This was a fun book but had a few faults. I generally enjoyed the story. I was desperate to find out what was going on and if Rachel survived. It was an interesting survival story that I really enjoyed. I never really read anything quite like it before because it was set in Antarctica in the winter. The book was very atmospheric, and I loved how immersive it was. I do have a few things that were drawbacks though. Rachel felt a little off. The connection between her and her baby was…not what I would expect. It just didn’t jive correctly for me. I also found the book long despite not having a lot of pages. The middle drug on quite a bit, however the ending was very propulsive and great. This was my first book by this author, and I am looking forward to reading more books by them.

If you’re looking for an immersive tale of survival, then check this one out.

The novel, while ambitious, ultimately falls short due to its predictability and length. From the moment the central mission is introduced, it quickly becomes evident where the story is heading, leaving little room for suspense or surprise. The plot’s trajectory feels almost too obvious, and it’s hard to stay engaged when the outcome feels like a foregone conclusion.

The book’s length is another issue. Despite being a relatively short read, the story is dragged out far too much. It’s as if every little detail, no matter how trivial, is over-explained. This makes for a drawn-out reading experience that could have been far more concise and impactful. One of the most frustrating elements of the novel is the way certain concepts are hammered home, particularly regarding the difference between Antarctica in a usual season versus its harsh winter conditions. The dialogue repeatedly forces this point onto the reader, leaving you with the feeling of being "mansplained" to rather than being shown or discovering the information organically. It detracts from the immersion and feels more like an instruction manual than a narrative.

The biggest flaw, however, is the portrayal of the female protagonist, especially in a story written by a male author. Fictional stories told from a woman’s perspective often lose their authenticity when written by someone who doesn't seem to fully grasp the nuances of female experience. In this case, the character’s voice feels off, and the dialogue often falls flat, making it hard to empathize with her.

The book’s final chapters are riddled with plot holes that are almost too glaring to ignore. At several points, the main character could have easily solved problems or avoided danger by making simple, logical choices—like locking a door. These missed opportunities for tension or resolution only serve to irritate, undermining the narrative’s credibility. It was as if the author needed to meet a minimum word requirement.

On the plus side, the depiction of an oil-hungry American president risking the fate of the world felt eerily relevant and timely. The political commentary on global greed and power dynamics was well done and added a layer of realism to an otherwise lackluster story. It was one of the few moments where the author captured a compelling, authentic moment.

Ultimately, this book may appeal to those who enjoy high-stakes, mission-driven plots, but for anyone looking for a tightly-written, thoughtful narrative, it leaves much to be desired. The predictability, excessive length, and missed opportunities for character development make it a disappointing read.

“Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, driest, most remote, most desolate, most inhospitable place on the entire planet.”

An apocalyptic survival thriller set in the middle of a raging blizzard in Antarctica, <u>Whiteout </u> makes for a gripping winter read. If you’re looking for something exciting, chilling (quite literally), and heartfelt, look no further. And aren’t books set in the winter, especially thrillers, always the best?

Rachael, an ambitious glacier scientist, leaves behind her husband and daughter for an urgent research trip, only to find herself trapped alone in a fierce storm. Rachael is left with no way fo to contact her at base, with an emergency radio broadcasting stating that a nuclear war has broken out and all connections are disconnected. Through alternating past and present timelines, we see Rachael’s fight to survive begin — against not only the harsh terrain of the South Pole, but also a growing sense of regret and hopelessness knowing everyone she knows/loves is most likely dead.

While the pacing of the book lags a bit during the first third, it ultimately made up for in the intense final portion. I mean, that ending? Wow. Besides the intriguing premise of a nuclear war with the MC simultaneously being cut off from the rest of the world, the author also incorporates meaningful themes of family and understanding oneself.

Overall, I’d say this is definitely worth a read!

