Tom Hindle’s books are must-reads for fans of a classic murder mystery novel. Whilst I think the plot of Death in the Arctic isn’t quite as strong as his previous books, the worldbuilding and scene setting is amongst the best I’ve ever seen from him. Regardless of the modern setting, the spirit of Agatha Christie is strong within Tom Hindle’s writing.

Much of the story of Death in the Arctic takes place aboard an airship voyaging above the arctic wasteland, as a trial-run for a new floating cruise experience to the north pole. Much like Murder on Lake Garda, the setting is ripe for exploration and opens the door for plenty of engrossing worldbuilding. The result personally is the best setting in Hindle’s books so far, with the luxury of the airship balanced against the cold expanse below, adding to the sense of isolation. The remote airship also provided a very natural reason to delay police intervention.

The plot of Death in the Arctic naturally felt quite reminiscent of A Fatal Crossing, though not quite as polished in my opinion. The pacing felt a little off, with the scene setting and build-up to the murder taking a surprising chunk of the book, leaving the resolution feeling a little rushed. Several characters also felt like caricatures of ‘suspects in a murder mystery book’ and not particularly original in their own right. That being said, the story felt well plotted (if a little rushed), with the usual multitude of overlapping motives and the marker of suspicion swinging several ways over the course of the book. No spoilers for the end, though I appreciate the fact it’s a mystery you could definitely solve using the clues provided, assuming you’re better at detective work than myself.

'Death in the Arctic' by Tom Hindle.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I'm a big fan of this author and this book was just as good as his others. A murder mystery set on a modern day airship.
I figured out the 'who' quite early on but I didn't guess the 'why'. If you're a fan of cozy crime and Agatha Christie give this book a read.
Thanks to NetGallery UK, the publishers and the author for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.

A frozen wilderness.
A killer in the skies.
When aspiring travel writer Chloé Campbell is invited aboard a luxury airship flying to the North Pole, she thinks she’s bagged the opportunity of a lifetime.
But she hasn’t had long to admire the dazzling icy views before a fellow passenger is found dead in their cabin.
Trapped at the top of the world, the group agrees a tragic accident has occurred. But as the hours tick by, fear turns to doubt.
It seems everyone’s a suspect.
And it isn’t long before the passengers begin to turn on each other . .

Hindle definitely has a travel bug but for us readers, it is combined with beautiful remote locations and murder. This time we’re off to the North pole but more accurately Chloe Campbell a wanna-be travel writer is invited on a trip of a lifetime. Of course, things don’t go quite according to plan and a passenger is found dead. Hindle takes us off in a luxury airship and he has researched the topic in detail. In the style of Agatha Christie, we have a modern day tale of greed and hatred- the old ingredients served up with suspense and intrigue. Loved it. Death in a cold climate! Although I do worry Tom is going to run out of original locations for his future novels.

The latest story by Tom Hindle takes place on an airship in the Arctic.
A group of disparate characters are brought together for the maiden flight. Tensions amongst old friends and new acquaintances start to rise. With one of the characters having died from a suspected helium leak tensions continue to rise. Was it an accident or was something else at work here?
Hindle's latest novel has a feel of an Agatha Christie and will appeal to fans of classic crime.
A quick and enjoyable read.

This is the fourth murder mystery from Tom Hindle, each a stand alone story , all set in different times and places. There's a comparison drawn between Hindle’s writing and Agatha Christie, incredibly big boots to fill, but with Death in the Arctic he comes closest to this comparison in that you learn about the characters and the setting what you need to know and nothing more. This striped back style really suited the busy plot but some characters were obviously not the killer because they lacked the detail required. Although there was a reasonably large cast of characters I was able to keep track of everyone.

The mystery was intriguing and, although I did work out the how, I didn't work out the who until the big reveal at the end. This is by far my favourite of Hindle's books and I hope he continues to go from strength to strength.

A frozen wilderness, an airship floating above the Arctic, and a chilling murder—Murder at the Top of the World delivers a thrilling whodunit in one of the most unique settings imaginable.

