The Frozen People (Ali Dawson, Book 1)
by Elly Griffiths, 2025
Audio book narrated by Julie Maisey
9 hrs 41 mins
Her new protagonist, Ali Dawson, is a woman in her 50s, working with a "cold case team" reputed to investigate "crimes so old, they're frozen". What most people outside the team don't know, is that they have even found a way to travel back in time to do research. So far they have only made a few minor experiments with this, but now it's time to try to both go back further in time, and stay there longer. So we get to follow Ali on a "journey" back to London in the 1850s, to find out more about a sinister secret socity of people calling themselves The Collectors. "Of course" things do not go 100% to plan - she finds herself stuck in the past longer than intended, not sure how to get back; and meanwhile, in the present time, her son Finn also finds himself in trouble...
I was a bit sceptical when I started listening, and even afterwards I'm still "kind of" in two minds about the time travelling dimensions... But Elly Griffiths is a very good writer, good at "painting images with words". So one does get drawn into it - even to the point of almost believing it... It probably helps that the characters themselves are also new to it all, and hardly know themselves how it is supposed to work!
As this book is advertised as "Book 1" I also assume this means that some things that still remain a bit hazy at the end may be further clarified in books to come. I'm pretty sure I'll at least remain curious enough to also read the next one when the time comes... And before that, probably also re-listen to this one at least once more.
I read a lot of series, and all of them weave the end into the next one very well. sounds interesting and right in your lane except for the time travel...
ReplyDeleteSandra, I do also like fantasy and fairy tales, so my hesitation is probably mostly to do with it being an unexpected change of genre from this particular author. But on the other hand, I also admire her for daring to try something different!
DeleteI would find the time travelling a little trying, too, but sometimes good writing overcomes doubts.
ReplyDeleteIt can certainly do that, Janice. (Cf my reply to Sandra the Madsnapper above.)
DeleteHave not heard of this book. I like how the very old cold cases are called frozen! We watch two different shows about cold cases.
ReplyDeleteGinny, it's brand new - published only a month ago.
DeleteThank you for this review, Monica. I don‘t think I will actively looking for this anytime soon, but I imagine it can be quite capturing.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of the author, but don't think I've read any of her books. This sounds and interesting theme, but I'm not sure I could suspend my belief to enoy it.
ReplyDelete