I’m looking forward to reading more by R.S. Burnett.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Chilling, atmospheric, tense, and riveting, Whiteout: A Thriller wowed me with this tale of isolation, survival, reflection, relationships, and science. Whew! I love, love, love books set in cold and snowy places. I also love books that have a 'trapped' feeling and a quest for survival. R.S. Burnett nailed it with Whiteout: A Thriller and it's the freezing, dark, and bitter cold setting in Antarctica!

Glaciologist Rachael Becket decided to leave the warmth of her home with her husband, Adam and their baby daughter, Izzy. Her husband warns her about the horrific winters in Antarctica. How darkness and isolation play with one's mind. He doesn't want her to go, but Rachel is determined to do so. She is a scientist and when presented with alarming data, knows she can weather any storm.

Antarctica in the summer is not walk in the park, but in winter.... Well, it's no winter wonderland. It is unforgiving, deadly, dark, and so very cold. When she loses contact with the outside world and with a BBC emergency radio broadcast reporting a nuclear war, she knows that she just might be one of the last people on earth. It's cold, she's lonely, she's hungry, and then things go from bad to worse.

I loved how atmospheric this book felt. I could feel the chill and Rachel's desperation jumping from the pages. The loneliness and her reflections back on her life when she was spending time with her daughter and husband were palpable. She has only her research to cling to as she has no idea what the fate of her family and the world might be. Survival becomes the name of the game!

Holy Moly! I can't even imagine the cold and unforgiving winter conditions that she was enduring. Antarctica is very much a character in this book as well. I thought the author nailed the effect that isolation, lack of light, and contact with others has on individuals. The vivid descriptions and scenes in addition to Rachel's fight to stay alive, there were some intense scenes which had my heart beating quite fast a few times while reading.

I loved the tension, the twists, the quest for survival, the descriptions, and the way Rachel reflected on her life and the days leading up to her leaving to go to Antarctica. Her journal entries were also a very nice touch, and I loved reading them as a means to get into Rachel's mind and inner thoughts.

Chilling, dark, tense, and atmospheric!

A tense page turner.

Rachael was a spitfire. Confused about her marriage and motherhood, she realizes work is very important to her and when it appears she’s needed to help prevent a global catastrophe, she goes for it. The plot is driven by Rachael and her work, with secondary characters that come and go as needed. The writing was full of suspense and kept the reader engaged throughout. My only complaint was that at times, the author came across preachy about certain social issues, such as global warming. Other than that, the book was very good.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.

When Rachael’s mentor asks her to join an urgent research trip to Antarctica, she jumps at the chance. Rachael is a glaciologist who put her career and research on hold when she and her husband started their family. Rachael is stationed alone at a remote outpost during the dark and unforgiving Antarctic winter. Her research may be the only thing to prevent oil companies from drilling in Antarctica and save the earth from climate change destruction. As the brutal polar winter rages on and her supplies run low, Rachel begins to think all is lost. The only communication she’s had has been a radio transmission saying a nuclear war has broken out. As Rachel worries about her husband and young daughter, she realizes she could be the last person left alive. Rachael soon discovers the most hostile environment in the world isn’t the only thing trying to kill her.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. I loved the location. I liked that Rachael is a scientist committed to her field of study. Her struggle with being a stay home mom really added some dynamic her character. If you’re looking for a survival thriller featuring a strong female main character, this one is a good choice. The pace moves along quickly, and I loved the descriptions of the harsh yet beautiful landscape of Antarctica.

It’s the matter of survival!
The only thing I would change about this book is that the focus would stay on the survival part (I’m here for it) and less on the political aspects going on. The author created a harrowing and chilling experience. It makes you reflect and ponder what you would do if you were in Rachel’s shoes.

What a debut thriller of a book! I was sold from the synopsis. I just didn't want to put this book down.

Rachael is persuaded by her old boss Guy to head back to Antarctica to carry out some vital research, but after months alone, with no human contact, except a radio message that a nuclear war has broken out, Rachael fears the worst for her husband and daughter who she left behind and is battling to survive a harsh winter storm, when things start going from bad to worse.

