Book review

Although I do read (or at least try to) across an eclectic mix of subjects and titles, it has been drawn to my attention that the majority of the books that I review are either childrens, young adults, the odd fantasy or titles that would appeal more to the female gender. So in the interests of broadening my experience and range I recently took home a spy thriller. It is the first novel by a new Australian author, and I hope it won't be his last.

Beneath the Dark Ice by Greig Beck was an exciting read, which kept me turning the pages. It starts with a reasonably standard premise "When a plane crashes into the Antarctic ice, exposing a massive cave beneath, a rescue and research team is dispatched. Twenty-four hours later, all contact is lost".

So the second rescue and research team go in headed by Captain Alex Hunter and his special force. They are rescuers for obvious reasons... but can't find any survivors or any trace of their bodies. They are researchers because there is more than a hint of huge petrochemical and mineral reserves underneath the ice. So as well as battling a hostile and unknown environment, there is also the opposing Russian spy force to contend with. And the members of the team don't always have the same agenda's either.

Beneath the Dark Ice is a curious but successful mix of spy thriller, psychological drama, action, scientific primeval action novel, with just a touch of the Jules Verne - and to say anymore would spoil the story. It has been nominated for teh 2009 Aurelias Award in Australia and is well worth a read.