The Blue Ice

Hammond Innes wrote this shortly after the war and the characters are all carrying some aspect of their wartime pasts with them. Ostensibly a quest to find the man who knows where there are valuable Thorite deposits in Norway, the Hammond Innes reader knows they are in for some very rich scene setting. This book covers in depth sailing including in bad and icy conditions, a whaling station (ie slaughterhouse), and an icy trail on foot and skis across Norwegian mountains. Each is described with the eye of one who has lived it, and that is the primary treat in every Hammond Innes book. He went there, he lived it, he flensed, he gybed, he trekked. The story is a standard one with bad guys and good guys and a pretty girl, but the characters are deeply enough drawn to make the experience vivid and alive. If you see it, buy it. If you're new to Hammond Innes, then dive in and enjoy...

Innes's thriller is one of the finest espionage novels I have read. Dark and icy Norwegian atmosphere, very strong characters, solid plotting. From page one, you know you're in the hands of a pro. It's too bad this little gem in out of print. See if you can track it down! Highly recommended.

I was weaned on maritime espionage novels in the tradition of Alistair MacLean. "The Blue Ice" is probably the best of these I have ever read -- superlative in every way. Icy Norwegian atmosphere, excellent characterizations, strong plotting. Thrillers just don't get better than this one!