Is Rachael the only survivor? Will she survive a winter storm in Antarctica? Has she got the resilience and ability to survive?

This is an atmospheric and gritty, page turner. the writing is brilliant and I felt like I was there with Rachael witnessing it all unfold, with clever use of flashbacks to give a fuller picture as to what led Rachael to this point, you can't help but root for her.

There are so many twists and turns, you don't see coming and catch you off guard, but keep you hooked to find out what's going to happen next.

From the premise to the execution this is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers Crooked Lane for this ARC.

Okay this is so different from what I usually read. BUT I LOVED IT!! So atmospheric and the stranded in Antarctica aspect was perfect. 5 stars!!

With a premise that hooked me from the start, Whiteout is an Antarctic survival thriller set during the end of the world, that makes you question how much you’d be willing to fight to survive even in the most dire of circumstances.

I love thriller and horror set in the cold barren wastes of the Antarctic, since it makes every little thing that happens much more deadly and serious. In most survival scenarios, the main protagonist could, in theory, leave to go somewhere else. Not so, when doing so will almost guarantee their death within a few hours in subzero weather. This raises all the stakes when things go wrong, since our main character has to determine how to survive both her current circumstances - as well as the unforgiving polar night.

The one thing that didn’t quite work for me in this book was the family drama that was interspersed throughout the book, as I personally couldn't care less about the potential fracturing of our main character’s marriage or her missing her daughter. While this is important for the motivations of our main character, I just am not someone who cares about family drama in novels, and so when these chapters were spread throughout I will admit to only half-paying attention to them. I don’t think the book would have been any different had the main character and her husband not had some issues, as in both scenarios she’s mourning their potential death during a potential nuclear war.

However, the main overall intensity and pace of this book kept me interested until the last page, and there were quite a few twists that I did see coming - and one I only realized before the last page during its reveal. If you were looking for a quick survival thriller, with a main character who does everything she can to survive despite both the circumstances and the bleak reality she’s found herself in, I would recommend picking up this book.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In "Whiteout" a scientist studying the ice sheet in Antarctica receives shocking news on her radio -- a nuclear war has broken out, and her family back in England are likely dead.

The premise hooked me, but the book is more of a family drama than a survival thriller. The story includes frequent flashbacks to her marriage troubles in England. For me, the flashbacks were an unwelcome interruption that defused the tension that should have been building in Antarctica. Untimately, the final reveal made me wish I hadn't picked up the book at all.

While it wasn't for me, readers who are looking for a relationship-driven story may enjoy this book.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for sending me a free copy for review consideration via NetGalley.

This is probably one of the best extreme survival type of book I have read, what the main character goes through under the conditions she's in, is mind boggling. Rachael lives in London, England with her husband and young baby, she specializes in glacier research and has been to the Antarctic several times to research glaciers, especially related to them melting or breaking off larger glaciers. She's bored with being at home, her baby has been difficult at times and she yearns for any sort of activity that will challenge her. Her husband doesn't want her to go back to work, the baby needs her. An acquaintance drops by unexpectedly and convinces her that she is urgently needed on a trip to Antarctica to research why a huge piece of a glacier is breaking off, roughly the size of France, if it does break off and melt, ocean water levels could increase by as much as 5 feet, causing damage to coastal areas. Rachael agrees to go (though her husband is very unhappy about it) and soon finds herself alone in a very remote area measuring ice thickness, she has not spoken to anyone for about a month and all she hears over the radio is a BBC recording that England has been hit by a nuclear attack and people should remain inside. Rachael runs into a problem, her shelter burns down due to extreme cold, so she takes the few belongings she managed to save and set off, the main research station is some distance away, and there is an intense blizzard that has been blowing for weeks. Rachael encounters difficulties, to put it mildly, including losing the meager amount of belongings (including food) she managed to save. She is able to locate a shelter and stay warm for several days when a research member shows up, she's saved! Not quite, but that last part of the book I could not read fast enough. I would highly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

Rachael, a young mother, wife and researcher, gets stuck in Antarctica in wintertime. As far as she knows the other researchers aren’t alive anymore and the radio is only broadcasting an emergency message in a loop about a nuclear war. Rachael might be the last survivor on Earth..

