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looking4alexis's review
4.0
a lot more mystery than the first book, wasn't too fond of the ending, first book was way better and didn't seem as rushed !
lynguy1's review against another edition
5.0
Alice Henderson has become my favorite author that emphasizes facets of nature in a crime thriller. A Blizzard of Polar Bears is the second book in the Alex Carter mystery series. After the opening scenes in northwestern Montana, the rest of the book takes place in and around Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Dr. Alex Carter is a wildlife biologist who is wrapping up a study on wolverines when a friend calls and asks if she would like to do a polar bear study in Manitoba. With two weeks left on her current assignment, she jumps at the opportunity. Her assigned research assistant, Neil Trevors, has lined up a helicopter pilot for them. Tracking the polar bears by air, Alex then tranquilizes, examines, and measures them. Taking samples for study in the lab in Churchill is part of the job along with updating or adding GPS trackers. However, things start to go quickly wrong. Their pilot suddenly quits and an intruder breaks into the lab, steals her samples, and deletes her files. After finding a replacement pilot, their helicopter catches fire and armed assailants come after them. One might think this would be enough to deter Alex from her study, but it isn’t, and this is only the beginning. Who wants to stop the study and why? Will Alex and Neil survive?
Alex is a likeable character who is three-dimensional and had depth. She is a skilled wildlife biologist, adept at Jeet Kune Do style of martial arts, and an expert shooter. She enjoys solitude, but has a few very good friends. She’s supported by an array of secondary characters that enhanced the story, but were not as fully developed. However, the relationships seemed believable and not contrived and provided the needed support or conflict.
The writing was so descriptive that I felt like I was with Alex as she carried out her research. The plot had some twists and turns and several surprises. It was engrossing, heartfelt, well-researched, and action-packed. I’ve seen comparisons to Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series and I can see the similarities. The story was compelling, shocking at times, intense, and a great sophomore novel for the series. A gripping and dramatic ending was a little over-the-top, but it also tied up loose ends nicely. I enjoyed reading the Afterward that included information on the artic. The author also included a list of books and articles about polar bears as well as other reference information.
Overall, this combined mystery, nature, the environment, action adventure, and survival into one fantastic crime novel. Not only was this a fascinating mystery that kept me fully engaged, but I learned a lot about the polar bears, artic ice, and atmospheric conditions that Alex encountered. If you enjoy action-packed crime thrillers with an environmental and threatened wildlife theme, then this is a series to consider reading. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
William Morrow and Custom House and Alice Henderson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was November 9, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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Review coming soon.
Alex is a likeable character who is three-dimensional and had depth. She is a skilled wildlife biologist, adept at Jeet Kune Do style of martial arts, and an expert shooter. She enjoys solitude, but has a few very good friends. She’s supported by an array of secondary characters that enhanced the story, but were not as fully developed. However, the relationships seemed believable and not contrived and provided the needed support or conflict.
The writing was so descriptive that I felt like I was with Alex as she carried out her research. The plot had some twists and turns and several surprises. It was engrossing, heartfelt, well-researched, and action-packed. I’ve seen comparisons to Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series and I can see the similarities. The story was compelling, shocking at times, intense, and a great sophomore novel for the series. A gripping and dramatic ending was a little over-the-top, but it also tied up loose ends nicely. I enjoyed reading the Afterward that included information on the artic. The author also included a list of books and articles about polar bears as well as other reference information.
Overall, this combined mystery, nature, the environment, action adventure, and survival into one fantastic crime novel. Not only was this a fascinating mystery that kept me fully engaged, but I learned a lot about the polar bears, artic ice, and atmospheric conditions that Alex encountered. If you enjoy action-packed crime thrillers with an environmental and threatened wildlife theme, then this is a series to consider reading. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
William Morrow and Custom House and Alice Henderson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was November 9, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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Review coming soon.
soniaandstories's review
2.0
*SPOILERS*
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.
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I think this was my fault. I should’ve realized it was environmental suspense versus a survival thriller.
The whole thing was cheesy. The action, the villains, the main character being able to suddenly fight and dive and shoot like a pro. The “love” interest being a butt hurt boy about her finding him creepy. One action scene after another and conversations between her and her dad, and her and her friend. They added nothing to the story! Some of the scenes were repetitive..her feeling hungry and getting food, her realizing her teeth felt fuzzy…
Dialogue was stale most of the time.
I appreciate how much research it took and I enjoyed the descriptions of the cold. But that’s kind of it.
.
.
.
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I think this was my fault. I should’ve realized it was environmental suspense versus a survival thriller.
