This is definitely an "on the fence" kind of book. I've been hearing about it for a while now and it sounded like it would be really good. Such a great premise, it sounded like it would be really tense and creepy and atmospheric and claustrophobic. But sadly, it fell short of my expectations.

It started off slow (I kept looking at the page number to see how far I'd got) and unfortunately, it never really hit its stride. It sounded like it would be this creepy thriller, but it never got that far. It felt very everyday, and I never felt much concern or fear for the case. Even the location fell flat. The middle of the icy ocean, it could have been so good, but it almost felt like an afterthought.

One positive point is there was a small cast, which meant it was relatively simple to figure out who was who, which means you can focus more on the actual story. The problem is, none of them are very memorable. You have Dee and Tori who are the leads, but I never really fell into either of their stories. No-one was really standout in either a positive or negative way, and so then you end up not caring. I'd rather someone be a really horrible character than a "meh" character, as at least I'd have something to get my teeth into.

It felt a bit bitty. Lots of things dropped into conversation to whet the appetite but never picked up on. This was probably with the hope it would build up the tension, but I just felt a bit annoyed after a while.

I think it would have been improved by introducing the deaths earlier. I know you have to introduce everyone and build up this sense of unease, but that only works if the setup is worth it. But I was already considering giving up before it got to the first death, and it needed that to hook you in. However, if I'm honest, even when things started to kick off, I still found it somewhat tedious.

I have seen some really positive reviews, and I've also seen some negative ones. I'm definitely somewhere in the middle. Great promise but it didn't live up to its potential. It wasn't bad but it wasn't good. A bit vanilla and unsatisfying for me.

Freeze focuses on a new reality TV show being shot on a ship off the coast of Greenland, promising punishing challenges in Arctic conditions. It's narrated by producer Tori, hoping to launch her new company Tori Tells Stories in style, and her friend and camerawoman Dee, who is struggling with a mysterious depression. Things start to go wrong from the start as Tori and Dee realise how many corners have been cut: the ship isn't an icebreaker, so they could end up stranded in the solidifying ice, and the researcher they've hired hasn't done her job properly. But neither of them realise just how much worse things will get.

I love locked-room thrillers set in icy environments, but unfortunately, Freeze wasn't up there with favourites like Allie Reynolds's Shiver and Ruth Ware's One By One. It has to handle a big cast of characters because of the nature of its premise, and while I did manage to keep track of them, I felt like I wasn't invested in any of them, including our two narrators, whom I kept confusing because they sound exactly the same. And while the novel starts off well with its descriptions of icebergs 'as big as tower blocks' and the threat posed by storms that accelerate out of nowhere, I felt like much of its second half could have been set anywhere cold and snowy. The twists were too convoluted, and, as with many recent thrillers, this came at the expense of character and atmosphere - I never felt the tension of the situation.

I will post my full review to Goodreads and my blog nearer the publication date.

Rounding up to three stars

For me, this one never quite hit the mark, and I can't be sure why.
It's an interesting idea , fantastic setting, small cast so you CAN remember who is who, and a lot of secrets.
I didnt find any of the characters likeable, or unlikeable enough to care what happened to them, and possibly too many twists for me.
Some good moments, but nothing too memorable I fear.