Whiteout is a debut survival thriller with well build characters, set in the unforgiving scenery of Antarctica. The author is very good at describing the coldness and the abandonment of this continent, so I really could empathize with Rachael. She is just a courageous and strong character and I totally understand why she would choose to leave her husband and kid for this important mission.

Where the story starts a bit as a slowburn, it gets really exciting, full of action and twisty in the second half. I really liked the pace and just couldn’t stop reading. And although sometimes the outcome of the events felt a tiny bit too convenient, I overall loved the story and I actually wished it would’ve been longer. I was so involved in it and was really curious about what could’ve happened after the current ending.

Many thanks to @netgalley and @rob.burnett for this e ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll definitely look out for more publications by this talented author in the future!

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books for the copy of Whiteout by R. S. Burnett. I loved how this book started and I was instantly hooked on how Rachael’s struggles to survive the cold and stormy Antarctic. She was intent on listening to the radio broadcast about the nuclear war over and over, almost like it gave her comfort. Was it worth trying to survive when everything she loved had been destroyed? The flashbacks to her previous family life gave a good respite from her harrowing attempts to live alone and continue her testing anyway. I wasn’t a big fan of the political aspects but the scientific reason she was in the Antarctic was compelling. I was less interested in the implausible challenge she encounters near the end, but many readers will love the excitement. Although I wasn’t shocked by the final reveal, it was a great twist. The writing was great, and the many reveals we learn from the flashbacks really kept me reading. This is a thoroughly readable and enjoyable read and I look forward to more books by Burnett. 4 enthusiastic stars.

A researcher gets stranded in Antarctica, and receives a radio message that a nuclear war has broken out, and she may be the only survivor left on earth.

Whiteout has been my favorite arctic thriller I’ve ever read, full of tension and everlasting claustrophobia. I found myself holding my breath all the way until the ending. While the pacing is slow, it does so beautifully, adding to the claustrophobic feeling rather than being boring.

The only things I didn’t like were how convenient things were for everything to work out as it did, and I did find it somewhat easy to predict. That being said I still had a terrifying blast reading Whiteout.

Highly recommended to any thriller readers, but especially those who enjoy more sci-fi /Dystopian thrillers.

Big thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author R.S. Burnett for allowing me to read an e-arc of this novel.

This is a fast-paced thriller with science aspects to it, a dystopian theme, and a writing style that is accessible to both seasoned thriller writers and those wanting to take a dip in the genre.

I personally could not fully get into this book and did not find myself scared. I will say I couldn't put the book down though, so it was still an enjoyable read. I didn't realize how much the daughter would play a role in the book, and I like my books more focused on the action, concerns, and mystery. This had a lot of character development and backstory written in, which allows it to be a great overall read, I just found myself getting pulled out of the book and looking for the action.

Don't get me wrong, this book is very intense and has a lot of action. It just wasn't the book for me personally, but I think this book will be loved by most thriller sci-fi dystopian readers.

This is the wonderful part of trying new books - learning specifically which themes, pacing, and types of settings you enjoy as a reader. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of reading this work of art before its release! I am giving it a three star rating simply because while I couldn't get fully lost in the book and wasn't too scared, I think a lot of people will be able to get completely engrossed in this one and LOVE it. Would recommend this to most thriller lovers.

This is the ultimate survival story.
Overall a good story. The concept was unique and I was eager to read it. This book was very slow paced, at least until the end.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

After reading sooo many thrillers back to back, I was ready for something just a bit different. Note to self…be careful what you wish for!😱

Rachel puts her work as a scientist above everything else. Including her family. So when the world is tipping towards the end as we know it she rushes to join Guy, her mentor in extracting data from Antarctica, desperate to help save both the planet and mankind. It’s a race against time.