The whole thing was cheesy. The action, the villains, the main character being able to suddenly fight and dive and shoot like a pro. The “love” interest being a butt hurt boy about her finding him creepy. One action scene after another and conversations between her and her dad, and her and her friend. They added nothing to the story! Some of the scenes were repetitive..her feeling hungry and getting food, her realizing her teeth felt fuzzy…
Dialogue was stale most of the time.
I appreciate how much research it took and I enjoyed the descriptions of the cold. But that’s kind of it.
dallasreeves's review
5.0
This one had a slower start for me, but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. This book felt a lot more intense and I loved that we finally got to get to know the mystery stalker.
purplepaste's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
coltonpugh's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Another solid read. New setting, new mystery, paced a little slower than the first of the series.
rachel2325's review
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
shelleyrae's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.25
In need of a book set in the Arctic Tundra for reading challenge, A Blizzard of Polar Bears by Alice Henderson caught my eye. It’s the second book in a series featuring wildlife biologist Alex Carter, though reads well as a stand alone.
In A Blizzard of Polar Bears, Alex has taken an assignment in the Canadian Arctic studying its threatened population of polar bears. Teamed with an assistant and a helicopter pilot Alex’s job involves tracking and sedating the majestic, but dangerous animals, and recording their condition. It’s exhilarating work but soon things begin to go wrong- the pilot quits without notice, equipment goes missing, and then Alex’s research is stolen. Refusing to abandon the study, Alex is relieved when she is able to secure another pilot but when the helicopter catches fire forcing the crew to ditch on the ice in the middle of nowhere, it quickly becomes clear that someone will do anything to stop her.
I enjoyed this fast paced, action packed thriller. Alex finds herself in several dangerous situations after being targeted by thieves, poachers, and an unscrupulous businessman. I thought the mystery was well plotted, with Henderson deftly crafting several red herrings diverting from the true motive of Alex’s most persistent attackers.
Though Alex is capable and resourceful, she doesn’t always make smart decisions, and the odds are often against her, so a little suspension of belief is required as her circumstances worsen. Alex is likeable though and I thought she was a strong lead character.
The appearance of helicopter pilot Casey, who apparently had a brief role in Henderson’s first novel featuring Alex, A Solitude of Wolverines, adds another layer of interest to the novel.
Henderson does a great job of evoking the Arctic landscape. I found Alex’s work with the polar bears to be interesting, and I appreciated the information Henderson included in an Afterword detailing the threats they face. The forecast that all natural populations of polar bears may be extinct by 2080 due to man-made pollutants and climate change is chilling.
A Blizzard of Polar Bears is a quick and easy read offering lots of excitement and a strong eco message.
booktrishandmagic's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is the second book in the Alex Carter series, but it can certainly be read as a standalone. I really enjoy that this is a wilderness thriller. I love to be outside, so I really love the atmosphere of these books. It connects me with nature, and I learn a lot, as well. This book is pretty fast-paced and action packed, just like the first. So, I was hooked almost immediately. It’s a pretty tense read, though, so I was gripping the book extra tight. 🤭 The plot was thrilling AND chilling. I highly recommend this book, you’ll be flying through the pages quickly. I know I’m looking forward to the third in the series!
jacki_f's review
2.0
Alex Carter is a wildlife biologist who we first met in [b:A Solitude of Wolverines|56197443|A Solitude of Wolverines|Alice Henderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627323766l/56197443._SY75_.jpg|73236182]. At that time she was working in Montana but at the end of that assignment she takes on a job monitoring the polar bear population in the Yukon. Very quickly it becomes apparent that someone is determined to sabotage the project.
It's a fast moving story but to the point where it totally defies credibility - there are crashes, intruders, dead bodies, poachers, killers, animal rescues - it's frenetic, there are sub-plots everywhere and then every now and then the pace suddenly lags and we get a two page lecture on polar bears and the importance of conservation. Also the writing was odd - for example people were variously described as having sienna, beige and sepia coloured faces.
If you have a passionate interest in polar bears or you want something super fast paced and undemanding this is a good choice but otherwise I'd skip it.
It's a fast moving story but to the point where it totally defies credibility - there are crashes, intruders, dead bodies, poachers, killers, animal rescues - it's frenetic, there are sub-plots everywhere and then every now and then the pace suddenly lags and we get a two page lecture on polar bears and the importance of conservation. Also the writing was odd - for example people were variously described as having sienna, beige and sepia coloured faces.
If you have a passionate interest in polar bears or you want something super fast paced and undemanding this is a good choice but otherwise I'd skip it.