Aspiring travel writer Chloé Campbell is living the dream when she boards a luxury airship bound for the North Pole, eager to document her once-in-a-lifetime adventure. But the dream quickly turns into a nightmare when a fellow passenger is discovered dead in their cabin. As the airship drifts above the icy expanse, it becomes clear that they’re isolated, with no escape and no one to trust.

Tom Harper’s choice of setting—a majestic, state-of-the-art airship navigating the stark beauty of the Arctic—adds an extraordinary layer to this classic locked-room mystery. The confined space of the airship amplifies the tension as the passengers and crew begin to suspect one another, their fear and desperation bubbling to the surface.

Harper’s writing is sharp and immersive, effortlessly capturing the eerie grandeur of the North Pole and the psychological unease that grips the characters. The well-paced plot, filled with twists and suspense, keeps you guessing until the final reveal. The characters are diverse and well-drawn, each with their own secrets and motivations, ensuring readers are constantly re-evaluating their suspicions.

A masterful blend of atmospheric tension, compelling character dynamics, and an ingenious setting, Murder at the Top of the World is a must-read for fans of classic mysteries and thrillers alike. It’s the kind of book that keeps you turning pages late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Another brilliant thriller from Tom Hindle. A locked room mystery in the extreme. An airship full of people with secrets can only lead to murder and with so much misleading evidence, it’ll take a modern day Poirot or Marple to sort this one. Highly recommended.

When aspiring travel writer Chloé Campbell is invited aboard a luxury airship flying to the North Pole, she thinks she’s bagged the opportunity of a lifetime. She hasn’t had long to admire the dazzling icy views before a fellow passenger is found dead in their cabin. Trapped at the top of the world, the group agrees a tragic accident has occurred. As the hours tick by, fear turns to doubt. It seems everyone’s a suspect, and it isn’t long before the passengers begin to turn on each other…

This is another of the 2025 releases I have been avidly looking forward to and I’m very glad to report I absolutely loved every minute of it! Tom’s books have that wonderful skill of setting the scene with all the characters first, giving the briefest of insights, planting all that background information in your mind.

As the story progresses, the clues are cleverly inserted at various sections along the way, elements slowly being figured out but still keeping the tension and the reveal right until the very end. I had figured out the culprit about 3/4 of the way through but I couldn’t figure the how and why but, of course, Tom neatly tied this all together perfectly in a very clever conclusion.

Tom’s books just keep getting better and better, his Agatha Christie style of mystery writing compelling readers to read more and more! I love the different scenarios across his series of books, his involvement of the whole cast of characters throughout, and just when I think he can’t possibly create another unique situation, he proves us wrong - and long may he continue to do so! As you may have guessed, a thriller you won’t want to miss and a definite recommendation from me!

📚RELEASED 16 JANUARY📚

I read one of Tom Hindle's other books - The Murder Game - last year and it ended up in my top 10 favourite reads so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read his latest work. Death in the Arctic is another whodunnit that has I must say quite a magnificent setting. The author takes the reader to the north pole this time and what better way to see it than by means of an airship, the Osprey (I still don't know the origin of it's name btw)? It's definitely something that will capture everyone's attention.

I loved the setting and the suspects who find themselves on board, unable to get off while an unknown killer is among them. Tom Hindle delivers the type of whodunnit that always keeps me fascinated and eager to participate.

I did find killer and motive very easy to spot this time unfortunately and so I experienced it rather differently to the previous read where I also knew the killer's identity but so much later in the book. I do want to compliment the author for the nifty tricks he used in relation to murder. I was left wondering 'how' it was done and it was like a magician's trick explained. The investigation of the MO the killer used was one of the highlights of the book for me.

Overall an entertaining murder mystery read. It didn't hold the same level of complexity as in The Murder Game though so I fear it will be out of my mind sooner. I bought a copy of Murder on Lake Garda literally a day before I saw this one and I'm eager to find out on which side that one will fall so stay tuned for another review.

[Will be published on the blog on 5/01/2025]

‘Death In The Arctic’ is my first Tom Hindle book and certainly won’t be my last - this character rich tale of ambition, betrayal and murder set in a juxtaposition of luxury and remoteness was an immersive and entertaining read. Told from multiple perspectives, though mostly focusing on budding travel journalist Chloé, the adventure takes place aboard ‘The Osprey’ - a pioneering airship destined for the North Pole. While blizzards and bears can attack mercilessly on the ground, the crew and invited guests on the maiden voyage learn that danger and death lurk in the skies too.

