I read this in two halves (essentially) because I was very busy for about 3 weeks in April and barely read anything at all. I think that affected part of enjoyment. This is the kind of book that would be best read in a weekend or over a short period of time. Thus what was maybe a 3 star read for me, I’m upgrading to 4 stars. I think there is a lot of great pieces to The Haunting in the Arctic in terms of the spooky atmosphere, the simulated isolation, and thus desperation for attention that both the reader and our characters are feeling. I also loved the use of the selkie fable/myth and its integration into the core story.
Overall the book is worth reading…

But here’s where things get tough… in order for me to really talk about this book and my feelings there is a good chance you will figure out the twist… so fair warning from here forward there is a possibility of SPOILERS.









Again, possible spoilers below.









As I have discussed many times before when it comes to cold settings authors constantly get the details incorrect. Whether the overall effect of cold, snow, ice, etc on the body or how your brain starts to slow and mania or insanity sets in.
For me there was only two outcomes for this book:
1) I either knew the twist within the first 100 pages, or
2) Cooke was doing a terrible job of handling the bitterly cold conditions on the ship in the 2023 timeline.

At one point hear the end I had convinced myself I had the twist wrong and therefore posted a rant about how poorly written or understood cold is, and how disappointed I was in Cooke making such a rookie mistake. Then, lo and behold, a couple pages later the twist is revealed. And I was super annoyed. Held off to the last 10 pages of the book, so transparent (if you know what should have happened after certain events) that it was comical to me, and yet I had convinced myself out of it and that Cooke was just a poor fact checker on biology.

So where does this leave me?
I think it leaves me in a spot where a reread would be good (not right away) as now that I know the outcome I will not be bothered by numerous details like the first time. Perhaps I might be able to appreciate more of the atmosphere, timeline linking, and character processing of trauma.
Ultimately it leaves me with a very unsure feeling towards this book. Yes it’s good, yes lots of people (non-cold climate folks for sure) will likely not pick up the hints to the final twist, and yes the writing is superb. I’m almost sad that I know the cold so well that I knew what could or could not be ‘happening’ at times.

Overall I’d say if this book interests you then pick it up. It’s not bad, it’s quite well written and intriguing. For myself, I will definitely still look forward to the other Cooke novels on my shelf and hope that my knowledge of a particular subject doesn’t sink me like it did here. I will also keep it on my print shelf to possibly reread, and because the book cover itself is gorgeous.

A Haunting in the Arctic is a haunting and intriguing story with it's weaving perspectives and connecting threads. I really like this tale and was even spooked at times. I look forward to reading more from CJ Cooke in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

"A Haunting in the Arctic" is a spooky thriller that will appeal to readers looking for unusual plot lines, locations and characters.

While enjoyable enough overall, I felt Cooke expects her readers to make too many leaps of faith in this story. I found myself repeatedly muttering in frustration: "but how would the character know this?" or "there is no way that would happen". I can suspend my disbelief if the author lays enough breadcrumbs, but Cooke just didn't give me enough to work with this time. I appreciate a dual timeline, but the historical facts weren't meaty enough for me and there were significant plotholes I just couldn't get past.

That said, I really enjoyed the Lighthouse Witches. Cooke clearly has a talent for complex storytelling and I will read future works. This particular title just didn't check enough boxes for me personally to push it past three stars.

I absolutely DEVOURED this book. The pacing was excellent, the characters compelling, and the conclusion satisfying.

The setting acts as a character of its own, and it's so easy to picture yourself there, alongside the characters.

A Haunting in the Arctic is the perfect read for fall/winter when you're looking for something creepy and suspenseful.

I must start by thanking both NetGalley as well as the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Harrowing! A wonderfully written sorrowful tale. Full of both the past and present, as well as the ever present Orman. No one writes horror as well as C.J. Cooke.

👻 GOTHIC NORDIC FOLKLORE meets a chilling atmospheric thriller in CJ Cooke’s “A Haunting in the Arctic”! 👻

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

1901: Nicky, the daughter of the owner of a whaling ship called the Ormen, is kidnapped and kept onboard as a Selkie Wife to all of the crew. She is imprisoned and abused by the men in the middle of the Arctic with no hope of ever going back home.

1973: the Ormen, a ship that has been drifting for decades after its crew vanished, is now a research vessel. The body of a researcher is found onboard brutally mutilated locked in his cabin.

2023: Dom sets out for a solo adventure to Iceland to explore and film the inside of The Ormen before it sinks. She is joined by three strangers who are also on a similar mission to report on the Ghost Ship. But something just doesn’t feel right …

Talk about one hell of a dark, sinister, bone chilling, moody, raw, tense and claustrophobic story! The Nordic atmosphere is harsh, somber and isolating that adds to the CHILL factor indefinitely!

