Icefall product reviews

I enjoy a book that is set in an area I know well - it brings the narrative to life as I consciously picture the backdrop to the events described. Couple this with a who-done-it format and I am good to go. And in retrospect I can confirm that I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, finishing it within 48 hours while resisting the urge to look at the ending.

The plot of Icefall is complicated, dealing with two separate yet interrelated crimes, but two editing techniques make it easy to follow. Chapter lengths are short, meaning that each is dedicated to a single event or observation. (Useful too when the reader is being frequently interrupted!) The other item, which I wish more authors would include, is an annotated list of the protagonists. Even the minor characters are for the most part included. I found that I was consulting this list every few pages to refresh my memory - especially when characters had similar names (Thankston and Frankston, for example).

It is also relevant that a map of part of Ka Tiritiri o te Moana (the Southern Alps) is included as it shows the location of the Hooker Glacier. The sites of the incident and the discovery are both indicated on the map, and since the text confirms that the distance between the two places is approximately six or seven km, it is possible to work out the scale of the map itself. That would be a long way to tramp in an alpine whiteout!

It is clear that much research has gone into the background details. The economic crises of the 1980s and 1990s, the construction of the Clyde Dam amid backlash from conservationists and engineers, the geological makeup of the Southern Alps, and the effects of global warming on glaciers all impact on the narrative and give it an authentic feel. I notice that the author has used the traditional South Island term Takapo rather than the modern Tekapo for the lake and village - a difference that many New Zealanders are not aware of. My Kai Tahu whanau say Takapo whereas those who live further north still call it Tekapo!

There is some acknowledgement of the many cultures that have contributed to New Zealand society - the character list includes names of several ethnic origins, and Jack's wife Alini greets him with "La'u pele" (my darling) which could be either Samoan or Tongan. At the same time, these characters share a broad Kiwi background and turn of phrase, demonstrating their integration into one mainstream culture. While this can be viewed as tokenistic, representing an ideal rather than a real-life situation, it is a step towards a more inclusive society.

Some of the secondary characters are well defined if somewhat black-and-white. Aron is shown to be the most unlikeable member of the police force; any police officer would dread being part of his team. He appears to have no redeeming traits at all - unusual in a profession where collegiality and mutual respect are surely essential components. The three gay characters comply with more stereotypes than are common in real life. Ben is a connoisseur of the arts and lives alone with his cat Min; Chad Darling is a sinister stalker whose name is the same as that of the family in J M Barrie's Peter Pan books; Vicky has a solid handshake, pink spiky hair, wears a rainbow patterned t-shirt, and makes a pass at Nellie (who deflects it).

However, at the end of the day this is a work of fiction and meant to be read as such. It is an easy read and one that my young friend (aged 21) and I both found well worth the time and effort. We look forward to the next in the Nellie Prayle series.