Cold Fear by Mads Peder Nordbo
Greenland book 2. Translated by Charlotte Barslund. Text,
2019. ISBN: 9781911231301. 400pp.
(Age: Adult) Recommended for lovers of dark Nordic noir, Cold
fear takes the reader on a cold and grisly trip through
Greenland as Matthew Cave tries to solve the mystery of his sister's
abduction and father's disappearance. Cave first appeared in The
Girl Without Skin and while Cold Fear could be read as
a stand-alone, it continues the story that had been hinted at in the
first novel. Matthew is faced with the question of why his father
disappeared so many years ago, and why he was accused of a double
murder. Now that his cold case has been reopened on the suspicion
that he is still alive, it becomes imperative to work out what
happened. But more immediate is the urgency of finding what has
happened to his sister. Tupaarnaq, the woman with many tattoos,
returns to help find his sister, while on her own quest for revenge.
Not for the faint hearted, Cold fear has many horrifying
scenes of child abuse and imprisonment, grisly murders and dangerous
attacks all set against the cold bleak landscape of Greenland which
Nordbo describes so well. There are many twists and turns to keep
the reader guessing as old secrets are brought to light. Readers
will be fascinated by the role that Greenland has to play in
international politics and could find themselves looking up
locations found in the book.
Throughout all the nail biting events Matthew Cave's determination
and persistence in carving through the lies and treachery lends
authenticity to the story as he works out what has happened with
skilful investigation. And what a thrilling and unexpected ending!
Pat Pledger