Sorry but I battled with this one. Based on the blurb it should have held my attention but I spent most of the time wondering what was going on. I think I should have read the first one before reading this one as the backstory appears to be important

This second book was as good if not better than the previous book. The trials of the last book have left deep scars in Finch's psyche. He has not been left unscathed by the powers that be. While he is struggling to get through the days without being blind drunk all day, a new issue falls into his lap. A man has tracked him down because of his previous stand against injustice in order to ask him for help  with his predicament, to help him work with his conscience. This case is more dangerous(with a more international setting) because he has been warned off from the very beginning to not meddle. This does not help the situation because it makes him even more curious and concerned. In this book, by the time the end rolled around I was annoyed with Finch for not having listened. He has much harder issues to work through and undergoes even more physical trauma than before. With sheer determination fueling his every move and help from unexpected quarters his actions have historical repercussions. This has something for every kind of reader and I think it sets up a pretty strong base for all the future adventures in store for him. I would have given this book five stars if only I was not so personally disappointed with the ending. By disappointed, I mean with the turn of events and not the book/author's telling of it. It was so well done, that I felt that personally invested.

I really enjoyed Jeff Dawson’s first book, No Ordinary Killing, so I was delighted to see that he’d written a second book in the Ingo Finch series. I’m happy to say I found The Cold North Sea just as enjoyable as its predecessor.

When a stranger with a story of international conspiracy turns up unexpectedly at the house of Dr. Ingo Finch (who has previously spent time in South Africa but is now back in England) and the stranger leaves behind a notebook (of a kind) containing a possible clue, my immediate thought was, “We’re in The Thirty-Nine Steps territory here!”. Even more so when Finch is warned off investigating further and accused of involvement in a suspicious death.

As the mystery deepens and danger looms from seemingly every direction, a touching and timely reunion sees Finch team up with an old ally. However, his actions risk putting that ally in danger as well – the last thing in the world he’d want. The introduction of another narrator creates an additional point of interest as the reader wonders just how – and when – his story will connect with that of Finch.

With a story line full of narrow escapes from what seems like certain death, sinister organisations, ruthless individuals, conspiracy at the highest levels and an atmosphere of impending danger even on the quiet streets of London it’s all very Buchanesque! (I’m a great admirer of the author John Buchan so when I describe something as ‘Buchanesque’ it’s definitely intended as a compliment.) The book even features the use of trains and, at one point, a bicycle as a means of escape, as utilised by Richard Hannay during more than one of his adventures.

The scene that opens the book is based on a real life incident (variously known as the ‘Russian Outrage’, ‘The Incident of Hull’ or ‘The Dogger Bank Incident’) that could have plunged Russia and Britain into war in 1904. However, the plot of The Cold North Sea also feels very contemporary in that it deals with Russian aggression against British citizens and the fate of nations.

In the dedication to The Thirty-Nine Steps, addressed to his friend Tommy Nelson, John Buchan recalls their mutual fondness for ‘that elementary type of tale…which we know as the “shocker” – the romance where the incidents defy the probabilities, and march just inside the borders of the possible’. I don’t think there could be a better description of The Cold North Sea which is an accomplished, tremendously entertaining historical crime thriller full of twists and turns.

I’m hoping I’m right in interpreting the closing chapter of the book as meaning there’ll be more from Ingo Finch in the future.

My thanks to Canelo for an eARC, via NetGalley, of the second in Jeff Dawson’s Dr. Ingo Finch series of historical thrillers.

While ‘The Cold North Sea’ works fine on its own, as the author provides some background on the events of the first book, I am glad that I read ‘No Ordinary Killing’ first as it establishes Doctor Finch and the stressful circumstances that have brought him to his current situation.

The novel opens with an account of the Dogger Bank incident in October 1904 when a British trawler fleet was fired upon by ships of the Imperial Russian Navy. Great Britain and Russia are soon on the brink of war. A few weeks later a strange, dishevelled man turns up in Finch’s local pub claiming to know him from South Africa and seeking his help with a conspiracy linked to the incident. Soon Finch is drawn again into the murky and dangerous world of espionage unsure who he can trust.

The novel is prefaced by “based on a historical event”. I had not heard of the events at Dogger Bank so it was interesting to learn of it. As with ‘No Ordinary Killing’ this was fast paced and action packed with plenty of twists and turns.

Dawson does a great job in describing Britain in 1904, especially London. Small details such as public transport in the city served to enhance my experience and I felt very engaged throughout. For me the hallmark of good historical fiction is that sense of immersion in another time.

Finch, even with his flaws, is a compelling protagonist. I certainly will look out for news of another adventure for Finch and hopefully his dodgy knee will have a chance to rest a bit beforehand.