The author’s writing style was incredibly effective at distinguishing a rather broad cast of characters and building a vivid picture of the airship. I enjoyed the sense of adventure on every page and the novel made me really want to experience a similar trip (without the risk of a sticky end)!

While I appreciated the time taken to introduce the premise and cast, the pacing did feel quite slow to me, with the promised “death in the arctic” still conspicuously missing at 45%. There were a few clever red herrings and moments of tension, but not as many shocks or twists as I had hoped for…

Overall, this gets 3.5 stars from me. Certainly worth a read, and has made me want to check out Hindle’s other books, but not one of my absolute favourite murder mysteries.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Random House UK via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Talk about your locked room murder mystery. I mean, not only does the death occur in a room that is blocked from the inside, but which is also an airship floating somewhere over the arctic circle. Assuming this is something darker than a simple accident, which is fairly safe given the fact the nature of this novel, the list of potential suspects in Tom Hindle's latest thriller is short. That doesn't mean that they aren't lacking in motives, but the whole situation is clouded by the fact that foul play isn't guaranteed, and there is a potential that the victim wasn't who it was meant to be either. Mystery packed upon mystery, above several thousand miles of packed in ice. Chilling - in more ways than one.

I really enjoy Tom Hindle's novels. They are classic crime in the kind of style you might find in a vintage Christie, only in a far more modern setting. Yes - an airship may seem a little dated, but this resurrection of vintage transport as a greener alternative to conventional air travel has an air of modern authenticity about it. That race to be the first company to launch a green travel option that allows the rich and shameless to pursue exploration of relatively untouched lands, in a way that needs the least amount of training and effort, and all whilst basking in relative luxury ... sounds kind of familiar doesn't it? Well that is the premise that sees this strange array of characters joining up to travel over the polar ice caps towards the North Pole.

The story is told from varying points of view, allowing us to understand all of the motives as to what each of the characters have gone on this fateful trip. It also helps to build the tension as it is clear where all the various sources of tension are. Certain backstories are slowly fed to us as readers, allowing the suspense to be maintained whilst still feeding the mystery. It does take a while to get to the actual murder of this murder mystery, but setting the scene for this particular mystery is crucial, as is creating a sense of place and that feeling of isolation and conflict that is crucial to the execution of what comes to pass. I love how the author has played on the various character's history together, and used the last minute insertion of aspiring writer, Chloe, to create and unexpected twist in the story.

I really liked Chloe and liked how Tom Hindle has used her insecurity and trepidation to feed into the tension of the story itself. The more nervous she becomes, the more she questions what is going on around her, the more the tingling sensation of apprehension built within me as a reader. I knew we were building up to something, but as to what it wasn't clear. As a newcomer to the group, and as someone who had no reason to be anything other than honest, I felt comfortable in her presence in a way that wasn't quite possible with most of the other passengers, and as a pivotal part of the story, the author couldn't have picked a better personality to guide us to the truth. I could probably have guessed the future victim, but not necessarily the identity of the killer as the author introduces a lot of conflicting behaviour which could point to any number of suspects.

The tension builds towards the end of the book, when the final reveal is near, and so does the sense of threat. In an almost Miss Marple like reveal, Chloe unmasks the killer to all, although the precise circumstances of their comeuppance would definitely not have happened in St Mary Mead ... Made me chuckle given I do love this particular 'arbiter' of justice. A sticky end indeed.

Another brilliant golden age style mystery, with a surprisingly old fashioned, yet undoubtedly modern day twist. Loved it.

I’m a big fan of Tom Hindle after reading his previous novels and this one certainly did not disappoint. His writing is great and the storyline hooked me in from the start with the whole book being a brilliant whodunnit.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

To continue his father’s legacy after he died in a tragic accident on an Arctic expedition, Ezra (along with his uncle Hector) have actualised one his dream to create an airship holiday business. Ezra invites friends, investors, influencers and journalists to be the very first guests on the airship, which will hopefully generate more publicity for the venture. However, it is not smooth sailing and flying as someone is clearly sabotaging with the systems leading to a death in the sky!