But nothing goes as planned. The expedition is half the size it should be. And after Guy falls deathly ill the moment they arrive, Rachel realizes it’s all on her shoulders now.

Soon an emergency radio broadcast will change everything. The worst imaginable scenario has happened. A nuclear bomb was dropped. Suddenly Rachel feels like she’s the last woman alive on the planet.

It’s a matter of survival!

I loved the premise! Well, obviously!‍💁🏼‍♀️
Just wish the focus would have remained on the survival angle and less on the political aspect that created the situation (but that's just me).

From the survival aspect, the author created a harrowing and chilling, (pun intended) experience. What Rachel went through every day to just stay alive. She was a strong and courageous woman. It makes you reflect, pondering what you’d do in her circumstances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books

This was an intense, suspenseful thriller with several big twists. It is set in the Antarctic during the 24-hour total darkness of the polar winter. It is a spine-chilling story of a lone individual's struggle to survive through loneliness, darkness, pain, blowing snow, and unbearable cold. They show determination, endurance, emotional turmoil, and a known dystopian background. This story would completely engage me, and I felt the rapid setup of obstacles plausible. Still, the outcomes were not always believable. The story became overwrought.

Rachael, a glaciologist, lives a 'normal' life in a comfortable home in England. Her family consists of her husband, Adam, and their 20-month-old daughter, Izzy. She loves their daughter intensely but feels herself shutting off from her husband, whom she met on a previous Antarctic field trip. She is bored and not sure she still loves him.

When she is approached by Guy, a leader of former expeditions, who requests she spend five months during the polar winter to complete her data gathering. There is an urgent need to gather indisputable proof of the disastrous outcome of American drilling for oil near the South Pole. If continued, drilling will cause the Ross Shelf to collapse and raise sea levels so that numerous cities will be submerged, with irreversible consequences. Rachael feels compelled to go, as the mission and data will be her part in saving the world from disaster. Her husband disapproves, especially her leaving their daughter for such a long time, and suspects she may have romantic feelings toward Guy.

Later, she learns Guy deceived her. Their previous expeditions were sanctioned and funded by the government. Unlike the previous ones with full support staff and sufficient scientists, this is a private endeavour without government sanction. Only four people are on this expedition: herself, Guy, and two other researchers, Zac and Mika. Guy soon becomes seriously ill. Mika and Zac were stationed at base camp. She ventures on her own to complete her measurements of the ice separations and learns that they are progressing faster than anticipated. Her data will yield indisputable proof to stop oil drilling. She persists with determination and stamina through unbearable conditions and learns through a BBC broadcast that nuclear war has broken out. Have her family, friends, and everyone she knows died? She has lost touch with her colleagues at base camp. Have they died? She has fallen several times and lost her provisions, heating fuel, and shelter. She is alone in the darkness, wind, blowing snow, and unbearable temperatures.

Rachael maintains a routine by writing in a daily journal addressed to Adam and Izzy. Thoughts and visions of her daughter keep her going through hunger, pain, and the loss of provisions, shelter, and heating fuel. She has become disorientated, confuses visions with reality, and is unsure if she is walking forward. With nuclear war back home, there is unlikely to be a rescue and a way out at the beginning of polar summer when the sun's light returns. Will her proof cause oil drilling to stop, or are people left alive to continue the drilling or interpret her data?

Later, she learns that she is not entirely alone. She is in the presence of someone hired to destroy her data, so oil drilling will continue unimpeded. She is placed in great physical danger, repeatedly injured by blows and a knife wound. That she endures is over-the-top and implausible, and with so many obstacles, I failed to be riveted by the frantic action. I believe this would make an exciting movie or, even better, a five-part TV series if a way could be found to show the unending darkness in the film.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced electronic copy of this terrific thriller, which will be published on February 11th, 2025.

A fantastic thriller with the best twists that I honestly did not see coming which is crazy for me. I wanted more out of the end, not because it wasn’t done well, there was a sense of closure but I’m greedy and I wanted more.