of Part 3 of the book gave me chills that I won’t forget.

Overall , an excellent read, solidifying my love for C.J. Cooke.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for reviewing.

Obsessive and hypnotic.
C J Cooke at her finest, casting an icy and atmospheric spell, which had me turning the book over in my mind, days after I had finished.
I loved it!

1901. Nikki’s father George Abney, owner of the whaler The Ormen is in financial trouble. He warns her to stay out of sight for a while, but she is attacked, rendered unconscious and finds herself on board The Ormen much against her will.

1973. The Ormen a repurposed whaling ship from the late 1800s, and now a research vessel is a ghost ship. The only “inhabitant“ the remains of Dr Diego Almeyda. What stalks the floors of the ship seeking revenge?

Present day. Urban explorer. Dominique is heading to Skumaskot in Iceland, a deserted shark fishing village. She is heading to The Ormen , breached since 1973.

CJ Cooke is nothing if not ambitious as what she’s created here is a very clever idea and she has pulled it off. I’m not going to pretend it’s easy to read as at times it’s a dark, harsh and tragic tale. It’s a chiller of a nonlinear timeline mystery set amongst a perfectly matched Icelandic landscape in the depths of winter. It’s chock full of atmosphere, it’s ominous in tone with events that freeze you to the core. There is a spooky atmosphere from the start, things that have no rational explanation. It’s ghostly, creepy, fear inducing, definitely macabre, and horribly fascinating. It’s full of tension, surprises and twists I don’t see coming until nearly the end when light dawns and puzzles fit together.

This is an emotional tale, it induces anger, shock and it makes you sad as horrifying trauma ensues. The atmosphere on the whaler in the 1901 timeline is a tough read on several levels.

The modern timeline becomes a very deep and mind blowing mystery as Dom is joined by three others whose presence is unnerving. You become uncertain what’s transpiring, it further deepens the conundrum and there’s a sense of vulnerability but also danger that is palpable. The timelines although nonlinear, form a cohesive whole and a common theme throughout is the myths and legends of folklore which are woven into the storytelling.

Overall, though not the easiest of reads because of what occurs, it’s well worth reading and kudos to CJ Cooke for having a creative originality of storytelling.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

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