I enjoyed the variety of characters in the book and how there were clear clues as to how they might fit as the murderer which kept me guessing and guessing! It is a bit hard to keep track of them, especially when you”re given little descriptions each time. My biggest gripe with the book was that the death happens around 48% (of the kindle ebook) and I think this is far too long a time to wait. On one wand the extra team gives an opportunity to create more tension and ramp up the pressure but sadly this was one on of those books. It was a chore to get that point let me tell you!

Overall, I found it mildly interesting. The plot and setting was really good - reminded me of Christie’s Death in the Sky. But it didn’t;t have the same hold on me as other books of his had.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book. In exchange for a honest review,

I really liked Tom Hindle's first book, wasn't so keen on the next two so wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but on the whole I enjoyed it.

Ezra and his business partner Howard are launching a luxury airship company, the maiden flight consists of 8 guests specially invited, and the crew. The guests range from old school friends of Ezra's, bloggers, a travel journalist and the ubiquitous 'influencer'

The company was launched in memory of Ezra's father Isaac who was an old friend of Howard, they always used to talk about launching an airship and once Ezra graduated he was determined to keep his father's dream alive.

I found the book very atmospheric and was more than ready to try and find an airship! it certainly sounded very luxurious.

I think it was fairly obvious who the killer was and why, a little bit predictable in that respect.

It was an entertaining read

Tom Hindle has been a reliable new face in crime mysteries and “Death in the Arctic” is his latest offering. Think Murder on the Orientation Express except aboard a fantastic new luxury airship floating over the Arctic. In effect a locked room mystery.
Fledgling travel writer, Chloe is sent a last minute assignment to prove herself worthy as a travel journalist. An all expenses trip on the Osprey Airship, a superb new destination.
Conceived by Ezra and his partner Howard in memory of Ezra’s late father this is a project of a lifetime to launch their new airship adventure company.
However when a murder occurs and things start to go wrong on board, Chloe does not know who to trust. Trying to solve the mystery she puts her own life in danger too.
This is another fairly usual sort of crime novel- a group of people stranded somewhere, one of them must be the killer but who is it?
I don’t know what it was about this book but it didn’t grab me quite as much as the author’s previous novels. Maybe the characters were slightly two dimensional and the plot slightly too thin. It didn’t take much to work out who the culprit was. It was an enjoyable and entertaining read, it just wasn’t the author’s best.
Having said that I’d still be happy to read further books by Tom Hindle and look forward to doing so.

The cover of Death in the Arctic gives you that fantastic 20s feel of dirigibles and Miss Marple. And so it should, since the author acknowledges his Christie influence, and a modern airship is the heart of the story.

We start with the sort of character listings that Christie would approve of. Most of the cast get a full blown physical description (I realise that I don’t find these at all helpful), which sadly is not matched by the depth of characterisation, except for Chloe, who gets to take the protagonist role eventually.

It takes a long time to get to the body. I have already considered abandoning the book at least twice by then, partly due to the lack of research on arctic daylight in September. I even turn to the reviews on Netgalley, which do at least encourage me to keep going. I’m not sure why anyone would describe it as a page-turner, though. Maybe I’m just too used to better crafted murder mysteries with sounder scientific bases. Mind you, I suppose getting the science into a right muddle is one way of parcelling a red herring, but it just made me cross.

If you like your locked room mysteries on the old-fashioned side, you’ll enjoy this one. I’m afraid Mr Hindle does not go onto my list of authors to follow, though he describes his settings well. I think it might make a better film, though.

A good story that keeps you guessing as to what is going on as there is so much potential. The early stages of the book do take some time to get going but is worth persevering.

Great for fans of cosy crime.

A little slow at the beginning when setting the scene.

I prefer darker crime but still an enjoyable read.

Having read Tom’s previous books, I was really excied to be given an advanced copy by Netgally and it didn’t disappoint. Tom is becoming one of my favourite authors with his unusual narrative settings, mixed with the traditional ‘whodunit’ writing. If you fancy a modern take on an Agatha then I would definitely rexommend.

A fab cozy read I didn’t want to put down! I felt this was different from the authors other books but I really enjoyed it! It was an addictive and quick read with twists and turns!