This HAUNTING story is absolutely perfect for spooky season and if you LOVED “The Lighthouse Witches” and “The Ghost Woods” then this one is a must read for you 🥶!!!!

Thank you kindly to @cjcooke_author @harpercollinsca @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on October 12, 2023!!!!!

This was the first CJ Cooke book I’ve read but it definitely won’t be the last. I found this book so incredibly creepy - Lovecraftian at times. The suspense/drama around Nicky’s abduction and how it tied into the group of explorers was so well done. The chapters were short and choppy at times (like the sea!) but I really enjoyed the pacing and flow of the story! I haven’t read a lot of books where the setting was primarily onboard a ship but found that even though the story’s setting was fairly fixed, there was still lots of excitement in the writing by exploring the ship/Icelandic town or getting to know the explorers’ pasts. The author does a phenomenal job using all your senses to really set the scene - you can feel the cold, hear the knocking, see the TikTok videos going viral with likes and shares, and so on! Not my typical kind of book - I did find it quite creepy - but I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in a compelling (and creepy) read!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced electronic version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for my copy of A Haunting in The Arctic.

TW: sexual assault, assault, violence

C.J. Cooke just writes so beautifully. This is my second book from this author and the writing style's just *chef's kiss*! It's haunting, atmospheric and mesmerizing. I was hooked from the very beginning with the storytelling and the way I felt like I'm being transported from 1901 and the present. The other time jumps like 1973 and 1904, I think was just so good. The author made it so natural.

Dominique was the present time character. To be honest, she weirds me out and she just seem like she's quite driven. She's very sketchy but was the other characters she was on board of the Omren in. Jens, seems like he was the nicest. Samara, her nicesness felt fake. And Leo, gosh Leo's just a jackass. They agreed to work together to make content for TikTok regarding the Omren. The past character was Nicky. And this woman has gone through everything. My heart felt for her so much. I can't discuss her without spoiling much but this is where all the trigger warnings come from.

This was just such a well written story. That ending? Blew my mind! I kind of had an inkling but the entirety of it? Blew my mind. I can't get enough of C.J. Cooke's writing. Definitely recommend!

Synopsis (From Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
*******************************************************
Something has walked the floors of the Ormen for almost a century. Something that craves revenge…
1901. On board the Ormen, a whaling ship battling through the unforgiving North Sea, Nicky Duthie awakes. Attacked and dragged there against her will, it’s just her and the crew – and they’re all owed something only she can give them.

1973. Decades later, when the ship is found still drifting across the ocean, it’s deserted. Just one body is left on board, his face and feet mutilated, his cabin locked from the inside. Everyone else has vanished.
Now, as urban explorer Dominique travels into the near-permanent darkness of the northernmost tip of Iceland, to the final resting place of the Ormen’s wreck, she’s determined to uncover the ship’s secrets.

But she’s not alone. Something is here with her. And it’s seeking revenge…
This is the perfect example of a Gothic horror novel that will suck you in and keep you reading way past your bedtime. Iceland is my bucket list trip – even if there were ghosts! What really happened and what will Dominque find out … and will it kill her? No spoilers from me…. Excellent book – highly, utterly, eternally recommended.
#shortbutsweetreviews

C.J. Cooke does atmospheric world-building like no one's business, whether it's the the sinister house and forest in The Ghost Woods, the isolated fjord of The Nesting, or the remote Scottish island and cave of The Lighthouse Witches. So when I read the blurb for this book - evoking the wondrous landscapes of Iceland and a ship that's been drifting aimlessly for decades after its crew has vanished - I couldn't get my hands on this fast enough.

Like her previous efforts, this novel is dark, sinister, moody, atmospheric gothic at its finest. The harsh, bleak, isolated winter landscape of Iceland is the perfect match for the subject matter. This is haunting ghost story and suspenseful thriller and macabre gothic all in one, with the magic and mysticism of Norse folktales woven throughout. The pacing is tight and efficient, the tone is suitably ominous, and the chilling, sinister atmosphere never lapses. This is not a cozy mystery or your run of the mill Celebrity Book Club psychological thriller (sorry, not sorry). C.J. Cooke is better than that - their writing is always raw, truthful, and unflinching, which often means jarring, horrifying, tragic, and heartbreaking. I can't give the author a higher compliment than to say that I did not feel warm for a single second while reading this (note: this is what I want from a gothic/ghost story/thriller).

Trust me, just read this (preferably in one sitting for maximum chills) - you won't be disappointed.