Book Review: A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Horror
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Berkley (February 27, 2024)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website
Few books have left me as disturbed and creeped out as A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke. This novel delves into the depths of psychological terror and trauma, weaving a narrative that is both addictive and profoundly unsettling.
The story is told in two timelines, first opening in Dundee, Scotland in 1901 with Nicky, a young woman whose father owns the whaling ship Ormen. Times have been hard for her–following a devastating loss, her husband has gone off to war, leaving her alone. After receiving some unnerving news about her father’s business, Nicky heads to the park and is suddenly attacked and abducted. When she wakes, she finds herself inexplicably aboard the Ormen, beginning its months-long voyage to Icelandic waters. As the ship carries her further away from home, Nicky realizes with horror what the crew intends for her.
Meanwhile, the second timeline unfolds in the present day. The wreck of a whaling ship, determined to be the Ormen, has washed ashore in the arctic. A young explorer named Dominique is determined to make her way to the site to document the wreck and find out what happened to it in its last days before it is scheduled to be destroyed. Initially traveling alone, her plans hit a snag when she encounters a trio of adventurers heading to Iceland to do exactly the same thing. Ultimately deciding to team up, the group makes it to the shipwreck only to find themselves stalked by an eerie presence on the ice while trapped in a storm.
Before I proceed with my review, it must first be noted that A Haunting in the Arctic is not for the faint of heart. It is one of the darkest books I’ve read in a while, unapologetic in its portrayal of human suffering. There are sensitive and distressing themes aplenty, most of them dealing with sexual assault and violence. Although these are woven into the very bones of the novel, integral to its premise and progression, the detailed depiction of such scenes may prove distressing to some. Therefore, reader discretion is strongly advised.
That said, this is my third book by C.J. Cooke, and it might be my favorite yet. The author’s strength has always been her remarkable talent for crafting immersive atmospheres, which she displayed even in her earlier novels, The Nesting and The Lighthouse Witches. In A Haunting in the Arctic, Cooke’s prose again brings the setting to life, evoking a palpable sense of isolation and dread.
For all its bleakness though, the novel also contains moments of deep and powerful emotion, exploring themes of loss and resilience. Nicky and Dominique emerge as intricately written characters, both living through their own private hells, yet the subtle connections between them, spanning across time, won’t be fully revealed until much later at the end. The mystery kept the tensions high and added an additional layer of intrigue, keeping me hooked as answers were gradually revealed.
Again, A Haunting in the Arctic was not an easy book to read, nor would it be suitable for all readers. However, I do believe horror fans brave enough to venture into its icy depths will find a haunting narrative that offers gut-wrenching and chilling resonance.
The BiblioSanctum 
This is a great review Mogsy. I think I will definitely give it a miss though
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I understand! It’s pretty brutal and not for everyone.
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Yeah, definitely NOT for me 🙂
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Haha, yep I would have told you the same even if you didn’t say it first 😝
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I’m going to be starting this soon. I just finished a pretty intense war story so I need a break before reading this.
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Very wise! Having an intense war story and this back to back would’ve pretty bleak!
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Yes to everything here. This is a brutal read for sure. I felt shocked. I mean I physically had to go back and reread something I’d just read because I actually mistook it momentarily. But I think it’s a great book. Really atmospheric and truly the most frightening ghost story I’ve read. It’s an emotional read and it’s also packed with emotion. Not for everyone.
Lynn 😀
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I did too! I was like, was this seriously happening or just a dream? Shocked is the perfect description for my initial reaction.
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While I’m taking very seriously your warnings about content, both the mystery and the dual timeline of events sound like perfect ingredients for a compelling read and I know I will have to add this book to my TBR as soon as I can. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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You’re welcome! As long as you have a strong stomach for the themes described above and are prepared for them, I think you’ll be fine. I hope you’ll get to check it out soon 🙂
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Sounds like one I might actually try. Thanks for the warnings Mogsy! great review as always!
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Thank you so much!
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Sounds like quite a read, certainly one to consider. And probably good to know ahead of time what I might be getting myself into if I do. Always glad to see a book rated this highly.
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Exactly. I wasn’t prepared and I was a little shocked. It’s definitely many degrees darker than her previous books, but I’m very glad I read it.
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Well I believe it’s not for me 😉
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Totally fair! And I know you’re not big on horror!
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Chilling. I mean the name itself promises that
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Hi I’m just stopping by people’s book blogs to tell them, in case they missed it, that WordPress is selling our content to AI companies, and you have to opt out by going in to your settings – general -privacy.
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I’ve been wanting to read a book by the author for a while so it’s good to hear that she always manages to write such an effective atmosphere. I think I’ll start with The Lighthouse Witches though. Not only have I wanted to read it for ages but I don’t read a whole lot of horror so this may not be the best for me to check out first. If I get on well with the other one I may well still pick this up too though. The dual storyline sounds fascinating after all.
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